Recognized for the understated but wholly glamorous fashions he introduced in the 1970s, and revered today for his vintage dresses, sunglasses, handbags and other enduring designs, Roy Halston Frowick defined the spare, body-conscious style of the so-called Studio 54 era. In doing so, he became a legend himself, known simply as Halston, a lean moniker that represented the visionary minimalist ideals he would inject into the world of fashion.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa — but raised in Evansville, Indiana — Halston moved to Chicago in 1952, where he worked as a window dresser by day and studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago at night. In the late 1950s, he moved to New York City. As the hat designer for Bergdorf Goodman, he had his first encounter with fame in 1961 when Jackie Kennedy wore a pillbox hat he designed to President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. Less than a decade later, after hats fell out of fashion and sales plummeted, Halston launched his own ready-to-wear line and opened a Madison Avenue boutique.
One of Halston’s early successes was the sexy Ultrasuede shirtdress, an unassuming adaptation of a man’s oxford shirt introduced in 1972 that became a fashion staple for the well-dressed woman. Named for a washable synthetic fabric that evokes the feel of suede — Halston is said to have previously seen innovative designer Issey Miyake wearing the material — the Ultrasuede shirtdress was cut to complement many figures with buttons that began at the breastbone rather than at the garment’s structured neckline. In one season, 60,000 were sold. Ultrasuede became a Halston signature, and he would use the fabric in coats, luggage and other items.
But it was his seductively simple nightlife designs that made Halston an international name. Often cut on the bias or sewn with single seams, his garments were constructed to flatter the female form like no evening gowns that had come before, popularizing such styles as the halter dress. “Halston brought a spark of the divine to everything he did,” said model Pat Cleveland during an interview about the 2021 Netflix series based on his life.
And, for a while, the designer was as ubiquitous in the clubs as his designs. “For two decades, [Halston] was the king of New York nightlife,” wrote Steven Gaines in Vanity Fair. He was a regular at Studio 54, partying with the likes of Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli and his Halstonettes, his coterie of glamorous models and muses that included Elsa Peretti. The close friend and collaborator of Halston’s transformed diamond jewelry for Tiffany & Co. after signing a contract with the storied American luxury house in 1974.
Halston won four Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards over the course of his career. In 1973, he sold his company to Norton Simon, and in the early 1980s, it switched ownership again. By 1984, neither his name nor his company were his own. Halston continued to work, however. He collaborated with close friend and legendary choreographer Martha Graham, designing critically acclaimed costumes for her, including for her dance work Persephone in 1987. Halston died of complications from AIDS in 1990.
Today, Halston’s designs can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and more.
Find vintage Halston clothing and fashion accessories today on 1stDibs.
1970s Halston Size 12 / 14 Perwinkle Print Silk Damask Vintage 70s Wrap Dress
By Roy Halston Frowick, Halston
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic and classic late 1970s HALSTON periwinkle print silk damask Avant Garde wrap dress and sash! Features periwinkles printed in vibrant hues of red, purple and green throughout. Wr...
1970s Halston Lipstick Red Silk Chiffon Vintage 70s Wrap Cape Dress
By Halston, Roy Halston Frowick
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing 1970s HALSTON lipstick red silk chiffon dress with attached cape ! Wrap style with interior snap and two hook-and-eye closures and ela...
1970s Halston Red Jersey Maxi Dress with Cape
By Roy Halston Frowick, Halston
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1970s Halston Red matte jersey cap sleeves dress with large cape ( 2 pcs) Beautiful Red. Fit size US 0/2/ 4
Halston 1970s Brown Rust H Logo Buckles Two Piece Vintage 70s Bikini Swimsuit
By Halston, Roy Halston Frowick
Located in San Diego, CA
Another 1970s HALSTON brown / rust two piece bikini swimsuit ! This is one of five swimsuits from a halstonette model herself. Ivory colored lucite buckles in the signature H shape. ...
1970s HALSTON Black Beaded Silk Halter Jumpsuit
By Halston
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
70s Halston black silk beaded V neck halter jumpsuit with open back. Perfect for cocktail party. Bust: 32”/ Waist: 25” /Hip: 34” Best fit size: 2/XS
Halston Nude Washable Ultrasuede Belted Tunic and Pant Safari Set - M, 1970s
By Halston
Located in Tucson, AZ
Designers Roy Halston and Yves Saint Laurent both revolutionized women's daywear by introducing safari collections that incorporated practical elements like large pockets, hoods and drawstrings into the clothing newly-liberated women favored. This two-piece ensemble goes one step further with Halston's signature use of ultrasuede, which is both machine washable and dryable. Vintage pant...
