Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution

Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution

Anna and Pat Cleveland demonstrating Pat's famous walk as seen in VERSAILLES '73: AMERICAN RUNWAY REVOLUTION, a film by Deborah Riley Draper. Picture courtesy Coffee Bluff Pictures. All rights reserved.

Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution

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  • Coffee Bluff Pictures

* Most external filmography links go to The Internet Movie Database.

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Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution (2012)

Opened: 09/07/2012 Limited

Limited09/07/2012
IFC Center09/07/2012 - 09/13/20127 days
Music Hall 310/26/2012 - 11/01/20127 days

Trailer: Click for trailer

Websites: Home, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube

Genre: Historical Documentary

Rated: Unrated

Synopsis

Not many moments in life change the course of history; break the mold; shatter the status quo and usher in a paradigm shift. But on a chilly night in November 1973, such a moment took place. For the second time in history, the Americans stormed France in an epic battle. This battle, however, would pit the French haute couture establishment against innovative American ready-to-wear designers in a runway rumble for industry dominance. On the stage where Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette, in front of a who's who audience of royalty, jet-set millionaires, and icons including Princess Grace of Monaco, Andy Warhol, Christina Onassis, and Josephine Baker, the American designers claimed victory. The extraordinary evening left an unforgettable imprint on the fashion industry and forever changed fashion history.

The show was initially conceived as a fundraiser orchestrated by American fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert and Palace of Versailles curator Gerald Van der Kemp, to raise money to restore the Palace of Versailles. However, fierce competition between the lions of haute couture-- Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, and Emanuel Ungaro, and what the French considered easy prey, a group of American designers eager to become household names on the European fashion scene--Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows, Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta, and Halston, turned it into ready-to-wear's iconic coming out party.

In an era known for protesting, this legendary event made a statement all its own -- a fashion statement, one that created a cross-stitch of change across fashion, commerce, and publishing. When African-American models Billie Blair, Pat Cleveland, Alva Chinn, Norma Jean Darden, Charlene Dash, Bethann Hardison, Barbara Jackson, Jennifer Brice, Ramona Saunders, and Amina Warsuma boarded a plane from New York to Paris, they had no idea they would be part of a new world fashion order. These amazing women walked the catwalk and helped American designers pull off a fashion coup that would be remembered for decades.

Biographies

Stephen Burrows

Stephen Burrows was part of the American design team at Versailles, and one of the first African-American designers to achieve international acclaim. He pioneered the jersey wrap dress and the lettuce hem.

Pat Cleveland

International supermodel Pat Cleveland and one of the original halstonettes and a runway legend and a Versailles model.

Alva Chinn

Fashion icon Alva Chinn was one of the models of Versailles and one of the most striking and stunning models of the 1970s.

Bethann Hardison

One of the famous models of Versailles, Bethann Hardison is now Vogue Italia Editor-at-Large and fashion icon who launched the careers of dozens of contemporary models.

Barbara Summers

Model and fashion historian Barbara Summers is author of "Skin Deep: The Story of Black Models in America and Abroad".

Carla Lemonte

Carla Lemonte modeled during the 1973 Versailles fashion show and modeled in Paris and New York.

Charlene Dash

This Versailles is a pioneer and one of the first black models to appear in a Vogue spread in the 60s.

Cameron Silver

Philanthropist, fashion historian, Time magazine's "25 Most Influential Names and Faces in Fashion" in 2002, and founder and owner of vintage fashion hot spot, Decades.

China Machado

Legendary model and muse to iconic photographer Richard Avedon, China Machado is a former Editor of Harper's Bazaar and still models today at 81.

Karen Bjornson McDonald

Karen Bjornson McDonald began as a Halston house model and later became a supermodel.

Marisa Berenson

Actress, model and granddaughter of Fashion icon Elsa Shiaperelli and 70s It Girl.

Norma Jean Darden

One of the famous black models of Versailles, Norma Jean Darden is owner of Spoonbread, a catering company and restaurant based in Harlem.

Nancy North

Nancy North is a former model who studied design with Halston in the 1970s.

Billie Blair

Legendary model of Versailles who modeled for around the world for Oscar de la Renta.

Anna Cleveland

Anna Cleveland is the daughter of Pat Cleveland and A highly sought after runway and print model.

Dennis Christopher

Dennis Christopher is a golden-Globe nominated actor and former Halson assistant

Laurent Cotta

Fashion historian Laurent Cotta is the curator of contemporary creation at the Galliera Museum in Paris.

Tom Fallon

Tom Fallon, former Halston's design assistant and a 25-year Bill Blass executive who helped choreographed the Blass show at Versailles.

Didier Grumbach

Credited with making Paris the fashion capital of the world, Didier Grumbach is President of the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture and former president of YSL Rive Gauche.

Jean-Luce Hure

French fashion and society photographer Jean-Luce Hure attended and captured memorable images from Versailles. Hure is a chevalier of the arts in France.

Pierre-Andre Helene

Pierre-Andre Helene, art historian and author, is curator of several art nouveau exhibits housed at Maxim's de Paris, the restaurant famous for its international celebrity clientele in the 1970s.

Barbara Jackson

Barbara Jackson is one of the models of Versailles who had worked with Eleanor Lambert prior to Versailles.

Sandy Jordan

Industry expert Sandy Jordan and Salvatore Ferragamo executive.

Harold Koda

Harold Koda is Head Curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.

Simone Levitt

International socialite and Versailles patron Simone Levitt attended the 1973 Versailles fashion show.

Grace Mirabella

Grace Mirabella is the former Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Magazine and publisher of Mirabella.

Karine McGrath

Karine McGrath is Chief Archivist at the Palace of Versailles.

Carola Polakova

Carole Polakova was Halston's assistant during the 1973 Versailles fashion show and through-out the 70s and 80s.

Beatrix Saule

Beatrix Saule is Curator of the Palace of Versailles.

Mikki Taylor

Former model, fashion/beauty expert Mikki Taylor is Essence Editor-at-Large and author of "Commander in Chic".

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