Geoffrey Beene was fiercely independent, radical, subversive, and loved by ladies who lunched and underground scenesters alike. As an adventurous artist and an experimental designer, Mr. Beene (as his friends called him) helped define modern American fashion in the latter twentieth century. His designs explored the shapes and contortions of the human body using seams, geometry, and even hardware to define and insinuate the shape and scope of nature's most proud creation. From his infamous zipper dress to the jumpsuit and bolero to his witty design details, bold prints, and contrasts, Mr. Beene's influence rocked a new generation of designers and the closets of women across the world. Close friend and cultural maverick Kim Hastreiter recounts the life and work of a passionate artist who was as freethinking, original, and antiestablishment as they come. AUTHOR: Kim Hastreiter is cofounder ab=nd editor in chirf of Paper Magazine, the nation's most successful and well-respected independent magazine on art, design, pop culture, and fashion; and papermag.com. Hastreiter serves on the Council of Fashion Designers of America Nominating and Voting Cimmittee and on the voting committee for the National Design Awards for the Cooper-Hewitt. She has coauthored From Abfab to Zen: PAPER's Guide to Pop Culture and 20 Years of Style. 250 illustrations
