Omar Kiam

Alexander "Omar" Kiam (1894 – 1954) was an American fashion designer and costume designer.

Early life Born Alexander Kiam in Monterrey, Mexico, to Texan parents. Kiam picked up the nickname "Omar" at Riverview Preparatory School in Poughkeepsie, New York. He later went to the Poughkeepsie Military Academy in New York. His first job as a designer was producing caps for babies for a department store in Houston.

Costume design

Following a stint in Paris as a student, Kiam returned to the United States and opened his studio in New York City, where he produced work for Broadway theatre. In 1933 he moved to Hollywood, where he headed the film costume design departments for Sam Goldwyn Productions and United Artists.

One of Kiam's most notable films was the 1937 film A Star is Born, for which he dressed Janet Gaynor.

A Star is Born The Adventures of Marco Polo Algiers Barbary Coast Beloved Enemy The Call of the Wild Cardinal Richelieu Come and Get It The Cowboy and the Lady The Dark Angel Dead End Dodsworth Folies Bergère de Paris The Gay Desperado The Goldwyn Follies The Hurricane Kid Millions Les Misérables The Mighty Barnum One Rainy Afternoon Pick a Star Splendor Stella Dallas Strike Me Pink These Three Topper Takes a Trip We Live Again The Wedding Night Woman Chases Man Wuthering Heights The Young in Heart Zenobia

Fashion design Although primarily known as a costume designer Kiam had also run a wholesale fashion design business supplying clothing to shops across the United States before he moved to Hollywood.

After leaving Hollywood, in 1941 Kiam became head designer for the Ben Reig fashion label, a company founded in 1929. Also designing costume jewelry for them from 1948, he worked there until his death in 1954.

Kiam won the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in 1941, and in 1946, won the Coty Award jointly with Vincent Monte-Sano and Clare Potter.

Kiam died 28 March 1954 at the Ritz Tower Hotel in New York City, after struggling with a sickness that lasted seven months.