Joe Allen Hong | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 28, 1930 El Paso, Texas, United States |
| Died |
February 28, 2004 (aged 73) San Francisco, California, United States |
| Occupation | Clothing Designer for Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas and an artist/designer in California and globally. |
Joe Allen Hong (November 28, 1930 – February 28, 2004) was an American fashion designer.
Hong was born in El Paso, Texas to immigrant parents—a Chinese father, Joseph Hong and a Mexican mother, Refugio (Ruth) Luján Pedrueza. His family moved to California's Central Valley where he graduated from Stockton High School in 1948. He attended California College of Arts and Crafts. He served in the United States Army until December 1955 and was stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas.[1][which?]
In 1956, Hong became a fashion designer for the growing department store chain Neiman Marcus. For his first major professional assignment Lawrence Marcus asked him to compete in the contest to design Grace Kelly's bridesmaids' gowns for her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.[2] Marcus scouted Monaco's Saint Nicholas Cathedral in a prenuptial visit and provided ideas based upon the building's architecture, decor, and general surroundings, which Hong then worked into the winning design. BUT, Grace Kelly chose designer PRISCILLA KIDDER of BOSTON to design her bridesmaids' gowns. Ms. Kidder went on to create the wedding gowns of Luci Baines Johnson, Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon Cox. Her Fashionable Newbury St. store, The Brides Shop served a plethora of debutantes and brides.
Hong never married and eventually settled in San Francisco, California. His design projects extended far beyond clothing and included posters for the San Francisco Zoo as well as gift boxes for Joseph Magnin Co. Friends said his love of San Francisco and the Italian-influenced North Beach neighborhood was reflected in his art.
He also illustrated Helen Corbitt Cookbook published on January 1, 1957.
At his death in 2004, he was survived by three brothers and a sister.[2][3][4]
References[]
- ↑ Riehl, Patricia. "Dallas Designer Works on Gowns For Grace Kelly's Bridesmaids", Daily World, volume XVII, volume 63, Opelousas, Louisiana, March 21, 1956, page 35.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bulwa, Demian (2004-03-29). "Memorial scheduled for designer Joe Allen Hong". SFGate. Hearst Communications. http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-03-29/bay-area/17416165_1_high-fashion-north-beach-merced-county.
- ↑ "Fashion Hall of Obscurity – Joe Allen Hong | Jonathan Walford's Blog". http://kickshawproductions.com/blog/?p=1099.
- ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=JE5ITOBYBJUC&pg=PT20&lpg=PT20&dq=%22lawrence+marcus%22+joe+hong&source=bl&ots=cg7KKCPiVQ&sig=jzR-_ey2f66jOtG2nvwoqEYFXAE&hl=en&ei=Per7TOi0OMKAlAfk3tiMBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
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