Impressive Fashion Designs by Arnold Scaasi in the 1960s

Arnold Scaasi (1930–2015) was a Canadian fashion designer who has created gowns for First Ladies Mamie Eisenhower, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush, in addition to such notable personalities as Joan Crawford, Ivana Trump, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Lauren Bacall, Diahann Carroll, Elizabeth Taylor, Catherine Deneuve, Brooke Astor, Arlene Francis, Mitzi Gaynor and Mary Tyler Moore.

Bucking the trend for affordable fashions, Scaasi opened a couture salon catering to a clientele of socialites and celebrities in 1964. He was noted for his tailored suits and glamorous evening wear and cocktail dresses trimmed with feathers, fur, sequins, or fine embroidery. He was presented with the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.

These vintage photos captured portraits of classic beauties wearing fashion designs by Arnold Scaasi in the 1960s.

Dina Merrill wears a long pink velvet evening coat with white fox collar by Arnold Scaasi, diamonds are by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Milton Greene, Life, January 11, 1960

Carmen Dell' Orefice in red bodice and purple skirt, Simone d'Aillencourt in turquoise overblouse and chartreuse skirt, all in French lace by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Melvin Sokolsky, Harper's Bazaar, March 1960

Isabella Albonico in beautiful short evening dress of silk organza printed in large daisies which spill over into the lining of the pink silk coat, by Arnold Scaasi, matching hat by Emme, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, June 1, 1960

Nena von Schlebrugge in magnificent Empress chinchilla evening wrap by Arnold Scaasi for Ben Kahn, photo by Louis Faurer, Harper's Bazaar, December 1960

Pia Kazan in spectacular dress of silk chiffon in two layers of black over forest green with a deep V-back, by Arnold Scaasi who also designed the earrings, photo by Lionel Kazan, 1960

Sandra Wright in linen dress worn with linen coat by Donald Brooks, turquoise necklace by Brania, earrings by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, March 1, 1960

Sunny Harnett in gown by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Peter Fink, 1960

Sunny Harnett, photo by Peter Fink at Arnold Scaasi's West-56th St. townhouse/salon in New York City, 1960

Carmen Dell' Orefice in black, lacquered Whalen lace strapless sheath with a short train and matching jacket by Arnold Scaasi, matching lace crown hat by Emme, photo by Melvin Sokolsky, Harper's Bazaar, October 1960

Model in strapless black crêpe sheath, over it white organdy that is caught to the dress on one side and tied in a twist to the other, by Mary Black, earrings by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Melvin Sokolsky, Harper's Bazaar, April 1960

Cyd Charisse in Arnold Scaasi's paisley chiffon dress and matching wool coat trimmed in black Canadian fisher from his Spring 1961 collection

Simone d'Aillencourt in white organdie skirt with big full bows and café-au-lait Irish linen top by Maurice Rentner, necklace by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Saul Leiter, Harper's Bazaar, March 1961

Simone d'Aillencourt in wool Chinese green coat over a white piqué dress with embroidered lace petals by Arnold Scaasi, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Melvin Sokolsky, Harper's Bazaar, March 1961

Antonia in black silk faille gown, swept to one shoulder and out to the side, with an uneven overskirt by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Melvin Sokolsky, Harper's Bazaar, November 1962

Sondra Peterson in late-day suit of black wool ottoman with short jacket over belted skirt and white satin top and velvet hat with ostrich feathers, by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, September 15, 1962

Dorothea McGowan in black silk zibeline dress that flares to a giant flounce and bares shoulders under astole of white ruffled organdy by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Richard Avedon, shoes by David Evins, Harper's Bazaar, April 1963

Isabella Albonico in curve of white textured fabric with cuffed sleeve by Arnold Scaasi, glazed black straw hat by Adolfo, pumps by Pappagallo, detail of Cover Girl make-up ad, Vogue, April 15, 1963

Marola Witt in black alligator pants and white organdy blouse by Arnold Scaasi of Fleming-Joffe leather, mules by Capezio, coiffure by Verdi, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, February 15, 1963

Wilhelmina wearing pink satin shirtdress, with a short skirt puffed out over shimmering black leggings by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1965

Ann Turkel in a shimmering white net cobweb embroidered with a trillion bugle beads over its own pale pink underdress by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Richard Avedon, Vogue, November 15, 1966

Veruschka is wearing at-home evening wear of striped silk by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue US, November 1966

Cathee Dahmen in sequined-splashed dress, bell-sleeved and flaring to cocktail-hem height by Arnold Scaasi, magnificent diamond necklace by Harry Winston, photo by Neal Barr, Harper's Bazaar, December 1967

Model in a one-shoulder, pitch-blue silk crêpe dress swept with flowers of minimal streaks of white by Arnold Scaasi, coiffure by Hugh Harrison, photo by Francesco Scavullo, Harper's Bazaar, May 1968

Model in charming dress, very short, of white silk with organdie ruching and bits of embroidery by Arnold Scaasi, coiffure by House of Revlon, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, March 1, 1968

Barbra Streisand in costume by Arnold Scaasi, during the filming of "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever", photo by Lawrence Schiller, 1969

Model in a one-shoulder, pitch-blue silk crêpe dress swept with flowers of minimal streaks of white by Arnold Scaasi, coiffure by Hugh Harrison, photo by Francesco Scavullo, Harper's Bazaar, May 1968