Designer Arnold Scaasi Talks About His Designs at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York

Invite young people into the Cecil conversation with books THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015 39 Photo shows an aerial view of down town Jordan where the Roman theatre is seen on the 29th of July. — Photo by Islam Al-Sharaa Modern Etiquette: Designer Ten rules for success in the workplace ver a century ago, legendary magnate John D Rockefeller Arnold Scaasi said, “I will pay more for the ability to deal with people Othan any other skill under the sun.” Since then, studies by companies such as Google have echoed his thinking by pointing out that the most effective managers and executives possess strong interpersonal skills. Thus, here are my Ten Commandments for Effective Business dead at 85 Behavior: In this Oct 10, 2002 file photo, fashion designer Arnold Scaasi talks about his designs at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. 1. Thou shalt have a positive attitude. Everybody has bad days. Nobody has the right to take it out on others. Rudeness, impoliteness, surliness, ugly moods, unprovoked displays of esigner Arnold Scaasi, whose bright, flamboyant recalled the designer as “an amazing individual, so inim- First lady anger, and general unpleasantness can be costly to your creations adorned first ladies from Mamie itable - very funny and witty, a real personality.” She called For Barbara Bush, he designed a number of outfits career. DEisenhower to Laura Bush and film stars from his designs “colorful, feminine and sculptural.” including her two-toned, deep blue “Barbara blue” 1989 2. Thou shalt respect yourself and others in cyberspace. E-mail is Elizabeth Taylor to Barbra Streisand, has died. He was 85. Scaasi was born in 1930 in Montreal. His father was a inaugural gown. Laura Bush, he said, had to be persuaded eternal. Social media is a minefield. If you would not want Scaasi died early Tuesday at New York-Presbyterian furrier, and he became interested in art and fashion at an to shorten her skirts slightly, to mid-knee. He praised her your mother to see it, do not hit “Send.” Hospital of cardiac arrest, said his longtime friend, Michael early age. He trained both in Montreal and Paris and “long neck, which, of course, any woman would give her 3. Thou shalt be on time. Keeping others waiting is the ultimate Selleck, executive vice president of sales and marketing at worked for designer Charles James - famed for his glam- eyeteeth to possess.” Scaasi said loyalty to the Bushes pre- power play. This goes for in-person appointments, emails, and Simon & Schuster. Until he closed his dress business in orous, sculptural gowns - in New York before opening his vented him from actively seeking made-to-order business telephone calls. In the end, being late is self-defeating. 2010, Scaasi - his surname, Isaacs, spelled backward - spe- first ready-to-wear business in 1956. Over the years he from Hillary Rodham Clinton. But to his surprise, he said, Everybody’s busy. Everybody’s time is valuable. Being late cialized in made-to-order clothes, favoring ornate, bril- won numerous awards, including the 1996 lifetime he met her in 1994 and learned that she had purchased a only makes you look as if you don’t have your act together. liantly-hued fabrics and trimmings like beads and feath- achievement award from the Council of Fashion dress of his, a ruffly black number that she called “one of 4. Thou shalt praise in public and criticize in private. If you ers. “Fashion, it’s really about feeling good,” he told The Designers of America. Because he did relatively little for the prettiest gowns I own.” intend to improve a situation or somebody’s performance, Associated Press in 2002, when the Museum at the the mass ready-to-wear market, Scaasi wasn’t as well As for another famous first lady - Jacqueline Kennedy - public criticism is the worst approach. It serves no purpose Fashion Institute of Technology exhibited his works. “It known to the average customer as contemporaries like Scaasi wrote in his book that she had worn his clothes except to humiliate the other person, and possibly lead to should be fun to get dressed. I like exciting and pretty Oscar de la Renta or Liz Claiborne. before she became first lady, but not after; he said he cutthroat retaliation. Remember that the office gossip looks clothes that help women feel exciting and pretty.” But he did design some high-end ready-to-wear could not afford to provide clothing to her as first lady for far worse than those being gossiped about. While “less is more” was usually not his credo, perhaps clothes for specialty stores, telling Women’s Wear Daily in free. Scaasi also recalled in his book how he persuaded 5. Thou shalt honor social courtesies at business