Donald Brooks

Donald Brooks (January 9, 1928 – August 1, 2005) was an American fashion designer. He worked for the stage and film, designing over 3500 costumes. His efforts were recognized by an Emmy Award and numerous other honors; he was also nominated three times for the Academy Award and once for a Tony.

He was born as Donald Marc Blumberg in New Haven, Connecticut on January 9, 1928. Brooks attended Syracuse University followed by the Yale University School of Drama, where he first decided to become a costume and clothing designer. He studied design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and then the Parsons School of Design in New York. Brooks' first job in the fashion industry was as a window designer for department store Lord & Taylor. He attracted the attention of Dorothy Shaver, the store's president, who hired him to design a clothing line that year.

By the 1960s, Brooks was a preeminent figure in American fashion, cited by The New York Times as one of "the three B's of fashion" alongside Bill Blass and Geoffrey Beene. He opened his first store in 1963.

In addition to his work on Seventh Avenue, Mr. Brooks also designed the costumes for numerous Broadway plays, including Promises, Promises, No Strings, and Barefoot in the Park; television shows including The Letter, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles; and feature-length motion pictures such as Star!, Darling Lili and The Cardinal, being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for all three films. His awards include The New York Drama Critics Award, a Tony nomination, and the Emmy Award. He was also the recipient of three Coty Awards for fashion and the Parsons' Medal of Distinction.