When I first moved to New York, I thought "maybe I'll get more into fashion! There is so much inspiration just by walking down the street and so many thrift stores. I'll put more of an effort into what I look like and maybe find some events!" But no such thing has happened, I probably dress worse than when I did back home and as much as I love attending events (particularly free ones), I just never sought them out, probably because I never thought I'd fit in.
I make this sound more serious than it is, and like my finally attending an event is a big milestone, but I was happy I finally attended one. And really, I only went because it was a film screening.
The event was held at the Samsung 837 flagship store, more of an interactive playground than your typical retail store. You can test out their latest products, including VR experiences, listen in on special guests about the latest technology or even career advice.
Produced by M2M (Made to Measure), an online fashion video network that streams original content as well as runway shows and other fashion and art related films such as The September Issue and The Man Who Fell to Earth and hosted by RaVal Davis, the audience was treated with truffle popcorn and a couple of splits of Chandon Rosé for the screening. I'm usually not a rosé person, but I gotta say, it was tasty, not too sweet.
The film covers the historical fashion show that was held at the Palace of Versailles on November 28, 1973 to raise money for it's restoration. Without trying to just list off it's history, the event was created by Eleanor Lambert, a prominent figure in the fashion and arts world who helped with founding the Museum of the Modern Art and New York Fashion Week (and whom Mussolini called a bitch). The event was essentially French designers (Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Emanuel Ungaro, Christian Dior, and Hubert de Givenchy) vs. American designers (Oscar de la Renta, Stephen Burrows, Halston, Bill Blass, and Anne Klein), and the Americans were assumed to fail before even arriving in Paris.
With over 700 guests including Grace Kelly and Andy Warhol, the Parisians started with an elaborate show that ran over two hours compared to the American who clocked in at around 37 minutes. But in those 37 minutes they not only wowed the fashion world, but earned their respect. Liza Minelli opened the show then each designer showcased their eight pieces which the French considered "sportswear" and used eleven black models (Pat Cleveland, Bethann Hardison, Billie Blair, Jennifer Brice, Alva Chinn, Norma Jean Darden, Charlene Dash, Barbara Jackson, China Machado, Ramona Saunders, and Amina Warsuma), an unprecedented number for that time.
The film includes interviews with designers, assistants, models and attendees who reminisce not just about the event and fashion but that time in New York and Paris in such a way that the viewer wishes we could visit, even for just a day. With little footage and photographs to work with, director Fritz Mitchell recreates the designers' runway looks as the models give first hand accounts. One instance that stands out was when Pat Cleveland twirled and twirled around the stage in a layered Halston number and stopped just as she got to the edge of the stage. Oscar De La Renta requested to go last and had the women walk to the tunes of Barry White; according to him, if Mozart can play in Versailles, then why not Barry White? It was a refreshing and daring show, something the audience, mostly Parisians, loved. Afterwards, they were invited to celebrate in the Hall of Mirrors, a gallery where only royalty had been before. To say the show was a success was an understatement. It changed the way the world looked at fashion and American fashion in general.
At just over an hour the film doesn't go too much into the drama, the preparation beforehand nor does it conclude with a "where are they now" or "what happened after?" but it is a visual feast and took only the necessary soundbites to take us back to that time. Stanley Tucci perfectly narrates the film and the original music, composed by Brian Keane, knows when to be dramatic while letting the visual take over, then other times playful, like a fairytale.
After the film I definitely visited quite a few wikipedia pages and saw there was another documentary based on the event. And early last year, Ava DuVernay was in talks of directing a film for HBO. I almost wish they would make a mini series about it because I'm not sure if concentrating on one person or aspect would be enough for an event like this, but in the mean time, this was a great starting point.
Lucky for us, it is streaming for free on M2M. Watch below:
Produced by M2M (Made to Measure), an online fashion video network that streams original content as well as runway shows and other fashion and art related films such as The September Issue and The Man Who Fell to Earth and hosted by RaVal Davis, the audience was treated with truffle popcorn and a couple of splits of Chandon Rosé for the screening. I'm usually not a rosé person, but I gotta say, it was tasty, not too sweet.
The film covers the historical fashion show that was held at the Palace of Versailles on November 28, 1973 to raise money for it's restoration. Without trying to just list off it's history, the event was created by Eleanor Lambert, a prominent figure in the fashion and arts world who helped with founding the Museum of the Modern Art and New York Fashion Week (and whom Mussolini called a bitch). The event was essentially French designers (Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Emanuel Ungaro, Christian Dior, and Hubert de Givenchy) vs. American designers (Oscar de la Renta, Stephen Burrows, Halston, Bill Blass, and Anne Klein), and the Americans were assumed to fail before even arriving in Paris.
With over 700 guests including Grace Kelly and Andy Warhol, the Parisians started with an elaborate show that ran over two hours compared to the American who clocked in at around 37 minutes. But in those 37 minutes they not only wowed the fashion world, but earned their respect. Liza Minelli opened the show then each designer showcased their eight pieces which the French considered "sportswear" and used eleven black models (Pat Cleveland, Bethann Hardison, Billie Blair, Jennifer Brice, Alva Chinn, Norma Jean Darden, Charlene Dash, Barbara Jackson, China Machado, Ramona Saunders, and Amina Warsuma), an unprecedented number for that time.
The film includes interviews with designers, assistants, models and attendees who reminisce not just about the event and fashion but that time in New York and Paris in such a way that the viewer wishes we could visit, even for just a day. With little footage and photographs to work with, director Fritz Mitchell recreates the designers' runway looks as the models give first hand accounts. One instance that stands out was when Pat Cleveland twirled and twirled around the stage in a layered Halston number and stopped just as she got to the edge of the stage. Oscar De La Renta requested to go last and had the women walk to the tunes of Barry White; according to him, if Mozart can play in Versailles, then why not Barry White? It was a refreshing and daring show, something the audience, mostly Parisians, loved. Afterwards, they were invited to celebrate in the Hall of Mirrors, a gallery where only royalty had been before. To say the show was a success was an understatement. It changed the way the world looked at fashion and American fashion in general.
At just over an hour the film doesn't go too much into the drama, the preparation beforehand nor does it conclude with a "where are they now" or "what happened after?" but it is a visual feast and took only the necessary soundbites to take us back to that time. Stanley Tucci perfectly narrates the film and the original music, composed by Brian Keane, knows when to be dramatic while letting the visual take over, then other times playful, like a fairytale.
After the film I definitely visited quite a few wikipedia pages and saw there was another documentary based on the event. And early last year, Ava DuVernay was in talks of directing a film for HBO. I almost wish they would make a mini series about it because I'm not sure if concentrating on one person or aspect would be enough for an event like this, but in the mean time, this was a great starting point.
Lucky for us, it is streaming for free on M2M. Watch below:
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