How Leonard Bernstein’s Wife Felicia Montealegre’s Love Affair With Fashion Influenced New York’s High Society

During the mid-20th century, when the personal style of public figures wasn’t as often documented in the press compared to today, Leonard Bernstein’s wife Felicia Montealegre Bernstein became a subtle fashion influencer in high society. Her marriage to the American conductor and composer, played by Bradley Cooper is chronicled in Netflix’s “Maestro.” While Bernstein rose to fame in the music world, the Costa Rican actress was credited with transforming the New York Philharmonic’s concerts into fashionable events.

Montealegre’s style could be described as classic Hollywood. She was a fan of Chanel and tailoring, often wearing pieces you would find in Audrey Hepburn’s or Ingrid Bergman’s wardrobes. As the wife of Bernstein, she would wear new designer looks at his concerts, using fashion as bait for new audiences to engage with classical music.

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In “Maestro,” Carey Mulligan plays Montealegre — Mulligan was recently nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for her work — and fashion played a big part. Costume designer Mark Bridges was responsible for recreating one of Montealegre’s Chanel tweed jackets for the film and the blue dress she wore at Bernstein’s Mass performance.

In 1964, the Guild of Professional Beauticians chose Montealegre as one of the “10 Best Coiffured Women” of the year — the list also included Eileen Ford, Catherine Scott, Queen Farah of Iran, Anne Klein and Debbie Reynolds.

Montealegre was also known for giving her friends haircuts. Bernstein once wrote in his book about the time his wife met pianist Glenn Gould. “Before ‘Have a drink’ or anything — [Montealegre] had him in the bathroom, washed his hair and cut it, and he emerged from the bathroom looking like an angel. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful as Glenn Gould coming out of that bathroom with his wonderful blond clean hair,” he wrote.

Montealegre and Bernstein were married for 26 years. She starred in many teledramas on NBC and CBS, and in classic Broadway shows such as “A Doll’s House” and “Along Came the Spider.” He was the first American-born conductor to receive international acclaim.

The couple’s love story — Bernstein had multiple affairs with women and men during his marriage — is the main focus of “Maestro.” The film received four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Drama and Best Director, Drama for Cooper. The ceremony is set to take place in Los Angeles on Jan. 7.

Montealegre died from cancer in 1978. After her death, her estate established scholarship funds at Columbia University, The Juilliard School and New York University (NYU) to benefit students learning acting, playwriting, directing and producing.

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