From the Archive: Liz Claiborne’s Timeless Fashion Legacy

Liz Claiborne’s (1929-2007) signature hair and large round glasses could not be missed. The Belgium-born designer and descendent of prominent New Orleans Creoles is solely responsible for redefining the fashion product category that WWD dubbed “career chic.” Liz Claiborne and the brand she built 50 years ago, on simple, affordable and accessible fashion remains a pillar for work wardrobes.   

Liz Claiborne became a name to watch in the late 1950s. Her experience designing across sportswear and couture laid the groundwork for the namesake label she cofounded with her husband Arthur Ortenberg in 1976. Central to her philosophy was bringing quality stye in casual and career clothes at an accessible price into women’s closets. By the time her namesake got off the ground, she had already transformed the rising “career clothes” category she would eventually dominate. It was always about the clothes for Claiborne, who told WWD at the time, “her business should reflect her taste and style, as an extension of a manner of living.”

Known for her sense of color and timeless taste, Claiborne’s early collections were built around the categories she described in a 1986 interview with WWD: The Spectator, go-to-work coordinates, casual coordinates and Liz Sport. These divisions formed the foundation of what would grow into a megabrand encompassing 10 namesake labels across various fashion categories during Claiborne and Ortenberg’s leadership. When the couple retired in 1989, eight years following the brand’s public offering, their woman-centric brand had already broken through the limits of industry expectations, exceeding the billion-dollar mark.

Extensively covered by WWD throughout her career, Claiborne was recognized in its 2021 Women’s History Month feature titled “12 Inspiring Women Designers in Fashion History.” Her career remains a story of determination, inspiration and a refusal to stray from her vision. “When I was designing, I would close my eyes and picture my customer’s closet,” she told WWD in 1986. “I would think, ‘What does she have in there and what does she need?’ That’s the beginning.” Claiborne put her customer first, which drove the brand’s success without the need to chase fleeting trends.  

Now, as the brand celebrates 50 years in business, Liz Claiborne Inc. — under license with J.C. Penney — continues to serve as a standard bearer for affordable, chic, career and casual women’s fashion. To honor Claiborne’s enduring legacy, WWD and the Fairchild Archive are revisiting the designer and her brand with exclusive images that underscore her undeniable influence on the way women dress.