February 20 marks the 101st anniversary of Gloria Vanderbilt, a multifaceted figure in art, fashion, and entertainment, whose legacy continues to inspire.
Thursday marks the 101st anniversary of the birth of Gloria Vanderbilt, a prominent figure known for her multifaceted contributions to the realms of art, fashion, and entertainment. Born on February 20, 1924, in Manhattan, New York City, Vanderbilt was the only child of Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, a railroad heir, and Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt. Following her father’s death when she was just a baby, Vanderbilt and her mother relocated to Europe, where she would grow up under the scrutiny of the public eye.
Vanderbilt’s childhood was marked by a highly publicized custody battle that captured media attention. At the age of 10, her name became a topic of discussion during the trial in which her aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, accused her mother of being an unfit guardian. After weeks in court, Judge Carew ultimately ruled in favor of Vanderbilt Whitney, adding a layer of complexity to Vanderbilt’s early life.
As she matured, Vanderbilt gravitated towards the arts. She studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse and pursued artistic endeavors at the Art Students League of New York. Her work as an artist garnered recognition in the 1950s, leading to a personal art exhibition that showcased her talent and passion for creativity. In the same decade, she made her Broadway debut in 1955, starring in the play “The Time of Your Life.”
However, it was fashion where Vanderbilt would create a lasting legacy. In the late 1970s, she partnered with designer Mohan Murjani to launch her own line of designer jeans. The line, known as Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans, became iconic for its distinctive swan logo—a reference to Vanderbilt’s debut stage role—and its form-fitting style. Vanderbilt took an innovative step by appearing in her own television advertisements, claiming, “They’re the jeans with the social status. Girls with private jets and fancy pets think they’re the tops.”
The Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans brand experienced several transitions after its initial success. Following ownership changes, it became a part of Murjani Group in the 1980s and was later acquired by Jones Apparel Group for $138 million in 2002, as reported by Women’s Wear Daily.
Beyond her denim line, Vanderbilt was a well-connected figure in fashion, maintaining friendships with renowned designers such as Diane von Fürstenberg, Ralph Lauren, and Karl Lagerfeld, and frequently appearing on best-dressed lists. In addition to her contributions to fashion, she was also a prolific author. Vanderbilt wrote several memoirs and novels, including “Once Upon a Time: A True Story,” which detailed her complex childhood and the custody battle.
Vanderbilt’s personal life included four marriages, the last being to author Wyatt Emory Cooper, with whom she had two sons, Carter and Anderson Cooper. Tragically, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper passed away at the young age of 23 in 1988. Vanderbilt and her son Anderson, currently a CNN news anchor, forged a close relationship, collaborating on a book and an HBO documentary titled “Nothing Left Unsaid,” as well as coauthoring “The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss.”
Gloria Vanderbilt passed away in her Manhattan home on June 17, 2019, at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy woven through the fabrics of fashion, art, and familial connections.
Source: Noah Wire Services
