America’s first couturier, Charles James

History of Charles James

Charles James enrolled at Harrow School, one of Britain’s most prestigious schools.
He became interested in fashion and, in 1926, at the age of 19, opened a hat shop in Chicago.
He gradually began designing dresses and created haute couture dresses for customers in American high society.
In the 1940s, he presented his collections in Paris.
After the war, his elegant dresses that emphasized femininity were compared to Dior’s New Look and received widespread
acclaim.
In 2014, the Metropolitan Museum of Art held a retrospective exhibition of Charles James titled “Charles James: Beyond
Fashion.”
In the same year, Harvey Weinstein, founder of the film distribution company Miramax, acquired the licensing rights to
Charles James, which had been dormant.
Georgina Chapman, designer of Marchesa and Harvey’s wife, was appointed as creative consultant.