ON THE RED CARPET: Pat Cleveland

Friday, September 7, 2012

Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Versailles '73 American Runway Revolution

Tuesday, September 4, 2012, I attended the Red Carpet screening of the documentary film "Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution at the Mandarin Oriental in Atlanta, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, Korbel, Chambord Vodka, Jim Ellis Porsche and The Atlantan Magazine. This was not my first time seeing the film as I first saw it at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012 at the Palais de Festival. I must say that seeing it the second time around was just as enjoyable as the first. This film is a must see from new film director Deborah Riley Draper of Coffee Bluff Films, and narrated by Cameron Silver owner of LA hot spot Decades. The film tells the story of the runway battle that pitted French haute-couture designers against American designers Halston, Anne Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass and Stephen Burrows. The runway show was held at the Palace of Versailles on November 28, 1973, and when it was over the Black American models Pat Cleveland, Billie Blair, Alva Chinn, Bethann Hardison, Jennifer Brice, Norma Jean Darden, Charlene Dash, Barbara Jackson, Armina Warsuma and Ramona Saunders who sashayed down the runway for the American designers became the toast of France and forever changed the way fashion was shown on the worlds runways. Myself being of age at that time, I can remember the event when it first hit the worldwide press in 1973. It brought back memories and the inspiration that these women instilled in me as a young black woman. I was inspired to venture into my own version of the fashion world by becoming a fashion consultant and eventually opening my own boutique, aptly named Nouveau Fashion Gallery.

The evening started with champagne and Hors d'oeuvres served in the courtyard and then guest were moved into the screening room reception area for a champagne toast to the director Deborah Riley Draper. The screening of the film followed to an enthusiastic audience who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the film. A Who's Who of Atlanta's elite was in attendance, hosted by Mikki Taylor, Cameron Silver and Judy Mauldin, as well as two of the models who participated at Versailles, Pat Cleveland and Jennifer Brice. Everyone was well dressed in cocktail dresses, haute-couture and pret-at-porter. I chose to wear one of my favorite dresses of all time, a vintage Halston cocktail dress that I have not worn since 1979 and stored in a plastic container for 33 years. Cameron Silver of Decades was wearing a vintage Brioni tuxedo jacket and recognized my dress as a Halston design. Pat Cleveland who was wearing a vintage Stephen Burrows gown also recognized the Halston design. As a matter of fact, she informed me that the dress I was wearing was designed by Halston for Elizabeth Taylor and that she used to have one as well. Was I floored or what? Meeting Pat Cleveland was a dream come true. Pat Cleveland was known for her unbelievably dizzying spins and twirls on the runway and became a runway legend.

This film is a must see and to all my followers I implore you go out and support this film when it comes to a theater near you. It is currently playing a limited engagement at the IFC theatre in New York City.