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Ewan McGregor to star as fashion designer Roy Halston in a new TV series

The iconic fashion designer died of an Aids-related illness in 1990

By Steve Brown

Ewan McGregor will star as legendary fashion designer Roy Halston in a new TV series.

Written by The Affair screenwriter Sharr White and directed by Dan Minahan, the TV series known as Simply Halston follows the rise and fall of the iconic fashion designer during 1970s and 80s New York.

Starting out as a milliner, Halston rose to fame after designing the pillbox hat Jacqueline Kennedy wore during her husband’s presidential inauguration, Deadline reported.

He then expanded into women’s high-end couture which redefined American fashion and soon Halston had a number of celebrity clients including Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minnelli.

The designer also designed uniforms for the US Olympic team, the Girl Scouts, NYPD and Braniff Airways.

He signed a £1bn deal with JC Penney for a range of affordable clothing, accessories and perfumes but many believed it cheapened his high-end brand.

After losing control of his global brand, Revlon eventually bought it after it passed through other owners.

The designer had a ten-year on and off again relationship with make-up artist Victor Hugo who was hired by Halston to work as his window dresser.

In 1988, Halston tested positive for HIV and he died in 1990 at the age of 57 from an Aids-related illness.