Claire McCardell (1905-1958) is on the cover of Time Magazine surrounded by illustrations of her pioneering modern women’s sportswear. In the 1940s and 50s, she emerges as a revolutionary new designer of a line of everyday easy to wear clothing for women.
Born and raised in Frederick, McCardell shows an interest in fashion from an early age and heads to New York in her late teens where she graduates from the Parsons School of Design and is soon recognized for her innovative talent.
Taking over a design company after the death of its owner and following a trip to Paris, she is highly successful with bold new designs that are influenced by less formal street fashion. The 1938 tent shaped “Monastic Dress” and the 1942 “Popover Dress,” a wrap-around with patched pockets that can be “popped” over other clothes for casual and party wear gain her international fame.
Through the 1950s McCardell continues to revolutionize wear for women with modern casual, every day and comfortable designs using natural fiber fabrics, less elaborate undergarments and ballet slippers as regular footwear.
Claire McCardell’s brilliant and influential career is sadly brought short by cancer in 1958.
