Betty Halbreich Dead at 96

Betty Halbreich, the trailblazing personal shopper who revolutionized fashion, has passed away at 96.

At a Glance

Betty Halbreich passed away at 96 in Manhattan, leaving behind a legendary career in personal shopping.
She served as a personal shopper at Bergdorf Goodman with a discerning eye and no-nonsense approach.
Halbreich dressed various high-profile clients and collaborated on numerous TV shows and movies.
Halbreich published memoirs and a documentary that gained her national recognition in her 80s.

The Legacy of a Fashion Icon

Betty Halbreich, renowned for her exceptional fashion acumen and candid approach to personal shopping, has died at 96 in Manhattan. Her career at Bergdorf Goodman spanned decades, significantly influencing the fashion landscape by making personalized style consultation a valued service.

Halbreich’s office, aptly named Betty Halbreich’s Solutions, was located in the Bergdorf Goodman department store, discreetly nestled in a third-floor hallway. This space became an iconic hub where she dressed a diverse array of clients, from New York’s elite to celebrities like Lauren Bacall and Meryl Streep.

Halbreich’s career reached new heights when she collaborated with stylists for popular movies and TV shows, including “Broadway Danny Rose,” “Sophie’s Choice,” “Gossip Girl,” and “Sex and the City.” Such collaborations underscored her influential role in the fashion industry, cementing her legacy.

Betty Halbreich, Bergdorf’s Legendary Personal Shopper, Dead at 96 https://t.co/eMD3s0iv1f

— WWD (@wwd) August 24, 2024

Years of Influence and Humor

Known for her discerning eye, impeccable taste, and sharp wit, Halbreich began her tenure at Bergdorf Goodman back in 1976. Over the years, she established herself as the cornerstone of the store’s personal shopping office. Halbreich was not just a stylist but a confidante and advisor, helping clients navigate the complexities of fashion and personal style.

“For me, dressing someone well is as divine as helping someone to walk, to see, to smile or to bake a tall, light angel food cake,” she once said.

Halbreich criticized America’s casual fashion trends, often reminiscing about more stylish eras. Her sharp candor was matched by her ability to make fashion accessible to everyone, defying the notion that style was reserved for the elite.

Wow, Betty Halbreich passed. 😔

She was my personal intro into personal styling and fueled my former career as a stylist.

Although we never met, her booked changed my life back when I was a younger April in the luxury fashion industry styling fashion’s finest + dressing models.

— April Speight (@vogueandcode) August 25, 2024

A Life Celebrated in Books and Film

In her 80s, Halbreich gained national recognition through the 2013 documentary “Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s” and her memoir “I’ll Drink to That: A Life in Style, With a Twist,” published in 2014. Her life and career were chronicled in a manner that showcased both her professional expertise and personal resilience.

“Our mom led a compelling life, much of which was spent at her favorite place in the world, at her Bergdorf Goodman desk – her room with a view, tossing zingers while offering those BG tea sandwiches to whomever graced her office,” her children Kathy Halbreich and John Halbreich said in a joint statement. “Despite all of the glitz and glamour, she held no pretensions — she was both a realist and a romantic. You didn’t have to be famous or a billionaire to enter Betty’s orbit of care and advice. We will all miss her wisdom, sometimes caustic humor, and passion.”

Her second memoir, “Secrets of a Fashion Therapist,” further delved into her life experiences and career highlights. She continued to pen her thoughts and insights, with her third book, “No One Has Seen It All,” set to release in April 2025.