Superstars of Golden Age New York

 

The Cassini brothers photographed together at a New York party during the late 20th century: Oleg Cassini, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s former couturier, left, with his brother, Igor Cassini, who had then recently reigned as New York’s most prominent society columnist.

 

 

 

 

 

By Megan McKinney

 

For those living in New York during the mid to late 20th century, the two Cassini brothers were superstars.

 

Igor Cassini during his Cholly Knickerbocker heyday

 

 

Igor Cassini was New York Journal American society columnist Cholly Knickerbocker—and for many the only reason to read one of the city’s two Hearst newspapers. Personal friendship—a friendship close enough to address him by his nickname “Ghighi”—was treasured by New Yorkers, particularly climbers who might be mentioned in a column.

Igor had five wives, including the former Charlene Wrightsman, referred to by the New York media as “the daughter of Charles B. Wrightsman, millionaire oil man and a long-time friend and neighbor of the Kennedy family in Palm Beach.”

 

Charles B. Wrightsman

Charlene died in 1963 as the result of an overdose of barbiturates. The references usually mentioned that President Kennedy “has stayed at the Wrightsman home on a number of occasions”

 

 

At the hospital, an attempt was made to save Mrs. Cassini’s life by the use of a stomach pump and other emergency treatment. She died at 10 a.m. on April 9. A police spokesman said after a preliminary investigation “we have nothing to indicate whether she took the pills accidentally or otherwise.”

Oleg Cassini as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s couturier

 

 

In 1960, Jacqueline Kennedy asked Oleg to be her “personal couturier” as First Lady.

 

 

Throughout the latter portion of the 20th century, the sidewalks of Manhattan were filled with Jacqueline Kennedy dress alikes. After the First Lady selected Oleg Cassini, her long time friend and Igor’s  brother, to be her couturier,  New York women emulated her style. Oleg’s autobiography describes his possessions upon arrival in the US as being “a tuxedo, two tennis rackets, a title, and talent”. One of his three wives was actress Gene Tierney.

 

Countess Marguerite Cassini 

The brothers were sons  of Countess Marguerite Cassini, an Italian-Russian aristocrat, and her husband, Count Alexander Loiewski, a Russian diplomat. 

 

One time Russian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Paul Nicholas Cassini

The father of Countess Marguerite had been Arthur Paul Nicholas Cassini, Marquis de Capuzzuchi di Bologna, Russian Ambassador to the United States during the administrations of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. 

 

Author photo: Robert F. Carl