Stephen Walton Biddle Mason, Jr. (born approximately 1917-2006), known professionally as Stefan or Mr. Stefan, was the son of Stephen and Tacy Mason of Hatboro, Pennsylvania, and the great-grandson of Pierre LeGaux, former governor of Martinique. Stefan attended the University of Pennsylvania and Parsons School of Design, where he would later serve as a critic starting as early as 1946. Although he was often identified as a Philadelphian, records in the collection indicate that he also lived in New York City in the 1950s and 1960s before moving to Ford Lauderdale, Florida in 1981.

Alumni records indicate that Stefan graduated from the Parsons School of Design Department of Costume Design and Construction (now Fashion Design) in 1938, although other records list his graduation year as 1935. After leaving Parsons, Stefan reportedly continued his studies in Paris and London. His career began with opening his own custom design shop at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia as early as 1939. He soon earned a reputation for designing for a number of opera singers and actresses, including Carole Landis, Kay Francis, Claire Trevor, and Lynn Fontanne. In 1945, Stefan was appointed fashion director of John Walther, Inc., a woolen fabric house, where he produced two collections annually to promote the firm’s fabrics. Stefan began designing for Jonval Couture in 1946, which was also affiliated with John Walther. Newspaper articles indicate that Stefan started his own ready-to-wear line in 1948 and began designing for Linker & Herbert in 1949.

In 1953, Stefan joined Leslie Fay Fashions to design their Briarbrook suit line. He also designed for Birchbrook, a line of juniors and misses apparel that was part of Leslie Fay Fashions. After designing for Briarbrook for twelve years, Stefan was appointed vice president of the brand in 1965. The last mention of Stefan's designs in Women’s Wear Daily was published in May 1967.

Stefan was known throughout his career for creating adaptations of European designs that were inspired by his regular trips abroad. His designs were praised by the press for their functionality and innovative use of fabrics. An obituary for Stefan in the New York Times indicates that he spent his later years engaging in charity work in Fort Lauderdale, and that numerous celebrities were among his friends. The obituary also states that he designed dresses for Jackie Onassis, Lauren Bacall, and Marlene Dietrich. On June 24, 1961, Stefan married Beryl M. Leli, a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School.

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“Mason – Leli.” New York Times. June 25, 1961: 74.

“Paid Notice: Deaths: Mason, Stephen W., Jr.” New York Times. June 4, 2006. Accessed August 3, 2015. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D06EFD9103AF937A35755C0A9609C8B63.