After lots of back and forth, debates, and pleading, Saks Global announced it is sticking with its decision to close the flagship Neiman Marcus store.
While we say goodbye to a store where many Dallasites got their prom dresses, set up wedding registries, or drooled over the Zodiac Room’s popovers, there’s one person we should also recognize: its founder, Carrie Marcus Neiman.
Carrie, along with her husband Al Neiman and brother Herbert Marcus, opened their first store in 1907. Carrie was largely lacking in formal education, but her vast knowledge of European fashion (her parents emigrated from Germany) led to immediate success as it blazed the trail into ready-to-wear luxury clothing.
The three ran the store together until 1928 when Carrie and Al divorced after he famously cheated on her. Her brother Herbert bought out Al’s shares of the company and then Carrie continued to rise.
She became a hallmark of fashion in Dallas as it transformed into a wealthy town following the oil boom, and was regularly sought out for fashion and etiquette advice.
Carrie served as chair of the Neiman Marcus board until her death in 1953.
