ON THE RED CARPET: Ungaro

Friday, June 21, 2024

Versailles 73:American Runway Revolution Screening During Paris Fashion Week SS/24

To mark the milestone 50th anniversary of the eponymous Battle of Versailles held in Paris in November 1973 at the Palace of Versailles. Director Deborah Riley Draper, CEO of Coffee Bluff Pictures planned a special screening during Paris Fashion Week in a tandem design competition partnership with The House of Ungaro, With Love Halston Foundation and featuring students at L'institut Marangoni Fashion Design School. Students presented their creations on September 27, 2024 and the winner was announced at Ungaro Atelier with creative director Kobi Halperin.

Opening night of Paris Fashion week began with our attendance at Pierre Cardin's SS24 fashion show, September 26, 2024 under the cavernous concrete dome of the futuristic building designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Niemeyer. It was Cardin's second show featured at Paris Fashion Week since the death of Pierre Cardin in 2020. Once we entered the venue for the show Rodrigo Basilicati Cardin, the late designer's great-nephew seated us in the front row (a coveted row) adjacent to the entry where the models enter the stage. The new collection got its inspiration from the blue colour of the ocean. We can be seen throughout the video stream since the camera recording the show was directly across from us. Sitting just across from us was Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Carlo,_Duke_of_Castro and his wife Camilla Crociani, daughter of Italian billionaire Camillo Crociani. The Models, included Princesses Chiara and Carolina of Bourbon des Deux Siciles who both wore dresses in indigo blue on the blue catwalk.

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.