Virginia Fiester Frederick: Forging a Path for Women

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Virginia Fiester Frederick: Forging a Path for Women

Virginia Fiester Frederick, 1916-2010.

Holiday card sent by the Fiester family in the 1950s, featuring children Jim, Sherry and Alan.

Holiday card sent by the Fiester family in the 1950s, featuring children Jim, Sherry and Alan.

Helping a bride put the finishing touches on her ensemble, 1962.

Helping a bride put the finishing touches on her ensemble, 1962.

Virginia in green with three others from the Illinois contingent attending the 1966 Luci Johnson wedding, all wearing original Virginia Fiester designs.

Virginia in green with three others from the Illinois contingent attending the 1966 Luci Johnson wedding, all wearing original Virginia Fiester designs.

Virginia and Don Fiester preparing to attend the 1966 Luci Johnson wedding in Washington D.C.

Virginia and Don Fiester preparing to attend the 1966 Luci Johnson wedding in Washington D.C.

At Lake Forest City Council Meeting, 1976.

At Lake Forest City Council Meeting, 1976.

Campaigning for the Illinois State Legislature, 1978.

Campaigning for the Illinois State Legislature, 1978.

Virginia Fiester's husband Don passed away in the 1970s. Her second marriage to Ken Frederick, amidst her political campaign in 1978, had to be timed so her name change to Virginia Fiester Frederick would not disqualify her from the ballot. Here the two are pictured at the Waukegan courthouse on November 2 applying for a marriage license.

Virginia Fiester's husband Don passed away in the 1970s. Her second marriage to Ken Frederick, amidst her political campaign in 1978, had to be timed so her name change to Virginia Fiester Frederick would not disqualify her from the ballot. Here the two are pictured at the Waukegan courthouse on November 2 applying for a marriage license.

Taking the oath of office in the 1980s as a representative from the Illinois 59th district.

Taking the oath of office in the 1980s as a representative from the Illinois 59th district.

Virginia Fiester Frederick was a fashion designer who outfitted hundreds of North Shore women and a politician who served both Lake Forest and the state of Illinois.Born Virginia Heise in 1916, she graduated from the University of Iowa in 1938 where she studied home economics. She moved to Lake Forest with her husband Don Fiester in 1942, where they raised three children: Sherry, Alan and Jimmy.
Virginia Fiester started her fashion design career in the basement of their home at 1540 Greenleaf making dresses for their daughter. She gradually started selling the clothes in small shops on the North Shore suburbs of Chicago. Eventually she was asked to design and make dresses for local weddings. Many local residents are proud to have worn an original “Ginnie Fiester” wedding gown.
One of her largest wedding commissions was to design outfits for a famous "mother of the groom" and her friends. The groom in question was North Shore resident Patrick Neugent, who married Luci Johnson, President Lyndon Johnson’s daughter, at the White House in 1966.
Virginia was the first woman alderman on the Lake Forest City Council in 1974 and was elected to the Illinois State House of Representatives in 1978. In the House, Virginia worked hard to enact legislation that would support women’s new roles, protect children, and promote families’ rights. She retired from the legislature in 1995 after 16 years in service.