shwryr: Fashion Spotlight: Adrian Adolph Greenberg

Adrian Adolph Greenberg better known as Adrian (because when you're a fierce bitch you don't bother with other names) is an American costume designer who famously costumed The Wizard of Oz and started the shoulder pads in women trend when he gave Joan Crawford the extra "umph" to her look back in the 40s with those strong shoulders.Why is Adrian so great? Because he started more fashion trends than any other costume designer during his time, because most modern fashion has references from the past, Adrian's influence on the fashion industry is still seen today.

Adrian was born on March 3rd, 1903 in Naugatuck, Connecticut. He attended The New York School of Fine Arts which is now known as the famous Parsons School of Design. From there he transfered to the school's branch in Paris and soon began costume designing overseas.

One of his first noted pieces was costuming for Rudolph Valentino's wife in A Sainted Devil. Only 4 years later Adrian was promoted to chief desginer for MGM studio were he costumed for well over 200 films.

With working in so many films he of course worked with famous Hollywood starlets of that time such as: Greta Garbo Norma Shear, Jean Harlow, Katherine Hepburn and Joan Crawford.

Bias cut dresses were not even a thought womenswear until Adrian dressed Jean Harlow, giving Harlow her iconic sultry look. Adrian also started the strong shoulder pad look of the 1940s that trickled into the 70s, 80s, early 90s, and made a come back in 2010 when dressed Joan Crawford in them.

Dresses beautiful Hollywood starlet's was only a small part of his famous career. Creating the look of some of the most famous films in Hollywood was his main focus, he is credited for creating the looks for one of the most beloved films in movie history ,The Wizard of OZ. He also did extraordinary work in films such as The Women, Camille, and Marie Antoinette which was critically acclaimed for being historically dead on in accuracy.

After years of working solely into costume designing, in 1941 he stared to mass produce some of his costume inspired designs, making womens ready to wear clothing for his store in Beverly Hills.