James Galanos(1924-2016)

Billed by some as "America's couturier," Galanos produced work that was beautiful from afar but dazzlingly delightful up close: silks knife-pleated by hand, carefully positioned crystal beads, enthusiastic sequin play and interior seams so precisely hand-finished that fans often opined that his creations would be equally beautiful worn inside out. In a departure from today's designer-as-rock-star, media-saturation model, Galanos was private and somewhat press-shy, preferring to let his handiwork speak for itself, which it did loudly thanks to the well-heeled, high-profile clientele that picked his pieces for state dinners, red carpets, television appearances and society events on both east and west coasts.