1970s Halston Ultra Suede Tan Brown Vintage 70s Fedora Hat
By Roy Halston Frowick, Halston
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 1970s HALSTON ultra suede tan fedora hat ! Features the soft versatile ultra suede Halston was known for. Can easily be washed in the washing ...
Off-white pleated shirt with bow tie HALSTON III
By Halston
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Off-white pleated shirt with bow tie. Fabric composition: 100% polyester. Button and buttonhole closure on the middle front. Small thread loop behind the neck to hold the scarf. S...
1970s Halston Kelly Green Silk 3/4 Sleeves Vintage 70s Shirt Dress w/ Pockets
By Roy Halston Frowick, Halston
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic classic 1970s HALSTON 3/4 sleeves silk shirt dress ! Buttons up the front. Pockets at each side of the waist. The perfect dress for anytime of year. Very well made with heavy at...
Halston Nile Green Bias Silk Velvet
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
Halston at his refined purest. A simple wrap blouse and slim skirt both completely cut on the bias in the deepest Nile green velvet. Effortless and timeless...
1970's Halston Black Sheer Bias Cut Silk Chiffon Slip Dress w/Cowl Neckline
By Halston
Located in Studio City, CA
1970's Halston black sheer bias cut silk chiffon dress with cowl neckline and 3/4" sleeves. Comes with a triple layered bias cut silk chiffon slip with nude colored straps. In excell...
Halston silk charmeuse strapless gown
By Halston
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Halston gown in silk charmeuse. A very architectural look, the bodice wraps around the body ending in the bias cut skirt with high front slit. Interi...
1970s Halston Black Label Couture Jersey Dress
By Halston
Located in London, GB
An absolutely superb and collectable Halston black label couture 1970s goddess dress. Halston clearly took inspiration from an earlier era and this has elements of 1940s and 1950s fa...
1970S Halston Cream Beaded Silk Cocktail Dress
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
1970S Halston Cream Beaded Silk Cocktail Dress
$1,485Sale Price|29% Off
Rare Halston Cashmere Red Maxi dress
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
This True American classic! Rare Halston Cashmere in American Red. The back shoulder-to-shoulder measures 12 inches, the sleeves are 9 1/2 inches, and...
Rare Halston Silk Floral Boat-Neck Sheath with Optional Tie
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
The iconic Halston's wonderful silk floral boat-neck sheath has multi-colors of bursting florals over a red-on-red roses print underneath. The matching self-tie belt measures 5 in...
F/W 1997 Halston by Randolph Duke Runway Black Cowl Neck Beaded Dress
By Halston, Randolph Duke
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Shimmer and shine in this incredible Halston by Randolph Duke Fall/Winter 1997 runway dress. This ultra-chic knee-length dress features a plunging cowl neckline and is amped up with ...
Halston Coco Brown Mongolian Lamb Hat
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
This Very rare Vintage Halston Mongolian lamb in coco-brown is so fun to wear and at the same time will keep you warm during those cold months ahe...
1970S HALSTON Red Silk Chiffon Oversized Mini Cocktail Dress Covered In Bugle B
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
1970S HALSTON Red Silk Chiffon Oversized Mini Cocktail Dress Covered In Bugle Beads
Vintage Halston Beaded Black Jersey Evening Gown
By Halston
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Halston black jersey bias cut evening gown with asymmetrical beaded panels, low neckline, deep V at back, long sleeves, and slit. Excellent Vi...
Halston Brown Suede & Metallic Gold Leather Handbag
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
Halston's warm brown suede with metallic gold calfskin leather has details of superb top stitching along with metallic gold piping throughout this handbag. The straps can be de...
Halston Rare Midnight Blue with Ivory Floral Silk Chiffon Scarf
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
Halston's rare midnight-blue accented with ivory floral silk chiffon scarf measures 19 1/2 inches by 19 1/2 inches. Borders are hand-rolled. Made in Japan.
1970S HALSTON Purple Silk Chiffon Metallic Studded Ensemble
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
All over subtle fading and some pin holes please note photos for condition. Priced as is. 1970S HALSTON Purple Silk Chiffon Metallic Studded Ensem...