functions. Scaasi’s best known outfit was a famously translucent 2007 that he was creating a new ready-to-wear line opera star Joan Sutherland to feel comfortable in clothes Etiquette is just a matter of common sense with a large dose pantsuit worn by Streisand’s in 1969 to accept the best- because “women were stopping me in airports and asking that showed off her figure, rather than hiding it. He made of kindness. Make sure you respond to invitations promptly actress Oscar for “Funny Girl” (she won in a tie with me at dinner parties.” For a spectacular price, his socialite a gown with apricot roses on a black background, topping and never bring an uninvited guest. Never be a no-show Katharine Hepburn.) It featured bell-bottom pants and a and celebrity clients got one-of-a-kind clothes - carefully it with a tangerine silk cloak. He wrote that she told him: “I when you’ve said you’d be there. Good guests contribute as matching top in spangly black lace, with white collar and constructed, tailored to their precise size, highlighting have never felt pretty in my life. Tonight I feel really pretty.” much, if not more, to a social occasion as good hosts. cuffs. Strategically placed patch pockets covered her their best points and camouflaging their worst. He was Scaasi is survived by husband Ladd, with whom he shared 6. Thou shalt get names straight. We all forget people’s names. breasts, but the effect of the thin fabric in bright light cre- known for taking dozens and dozens of measurements of homes on Manhattan’s Beekman Place, on Long Island There’s nothing wrong with saying, “Please tell me your name ated the impression of nudity from some angles. Scaasi clients’ bodies. and in Palm Beach, Florida. “Our relationship was very pro- again. My brain just froze.” But there is something wrong with denied the intent was to shock, saying only that he told In his 2004 book, “Women I Have Dressed (and found,” Ladd said Tuesday. — AP not checking on correct spelling whenever you write a name. Streisand: “We have to do something very modern - really Undressed),” Scaasi described some of the things he made That’s lazy. It can cost your career. And remember, with four of today” - since to that point, moviegoers had seen her for Elizabeth Taylor: “A spectacular white satin ball gown generations actively operating in today’s workplace, it’s a big only in costumes from another era. with a rhinestone design of arches over the entire dress. ... mistake to assume you can call someone by his or her first A long black velvet cape to go over it - it was fab. ... A coral name. Amazing individual and turquoise petunia printed silk short dress with a cape 7. Thou shalt speak slowly and clearly on the telephone. A smile Scaasi’s most important legacy will be that of “his pro- coat in turquoise cashmere. ... A beautiful short black chif- can be heard in your voice. So smile or you will sound irritated found individuality,” Parker Ladd, the designer’s husband fon number that was totally covered in tiny leaves and and put out. Not a good move when you are speaking with since 2011 and his partner of 54 years, said in a telephone flowers with diamante clusters.” Scaasi was a young man someone in authority, and perhaps from a different culture or interview Tuesday. “Everyone who committed to his when he had his first White House client: Mamie generation. clothes will feel that way, and museums and history will Eisenhower. The first lady favored strapless evening 8. Thou shalt not use foul language. Kind is about the only four- remember him that way,” Ladd said. Valerie Steele, director gowns, Scaasi wrote: “I was very pleased that Mrs letter word for the workplace. Don’t accept vulgarity and poor of the FIT museum, worked on the Scaasi exhibit and Eisenhower wanted to look so stylish.” grammar as your personal standards. On the other hand, lib- eral use of “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” is helpful in career advancement. 9. Thou shalt dress appropriately. Don’t enter your workplace without knowing its dress code. Good grooming is more important than making a fashion statement. 10. Thou shalt be accountable. We all make mistakes. That does not give us license to blame someone else for them. There is no shame in admitting you don’t have all the answers. Yet there is shame in not being willing to look for them. — Reuters In this April 14, 1969 file photo, actress and singer In this April 28, 1972 file photo, American designer In this Jan 9, 1989 file photo, first lady Barbara Bush, Barbra Streisand wears a sequined Arnold Scaasi bell- Arnold Scaasi, center, walks with two models at his right, presents her inaugural gown, designed by bottomed sheer pantsuit as she poses with her Oscar for studio in Paris.

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