ALL ABOUT LILLI DIAMOND AND THE LABEL THAT MADE HER FAMOUS
Born in Brooklyn New York, Lilli left school at 16 to become a dancer on the vaudeville stage, before setting her sights on Hollywood. Back then, movie magazines were full of stories about young hopefuls being discovered on the street and propelled to instant stardom. “I thought all I had to do was show up!” Lilli recalls. After a five-day bus ride, Lilli arrived in California. But before she could even think about going to auditions or finding an agent, fate found her.
Lilli and Al Diamond in their Los Angeles headquarters. (Diamond family collection)
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THE HANDSOME STRANGER BEHIND THE WHEEL
It was Lilli’s second day in Los Angeles, and she was walking down the street when she noticed a car following her. Times were very different then, and she wasn’t afraid, she was excited. Lilli kept walking, and the handsome driver kept pace with her as she made her way back to her apartment. As she turned toward the entrance, the driver pulled up and hurried to introduce himself. His name was Al Diamond, and it was love at first sight. FROM SWEEPING FLOORS TO A FASHION EMPIRE Lilli instantly fell for Al who was attractive, charming and dynamic, but penniless. He had come to America from Chernobyl, Russia with his mother and younger siblings, and supported the family by sweeping floors a dress factory. In the evenings, Al attended night school, where he drew the attention of celebrity mobster Mickey Cohen. Mickey tried to lure Al into his local outfit, but Al steadfastly refused, determined to make his own way in business. He moved into the cutting department at the factory and dreamed of one day starting a label of his own. That’s when he met Lilli. |
HOLLYWOOD CAN WAIT
Three months after they met, Lilli and Al were married. For the next 20 years, Lilli put her acting dreams on hold while she concentrated on her role as wife and mother to their two sons. Al continued to work long hours at the factory, and he built a workshop in the garage so he could work on his own designs at night.
Al worshipped Lilli, and took her wherever she wanted to go. Lilli loved to dance, so whenever they could, they headed to Hollywood’s glittering nightspots, or the showrooms of Vegas. Al had a real passion for glamour, and in the early days of the Strip, he found inspiration everywhere. Lilli recalls, “If we saw a woman walking down the street in Vegas wearing a glamorous dress, Al would rush straight back to his workshop and the next morning, he would have his own version of that dress.”
Three months after they met, Lilli and Al were married. For the next 20 years, Lilli put her acting dreams on hold while she concentrated on her role as wife and mother to their two sons. Al continued to work long hours at the factory, and he built a workshop in the garage so he could work on his own designs at night.
Al worshipped Lilli, and took her wherever she wanted to go. Lilli loved to dance, so whenever they could, they headed to Hollywood’s glittering nightspots, or the showrooms of Vegas. Al had a real passion for glamour, and in the early days of the Strip, he found inspiration everywhere. Lilli recalls, “If we saw a woman walking down the street in Vegas wearing a glamorous dress, Al would rush straight back to his workshop and the next morning, he would have his own version of that dress.”
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“If we saw a woman walking down the street in Vegas wearing a glamorous dress, Al would rush
straight back to his workshop and the next morning, he would have his own version of that dress.”
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“If we saw a woman walking down the street in Vegas wearing a glamorous dress, Al would rush
straight back to his workshop and the next morning, he would have his own version of that dress.”
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Lilli Diamond today wearing a Lilli Diamond satin coat. (Photographer: Jay Hynes)
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LILLI BECOMES A HOUSEHOLD NAME
Eventually it was time for Al to make his move. He quit his job at the factory and launched his own business with nothing but a line of samples and a whole lot of chutzpah. The label bore the name of his beloved wife and muse: Lilli Diamond. The label quickly became known for “sexy and flamboyant” cocktail dresses designed to showcase a real woman’s figure. They were sold in upscale boutiques and department stores throughout the USA, and Frederick's of Hollywood was their biggest retailer. Any Lilli Diamond dress sold through Frederick’s mail order catalogs or at their iconic Hollywood Boulevard store was a “Frederick’s exclusive”. Over the next decade, Lilli Diamond Originals continued to grow, becoming one of America’s most popular brands of evening and cocktail attire. Al sold the label to Campus Casuals in 1965, and the Lilli Diamond label continued well into the 1980s. |
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHASE YOUR DREAMS
After their sons had grown up and left home, Lilli thought to herself, “Now, what was I doing? That’s right. Acting!” She picked up right where she left off, and started auditioning for theatre, films and commercials. Lilli starred in countless productions at LA’s legendary Santa Monica Playhouse, appeared in an award-winning Superbowl commercial and danced alongside Bjork in ‘It’s oh so quiet’.
Over the years, people would occasionally recognise her name and want to talk about the label, but eventually, people stopped asking. Until one day, a collector from Australia called looking for the famous Lilli Diamond.
After their sons had grown up and left home, Lilli thought to herself, “Now, what was I doing? That’s right. Acting!” She picked up right where she left off, and started auditioning for theatre, films and commercials. Lilli starred in countless productions at LA’s legendary Santa Monica Playhouse, appeared in an award-winning Superbowl commercial and danced alongside Bjork in ‘It’s oh so quiet’.
Over the years, people would occasionally recognise her name and want to talk about the label, but eventually, people stopped asking. Until one day, a collector from Australia called looking for the famous Lilli Diamond.
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Superbowl commercial for Miller Lite starring Lilli Diamond as the widow!
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Bjork 'It's oh so quiet' featuring Lilli Diamond as a backup dancer.
(She's hidden by an umbrella at around 2.40) |
