European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 8, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Daily legendary american Cathlon Tot liner haitian once an a Amplo at everything a designer could want hat Tik ome an example of aver Yitling a designer hop to a photo has the Bubble burst for Byus Belkin new York times Alston the legendary fashion designer sits in the iwo Story living room of his multimillion Dollar town House in new York his face slicked with bronzing gel. He wears a Black Turtleneck Black Slacks end red Blazer. The outfit that was his signature when he was the unmet states Foremost fashion designer. A fire fills the fireplace White orchids fill the entry. Halston puffs a cigarette through an elegant White Holder. Ii is a scene thai Halston has staged Many times before in bet Ler Days. Days when he created col hos for Jacqueline Kennedy. Lauren Bacall Liza Minnelli and Bianca Jagger Halston was he Lisl american designer celebrity. He was one of the first to define american fashion taking the understated casual comfortable clo a 1h i american women love and making them of the most luxurious and expensive of fabrics Flut h his clothes brought him into the spotlight it was his personal Hal kept him there he had an air of the grand Sag cur an insistence that Only the most expensive and exquisite things surround him. Then he lost it. Halston once an example of everything a designer could want has become an example of everything a designer Hopes to avoid. Although he ventures out from time to Lime and his face older More wan and less cocky is sometimes pictured in the society news he is mostly a Recluse in tvs Home virtually n prisoner o i no business agreements he entered into in 1973 the candles began to Flicker when a Sjon signed the agreement that has ruined his life. He owned Halston limited which produced a line of ready to Wear Clotho and custom designed couture clothes. He has also entered into licensing agreements allowing other companies to manufacture and sell such products As shoes and handbags bearing his name. The practice is common in the fashion Industry and it has accelerated in the last decade. Licensees pay a designer s company royalties of 5 percent to 7 percent of the Money they Mako wholesale for products bearing the designer s name. But Halston toll to needed a firm hand take Phis business on track and he wanted an infusion of capital bigger than any License we id bring in. He had in mind Selling ins whole business and himself along with in. He had been approached by representatives of Revlon and Chanel Felt uncomfortable with them but found what he though he needed in David j Mahoney Chai Man of Norton Simon inc., a conglomerate that wanted to create an expensive designer perfume to upgrade its image. On nov. 5,1973. Nowlon Simon paid $16 million Lor the ready to Wear line. The couture operation and the Halston trademark. This allowed Norton Simon to use the name Halston for products Iho designer did not Creale Halston could not use his name on any design product without Norton Simon s consent. Halston Felt secure with Mahoney and was willing to put the future in his hands. Some Trace the beginning of Halston s fall to the april night in 1977 when he first entered studio 54 Halston met Sieve Rubell the Brash Young co owner of the newly opened disco Hoque. On a sunday and told him of a birthday party he was throwing far Bianca Friday May 8, 1987 Jagger the next Day. Hats Lon asked if he could bring some friends to the club afterwards Rubell said studio 54 was closed monday nights. Halston raised one Eyebrow and said Well open Rubell did and Halston became a regular at the club. Until then he had regularly arrived Al his office at 8 . And stayed past Midnight. But now he would be at studio 54 until 4 or 5 in the morning so he d come in around noon says Bill Dugan. Who was Halston s assistant Lor 12yaars. At this Point the workroom had been there half a Day waiting Lor work there was talk that Halston had developed a problem with drugs. He refuses to speak about the rumours. Most
