Roy Halston Frow became known professionally as Halston.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1932, he shortened his name to Halston as his fashion career developed. He first gained wider attention as a milliner, including through the pillbox hat worn by Jacqueline Kennedy at John F. Kennedy’s 1961 presidential inauguration.
Halston later became renowned for streamlined American sportswear, ultrasuede shirtwaist dresses, fluid jersey garments, and an uncluttered silhouette. His New York studio and Studio 54 social circle made him a major figure in 1970s fashion culture. The name “Halston” is sometimes treated as a house name only, but it directly derives from Roy Halston Frow’s professional identity. The designer’s work should also be distinguished from later commercial uses of the Halston name after his original company changed ownership.