Vera Maxwell

Vera Huppe Maxwell (April 22, 1901 – January 15, 1995) was an American pioneering sportswear and fashion designer.

Background and personal life Born Vera Huppe in The Bronx, Maxwell spent part of her childhood in Austria. She attended Leonia High School in Leonia, New Jersey.

She studied ballet in New York and joined the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in 1919, dancing until her marriage to financier Raymond J. Maxwell in 1924. Around 1929, Maxwell began sketching for the fashion houses she modeled for. One of her earliest best-sellers was a wrap blouse over a permanently pleated skirt made of Arnel meant for travelers.

In 1935, Maxwell released a "weekend wardrobe" of two jackets, two skirts and a pair of trousers. they received an "E" for excellence rating from the United States government. Her use of wrap-and-tie closures and supple fabrics suited a range of body types and allowed for weight fluctuations.

Maxwell retired in 1985 and closed her company. She returned in 1986 with one final collection designed for Peter Lynne before permanently retiring. the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Cooper Hewitt, and the Museum of the City of New York.