The Pittsburgh film screening Versailles ’73 American Runway Revolution held at the August Wilson Center on March 3, 2012 was astounding! Hosted by FashionAFRICANA’s Demeatria Boccella & Darnell McLaurin and Produced & Directed by Deborah Riley Draper who received a well deserved standing ovation after the screening. Along side her were the Editor-In-Chief of Essence Magazine Mikki Taylor and one of the first African-American runway model Pat Cleveland.
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To capture and tell the story of a revolutionary period not just for American Fashion but also for African-American designers and models was eye opening and long overdue.
Producer Deborah Riley Draper stated: “they said there isn’t a market for such a film”…we in the fashion world strongly disagree! The excitement in the voices of models and designers filmed in the documentary was as fresh as the day and moments after their triumphant entry and acceptance into French Fashion territory.
“The French elite raved, applauded, stomped and tossed their “expensive” programs in the air after African-American designer Steven Burrows’ display of colorful flowing gowns featuring advanced stages of trains. One of which model Bethanne Hardison dropped to the stage floor with attitude and took the breath away from French’s Fashion Royalty. Versailles ’73 was dubbed “The Battle of France & America” and American designers were the uncontested winners!!! While American designers always looked to the French Couture to copy their designs, for this particular show American designers Halston, Anne Klien, Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta and Steven Burrows brought to Paris all new styles including the first of it’s kind Ann Klien’s controversial Sportswear line. Attendees were in awe of the American’s designs and the models’ bright faced demure as opposed to the French’s “circus-like” stage props and “stiff” models. The American designers say they did a simple show but the French said they did “100 times better than the French”.
Pittsburgh’s Fashion Elite came out in great numbers to support the efforts of FashionAFRICANA’s Demeatria Boccella and Darnell McLaurin. These are the type of events that continue to bring more arts and culture into our city which as Director Draper said Pittsburgh still has to be put on the map as a thriving beautiful city as opposed to the “Steel & Football town” stigma that we carry. You can support FashionAFRICANA in these efforts by going online to http://www.fashionafricana/ to purchase tickets for events and/or donate. And to see the film you can go to www.versailles73movie.com or download on youtube and other movie websites.
Photos & Review by Sabrina Clark, Soul Pitt Fashion Editor.
Sabrina R. Clark Fashion Editor can be contacted at sabrina@soulpittmedia.com and you can also see more fashion photos and reviews on her blog at www.sabrinascloset.blogspot.com or check out her Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Sabrina’sFashionConsulting
