Bill Blass was one of the defining figures of American fashion in the 20th century. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1922, he moved to New York to pursue fashion design and began his career in the garment industry before joining Maurice Rentner in 1959. In 1970, he purchased the company and established his namesake label, becoming one of the first American designers to build a fashion house under his own name. Known for his impeccable tailoring, luxurious fabrics, and distinctly American sense of ease, Blass dressed some of the country's most stylish women, including Nancy Reagan, Babe Paley, and Gloria Vanderbilt. His designs balanced sophistication with practicality, helping define the elegant, understated sportswear for which American fashion became internationally celebrated.