Kleinfeld is the legendary couture bridal salon founded in 1941 in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, New York. When Isadore Kleinfeld first opened its doors, furs were the main attraction, but it wasn't long before the shop’s fashionable wedding gowns look center stage. By 1968 the Kleinfeld company, under the direction of Isadore’s daughter Hedda and her husband, Jack, was specializing in bridal wear and had become a mecca for brides-io-be, who counted on Kleinfeld to bring them the largest selection of gowns in the world.
and evening dresses; they caused a sensation. Hedda told us that running Kleinfeld was “like hosting a huge party every day.
We passed on the opportunity to get involved with Kleinfeld but not for long. Some years later, after we had es-
We had the privilege of seeing Hedda and Jack Schachter in action. This was back in the 1980s, when one of us (Mara) had the position of senior vice president of Saks Fifth Avenue. Hedda and Jack were thinking about selling Kleinfeld, and we had been coaxed by a potential buyer lo “lake a look'' at the famous salon in Brooklyn. We went, and there they were, running around, still 500 percent involved with their brides. Hedda wore black Reebok sneakers, a tartan skirt, and a tape measure around her neck. She was a brilliant woman, truly the fashion maven of bridal. She was the first American bridal store owner to go to Europe and hand-pick designer gowns