- Famous fashion designer.
- Initially planned to become a doctor, majoring in pre-med at Tulane University. During lectures, he became bored, and began sketching the elaborate gowns designed for Joan Crawford to wear in the film 'Humoresque', a sign that medicine would not be his future.
- A sister, Barbara Anne Wellman, lives in Conroe, Texas.
- Signed on as an assistant in the display department of the downtown Los Angeles branch of I. Magnin, the clothing store chain. A company executive recognized his talent, and encouraged Beene to get a job in fashion. Got his first big break in 1954, a job designing for then-fledgling Teal Traina. In 1963, Beene opened his own company in a champagne-colored showroom on Seventh Avenue on a shoestring budget, and the business was an instant success.
- April 27 is "Geoffrey Beene Day" in the designer's home state of Louisiana.
- The winner of several Coty American Fashion Critics Awards, including the "Winnie" (women's wear) award in 1964, in 1965 the "return" award, in 1974 the "Hall of Fame" award, in 1975 a "Hall of Fame" citation, in 1977 a special award for "his contribution to American fashion", in 1981 the "Women's apparel" award, and in 1982 a special award.
- In 1965 he won the Neiman-Marcus fashion award.
- In his will, he left a $44 million bequest to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
- Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 30-31. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
- Award-winning fashion designer whose innovative work across the last half-century landed him at the forefront of American fashion.
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