Southampton Arts Center (SAC) is pleased to host a talk by Steven Stolman discussing midcentury textile designer Vera Neumann on Thursday, July 2nd, at 6 pm.
Steven Stolman presents an evening inspired by the vibrant world of Vera Neumann, the celebrated midcentury textile designer whose iconic “Vera” scarves became synonymous with American style in the 1950s and ’60s. Favored by fashion legends including Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, and Jane Fonda, and more recently spotted on Sarah Jessica Parker and Taylor Swift, Vera’s bold colors and graphic prints continue to influence fashion and design today.
In conversation with Greg Sharp, President of Vera Neumann, Stolman will explore Vera’s remarkable creative legacy and enduring cultural impact. The evening will also feature a presentation of Stolman’s newest dress collection, inspired by the Vera archive and displayed on mannequins throughout the space.
Southampton Art Center’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor of the New York State Legislature.
Gallery Hours:
Friday – Sunday | 12 – 5 PM
25 Jobs Lane Southampton, New York 11968
631.283.0967
Southamptonartscenter.org
ABOUT STEVEN STOLMAN:
For more than four decades, designer and author Steven Stolman has been making a mark on the American fashion scene. Beginning on New York’s Seventh Avenue, where his eponymous label was a fixture at fine retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York and Neiman Marcus, to his own collection of boutiques in Southampton, Palm Beach, New York City, Nantucket and Beverly Hills, Stolman’s unique take on combining the disciplines of fine dressmaking with fabrics traditionally used for interior décor became a must-have for the smart set.
In 2006, Stolman left the world of fashion to help build Palm Beach County’s first non-profit federally qualified health center for the uninsured. But eventually, the world of fashion called him back, first to curate the 50th anniversary retrospective for the beloved American resortwear label Lilly Pulitzer, and then to add an elevated fashion element to the Jack Rogers footwear brand. This led to his being asked to serve as president of Scalamandré, the storied American decorative textiles house. There, he revived the brand with a dynamic range of product extensions ranging from china, crystal, and flatware to deluxe bedding, lighting, accent furniture, and footwear. While at Scalamandré, Stolman authored his first book, “Scalamandré: Haute Décor.” This led to 6 additional books on entertaining, architecture, and photography, most notably “Bill Cunningham Was There,” which Stolman co-authored with the iconic New York Times’ photographer collaborator, John Kurdewan. In addition, Stolman became a frequent speaker on all things stylish and a contributor to a variety of publications, most notably Town & Country, Elle Décor, and House Beautiful, as well as the Palm Beach Post, the Southampton Press, and the Desert Sun.
A graduate of New York’s Parsons School of Design, Stolman received the Pauline Trigère Gold Thimble Award and is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He is married to software executive Rich Wilkie and divides his time between homes in Chicago, Southampton, NY, and the California desert.
ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON ARTS CENTER:
Southampton Arts Center is committed to community building through the arts. We present and produce inspiring, inclusive, socially and regionally relevant programs across all disciplines, welcoming and connecting with the diverse members of New York’s East End community and beyond. SAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
