I stopped counting how many times I teared up watching the screening of Versailles ’73last night. When my ultra STYLISH friend Liz Lapidus invited me to the premiere, I thought I had won the lottery. I had been hearing a lot of buzz about this film, a documentary narrated by Cameron Silver and directed by Deborah Riley Draper takes us back to 1973, Paris. 5 American designers were asked to show their collections in Paris that year: Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows, Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta & Halston and they completely brought the house down. While the European fashion designers had their elaborate stages and props in contrast the American models walked in showing only the simplicity of American designs. The entire world stood up and took notice when they used African American models not common in those days. Everyone should see this film. At the screening I got the opportunity to meet and talk to Pat Cleveland,yes Pat Cleveland. I asked her what she was wearing and she said “Stephen Burrows“. Stephen Burrows was the first African American designer to show in Paris. This film touched me deeply with its fashion history lesson and everyone’s fearlessness to explore the uncharted, the reason I stopped counting tears……
This was an incredible night and I’m so happy that Liz shared it with me.