Barbara Bates is a well-known woman who works with celebrities on a regular basis, designing unique and stylish outfits for them. Everyone likes and respects her. She could never have imagined that fashion would become such a big part of her life. Learn how this talented designer achieved such great success at chicagoka.com.
Humble beginnings
Barbara was born June 27, 1955, in Chicago. Her father, Elvin Hicks, was an ordinary schoolteacher, and her mother, Vera, was a housewife. The parents poured their hearts and souls into raising their daughter with dignity. Bates attended Chicago Public School and completed her schooling at Marshall High School in 1962. After graduating from high school, Bates changed occupations several times.
In her spare time, she and her friends designed and sewed stuff. Barbara received multiple compliments regarding her outfit, which radiated femininity, beauty, and charm. In 1984, while working as a secretary at the First National Bank of Chicago, the woman began selling custom-made clothing to her colleagues. This experience inspired her to dedicate herself entirely to fashion design.
In 1985, Bates was approached by a man who wanted to help her to start a career in fashion by investing $5,000. Having enlisted the support, Barbara found two assistants, and they began to actively design various models of unique things.
In 1986, Barbara opened her own 700-square-foot boutique, Bates Designs, located in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. She quickly established herself as the best fashion designer who had no competition.
In 1999, the designer established the Bates Foundation, which designs and sews prom dresses for schoolgirls from troubled families and those in a difficult life situation.
Since 2012, the nonprofit organization has worked to raise awareness and educate women about breast cancer. Bates herself has been battling breast cancer for seven years. The designer was able to overcome the condition thanks to faith in herself and the support of friends and colleagues.
Barbara Bates’s design features
Initially, Bates worked with crocodile and python skin. The woman soon decided to try combining leather, fabric, and fur. It resulted in extremely attractive trendy looks. From that moment on, Barbara played with each of her costumes, combining different textiles together.
The designer’s signature style is the combination of expensive fabrics with leather. Elegant clothing designs with an emphasis on natural leather and fur fascinate fashionistas all over the globe.
Bates is recognized as a leader in the creation of stylish and carefully chosen clothes for celebrities. She designed outfits for celebrities such as Kim Foxx, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Harvey, Whitney Houston, and others.
Barbara believes that everyone, regardless of their economic status, deserves a beautiful outfit. Each piece in her collection demonstrates originality, hard work, and unwavering attention to detail.
In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Barbara joined the fight and decided to help others. The designer quit making clothes and converted her design studio into a mask manufacturing facility.
Bates made the decision when a friend asked her to make a mask for her. The designer’s first donation was 2,000 masks to Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago.
Barbara Bates has gained recognition and love from people as a result of her generosity and talent. She continues to create unique outfits and actively participates in fashion shows and events.
Barbara can’t picture her life without her favorite profession. She is a successful woman and a happy mother who has never regretted pursuing a challenging designer career.