OFF GLASS

FASHION LEGEND ZELDA WYNN VALDES (1905-2001) WAS THE FIRST BLACK DESIGNER AND COSTUMER TO OPEN HER OWN SHOP, WHICH WAS ALSO THE FIRST BLACK OWNED BUSINESS ON BROADWAY IN 1948. VALDES IS CREDITED FOR OUTFITTING MANY STARS SUCH AS, GLADYS KNIGHT, DOROTHY DANDRIDGE, ELLA FITZGERALD, AND JOYCE BRYANT TO NAME A FEW.

SINGER DOROTHY DANDRIDGE, ZELDA WAS HER GO-TO-DESIGNER

CREATING OUTFITS FOR HER DOLLS AND CUTTING OUT PATTERNS FROM NEWSPAPER'S AS A CHILD WERE HER BEGINNING STEPS IN FASHION. FORTUNATE TO HAVE INSPIRATION AROUND HER, SHE STUDIED HER GRANDMOTHER'S WORK AS A SEAMSTRESS AND ALSO WORKED IN HER UNCLE'S TAILORING SHOP.


HER DESIGNS WERE BEST KNOWN FOR THE ACCENTUATING OF THE FEMALE FORM. IF SHE WAS STILL LIVING, I'M SURE BEYONCE WOULD BE ONE OF HER FAVORITE CLIENTS. HER WORK SPOKE FOR ITSELF AND OFTEN CONTAINED THE MERMAID LIKE CONCEPT WITH A TIGHT FIT AT THE TOP SHIFTING INTO A MORE FLARED FIT AT THE BOTTOM OF DRESSES.

Mae West loved to accentuate her curves with Zelda's designs.

DETERMINED TO BEAT THE ODDS AND TO SHAME THE DOUBTERS, SHE OPENED HER FIRST STORE ON BROADWAY AND WEST 158TH STREET. SHE TEAMED WITH HER SISTER MARY BARBOUR, WHO WORKED AS HER ASSISTANT WHILE SUPERVISING THE STAFF.

VALDES CLOSED THE STORE AT AGE 83 BECAUSE OF HEAVY TRAVELING AND  HER SISTER'S ILLNESS IN 2000. SHE LATER PASSED AT AGE 96 IN 2001.

FASHIONABLE FACTS: 








WE CELEBRATE ZELDA WYNN VALDES AND ALL OF HER ACHIEVEMENTS.