She was born in 1925 in Harlem, New York. Morris earned an undergraduate degree fromHunter College in 1945, and then went on to earn a master's degree fromNew York University.[1]
Morris started working in fashion weekly magazines atMillinery Research. She went on to write forWomen's Wear Daily[2] where she started as a dress editor working on what she called "cheap dresses".[3] She also wrote forFashion Trades, andThe New York Journal-American, before joining the staff atThe New York Times in 1963.[1] Morris attended fashion shows in multiple countries, including within the United States,[4] Europe,[5] and Britain where she had been invited byMargaret Thatcher.[6]
In 1980, Morris wrote "While short skirts may seemdéjà vu, short pants have a lively, contemporary air"[7] which was later used in the definition of the phrase déjà vu in Merriam Webster's Dictionary.[8]
In recognition of her contributions to the fashion industry, Bernadine won theMedal of the City of Paris in 1985.[11] She was recognized by theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America in the 1987 awards ceremony.[12] In 1994 the city ofMilan awarded Morris with a gold medal in recognition of her work in the fashion industry.[13]
