Sylvia Pedlar
Sylvia Pedlar (1900–1972) was an American fashion designer specialising in lingerie. She is the only designer to have won the Special Coty Award more than once, in 1951 and 1964. Born Sylvia Schlang in 1900 in New York, she was an art student in Cooper Union and the Art Students League of New York before marrying William A. In 1929 she launched her own business, Iris Lingerie, which she headed through to its closure in 1970.
Sylvia Pedlar
- Name
- Sylvia Pedlar
- Born
- 1 June 1900
- Birthplace
- New York
- Died
- 26 February 1972
- Awards
- Coty Award (1951; 1964), Neiman Marcus Fashion Award (1960).
- Full name
- Sylvia Schlang.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Occupation
- fashion designer.
- Fields
- lingerie.
- Education
- Art Students League of New York and Cooper Union.
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Documentary summary
Sylvia Pedlar (1900–1972) was an American fashion designer specialising in lingerie. She is the only designer to have won the Special Coty Award more than once, in 1951 and 1964. Born Sylvia Schlang in 1900 in New York, she was an art student in Cooper Union and the Art Students League of New York before marrying William A. In 1929 she launched her own business, Iris Lingerie, which she headed through to its closure in 1970.
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wikidata · Q20657551 · wikipedia · Sylvia Pedlar
In this article
Biography
Biography
For her success Pedlar relied on the high quality of her product rather than employing salesmen or purchasing advertising. She is credited with creating super-short babydoll nighties in the early 1940s as a response to fabric shortages during World War II, although she hated the term "baby doll" and refused to use it. One of her most famous innovations was the easily removable toga-inspired négligée specially designed for women who slept in the nude. She used the toga theme throughout her career, with one négligée prominently featured in 1962 by both Life and Harper's Bazaar. She also reworked Victorian styles such as the traditional modest flannel Mother Hubbard nightgown, which she produced in sheer flowing cotton, and reproduced nineteenth-century whitework embroidery by machine to such a high standard that her work rivalled luxurious handmade French lingerie. Pedlar died in New York on the February 26, 1972.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Sylvia Pedlar • Born — 1 June 1900 • Birthplace — New York • Died — 26 February 1972 • Place of death — New York • Label Name — Iris Lingerie • Awards — Coty Award (1951; 1964), Neiman Marcus Fashion Award (1960).
Identity
Identity
Sylvia Pedlar is recorded at birth as Sylvia Schlang. Recorded as fashion designer.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1901
Sylvia Pedlar was born in 1901.
1972
Sylvia Pedlar died in 1972.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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