Shaver, Dorothy

(1893-1959)

   Born in Arkansas, Shaver entered the world of retailing in the 1920s with her sister by creating dolls known as "Little Shavers." The dolls' popularity prompted the then-president of Lord & Taylor to hire her. In 1932, she established a fashion program known as the American Look to promote the work of American designers. Because of her vision and foresight, she was elected president of Lord & Taylor (1946-1959). Shaver was also one of the founders of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.