1908-1984

Antonio Canovas del Castillo del Rey, was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1908. He was born into a noble Spanish family. He studied at the Colegio del Pilar in Madrid, at the University of Madrid and at El Sacro Monte in Granada. He left Spain for France in 1936, at the onset of the Spanish Civil War.

From 1941 to 1949, Castillo designed dresses, jewellery and hats for the houses of Paquin and Piguet. He also designed accessories for Chanel. In 1945, Elizabeth Arden persuaded him to join her salon in New York and he worked there till 1950. He produced collections based on natural shoulder lines and slim silhouettes, topped with samell hats. He was also in demand during the 40's as a costume designer for the New York Metropolitan Opera Company and for several Broadway shows.

In 1950, he returned to Paris and joined the fashion house of Lanvin. Jeanne Lanvin, the founder of the house, had died in 1946 and the salon needed someone to maintain it's traditions. Here we are showing the front and back of a pale blue chiffon evening gown with a draped bodice, flowing skirt and a long flowing drape attached to the side. It was made for a family wedding in New Orleans in 1950.

In one of the first collections for the house, in 1951, he showed white satin evening gowns trimmed with mink fur. His following collections for Lanvin continued to produce designs based on her original Robes de Style, with close-fitting bodices and long flowing skirts.

He used soft fabrics for his coats and dresses which were often draped at the hip or paneled at the side. Between 1956 and 1960, capes featured often in his collections, fringed or triple-tiered in 1956 and floor length by 1960.

In 1962, Castillo left Lanvin and in 1964 opened his own house. He continued to create elegant clothes and elaborate costumes for private clients, the theatre and the moves, notably for the film Nicholas and Alexandra in 1971.

Castillo (like Balenciaga) admired greatly his Spanish heritage, and many of his designs reflect the dignity and grace of Spain. One of his designs in 1965 is called "lace cage" and it uses black lace in an A-line design which has a wonderful stately aura in a mature classic style. It was worn with a hat shaped like a Spanish mantilla.

In 197l Antonio Castillo designed the costumes for the American film on the Russian royal family, "Nicholas and Alexandra" starring Lawrence Olivier. He won an Academy Award (Oscar) for Costume Design for the film. A picture from the film is shown below.

Antonio Castillo died in 1984 at the age of 76.


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