Derrill Radcliff Osborn (July 22, 1942 – July 1, 2019) was an American fashion executive.
Osborn graduated from Abilene High School and attended Abilene Christian College. He served in the U.S. Army. [1] In 1964, then started working at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. He stayed for ten years, working his way up from a sales person to a buyer. Osborn briefly ran a men's clothing and antiques boutique in Beverly Hills, California before joining Neiman Marcus where he also worked as a buyer for six years before being appointed vice-president of men's tailored clothing. [2] In 2002, Osborn retired from his position at Neiman Marcus. [3]
Osborn helped introduce Italian menswear lines such as Zegna, Brioni, and Kiton to the American market in the 1980s. He also promoted a return to three button suits for men. [4] On questions of fashion, Osborn was often sought out by reporters to comment for articles in The New York Times, [5] The Wall Street Journal, and other publications.
In addition to influencing fashion through his position, Osborn was known for his eccentric personal style, identified by his mustache, wearing of wide-brimmed hats, and boutonnieres. Osborn was featured in magazines such as GQ, Vogue Hommes, and Esquire. [2]
Osborne died at his home in Dallas on July 1, 2019, aged 76. [6]
References
- ^ "Karen Osborn On Trip To Europe", The Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, 86th year, number 18, July 4, 1966, page 4-B. (subscription required)
- ^ a b Bovine chic and a penchant for red, The Dallas Morning News, December 26, 2006, by Christopher Wynn
- ^ DERRILL OSBORN TO RETIRE; NEIMAN'S VICE-PRESIDENT OF CLOTHING CALLING IT QUITS AFTER 35 YEARS IN INDUSTRY. Daily News Record, March, 2002, by Stan Gellers
- ^ Men's Wear Maestro, WWD The Magazine, September 1, 2007, by Jean E. Palmieri Archived February 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Men's Style; The Heat Is On, The New York Times, July 9, 1989, by Frances Rogers
- ^ Wynn, Chris (July 2, 2019). "Derrill Osborn, Former Neiman Marcus Fashion Executive, Collector and Dallas Style Icon, Dies at 76". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.