Ann Bonfoey Taylor
Ann Bonfoey Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Ardmore, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | October 28, 2007 (aged 96) |
| Occupation(s) | Pilot, flight instructor, fashion designer |
| Known for | Aviation training during World War II; ski apparel and fashion design |
Ann Bonfoey Taylor (December 3, 1910 – October 28, 2007) was a distinguished American pilot, flight instructor, and fashion designer.
Early life
Born in Ardmore, Pennsylvania to a prosperous family that owned Putnam Dyes, a company specializing in pharmaceuticals and dye production, Taylor was raised in Quincy, Illinois alongside three brothers. Her introduction to aviation came at age six through her father, and by the age of twelve, she had commenced formal flight lessons.
Adult life
At eighteen, Taylor relocated to Vermont, where she excelled as an athlete. She earned a position on the 1940 U.S. Olympic Ski team; however, the games were ultimately canceled due to World War II. Additionally, she competed in tennis at Wimbledon.
In 1941, she pursued aviation studies at the University of Vermont and obtained her commercial flight instructor certification. Throughout the war, she was responsible for training pilots in both the U.S. Army and Navy. Following the conflict, Taylor established a ski apparel enterprise operated from her residence. Utilizing her connections within fashion publishing, her designs were showcased in Harper's Bazaar, which significantly increased demand and secured placements in retail stores such as Bergdorf Goodman and Lord & Taylor. She eventually ceased this business after moving to Texas at the request of her second husband.
Personal life
Taylor was married twice: initially in 1928 to James Cooke, with whom she had two children; later in 1947 to Vernon Taylor, with whom she had four children.
Legacy
In 2008, her widower contributed her collection of haute couture daywear and evening gowns to the Phoenix Art Museum. Five years later, the Georgia Museum of Art presented an exhibition featuring over 200 items, including creations by renowned designers such as Mariano Fortuny, Charles James, James Galanos, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy, and Madame Grès. The show also displayed Taylor’s own skiwear and sportswear lines alongside accessories from luxury houses like Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Henry Maxwell.