Nettie Rosenstein

Early life Born Nettie Rosenscrans in Salzburg, Austria-Hungary in 1890, she and her family migrated to America in the 1890s and settled in Harlem, New York. Whilst these prices were beyond the range of most consumers, Rosenstein's designs were so widely copied that she still influenced the average American woman's wardrobe. However, this retirement did not last long, as she resumed fashion design a few years later, winning a Coty Award in 1947. Nettie Rosenstein was responsible for First Lady Mamie Eisenhower's dress commissioned by Neiman Marcus for the 1953 presidential inauguration Ball, and the subsequent 1957 ballgown for the second presidential inauguration was designed by Eva Rosencrans, a good friend of Mamie's since 1950.

Later life Nettie Rosenstein discontinued the fashion side of her business in 1961. Eva Rosencrans went on to design clothing for Ben Reig, while their long term business partner and Coty Award winner, Sol L. Klein, continued to design and manufacture costume jewelry and accessories under the name Nettie Rosenstein Accessories until 1975. He retired in 1975, the same time as the Nettie Rosenstein brand closed. On March 13, 1980, after a long illness, Nettie Rosenstein died at the age of 90.