Mary McFadden was a fashion designer, collector and editor whose distinctive designs celebrated the cultures and arts of Africa, Asia and ancient Greece. She was known as a legendary connoisseur and tastemaker of fashion, art and design. Born in 1939 in Manhattan, she spent her early childhood in Memphis, Tennessee. She was educated at the Foxcroft School in Virginia and continued her studies in Paris at the École Lubec at the Sorbonne and in New York at the Traphagen School of Design, Columbia University and the New School for Social Research. Ms. McFadden began her career in fashion at Christian Dior-New York as director of public relations. In 1964, she married her first husband, Philip Harari, a merchant for De Beers diamonds. She was married to her second husband, Frank McEwen, in 1969. In 1962 she worked as publicity director for Christian Dior. With the assistance of her friend Diana Vreeland, she then became an editor for South African Vogue, later freelancing for French Vogue in 1968 and as special projects editor at American Vogue. In 1976, she established her clothing company, Mary McFadden Inc, in New York. Her timeless silhouettes combined luxurious fabrics with exotic details that reflected her appreciation for ancient and ethnic cultures. She was known for pure, timeless designs often using a pleated synthetic charmeuse fabric she called “Marii,” enhanced with beaded details, jewel encrusted trim and gold embroidery. Mary McFadden was the recipient of many awards and honors during her career in fashion. She served as the first female president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) from 1982-1983 and received the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award and the CFDA Industry Tribute Award. Following two Coty Awards in the 1970s, she was inducted into the Coty Hall of Fame. The United Nations honored her with their Women Together Award, and she was named the first “Living Landmark” by the New York Landmarks Conservancy. She passed away on September 13, 2024.