Bill Blass Group: Difference between revisions

Bill Blass Group
Founded	1970
Headquarters	New York, NY
Key people	Bill Blass - Founder
Website	Bill Blass website

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Bill Blass Group replaces what was formerly Bill Blass Limited, a fashion house founded by American designer Bill Blass.

Bill Blass Limited

Designer Bill Blass began designing for Anna Miller in 1959, and his name began appearing on the label starting in 1960 after it merged with Maurice Rentner.^[1] He renamed the company Bill Blass Limited.^[2] After purchasing it in 1970,^[3] after making a name for himself with Rentner.^[4] This made him the first American designer to print his own name on his designs.^[5] He also created the Blassport medium-priced fashion line in 1972.^[6] Bill Blass Limited rose to prominence over the 1970s, being worn by individuals such as Jacqueline Kennedy to Gloria Vanderbilt.^[7]

The line expanded to include swimwear, furs, luggage, perfume, and chocolate, and Miles Socha wrote of the company in 1998 that the company had allowed “42 licenses in a wide variety of products, from furniture and lamps to handbags and fragrances, generating about $800 million in annual retail sales.”^[8] By this time, Blass considered retirement, and his last line as head of the company came with the Spring 2000 collection at New York City Fashion Week in September 1999.^[9] He sold the company for $50 million in 2000.^[5] From 2003 to 2007, Bill Blass Limited's head designer was Michaele Vollbracht. He resigned as head designer in early 2007,^[10] at about the same time as the company was acquired by Nexcen Brands in February 2007 through a $54.6 million cash and stock acquisition of the company.^[11] According to Ellin Saltzman in The New York Times, "He took American sportswear to its highest level … giving it a clean, modern, impeccable style… He, probably more than any designer knew his customer and understood her."^[12] Keystones of the brand identity include exuberant use of color, embellishment and the embodiment of the casual American spirit.

Bill Blass Group

Following the acquisition, Peter Som began designing Bill Blass womenswear and Michael Bastian would design the menswear line.^[13] In December 2008 Peacock International Holdings, LLC, purchased Bill Blass Limited, now known as Bill Blass Group, LLC. Following the acquisition of the brand, Peacock stated that it had plans to revive the Bill Blass couture line, which had been discontinued a few months prior to the purchase.^[14] The new head of the label would be Jeffrey Monteiro, who worked as head designer until 2012. Between the death of Blass and this point, six different designers had been hired and dismissed; the 2012 collections were cancelled upon Monteiro's firing.^[15]^[16]

In November 2014 – 2019, Chris Benz was appointed as Creative Director, as a part of a new rebranding effort.^[7] Benz stated that “I have forever admired and have deep respect for [Blass] as an original American designer.”^[17] An article republished from The New York Times on October 6, 2020, states that Benz has left the company.^[18]

References

^ Heinemann, Barbara Perso (2008). Fashioning an Artful Life: One Woman's Life History in Clothes. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-5494-0505-4. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ "Bill Bass Bio". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
^ Jackson, Kenneth T.; Lisa Keller & Nancy Flood (2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-3001-8257-6. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ Faircloth, Christopher (2009). Cleveland's Department Stores. Arcadia Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-7385-6076-2. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ ^a ^b Purvin, Francesca Sterlacci & Joanne Arbuckle (2007). Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Scarecrow Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-8108-6419-1. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ Snodgrass, Mary Ellen (2015). World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Social Influence. Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-3174-5167-9. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ ^a ^b Milligan, Lauren (October 20, 2014). "Chris Benz To Helm Bill Blass". Vogue. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ Socha, Miles (September 24, 1998). "BLASS IS BLACK -- IN JEANS". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ Brady, Thomas J. (September 18, 1999). "Bill Blass Shows Spring Line And Says It Is His Last, Really". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ Bennett, Lennie (February 28, 2009). "Michael Vollbracht's fashions are for women of a certain age, size and income". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ Plunkett's Apparel & Textiles Industry Almanac 2008. Plunkett Research. 2008. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-5939-2110-1. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ Nemy, Enid (June 13, 2002). "Bill Blass, Whose Clothes Gave Casual an Elegant Air, Dies at 79". The New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
^ Amed, Imran (July 27, 2007). "Bill Blass: The Peter Som and Michael Bastian tag team". Business of Fashion. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
^ Tan, Cheryl (December 29, 2008). "Bill Blass's New Owner Plans to Revive Couture Line". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
^ Wilson, Eric (December 16, 2009). "Things Start to Stir at the Blass House". The New York Times.
^ Wilson, Eric (August 6, 2012). "Bill Blass Fires Designer. Again". The New York Times.
^ "Bill Blass Names Chris Benz As Creative Director" (PDF) (Press release). Bill Blass Group. October 30, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-08. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
^ Thomas, Dana. "How many lives can a fashion brand have?". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2021 – via Bdnews24.com.

