After graduating from the Parsons School of Design, she began working as a designer which paid enough to help put her older brothers through Harvard Law School.[2] Copeland began selling her own designs as a commercial artist to manufacturing firms[4] and was hired by Pattulo Models Inc in 1920 as a fashion illustrator.[5]
After World War II led to the liberation of Paris, Copeland began looking at other sources of inspiration for fashion including China and South America.[6] She also persuaded other American fashion designers to become independent from Paris' influence.[5] Copeland was so determined to not be influenced by Paris that she refused to travel to the city after 1947.[7] By 1949, she was promoted to partner at the firm Pattulo Models Inc[4] and eventually became Vice-President and Head Designer at Pattulo-Jo Copeland Inc. where she earned a reputation for refusing to conform to typical fashion norms.[8]
Copeland designed the buttoned, two-piece suit for women to wear without a blouse.[3] She rejected the Mod style as desperation to be noticed and a sign of immaturity.[9] As a result, many of her designs incorporated an extended torso and skirts no shorter than two inches above the knee.[8] She received the 1944 Neiman Marcus Fashion Award for her designs.[5]
Copeland died on March 20, 1982, from a stroke.[5] A collection of her designs is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[10]
