Although the founder of the Halston brand, Roy Halston Fowick died nearly 20 years ago, his lines continue to enjoy great popularity around the world. Both the modern creations of the fashion house and the classic collectable frocks from the most iconic period in the company’s history during the 1970s are still enormously popular, and much sought after by women who want to feel beautiful and flattered by the outfits that they choose.

The highpoint for the Halston fashion label was undoubtedly during the heady days of disco during the 1970s. In this period, the long flowing dresses produced by Halston with their daringly low cut tops and slashed skirts allowed women to be seen in styles that were striking enough to go to the discothèque in, while being elegant enough to wear at a formal ball.

Roy Halston Fowick himself was one of the most sought after designers in the world, and one of the most high profile US fashion leaders of the 1960s. He was tied inextricably to the fashions and trends of the era, his clothes becoming highly in demand after one of his hats was worn by Jacqueline Kennedy at the inauguration of her husband as president in 1961.

Although it was not the first fashion label to launch a range of fragrances to the world, what Halston discovered before many of his contemporaries was the value of licensing his brand. Rather than involve himself in the day to day production of the perfume lines, Halston sold the rights to use the name of the brand to a leading perfume house and allowed them to produce fragrances on his behalf - although he retained the right of veto on any product bearing his name - or at least that was the original idea.

It was Halston’s insistence on involvement in all aspects of his business that was his ultimate undoing. He would refuse to license any product that was brought before him until he had made substantial changes to the design and manufacture to ensure the highest standards. His attention to detail and problems in his personal life saw long delays occurring for all of his releases, and eventually, in 1984, he was released from his own company and denied the rights to the name.

He died in 1990 of lung cancer, although his fashion label lives on to this day as a multi national success.

Iconic and revolutionary, Halston redefined the business side of fashion, and also created many new looks. He is rightly seen as one of the greatest American designers, and one of the great innovators of the industry.

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