External links

Official website

[1] Heinemann, Barbara Perso (2008). Fashioning an Artful Life: One Woman's Life History in Clothes. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-5494-0505-4. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[FDM_Bill_Bass_2013-2] "Bill Bass Bio". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 26 July 2013.

[Jackson-3] Jackson, Kenneth T.; Lisa Keller & Nancy Flood (2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-3001-8257-6. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[4] Faircloth, Christopher (2009). Cleveland's Department Stores. Arcadia Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-7385-6076-2. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[Purvin-5] Purvin, Francesca Sterlacci & Joanne Arbuckle (2007). Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Scarecrow Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-8108-6419-1. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[6] Snodgrass, Mary Ellen (2015). World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Social Influence. Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-3174-5167-9. Retrieved April 15, 2015.

[Milligan-7] Milligan, Lauren (October 20, 2014). "Chris Benz To Helm Bill Blass". Vogue. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[8] Socha, Miles (September 24, 1998). "BLASS IS BLACK -- IN JEANS". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[Brady-9] Brady, Thomas J. (September 18, 1999). "Bill Blass Shows Spring Line And Says It Is His Last, Really". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[10] Bennett, Lennie (February 28, 2009). "Michael Vollbracht's fashions are for women of a certain age, size and income". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[11] Plunkett's Apparel & Textiles Industry Almanac 2008. Plunkett Research. 2008. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-5939-2110-1. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[12] Nemy, Enid (June 13, 2002). "Bill Blass, Whose Clothes Gave Casual an Elegant Air, Dies at 79". The New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved December 12, 2021.

[13] Amed, Imran (July 27, 2007). "Bill Blass: The Peter Som and Michael Bastian tag team". Business of Fashion. Retrieved December 12, 2021.

[14] Tan, Cheryl (December 29, 2008). "Bill Blass's New Owner Plans to Revive Couture Line". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2015.

[15] Wilson, Eric (December 16, 2009). "Things Start to Stir at the Blass House". The New York Times.

[16] Wilson, Eric (August 6, 2012). "Bill Blass Fires Designer. Again". The New York Times.

[announcement_chris_benz-17] "Bill Blass Names Chris Benz As Creative Director" (PDF) (Press release). Bill Blass Group. October 30, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-08. Retrieved December 12, 2021.

