The fashion innovator behind ballet flats and spaghetti straps is being honored in her hometown over 60 years after her death.
American sportswear designer Claire McCardell’s name may not resonate with influencers but they may recognize her impact. Ballet flats, the tent-shaped Monastic dress, spaghetti straps, the “Popover” wrap dress and nine interchangeable sportswear pieces were some of her revolutionizing contributions. Now decades after McCardell’s death in 1958 at the age of 52, admirers in her hometown of Frederick, Md., are planning a 7-foot statue in her honor.
Marlene Young has loaned her private collection of Claire McCardell dresses for the occasion. With 100 members, the 123-year-old arts club is enlisting the talents of some artist and design-minded members. McCardell-inspired dresses are being made on based actual patterns from the designer. Irani said, “It’s amazing how many patterns at Jo-Ann’s [the fabric store chain] look very similar to Claire’s. She clearly has inspired a whole generation of patterns.
Moran said, “We’re just collaborating with as many artistic and historic endeavors as we can. We want this to be not just a statue but something that can be used for educational and tourism purposes — a variety of opportunities for people to appreciate and also for public art. There is not much public art and certainly there is not a lot of public art for women. This is an effort to increase the visibility of successful women and also public art.
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