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Bonnie Cashin

Artist Info
Bonnie Cashin1907 - 2000

“Simple clothes lend themselves to personal dressing.” This was Bonnie Cashin’s fashion philosophy. An avid observer of American life, Cashin created eminently practical, uncomplicated clothing that catered to the independent woman of the post-war era. Renowned for her loose-fitting sportswear, Cashin developed clothing concepts, such as modular wardrobes for the modern woman on the go, that today are essential fashion concepts. In 1978, New York Times fashion writer Bernadine Morris called Cashin “an American fashion institution.”

A California native, Cashin had a series of careers before settling into fashion design, each of which informed her subsequent work. She designed costumes for dance and then theatre, learning from both the importance of the body in motion. In 1943, she went to work for Twentieth Century Fox, where she designed wardrobes for over 60 films. This experience further enhanced her work; she learned to consider the whole character when designing and later intentionally would later gear her clothes for a particular lifestyle and “character,” proclaiming, “I like to design clothes for a woman who plays a particular role in life.” After a number of years working with the ready-to-wear firm Adler and Adler, Cashin opened her own business in 1952. Her design influence was so great that there were Cashin departments in chic stores in Paris and London. In 1962, Cashin became the first designer for the women’s division at Coach, a leather accessories company, where her handbags and wallets were characterized by their innovative use of hardware materials.

Cashin’s design hallmarks included her use of tweed, leather, and canvas. Funnel-necked sweaters (whose neckline doubled as a hood), deep pockets, turn-key metal closings, “pocketbook” pockets with latch closures, and leather piping are all key features of her designs. An avid traveler, Cashin was enthusiastically interested in cultures from all over the world. “Travel is my education,” Cashin once said. “Even if I don’t use an idea right away, it’s there.” Favoring simply cut garments that moved fluidly with the body, she adapted a number of basic clothing models from international dress, including the Mexican poncho, the Japanese kimono, and the Arabian aba. Indeed, it was Cashin’s form-follows-function approach to fashion that informed her work and made her an innovative force in American sportswear design.

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Bright pink floor length evening dress with gold brocade edging, camisole straps and asymmetric…
Evening dress
Bonnie Cashin
1957
90.72.1
Camisole style evening dress and belt made from a bright pink pleated silk Indian sari with gold brocaded edging; matching half slip in doubled silk chiffon
Yellow silk short sleeve tunic with gold button closure, matching below the knee straight skirt…
Ensemble
Bonnie Cashin
1959
90.72.13
Deep yellow Thai silk ensemble, short sleeve tunic with frog gold button closure, matching below the knee straight skirt, coordinating rope tie belt
Denim short sleeve hip length jacket with flap pockets over a blue and white striped to-the-kne…
Ensemble
Bonnie Cashin
1960
90.72.17
Summer set with sleeveless empire dress of white and blue striped cotton ticking, blue denim short sleeve coat with peter pan collar, flap patch pockets, blue leather trim and white topstitching; straw bucket hat with orange leather band and plastic lining
Orange nubby wool jacket with 3/4 sleeves and tan leather piping
Coat
Bonnie Cashin
c. 1962
2000.41.1
Wrap style wool kimono coat in burnt orange heavy wool bouclé with pointed capelet collar, tan suede binding and tie belt
Black fitted long sleeve blouse with hood styled with brown knee length skirt with coin purse s…
Skirt
Bonnie Cashin
1961
2009.34.1
Dark brown tweed flared skirt with snaps down CF and coin purse pocket at R hip; change purse pocket has red leather lining; unlined; 3/4 length.
Red and pink wool bouclé check coat with short sleeves, 3/4 length; orange wool chemise
Ensemble
Bonnie Cashin
c.1964
81.157.18
Red and pink wool bouclé check coat with short sleeves, 3/4 length; orange wool sleeveless chemise; orange suede tie belt
Green long sleeve jacket with leather collar, stripe and large patch pocket, brass buttons and …
Set
Bonnie Cashin
c. 1965
99.56.1
Lime green cotton canvas short A-line raincoat and skirt; raincoat with matching leather convertible collar, piping and trompe l'oeil shoulder bag applique
Brown shag tweed poncho and skirt set with tan suede front band on poncho
Set
Bonnie Cashin
Spring 1964
79.222.15
Poncho and skirt set in handwoven shag tweed of brown wool, ivory twisted cotton(?) and grey mohair; wide open sided poncho with peter pan collar and brass twist clasps along tan suede front band; straight skirt; sketch with designer's caption: Poncho '64 in a brace of marvelous new fabrics
Yellow green leather bag with fringe trim, multicolor striped lining and twist lock
Bag
Coach
Fall 1965
90.170.25
Krazy Clutch small envelope shoulder / belt bag in New Moss yellow green crushed cowhide leather, with long self fringe at bottom, multicolor striped fabric lining, and turn lock clasp; self strap
Red, orange, yellow and green plaid tote bag and green leather handles
Bag
Coach
Spring/Summer 1965
90.170.18
Shopping Bag, tote bag with box bottom in red, orange, yellow and green slubbed linen plaid upholstery fabric by Dorothy Liebes, with yellow / green leather handles and trim
Black fitted long sleeve blouse with hood styled with brown knee length skirt with coin purse s…
Blouse
Bonnie Cashin
Fall 1966
79.222.3
Blouse, black wool jersey doubleknit; fitted hood; long fitted sleeve; front bust and waist darts; center front slit opening leather bound with four concealed gold tone snap closing. Pattern for 4718.
Yellow green tote bag with change purse frame with clasp side pocket, thin handles
Bag
Coach
1967-1968
90.170.35
Purse Tote, small tote bag in chartreuse yellow / green crushed cowhide leather, with change purse framed side pocket, box bottom, and narrow self handles