Lizzette Kattan
Encyclopedia
Lizzette Kattan, is a Honduran-born fashion editor that worked between Milan and New York from 1976 until 1986 for Harper's Bazaar Italy, Harper's Bazaar France, Uomo Harper's Bazaar and Italian Cosmopolitan . She collaborated with virtually every major photographer of that period and discovered many of today's most recognizable photographic talent. Once retired from the fashion world Lizzette started her diplomatic career as the Commercial Attache of the Honduran Embassy in Rome, in 1990, and eventually becoming the Consulate General of Milan in 2002 until 2007. She currently works as a freelance Stylist for international publications.
Lizzette is fluent in English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
, Honduras
. Her family relocated to New York City
while in her teens. Her passion throughout her childhood was not fashion but oddly enough archeology. And thus she pursued a degree in Anthropology at Hunter College
. Eileen Ford
discovered Lizzette on the streets of New York and proposed to her to become a model. The decision to start a modeling career was met with some hesitation, as Lizzette never considered working in the fashion industry.
and started working in New York City. She traveled throughout Europe and worked for the likes of GQ, ELLE France
, Italian Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar Italia.
Her interest of being in front of camera waned during her short modeling career and she gradually pursued a job at Edizioni Syds, which owned Harper’s Bazaar Italia. She began her career organizing photo shoots for Italian Cosmopolitan. Her big break came in 1976 when she took over as the Fashion Director of Italian Cosmopolitan, a position she held until 1986.
Her powerful creative work gained momentum and she took over as the Fashion Director of Harper’s Bazaar Italia in 1978. Her greatest accomplishment was launching Men’s Harper’s Bazaar in 1979. The magazine was later renamed Harper’s Bazaar Uomo. She fostered many close ties with the greatest talents of that period such as Valentino, Gianni Versace, Ottavio Missoni and Calvin Klein.
She aggressively pursued some of the best photographic talent in the industry collaborating on projects with Chris von Wangenheim
, Albert Watson
, Arthur Elgort
and Patrick Demarchelier
. Her most notable assets was discovering young photographers and allowing them to develop their talent. This opportunity gave way to some of the most recognizable names of today such as Herb Ritts
and Steven Meisel
. Meisel, an illustrator working at Women's Wear Daily, would later become synonymous with Italian – and American Vogue. During the same time she met and launched Gia Carangi
's career booking her for back to back shoots for Harper's Bazaar Italia with photographer Chris von Wangenheim
.
In 1983 Harper’s Bazaar France opened its doors in Paris with Lizzette as the Editor-in-chief, a position she held until December 1985.
Lizzette retired from her positions at Harper’s Bazaar in 1986 to raise her two sons.
In effort to promote the country of Honduras Lizzette created a quarterly publication called “Honduran Highlights” which highlighted culture, tourism and investment opportunities. The publication existed from 1990 to 2007.
Lizzette created the concept and help organize two museum exhibits in Europe. “Les Mayas au pays de Copan” was held at the Abbaye de Daoulas from the 5th of April and 7th of September of 1997. “I Maya di Copan – L’atene del Centro America” was exhibited at the Palazzo Reale in Milan from the 3rd of October 1997 to the 1st of March 1998 .
Lizzette is fluent in English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
Early life
Lizzette was born in San Pedro SulaSan Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. Her family relocated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
while in her teens. Her passion throughout her childhood was not fashion but oddly enough archeology. And thus she pursued a degree in Anthropology at Hunter College
Hunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
. Eileen Ford
Eileen Ford
Eileen Ford is a model agency executive and co-founder, in 1946, with her late husband Gerard William "Jerry" Ford, of Ford Models, one of the earliest and internationally best known modelling agencies in the world.-Early life:...
discovered Lizzette on the streets of New York and proposed to her to become a model. The decision to start a modeling career was met with some hesitation, as Lizzette never considered working in the fashion industry.
Fashion Career
Lizzette signed with Ford ModelsFord Models
The Ford Modeling Agency, or as it is known today Ford Models, is a modeling agency in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen and the late Gerard W. Ford.-Company:...
and started working in New York City. She traveled throughout Europe and worked for the likes of GQ, ELLE France
Elle
Elle may refer to:*Elle, Central African Republic*Elle , a fashion publication*Ellé, a river in France*Elle , a female given name*Elle , a Sri Lankan game similar to baseball*Ælle of Sussex, a Saxon king...
