Signed on as an assistant in the display department of the downtown Los
Angeles branch of I. Magnin, the clothing store chain. A company
executive recognized his talent, and encouraged Beene to get a job in
fashion. Got his first big break in 1954, a job designing for
then-fledgling Teal Traina. In 1963, Beene opened his own company in a
champagne-colored showroom on Seventh Avenue on a shoestring budget,
and the business was an instant success.