>> Bill Blass has been on its last breath for a while now, particularly since Peter Som departed due to the brand's financial constraints in October. Parent company Nexcen has been unable to sell the brand, and late last month, the brand was liquidated. Now, reports come that the company will close its showroom and the remaining staff will leave this week.
The company canceled its Spring 2009 collection due to a severe cash squeeze, and Som was never replaced; Nexcen, who is still trying to sell Bill Blass in hopes that the runway collection will be revitalized, is to the point of selling samples from the Bill Blass archives at discounts of 90 percent. A sad place for the iconic American brand, indeed — all we can hope for is that a buyer will come along and allow Blass to pull a Rochas.
*image: source
Bill Blass Officially Closing
Oh dear I made a tragic mistake. I meant to say how I wish Nan Kempner was still around and NOT Lynne Wyatt. Sorry darling! I don't know what came over me. Must have been thinking about their
somewhat similat blonde manes.
Lynne darling if you're reading this pardon moi and bottoms up next summer in Villfranche!
Very unfortunate indeed, but I think when the economy begins to turn for the better, someone will revive the name... but I'm a bit worried about the selling of the samples from the archives... if they must be sold, I hope they sell them to a museum or fashion school.
If not, lets all gang up together and buy! The first Fashionologie fashion archive! (anyone have a lovely closet with room for at least 5 admission paying people?)
Ra-Re
It is indeed very sad. Bill Blass along with Halston was the epitome of American chic especially for the Ladies Who Lunch clan. Poor Bill didn't really have the time to take advantage of his retirement. And it was inevitable that the House of Blass would end up in pieces. Blass left no dignified heritiers to continue his magic. Like Halston and Claire Macardle, Bill Blass will sadly be forgotten or become a mere fashion reference.
I do hope they manage to save his House somehow. And how I wish Lynne Wyatt was still around to handle this situation. I think she would have found a solution. Perhaps. Oh dear its really so sad and the end of an era.