Zelda Kaplan
Born
Zelda Berkowitz

(1916-06-20)June 20, 1916
Flemington, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedFebruary 15, 2012(2012-02-15) (aged 95)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Socialite, fashion icon, humanitarian
SpouseDr. Samuel Kaplan (second husband)

Zelda Kaplan (June 20, 1916[1] – February 15, 2012) was a fixture in New York's art, nightclub, and fashion worlds.[2] Her trademark outfit was a matching African-print dress, handbag, and shoes, and a tall cloth hat.[3]

She made numerous philanthropic and humanitarian efforts, frequently traveling to Africa to speak out against female genital mutilation and campaign for the right of women to inherit; in 1995 she spoke to villages in South Africa about birth control.[3] In regard to women's rights, she was quoted by the Village Voice as saying, "It's so important that girls not defer to the penis. I hope to let every girl know that she is somebody."[4]

In 2003, she was profiled in The New York Times.[5] Later that same year HBO premiered a documentary about Kaplan, Her Name Is Zelda, which followed her life from housewife to socialite.[6][7] In 2006, at the age of 90, she was profiled in The Village Voice.[8] Kaplan also once posed as a subject for her friend the photographer Andres Serrano.[9]

Death

Kaplan died in 2012, aged 95, after collapsing at a runway show for her friend the designer Joanna Mastroianni's new collection at Lincoln Center in New York City during the city's twice yearly fashion week.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ La Ferla, Ruth (2012-02-17). "Zelda Kaplan, a Fixture of New York's Fashion Scene, Dies at 95". nytimes.com. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  2. ↑ Kaplan profile in the New York Social Diary (online)
  3. 1 2 Kurutz, Steve (October 19, 2003). "CITYPEOPLE; The Amazing Zelda". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Village Voice article quoting Kaplan on female genital mutilation; September 19, 2006; accessed August 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ Profile, nytimes.com; accessed August 25, 2014.
  6. ↑ Profile in The New York Times, October 19, 2003.
  7. ↑ New York Daily News article on Zelda Kaplan
  8. ↑ Profile in The Village Voice, September 19, 2006
  9. 1 2 Profile, thenigerianvoice.com; accessed August 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ Cowles, Charlotte (2012-02-15). "Socialite Zelda Kaplan Dies After Collapsing at Fashion Show". nymag.com. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.