Donald Brooks

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Donald Brooks (January 9, 1928 - August 1, 2005) was an American fashion designer.

Born Donald Marc Blumberg in New Haven, Connecticut, Brooks attended Syracuse University followed by the Yale School of Drama, where he first decided to become a costume and clothing designer. He studied design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and then the Parsons School of Design in New York. Brooks' first job in the fashion industry was as a window designer for department store Lord & Taylor. He attracted the attention of Dorothy Shaver, the store's president, who hired him to design a clothing line that year.

By the 1960s, Brooks was a preeminent figure in American fashion, cited by the New York Times as one of “the three B's of fashion” alongside Bill Blass and Geoffrey Beane. He opened his first store in 1963.

In addition to his work on Seventh Avenue, Mr. Brooks also designed the costumes for numerous Broadway Plays, including Promises, Promises, No Strings, and Barefoot in the Park - Television shows including The Letter, The Two Mrs. Greenvilles and feature length motion pictures - Star!, Darling Lili and The Cardinal. His Awards include The New York Drama Critics Award, a Tony Nomination, the Emmy Award and three Academy Award Nominations. He was also the receipitant of three Coty Awards for fashion and the Parsons' Medal of Distinction.