LEGACY OF ELNORA BESS 1911-2006

The legacy of Elnora Bess (1911 - 2006), New Haven Fashion Designer, Milliner, Owner of Modeling School highlighted and celebrated during the 15th Annual African American Women's Summit,which took place on Saturday March 20, 2010 at the Wexler Grant School.A brief panel discussion/workshop about her fashion history and a premier showing during lunch of selected“Elnora’s Fashions”transformed from sketches to fashion garments made by Joyce Pearson-Waller made the salute a top notch recognition.
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Born in 1911 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Elnora Smith Bess moved to New Haven, Connecticut in 1935 . Bess told her biographer that in 1938, she entered a scholarship contest sponsored by the Pittsburgh School of Art and was first-place winner in a field of 200 competitors. However, once she submitted her photograph, the College wrote that their scholarship was limited to Whites only.
Undeterred, Bess went on to study at the respected McDowell School in New York City. Bess completed her studies in fashion designing and her work transcended racial barriers. Bess was the Designer of Elnora’s Fashions, Owner of Elnora’s Modeling School, the First Charm and Fashion School serving African Americans in state of Connecticut and Bess was the first African American woman to sponsor New Haven’s first Fashion Show for African Americans with African American fashion models, held at the historic Varick AMEZion Church on Dixwell Avenue in New Haven. Her fashions were featured throughout the city of New Haven. Known as the LEADING African-American fashion designer in the city during her era of service mainly in the twentieth century, Bess mentored many young talents. Bess died in New Haven, Connecticut in 2006.

Posthumously Bess’s fashion sketches were once again brought to public attention when exhibited at the Yale Repertory Theatre during the running of the play, “ Trouble in Mind” written by Alice Childress, directed by Irene Lewis, November 1, 2007 to November 17, 2007.. Selected fashions based on Bess’s sketches were shown at the Fifteenth African American Women’s Summit on March 20, 2010. held at Wexler Public School on Foote Street in the city of New Haven, Connecticut. Bess’s family members, Mrs. Sarah Hunter and Ms. Dorothy Overstreet who worked with her in Elnora’s Fashion House were special guest panelists. Panel Moderator Dr. Ann Robinson, Curator of Elnora’s Fashions and Deacon Helen Jones brought remarks of appreciation from Bess’s family.

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http://newhavenregister.com/articles/2010/03/21/news/new_haven/doc4ba59431a7fe6611445673.txt