
Bill Blass, a native to Fort Wayne, Indiana, leaves a legacy of iconic fashion design, brilliant business acumen and patriotic service to our country.
Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Blass’ signature simple yet striking designs are not only distinctly American—they are clearly tied to his upbringing in the relaxed and conservative Midwest. Fellow Fort Wayner Carole Lombard was Blass’ idol growing up. Her success inspired Blass to move to New York to make it as an elite designer. Although amidst the glitz and glamour of the fashion capital, Blass never waned from his roots, producing elegant garments coveted by some of America’s leading ladies, including Gloria Vanderbilt, Liza Minnelli, and Jackie Kennedy.
Bill Blass’ career path took a detour during World War II when he joined the army in 1942. He became a member of the 603rd Engineer Camouflage Battalion, eventually was known as the Ghost Army. Their contributions lured German forces away from the fighting units’ true locations, while providing
critical support as the Allied front lines moved eastward after D-Day. Learn more.
While the names of many other American fashion designers are touted today for creating “the American Style” (Halston, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren), Blass is often left out of the picture, largely because his clothes were practical, made for the everyday well-to-do person. His vital contributions, including being the first American couture designer to start a menswear line, to brand his image, and being one of the first to cater his designs to working women, are overlooked. It is far time that Blass’ achievements be recognized and, therefore, we are pleased to share his story with his hometown. While Blass is best known for being one of the premier American designers of the 20th century, he was also an immensely hard-worker, war-hero, and savvy businessman. By exploring all of these facets, we hope to uncover the man behind the cigarette and charming smile.
We’ve established an Indiana nonprofit company, Bill Blass Legacy, Inc. It was incorporated in Indiana officially on August 19, 2022. We didn’t set out to do this but so many people stepped forward with stories and donated Bill Blass items, we realized we needed a long-term focus.
Dedicated to the life and legacy of William R. Blass (Bill Blass), the organization’s purpose is to digitally archive and physically display items that document Bill Blass’ life. This includes his life in Fort Wayne, Indiana, his WWII Ghost Army experiences, and his significant success in the fashion industry.
See the full archive at the Allen County Public Library with collections including:
We hosted a 100 day celebration in the summer of 2022 in honor of what would have been Bill’s 100th birthday, but the fun hasn’t stopped. Learn more about our ongoing activities and join us on Facebook.
Find a map to special Bill Blass locations across town at the Fort Wayne Visitor’s Center, including his childhood home on Calhoun Street, a tribute to his car design prowess at the Bob Thomas Lincoln dealership and special sundae at the Oh Five Scoop Shop on East State Street.
See a quick summary of upcoming 2025 Events below
Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II Special Exhibit from National WWII Museum at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art
August 2 through October 26, 2025
Free admission for all every Thursday from 5:00 – 8:00 pm
How the US Army created fake forces through illusion and deception to help secure Allied victory
The exhibition tells the story of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops (Ghost Army) which is a top-secret WWII unit that used deceptions to mislead the enemy. Our hometown hero, Bill Blass, will be featured in the exhibition as an official member of the 603rd Camouflage Battalion. Organized by The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, the exhibition tells the story of the Ghost Army — the first mobile, multimedia, tactical deception unit in US Army history. The unit waged war with inflatable tanks and vehicles, fake radio traffic, sound effects and even phony generals, using imagination and illusion to trick the enemy while saving thousands of lives. Along with the 3133rd Signal Service Company in Italy, the Ghost Army helped liberate Europe from the grip of Nazi tyranny.
Veterans, active military personnel, and their families receive free general admission.
This exhibition and programs are supported by Phillips Financial Management, LLC and Bill Blass Legacy. Inc. The exhibition was curated at FWMoA by Brian Williamson, Technical Director and organized by The National WWII Museum.
Ghost Army Exhibit – Allen County Public Library – The Genealogy Center
August 2, 2025 – October 26, 2025
This exhibit within the Genealogy Center will feature informational panels and Bill Blass artifacts. All displayed items have either been donated by people who knew Bill Blass or are on loan from Ghost Army Legacy, Inc.
Author Event for Family History – Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
October 1, 2025, 7:00 pm
Rick Beyer, Ghost Army Legacy Project President, New York Times best-selling author & filmmaker will share from his book, “The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects and Other Audacious Fakery”.
Author Lectures & Book signing – Veteran’s National Memorial Shrine & Museum
October 2, 2025, 1:00 pm
Veteran’s National Memorial Shrine & Museum
Come see a life-size inflatable tank and meet guest authors!
Rick Beyer, Ghost Army Legacy Project President, New York Times best-selling author & filmmaker will share from his book, “The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects and Other Audacious Fakery”.
Rebecca Siegel, award-winning young adult and children’s author, will share from her book scheduled for release September 2025, “How the Ghost Army Hoodwinked Hitler: American Artistry and Deception in World War II”. Bill Blass is one of four Ghost Army members featured in her book.
Author Lectures & Book signings – Fort Wayne Museum of Art
October 2, 2025, 5:30 pm – Free Admission
Rick Beyer, Ghost Army Legacy Project President, New York Times best-selling author & filmmaker will share from his book, “The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects and Other Audacious Fakery”.
Rebecca Siegel, award-winning young adult and children’s author, will share from her book scheduled for release September 2025, “How the Ghost Army Hoodwinked Hitler: American Artistry and Deception in World War II”. Bill Blass is one of four Ghost Army members featured in her book.
When in doubt, wear red.
Bill Blass