DENNIS BASSO NEW YORK 2018

A vibrantly talented American designer, Dennis Basso has been hailed by both celebrity and private clients for three decades. Inspired by pure glamour, his collections – from fur and evening wear to bridal and accessories – are consistently featured in the media and at red carpet gatherings worldwide. 

A native New Yorker, Mr. Basso was captivated by people and events that were chic and glamorous and knew he wanted a career in that world. He started out managing sales and learned customer service first hand by calling on retail accounts as well as heading large hotel showings. While successful, he realized a greater interest in design and leveraged that early experience to become an avid apprentice. 

In 1983, Mr. Basso was ready to launch his own business. He brought a new perspective to designing with fur... treating fur like a fluid fabric; lighter, with more sinuous silhouettes, and bolder in coloration and patterns. There was consistent press adulation and socially influential women, no matter their generation, sought out a Dennis Basso fur for their wardrobe. 

As his business grew, it was a natural evolution for Mr. Basso to design ready-to-wear. With his signature verve and attention to glamorous styling, the distinctive day and evening looks were a perfect complement to the furs. In 2002, Mr. Basso opened his first freestanding boutique, at the prestigious Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, which was followed by the 2003 opening of his original flagship on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Dennis Basso collections were also expanding globally, with an in-store boutique at Harrods. 

Since 2007, Dennis Basso has been a closely watched presence on the runway at New York Fashion Week, drawing top media, NY tastemakers and Hollywood celebrities. Dennis Basso designs have been prominently seen on screen: worn by both Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones in “Chicago”; by Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada”, Nicole Kidman in “Nine”, and Charlize Theron in “Snow White and the Huntsman.” His designs have graced the red carpet on a bevy of celebrities: Hayden Panettiere, Emmy Rossum, Helen Mirren, Tyne Daly, Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Catherine Zeta Jones, Brooke Sheilds, Sarah Rafferty, Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Robin Roberts, Katie Couric and Olivia Palermo to name a few.

Mr. Basso believes that women should have access to a quality, sophisticated wardrobe. With that in mind, two decades ago, he embarked on a major collaboration with QVC, presenting faux furs, ready-to-wear, and accessories, and, subsequently, a home collection. Dennis Basso’s most recent brand extension, in 2011, was the launch of an exclusive collection of bridal designs for the esteemed Kleinfeld Bridal salon in New York City. 

Last year, Dennis Basso opened a sleek new flagship located at 825 Madison Avenue in a landmark building. The five story townhouse is an expansive 10,500 square feet and presents, in pure Dennis Basso glamour, the designer’s extensive collections of furs, ready-to-wear, and accessories. 

Mr. Basso was educated at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. A respected voice and supporter of the fashion industry, he is a long-standing member of the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 2013, Dennis Basso was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Fashion Institute of Technology in recognition of his talent, vision, and business acumen.