, Italian Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar Italia.
Her interest of being in front of camera waned during her short modeling career and she gradually pursued a job at Edizioni Syds, which owned Harper’s Bazaar Italia. She began her career organizing photo shoots for Italian Cosmopolitan. Her big break came in 1976 when she took over as the Fashion Director of Italian Cosmopolitan, a position she held until 1986.
Her powerful creative work gained momentum and she took over as the Fashion Director of Harper’s Bazaar Italia in 1978. Her greatest accomplishment was launching Men’s Harper’s Bazaar in 1979. The magazine was later renamed Harper’s Bazaar Uomo. She fostered many close ties with the greatest talents of that period such as Valentino, Gianni Versace, Ottavio Missoni and Calvin Klein.
She aggressively pursued some of the best photographic talent in the industry collaborating on projects with Chris von Wangenheim
Chris von Wangenheim
Christoph von Wangenheim was a top professional fashion photographer of the late 1960s through early 1980s.-Biography:Christoph was born in Brieg near Breslau, Germany Christoph von Wangenheim (21 February 1942 – 9 March 1981) was a top professional fashion photographer of the late 1960s...
, Albert Watson
Albert Watson
Albert William Watson was a South Carolina politician.Watson was born in Sumter, South Carolina and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He graduated from the University of South Carolina law school in 1950 and opened a law practice in the state capital, Columbia...
, Arthur Elgort
Arthur Elgort
Arthur Elgort in New York) is a fashion photographer, who has become especially known for his work as a Vogue photographer.-Life and career:...
and Patrick Demarchelier
Patrick Demarchelier
Patrick Demarchelier is a French fashion photographer.-Life:Born near Paris in 1943 to a modest family, he spent his childhood in Le Havre with his mother and four brothers. For his seventeenth birthday, his stepfather bought him his first Eastman Kodak camera...
. Her most notable assets was discovering young photographers and allowing them to develop their talent. This opportunity gave way to some of the most recognizable names of today such as Herb Ritts
Herb Ritts
Herbert "Herb" Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture.-Early life and career:...
and Steven Meisel
Steven Meisel
Steven Meisel is an American photographer, who obtained popular acclaim with his work in US and Italian Vogue and his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book Sex...
. Meisel, an illustrator working at Women's Wear Daily, would later become synonymous with Italian – and American Vogue. During the same time she met and launched Gia Carangi
Gia Carangi
Gia Marie Carangi was an American fashion model during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Carangi is considered by some to be the first supermodel, although that title has been given to others, including Janice Dickinson, Dorian Leigh, and Jean Shrimpton...
's career booking her for back to back shoots for Harper's Bazaar Italia with photographer Chris von Wangenheim
Chris von Wangenheim
Christoph von Wangenheim was a top professional fashion photographer of the late 1960s through early 1980s.-Biography:Christoph was born in Brieg near Breslau, Germany Christoph von Wangenheim (21 February 1942 – 9 March 1981) was a top professional fashion photographer of the late 1960s...
.
In 1983 Harper’s Bazaar France opened its doors in Paris with Lizzette as the Editor-in-chief, a position she held until December 1985.
Lizzette retired from her positions at Harper’s Bazaar in 1986 to raise her two sons.
Diplomatic Career
In 1990 Lizzette became the commercial attaché of the Honduran Embassy in Rome. She was responsible for various publications attracting foreign investment from Italy. In 2002 Lizzette became the Consul general of Honduras in Milan, which serviced the region of Lombardy and Venice. This post was held until 2007.In effort to promote the country of Honduras Lizzette created a quarterly publication called “Honduran Highlights” which highlighted culture, tourism and investment opportunities. The publication existed from 1990 to 2007.
Lizzette created the concept and help organize two museum exhibits in Europe. “Les Mayas au pays de Copan” was held at the Abbaye de Daoulas from the 5th of April and 7th of September of 1997. “I Maya di Copan – L’atene del Centro America” was exhibited at the Palazzo Reale in Milan from the 3rd of October 1997 to the 1st of March 1998 .