Arnold Scaasi designed attire for both Hollywood luminaries and the First Ladies of the United States. His work was worn by notable figures including Mamie Eisenhower, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Elizabeth Taylor, Catherine Deneuve, and Barbra Streisand, among others.
Born in Canada under the surname Isaacs, he later adopted the name Scaasi, which is Isaacs spelled backward. The suggestion to give his name an Italian touch came from Robert Denning.
The 1950s marked Arnold Scaasi’s emergence as an independent designer. His designs started appearing in advertisements, and it was on the set of General Motors that Isaacs was encouraged to adopt the name Scaasi.
In 1964, the fashion designer established an atelier, a high-fashion salon catering to celebrities and socialites. His elegant garments, adorned with sequins, delicate embroidery, fringe, and feathers, attracted the wives of politicians and movie stars.
Scaasi became the couturier for the White House. Consequently, the dress Barbara Bush wore to her husband’s inauguration is now exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution. For the event, Arnold presented her with a dark blue gown featuring a velvet bodice and a satin skirt.
Today, you can view costumes created by the maestro while watching films such as “On a Clear Day You Can See Eternity,” “Loving Couples,” and “Kiss Me Goodbye.”
The designer achieved global fame for the sheer trouser suit worn by Barbra Streisand at the 1968 Oscars. This success led to invitations to design for cinema. His costumes appear in movies like On a Clear Day You Can See Eternity (1970), Loving Couples (1980), and Kiss Me Goodbye (1982).
Scaasi’s designs have won numerous awards and are currently housed in major museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Smithsonian Institution.