[18] Thomas, Dana. "How many lives can a fashion brand have?". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2021 – via Bdnews24.com.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox company
 | name   = Bill Blass Group
-| logo   = [[File:BB LOGO Black.png|80px]]
+| logo   = BB LOGO Black.png
 | type   =
 | foundation     = 1970
-| location       =   [[New York City|New York, NY]]
+| location       = [[New York City|New York, NY]]
-| key_people     = [[Bill Blass (designer)|Bill Blass - Founder]] and [[Chris Benz|Chris Benz - Creative director]]
+| key_people     = [[Bill Blass (designer)|Bill Blass - Founder]]
+| website        = [http://www.billblass.com/ Bill Blass website]
 }}
-'''Bill Blass Group''' replaces what was formerly Bill Blass Limited, a fashion house founded by American designer [[Bill Blass (designer)|Bill Blass]]. [[Chris Benz]] is the Creative Director of the group.
+'''Bill Blass Group''' replaces what was formerly Bill Blass Limited, a fashion house founded by American designer [[Bill Blass (designer)|Bill Blass]].
 ==Bill Blass Limited==
-Designer Bill Blass began designing for Anna Miller in 1959, and his name began appearing on the label starting in 1960 after it merged with [[Maurice Rentner]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSqL94evfOsC&pg=PA118&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1DgxVavsCMvOsQTr94CQDg&ved=0CF4Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |page=118 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Fashioning an Artful Life: One Woman's Life History in Clothes |author=Barbara Perso Heinemann |year=2008}}</ref> He renamed the company Bill Blass Limited.<ref name="FDM Bill Bass 2013">{{cite web | url=http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/bill-blass/ | title=Bill Bass Bio | publisher=FMD | accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref> after purchasing it in 1970,<ref name=Jackson>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lI5ERUmHf3YC&pg=PT670&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=MDkxVZrGEpDisATCpYCYCw&ved=0CCUQ6AEwADgU#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |title=The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |author=Kenneth T. Jackson, Lisa Keller, and Nancy Flood |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2010}}</ref> after making a name for himself with Rentner.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=omiFuQfkSwwC&pg=PA67&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ITkxVbfuFsnfsAS30oGgAg&ved=0CCUQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |page=67 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Cleveland's Department Stores |author=Christopher Faircloth |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2009}}</ref> This made him the first American designer to print his own name on his designs.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BYAXAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA23&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1DgxVavsCMvOsQTr94CQDg&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry |page=23 |author=Francesca Sterlacci Purvin and Joanne Arbuckle |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2007}}</ref> He also created the Blassport medium-priced fashion line in 1972.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gO9nBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA68&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1DgxVavsCMvOsQTr94CQDg&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |accessdate=April 15, 2015 |title=World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Social Influence |page=68 |author=Mary Ellen Snodgrass |publisher=Routledge |year=2015}}</ref> Bill Blass Limited rose to prominence over the 1970s, being worn by individuals such as [[Jacqueline Kennedy]] to [[Gloria Vanderbilt]].<ref name=Milligan />
+Designer Bill Blass began designing for Anna Miller in 1959, and his name began appearing on the label starting in 1960 after it merged with Maurice Rentner.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSqL94evfOsC&q=bill+blass+limited&pg=PA118 |page=118 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Fashioning an Artful Life: One Woman's Life History in Clothes |first=Barbara Perso |last=Heinemann |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-5494-0505-4}}</ref> He renamed the company Bill Blass Limited.<ref name="FDM Bill Bass 2013">{{cite web| url=http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/bill-blass/| title=Bill Bass Bio| website=Fashion Model Directory| accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref> After purchasing it in 1970,<ref name=Jackson>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lI5ERUmHf3YC&q=bill+blass+limited&pg=PT670 |title=The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |first1=Kenneth T. |last1=Jackson |author2=Lisa Keller |author3=Nancy Flood  |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-3001-8257-6}}</ref> after making a name for himself with Rentner.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=omiFuQfkSwwC&q=bill+blass+limited&pg=PA67 |page=67 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Cleveland's Department Stores |first=Christopher |last=Faircloth |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7385-6076-2}}</ref> This made him the first American designer to print his own name on his designs.<ref name="Purvin"/> He also created the Blassport medium-priced fashion line in 1972.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gO9nBwAAQBAJ&q=bill+blass+limited&pg=PA68 |accessdate=April 15, 2015 |title=World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Social Influence |page=68 |first=Mary Ellen |last=Snodgrass |publisher=Routledge |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-3174-5167-9}}</ref> Bill Blass Limited rose to prominence over the 1970s, being worn by individuals such as [[Jacqueline Kennedy]] to [[Gloria Vanderbilt]].<ref name=Milligan/>
