Bernard Newman (18 November 1903 – 30 November 1966) was the head designer for Bergdorf Goodman and head costume designer for RKO Pictures. He designed costumes for some 35 movies, including costumes for Ginger Rogers, Katharine Hepburn, Lucille Ball and Helen Broderick. He was posthumously included in the Costume Designers Guild Hall of Fame in 2004. Biography Bernard Newman was born in Joplin, Missouri in 1903. He studied in Paris and at the Art Student's League. He started working at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury goods department store in Manhattan, as a window dresser. He later became the head designer for Bergdorf Goodman, and his clothes were worn by film stars like Kay Francis. Bernard Newman started working as costume designer in the film industry from 1933 on, working mainly for RKO Pictures for the next three years. Newman is best remembered for the costumes he designed for Ginger Rogers in movies like Top Hat and Swing Time. He made a blue dress with ostrich feathers, to Rogers's specification, which she wore in the Cheek to Cheek sequence and which gave her the nickname of Feathers. 15 of his costumes for the 1935 movie Roberta were reproduced and merchandised by the Modern Merchandising Bureau. Other films he worked on include Sylvia Scarlett with Katharine Hepburn and You Can't Take It with You. Filmography 1933: Rafter Romance 1935: Roberta 1935: Star of Midnight 1935: Break of Hearts 1935: The Nitwits 1935: Top Hat 1935: I Dream Too Much 1935: In Person 1935: Sylvia Scarlet 1935: The Lady Consents 1935: Two in the Dark 1935: Follow the Fleet 1936: The Witness Chair 1936: The Bride Walks Out 1936: Swing Time 1936: Walking on Air 1936: Adventure in Manhattan 1936: Smartest Girl in Town 1936: Theodora Goes Wild 1936: More Than a Secretary 1936: History Is Made at Night 1937: When You're In Love 1937: Vivacious Lady 1938: You Can't Take It with You 1939: Green Hell 1942: Tales of Manhattan 1946: Deception 1946: Humoresque 1947: Possessed 1947: Deep Valley 1947: Dark Passage 1947: Escape Me Never 1947: Hazard 1947: The Woman in White Notes External links 1903 births 1966 deaths American costume designers American fashion designers