HOW TWO BELOVED PROFESSORS MET AS FIT STUDENTS

Mar. 14, 2020

In 1962, a professor harshly criticized some drawings by student Steven Stipelman ’63, an aspiring illustrator. Later, Stipelman was approached in the snack bar by new acquaintance Linda Tain ’64, bewildered by criticism from the same teacher. A lifelong friendship began. The following year, as art director for FIT’s yearbook, Stipelman included a shot of them in the Fashion Illustration Club, of Tain in the bookstore, and himself, posing on the escalator. Those first critiques seem to have done little harm: Stipelman was staff illustrator for Women’s Wear Daily from 1964 to 1991, and has taught in the Fashion Design Department since 1993. Tain has taught in the department since 1969; she also held prominent roles in FIT’s union. In 2018, she published a book, Portfolio Presentation for Fashion Designers (Bloomsbury). Both received SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Some 57 years after meeting, the two remain close. The color photo (lower right) is from a recent trip to Paris.