-The line expanded to include swimwear, furs, luggage, perfume, and chocolate, and Miles Socha wrote of the company in 1998 that the company had allowed “42 licenses in a wide variety of products, from furniture and lamps to handbags and fragrances, generating about $800 million in annual retail sales.”<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-21159525.html |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=BLASS IS BLACK -- IN JEANS |publisher=WWD |date=September 24, 1998 |author=Miles Socha}}</ref> By this time, Blass considered retirement, and his last line as head of the company came with the Spring 2000 collection at New York City Fashion Week in September 1999.<ref name=Brady>{{cite news |url=http://articles.philly.com/1999-09-18/living/25487402_1_fashion-show-comden-and-green-malachy-mccourt |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |date=September 18, 1999 |publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer |title=Bill Blass Shows Spring Line And Says It Is His Last, Really |author=Thomas J. Brady}}</ref> He sold the company for $50 million in 2000.<ref name=Purvin>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BYAXAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA23&dq=bill+blass+limited&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1DgxVavsCMvOsQTr94CQDg&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=bill%20blass%20limited&f=false |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry |page=23 |author=Francesca Sterlacci Purvin and Joanne Arbuckle |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2007}}</ref>
+The line expanded to include swimwear, furs, luggage, perfume, and chocolate, and Miles Socha wrote of the company in 1998 that the company had allowed “42 licenses in a wide variety of products, from furniture and lamps to handbags and fragrances, generating about $800 million in annual retail sales.”<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-21159525.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414050254/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-21159525.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=BLASS IS BLACK -- IN JEANS |journal=[[Women's Wear Daily]] |date=September 24, 1998 |first=Miles |last=Socha}}</ref> By this time, Blass considered retirement, and his last line as head of the company came with the Spring 2000 collection at New York City Fashion Week in September 1999.<ref name=Brady>{{cite news |url=http://articles.philly.com/1999-09-18/living/25487402_1_fashion-show-comden-and-green-malachy-mccourt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919180608/http://articles.philly.com/1999-09-18/living/25487402_1_fashion-show-comden-and-green-malachy-mccourt |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 19, 2015 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |date=September 18, 1999 |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |title=Bill Blass Shows Spring Line And Says It Is His Last, Really |first=Thomas J. |last=Brady}}</ref> He sold the company for $50 million in 2000.<ref name=Purvin>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BYAXAAAAQBAJ&q=bill+blass+limited&pg=PA23 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry |page=23 |first1=Francesca Sterlacci |last1=Purvin |author2=Joanne Arbuckle |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8108-6419-1}}</ref>
-From 2003 to 2007, Bill Blass Limited’s head designer was Michaele Vollbracht. He resigned as head designer in early 2007,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/fashion/michael-vollbrachts-fashions-are-for-women-of-a-certain-age-size-and-income/979863 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Michael Vollbracht's fashions are for women of a certain age, size and income |publisher=Tampa Bay Times |author=Lennie Bennett |date=February 28, 2009}}</ref> at about the same time as the company was acquired by Nexcen Brands in February 2007 through a $54.6 million cash and stock acquisition of the company.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y6U9nmaeM1gC&pg=PT164&lpg=PT164&dq=Nexcen+Brands+acquires+Bill+Blass+$54.6+million&source=bl&ots=KeSNt5GYiS&sig=OZ31Gu1LnTTqTU2jJMVSKxD98KM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Py0xVaipJdaSsQSq7YDoDg&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Nexcen%20Brands%20acquires%20Bill%20Blass%20%2454.6%20million&f=false |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Plunkett's Apparel & Textiles Industry Almanac 2008 |publisher=Plunkett Research |page=164 |year=2008}}</ref> According to Ellin Saltzman in the ''[[New York Times]]'', "He took [[American sportswear]] to its highest level … giving it a clean, modern, impeccable style… He, probably more than any designer knew his customer and understood her."<ref>{{Citation  | last = Nemy  | first = Enid  | title = Bill Blass, Whose Clothes Gave Casual an Elegant Air, Dies at 79  | newspaper = The New York Times  | pages = A1  | date = 13 Jun 2002}}</ref> Keystones of the brand identity include exuberant use of color, embellishment and the embodiment of the casual American spirit.
+From 2003 to 2007, Bill Blass Limited's head designer was Michaele Vollbracht. He resigned as head designer in early 2007,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/fashion/michael-vollbrachts-fashions-are-for-women-of-a-certain-age-size-and-income/979863 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Michael Vollbracht's fashions are for women of a certain age, size and income |newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |first=Lennie |last=Bennett |date=February 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025618/http://www.tampabay.com/features/fashion/michael-vollbrachts-fashions-are-for-women-of-a-certain-age-size-and-income/979863 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> at about the same time as the company was acquired by Nexcen Brands in February 2007 through a $54.6 million cash and stock acquisition of the company.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y6U9nmaeM1gC&q=Nexcen+Brands+acquires+Bill+Blass+$54.6+million&pg=PT164 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Plunkett's Apparel & Textiles Industry Almanac 2008 |publisher=Plunkett Research |page=164 |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-5939-2110-1}}</ref> According to Ellin Saltzman in ''[[The New York Times]]'', "He took [[American sportswear]] to its highest level … giving it a clean, modern, impeccable style… He, probably more than any designer knew his customer and understood her."<ref>{{cite news| last=Nemy| first=Enid| title=Bill Blass, Whose Clothes Gave Casual an Elegant Air, Dies at 79| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/13/nyregion/bill-blass-whose-clothes-gave-casual-an-elegant-air-dies-at-79.html| newspaper=The New York Times| page=A1| date=June 13, 2002| access-date=December 12, 2021| url-access=subscription}}</ref> Keystones of the brand identity include exuberant use of color, embellishment and the embodiment of the casual American spirit.
