Princess Ketevan "Ketto" Mikeladze ( ka, ქეთევან "ქეთო" მიქელაძე) (1905–1965) was born in

Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

into a Georgian noble family of

Mikeladze Mikeladze ( ka, მიქელაძე) was a Georgian noble family, known from at least the 14th century. The senior, and the princely, line of the Mikeladze flourished in Imereti (western Georgia), while a collateral branch was later establish ...

, known from at least the 14th century, then part of Imperial Russia. Her family belonged to the aristocratic and sophisticated circles in Russia before the Russian Revolution in 1917. Prince

Simone Mikeladze Prince Simone Mikeladze (Georgian: სიმონ მიქელაძე) was born into a Georgian noble family known from at least the 14th century, and claiming descent from the Bagratids of Taron.Toumanoff, Cyril (1967). Studies in Christian ...

, Keto's father had six children, three girls and three boys as follows: * Konstantin Mikeladze: (1895–1927) * Grigor Mikeladze: (1898–1955) *

Evgeni Mikeladze 220px, Evgeni Mikeladze Evgeni Mikeladze ( ka, ევგენი მიქელაძე) (July 27, 1903 – 1937) was a leading Georgian orchestra conductor of the 1930s, executed during the Joseph Stalin's Great Purges. Born in Baku, Azerba ...

: (1903–1937) *Keto Mikeladze *Tamar Mikeladze *Anastasia Mikeladze Ketto Mikeladze married a Russian officer of Danish origin, Captain Lassen, who had happened to be in Iran during the war. He had miraculously escaped being massacred by his soldiers in Rezaieh at the time of the revolution. After her husband's death in 1930, she found her way to New York, via Paris, accompanied by her daughter Sigrid Lassen. In 1931, Ketto became a model working in the

Bergdorf Goodman Bergdorf Goodman Inc. is a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York. The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf and was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, and later his son, Andrew Goodman. To ...

fine fashion department. For a while, she was also a

Ziegfeld girl Ziegfeld Girls were the chorus girls and showgirls from Florenz Ziegfeld's theatrical Broadway revue spectaculars known as the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), in New York City, which were based on the Folies Bergère of Paris. Descripti ...

, a dressmaker and a sales lady. She also became a socially prominent New Yorker. After a few years, Ketto Mikeladze became the special designer for Elizabeth Arden’s lingerie department. Elizabeth Arden had a great fondness for White Russian noble families and was enchanted by Princess Keto Mikeladze. The special pieces Mikeladze designed sold at premium prices. The princess also became a close friend of

Helena Rubenstein Helena Rubinstein (born Chaja Rubinstein; December 25, 1870 – April 1, 1965) was a Polish and American businesswoman, art collector, and philanthropist. A cosmetics entrepreneur, she was the founder and eponym of Helena Rubinstein Incorporate ...

, who left her $1,200 in her will. She started her own business opening a gown and lingerie shop in New York named Ketto Inc. Sigrid Lassen, her daughter, studied music. Sigrid Lassen was a socialite and a singer who sang at Armando’s for a while. She made her light opera debut in the title of “Pink Lady” at the 7th season of light and comic operas.''Wilton Bulletin, Wilton Connecticut'', June 9, 1938, page 13. She also starred in the ‘who’s who on the alkaline side”, a “White Rock advertisement” in 1940.

References

{{reflist Fashion designers from Georgia (country) Nobility of Georgia (country) Soviet emigrants to the United States 1905 births 1965 deaths