1970s Halston Beaded & Gold Pearl Organza Sleeveless Tunic Top
By Halston
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Halston, according to some, invented the American look. With many of innovations in fabrications, Halston’s appeal is in the elegance of simplicity. Reflected in this 1970s vintage tunic, Halton designs tend to boast a demure silhouette and an exquisite fabric detail or vice-versa. Hand embroidered with thousands of gold, glass bugle beads and pearls this sleeveless tunic references the Byzantine era. The detailed embroidery creates a swilling motif as the visual labyrinth moves across the silk organza base. In between areas of beading, open crochet accents add additional texture to the garment. The circular rhythm is continued in the rounded scoop neck like and the slightly curved hem that sweeps up on either side into two slits. A dazzling garment such as this works wonders...
Halston Burnt Orange Ultrasuede Dress, Circa 1970s
By Halston, Roy Halston Frowick
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Iconic vintage Halston ultrasuede shirt dress. notch collar. long sleeves. loose fitting silhouette. 5 button closure. ✩ Roy Halston is credited with bringing the ultrasuede fabric ...
Halston Dolman Sleeve Dress 1970s
By Halston
Located in Water Mill, NY
A silk blend sheath dress in a gorgeous shade pink from Halston. It has a soft V neckline, dolman sleeves with a self covered button at the wrists, and side seam pockets. The dress ...
Halston Silk Crepe Faux Wrap Dress
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
Halston's Deceptively Easy Pullover Silk Crepe Faux Wrap Dress printed with colorful pomegranates on a beige ground. Designed as a faux wrap dress which is closed at the waist in a s...
1970s Halston For Study Design Flower Silk Crepe Vintage 70s Tunic + Trousers
By Roy Halston Frowick, Halston
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage 70s HALSTON silk crepe tunic top and wide leg pants ! This would be best for design inspiration / study, as there are multiple tears and holes—some of which have b...
Vintage Halston 1970s Optical Illusion Black + Khaki 70s Trapeze Dress
By Halston
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare 1970s HALSTON black and khaki optical illusion trapeze dress! Khaki top portion looks as if a bolero jacket is being worn over a black strapless dress. ...
Halston Crinkle Cotton Striped Day Dress
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless Halston Crinkle Chocolate Cotton Striped Day Dress in a shirtwaist style with self belt. Deep dolman sleeves have stripes running lengthwise. Old stock with additional buttons. Lightweight cotton, with dyed mother of pearl buttons. Size 12 Vintage...
Silver Sequins and beaded top Halston
By Halston
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Full embroidered top on a nude color chiffon base
1970’s Halston Silver Crochet Skull Cap with Sequins
By Halston
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Roy Halston Frowick began his career as a hat designer. He was best known for his pillbox style creations before expanding into women's wear and revolutionizing the way his jet set clients dressed for daytime to disco nights. This rainbow sequin and silver knit crochet hat...
Rare Halston Ivory Wool Felt Hat with Silk Ribbon Accents
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
This wonderful rare Halston's ivory wool felt hat is accented with a wide 3" silk ribbon. The interior circumference measures 22", exterior circumference measures 42". Height measur...
Halston Metallic Gold Lame "Point" Evening Skirt
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
This wonderfully classic for the 80s metallic gold lame skirt measures 39" on center front, and 27" at the shortest point. Skirt is cut on the bias...
HALSTON Black Stretch Silk One Shoulder Dress Size 38
By Halston
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Halston dress is composed of a black stretch silk and features a one shoulder design with gathers. Pull over style. In excellent condition. **Please cross-reference measu...
Vintage Halston Black Abstract Striped Silk Dress Coat, 1970s
By Halston
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Halston is considered by some to be the quintessential American designer. His impact in the world of fashion was his particular understanding of comfortable clothing that was easy to...
1970s Halston Black and White Heart Print Button-Down Shirt and Skirt
By Halston
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Halston button-down shirt and skirt Black polyester with white hearts print Buttons closure on top Hook and eye closure on skirt Tailored in Hong Kong Skirt waist is 27 inches Ski...
Halston Cashmere Knitted Dress, 2000s
By Halston
Located in New York, NY
Halston cashmere knitted dress with decor made of metal elements. Additional information: Fabric: 100% cashmere Size: XS-S Period: 2000s Condition: V...