 ==Bill Blass Group==
+Following the acquisition, Peter Som began designing Bill Blass womenswear and Michael Bastian would design the menswear line.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/bill-blass-the-peter-som-and-michael-bastian-tag-team/ |journal=Business of Fashion |title=Bill Blass: The Peter Som and Michael Bastian tag team |first=Imran |last=Amed |author-link=Imran Amed |date=July 27, 2007 |access-date=December 12, 2021}}</ref> In December 2008 Peacock International Holdings, LLC, purchased Bill Blass Limited, now known as Bill Blass Group, LLC. Following the acquisition of the brand, Peacock stated that it had plans to revive the Bill Blass couture line, which had been discontinued a few months prior to the purchase.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2008/12/29/bill-blasss-new-owners-plan-to-revive-couture-line/ |date=December 29, 2008 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Bill Blass's New Owner Plans to Revive Couture Line |first=Cheryl |last=Tan |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The new head of the label would be Jeffrey Monteiro, who worked as head designer until 2012. Between the death of Blass and this point, six different designers had been hired and dismissed; the 2012 collections were cancelled upon Monteiro's firing.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/fashion/17ROW.html |title=Things Start to Stir at the Blass House |first=Eric |last=Wilson |date=December 16, 2009 |newspaper=The New York Times |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/bill-blass-fires-designer-again/ |title=Bill Blass Fires Designer. Again. |first=Eric |last=Wilson |date=August 6, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
-[[File:Chris Benz pict w logo sm.jpg|thumb]]
-Following the acquisition, Peter Som began designing Bill Blass womenswear and Michael Bastian would design the menswear line.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/global-currents/bill-blass-the-peter-som-and-michael-bastian-tag-team |publisher=Business of Fashion |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title= Bill Blass: The Peter Som and Michael Bastian tag team |author=Imran Amed |date=July 27, 2007}}</ref> In December 2008 Peacock International Holdings, LLC, purchased Bill Blass Limited, now known as Bill Blass Group, LLC. Following the acquisition of the brand, Peacock stated that it had plans to revive the Bill Blass couture line, which had been discontinued a few months prior to the purchase.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2008/12/29/bill-blasss-new-owners-plan-to-revive-couture-line/ |date=December 29, 2008 |publisher=Wall Street Journal |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |title=Bill Blass’s New Owner Plans to Revive Couture Line |author=Cheryl Tan}}</ref> The new head of the label would be Jeffrey Monteiro, who worked as head designer until 2012. Between the death of Blass and this point, six different designers had been hired and dismissed; the 2012 collections were cancelled upon Monteiro’s firing.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/fashion/17ROW.html?_r=0</ref><ref>http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/bill-blass-fires-designer-again/</ref>
+In November 2014 – 2019, [[Chris Benz]] was appointed as Creative Director, as a part of a new rebranding effort.<ref name=Milligan>{{cite journal |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/10/30/bill-blass-names-chris-benz-designer-for-relaunch |journal=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]] |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |date=October 20, 2014 |title=Chris Benz To Helm Bill Blass |first=Lauren |last=Milligan}}</ref> Benz stated that “I have forever admired and have deep respect for [Blass] as an original American designer.”<ref name="announcement_chris_benz">{{cite press release |url=http://billblass.com/Chris%20Benz_Creative%20Director_Announcement.pdf |title=Bill Blass Names Chris Benz As Creative Director |accessdate=December 12, 2021 |url-status=dead |date=October 30, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208032034/http://billblass.com/Chris%20Benz_Creative%20Director_Announcement.pdf |archivedate=2014-12-08 |publisher=Bill Blass Group}}</ref> An article republished from ''[[The New York Times]]'' on October 6, 2020, states that Benz has left the company.<ref>{{cite news| title=How many lives can a fashion brand have?| first=Dana| last=Thomas| newspaper=The New York Times| url=https://bdnews24.com/Fashion/2020/10/06/how-many-lives-can-a-fashion-brand-have| via=[[Bdnews24.com]]| access-date=December 12, 2021}}</ref>
-Bill Blass Group, LLC named merchandising executive Stuart M. Goldblatt in September, 2014 as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Goldblatt is committed to the reinvention and relaunch of the Bill Blass.<ref name="announcement_chris_benz">http://billblass.com/Chris%20Benz_Creative%20Director_Announcement.pdf</ref>
-In November 2014, [[Chris Benz]] was appointed as Creative Director, as a part of a new rebranding effort.<ref name=Milligan>{{cite web |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/10/30/bill-blass-names-chris-benz-designer-for-relaunch |publisher=Vogue |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |date=October 20, 2014 |title=Chris Benz To Helm Bill Blass |author=Lauren Milligan}}</ref> Benz stated that “I have forever admired and have deep respect for [Blass] as an original American designer.”<ref name="announcement_chris_benz"/>
 ==References==
-{{reflist|2}}
+{{reflist}}
 ==External links==
+* {{official website|http://www.billblass.com/ }}
-{{style.com|BILBLASS|title=Bill Blass}}
+[[Category:Clothing brands of the United States]]
+[[Category:Clothing manufacturers]]
 [[Category:High fashion brands]]
-[[Category:Companies established in 1970]]
+[[Category:American companies established in 1970]]
-[[Category:American fashion designers]]
+[[Category:Clothing companies established in 1970]]
+[[Category:Design companies established in 1970]]
+[[Category:1970s fashion]]