A spectacular event for fashion – the celebration of Hal Rubenstein’s new book, 100 Unforgettable Dresses, has been held recently. The soirée was hosted by Vanessa Getty and the Giorgio Armani store, where guests convened to toast the author and discuss the 100 Most Unforgettable Dresses. Come and have a look at the event!
When asked, “What makes an unforgettable dress?” The author Rubenstein’s reply was threefold: “The right dress, on the right woman, at the right time.”
He gave the example of Jennifer Lopez’s pivotal moment from the 2000 Grammys, when she wore the green Versace evening dress.
It had been worn before by Amber Valetta at the Spring 2000 show and again by Donatella Versace at the Met Ball, without causing a stir. Yet, on the evening of the Grammy’s, J. Lo hit the trifecta – it was the right dress, she was the right woman, and it was the right time. The dress catapulted J. Lo into the spotlight and she never looked back.
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A dress, he explained, does not have a life of its own. “It comes to life on a woman,” and with the right match, it can make for an unforgettable moment.
Princess Diana’s second appearance in the book illustrates this point perfectly – what Rubenstein calls her “Revenge Dress”.
A newly divorced Diana planned to attend an event at the Serpentine Gallery in London, on the same evening that her ex-husband, Prince Charles, had decided to appear on national television to publicly acknowledge his affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Diana had planned on wearing a Valentino, but upon hearing of the Prince’s announcement, changed her mind. She pulled out of her closet a dress she’d had made three years prior, when she was still married to the Prince. The custom-made Christina Stambolian dress was short, fitted, and certainly flattered her figure. She never wore the dress, fearing that it was a bit too much for a woman of her royal standing. However, on that evening it was perfect – she looked absolutely stunning, and it became the second most photographed dress she ever wore (second only to her wedding dress). No one was talking about Prince Charles and Camilla the next morning, they were talking about Diana.
The evening was truly remarkable, as is the book. 100 Unforgettable Dresses chronicles an amazing collection of celebrity dresses, paired with the amazing women wearing them. Vanessa Getty summed things up when she remarked, “It’s the first book I’ve read cover to cover in a long time.” It is stories like these that make fashion memorable and meaningful.
“And always remember,” Rubenstein added, “anyone has the ability to be unforgettable.”
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