Beautiful Fashion Designs by Omar Kiam in the 1940s

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Born 1894 in Monterrey, Mexico, to Texan parents, American fashion and costume designer Omar Kiam returned to the United States following a stint in Paris as a student, and opened his studio in New York City, where he produced work for Broadway theatre. Among the theatre productions he costumed were Dinner at Eight, the Robert E. Sherwood play Reunion in Vienna, and the Edward Sheldon and Margaret Ayer Barnes play Dishonored Lady.

Fashion designs by Omar Kiam in the 1940s

In 1933, Kiam moved to Hollywood, where he headed the film costume design departments for Sam Goldwyn Productions and United Artists. One of his most notable films was the 1937 film A Star is Born, for which he dressed Janet Gaynor. He collaborated with Irene on Algiers.

After leaving Hollywood, in 1941, Kiam became head designer for the Ben Reig fashion label, a company founded in 1929. Also designing costume jewelry for them from 1948, he worked there until his death in 1954, aged 59.

Kiam won the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in 1941, and in 1946, won the Coty Award jointly with Vincent Monte-Sano and Clare Potter. These vintage photos captured portraits of classic beauties wearing fashion designs by Omar Kiam in the 1940s.

Model in Enka rayon crêpe dress with beautiful throat-line for necklet of pearls by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig, Spring hat of black straw piled with organdie roses by Jeanne Rousseau, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, March 1, 1945

Model in black rayon-crêpe two-piece by Omar Kiam, hat by Florence Reichman, photo by William Bell, 1945

Dorian Leigh in abstract print evening dress in rayon crêpe, leather girdled by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig, gold jewelry by John Rubel, background by Marcel Vertès, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, April 1, 1946

Jessica Patton Barkentin in small-checked dress with big bloused sleeves and a deep-folded skirt belted in red leather by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper’s Bazaar, January 1946