Born in Des Moines, Iowa. Halston created hats and altered clothes as a child. 

Halston attended school at the Art Institute of Chicago and opened his first milliner store in 1957. 

Halston headed to New York City and became the head milliner at Bergdorf Goodman.

For Halston, timing was everything. He created garments with sleek and clean lines, using lux fabrics with a  minimalist approach , still considering stylings of the time. This made him a stronger force than Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, who were both designing in the US at the same time. 

Controversial at the time, Halston licensed his brand name to JC Penney, making his clothing brand more accessible to all women. This would later become the norm for luxury brands. 

Achieved great fame when Jacqueline Kennedy wore his pillbox hat to the Presidential Inauguration in 1961. 

Designed couture dresses for the Studio 54 crowd, including Bianca Jagger, Anjelica Houston, Liza Minnelli, Lauren Hutton, Lauren Bacall and Elizabeth Taylor.