Designer David Josef captivated an audience of about 50 people at the senior center on Monday, sharing stories from his star-studded career and lifelong passion for fashion.
Now 68, Josef has designed for a roster of prominent clients, including actress and singer Melba Moore, actress Debbie Reynolds, comedian Kaye Ballard, journalist Gail Huff, and singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester. Josef will receive the Boston Arts Academy Honors on October 23 and the Boston Fashion Icon Award on November 3. He recounted stories from his workshop, travels, and memorable experiences with brides, models, and celebrities.
“I’ve got to dress so many people through the years for special occasions that our lives intertwined with these incredible, special moments,” Josef said.
Josef’s journey began in childhood, when he learned to sew from his mother and grandmother. He started by designing costumes for school plays, uniforms for cheerleaders, and prom dresses for classmates. By age 21, Josef had opened his own boutique in 1978.
“I am living the dress that I had when I was a 15-year-old kid,” Josef said. “I wanted to be a national designer who sold to stores around the country.”
He briefly attended college – just two nights, as he joked – before realizing he could build a career and earn a living through fashion. Soon after, his designs were featured in department stores such as Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Bonwit Teller. He had a fashion segment on Channel 5 each month. He even designed the famed Christmas windows at Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue in New York.
“I didn’t know what a big deal that was,” Josef said. “I was so obsessed with the working and the employees and having to pay the taxes and having to have a salary every week and all the stuff you go through in business, that I didn’t even take the time to absorb the meteoric rise and the journey.”
He shared images of wedding gowns, television costumes, red carpet looks, and more with the audience.
“It’s these moments that we get to share together,” Josef said.
Today, Josef is still able to make these “special moments” come true for his clients.Josef recalled his “big break” as a teenager, when dressing Kaye Ballard brought him national recognition. He spoke of Kitty Dukakis, the wife of former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, and dressing her throughout her husband’s presidential campaign. He also shared stories about dressing women for album covers, red carpet appearances, and how his specialty – or his “forte,” as he put it – is designing for women with curves.
Josef shared a moving story about a bride whose sister was tragically killed by a drunk driver on her way to the engagement party.
“At the funeral, in the middle of winter, a butterfly appeared on the gravestone when they were saying their byes. And then when they went home, there was a butterfly in (the sister’s) room,” Josef said. “So we created a veil that were all butterflies at the bottom and as they ascended to heaven, they became white like angels.”
He described the emotional moment he shared with the family just before the bride walked down the aisle.
“It’s one of the most fulfilling moments of my entire 50 year career,” Josef said.
