Education
Kiam chose to retain his nickname professionally, as he appreciated the link to Omar Khayyám.
Kiam chose to retain his nickname professionally, as he appreciated the link to Omar Khayyám.
Born Alexander Kiam in Monterrey, Mexico, to Texan parents, Kiam picked up the nickname Omar at Riverview Preparatory School in Poughkeepsie, New New York He later went to the Poughkeepsie Military Academy in New New York His first job as a designer was producing caps for babies for a department store in Houston.
Following a stint in Paris as a student, Kiam returned to the United States and opened his studio in New York, where he produced work for Broadway theatre.
Among the theatre productions he costumed were Dinner at Eight, the Robert East. Sherwood play Reunion in Vienna, and the Edward Sheldon and Margaret Ayer Barnes play Dishonored Lady. In 1933 he moved to Hollywood, where he headed the film costume design departments for Sam Goldwyn Productions and United Artists.
Before leaving Hollywood in 1939, Kiam also worked for David O. Selznick and Hal Roach. One of Kiam"s most notable films was the 1937 film A Star is Born, for which he dressed Janet Gaynor.
He collaborated with Irene on Algiers.
Filmography Although primarily known as a costume designer Kiam had also run a wholesale fashion design business supplying clothing to shops across the United States before he moved to Hollywood. After leaving Hollywood, in 1941 Kiam became head designer for the Ben Reig fashion label, a company founded in 1929. Also designing costume jewelry for them from 1948, he worked there until his death in 1954.
During the early 1950s Liz Claiborne worked for Kiam.
Kiam died 28 March 1954 at the Ritz Tower Hotel in New New York