Beverly Hills Fashion Designer Who Dressed Nancy Reagan Dies in West Hollywood

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA — James Galanos, the famous fashion designer who created one-of-kind dresses for both of Nancy Reagan's inaugural gowns, died Sunday in West Hollywood, the Associated Press reported. He was 92.

His death was announced by his friend and fellow fashion designer, Ralph Rucci.

"I loved him very much," Rucci said. "There could never have been a Ralph Rucci without Galanos."

Galanos was born on Sept. 20, 1924 in Philadelphia as the only son to Greek-born parents. He got his start in the fashion industry as the assistant to Paris designer Robert Piguet, in the 1940s when the fashion houses in Europe were beginning to recover following World War II.

In 1951, Galanos decided to make his fortune in California and opened his own shop, Galanos Originals, in Beverly Hills in 1952. His collection caught the eye of Stanley Marcus, the president of Neiman-Marcus, and soon became a household name. Galanos' clothes could be seen on Hollywood stars, including Rosalind Russell, Diana Ross and Judy Garland.

At tender age of 30, Galanos won the prestigious Coty American Fashion Critics Award in 1954. He retired from fashion in 1988 but still managed to make his mark in the fashion world. In 2002, Galanos blasted the industry for catering only to young women with perfect bodies.

When Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980, it made perfect sense for Nancy Reagan to select Galanos to design her gown. He designed her inaugural gown when she became California's first lady 14 years earlier.

"Nobody could afford to dress completely with Jimmy," Nancy Reagan told People magazine in 1980. "I hang on to what I have."

His vintage gowns are still a favorite of many of today's Hollywood stars, including Renée Zellweger, Nicole Kidman and Jessica Alba among others.

Galanos was not married is survived by niece, Diana Vincent, who is a jewelry designer.

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