Versailles ’73 Documentary

by Joy Adaeze Posted on 09/27/2012

I am a documentary fanatic, especially if it’s fashion related. As a fashion industry professional, watching these films is a great way to educate myself on major events and key players. During NYFW, the fabulous Mikki Taylor (who I have had the amazing pleasure to get to know while working at ESSENCE) invited me to a private screening of the documentary: Versailles ’73 American Runway Revolution in Philadelphia. The film stars Mikki along with narrator Cameron Silver (owner of Decades), Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland, Harold Koda, China Machado and many more. The story of Versailles began as a fundraiser to restore the famed castle, organized by publicist Eleanor Lambert. The plan was to have a runway show featuring five French couturiers: Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin and Emanuel Ungaro and five American fashion designers: Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows, BIll Blass, Oscar de la Renta and Halston. After a whilrwind evening attended by an iconic audience including Andy Warhol, Grace Kelly and Josephine Baker, the Americans came out of the battle as victors using the bold and beautiful black models as their secret weapon. Newcomer Stephen Burrows was the shining star of the night. This was a groundbreaking event and went on to catapult American fashion designers and Ready-to-Wear. This event also gave black models more opportunities in the industry. Fashion editors began to pay more attention to American fashion. It was wonderful to witness such an essential time in fashion history, both as a black woman and as someone in the industry.

And now, some pics!

American models take the stage at Versailles

Stunning photo of a young Bethann Hardison

Liza Minnelli, who led the models in a rendition of “Bonjour Paris”

The incomparable Andy Warhol

After the film, Mikki and Cameron led a discussion with the audience

Topics discussed included the present state of fashion and equality amongst models

How amazing are Cameron’s green boots? And Mikki’s LBD is divine! I am wearing a vintage Biddies and Blokes dress, Mercura shades and TopShop heels.

Mikki, you’re fabulous inside and out! Thank you for inviting me : )

Click on to find out more about this epic film!

-xoxo-

Joy

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The Long and Short of It

by Joy Adaeze Posted on 09/24/2012

The weekend before NYFW I took these pics of a fun, casual look. When the weather was gorgeous…Now that Fall is upon us, I wanted to reminisce. In this look I am wearing a long vintage floral cardi, an old Abercrombie & Fitch tank (yes, you heard that right lol), denim short shorts and YSL heels. The rest of my accessories include: a Peace Images “Black Girl” necklace, a silver necklace from Asia, Rafe clutch, colorful stacked tribal bangles and my fab Sergio & James brooch. This story is all about the legs, hunny!

-xoxo-

Joy

Captured by Phillis Kwentoh 

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The Eye Has To Travel

by Joy Adaeze Posted on 09/21/2012

 

“The eye has to travel”, Diana Vreeland said in her trademark husky tone. And travel we did as Vreeland herself took us on a journey through her legendary life in this film directed by her granddaughter-in-law, Lisa Immordino Vreeland. With the help of taped transcripts, video footage with reporters (including a young Diane Sawyer), her family and those who worked closely with her; we get an intimate, candid testimony of Diana’s (pronounced “Dee-ah-na”) life, from her Parisian childhood during the “Belle Époche”, to the 1980s when she created groundbreaking exhibits at Met’s Costume Institute. Growing up feeling like an ugly duckling, she challenged others to see the beauty in their flaws, to make it the most wonderful thing about them. New ideas, like featuring diverse models and introducing bold new editorials, catapulted her to stardom; first at Harper’s Bazaar then at Vogue, where she served as Editor-in-Chief. Vreeland was the first to bring forth the concept of celebrities as models, an idea that has since become a mainstay in the industry. She helped start the careers of Lauren Bacall, Twiggy and Anjelica Houston. Even Jackie-O took fashion advice from her during JFK’s campaign and subsequent election. Vreeland captured the pulse of the changing times. In the midst of the swinging Sixties, she dug into the Youthquake era and spearheaded the new fashion movement. In addition to her creative views on fashion, another essential motif in the documentary centered on Vreeland’s sense of invention. She urged us to invent the person we wanted to be and while doing so, create the lives we’ve always wanted to live. And most of all —  to have fun with our experiences along the way.

This documentary is an in-depth look into a talented, complex visionary that I think everyone will be inspired by. Almost 30 years after her death, her impact on fashion is very much still alive.  And the fashion world is better because Vreeland was here to share her tenacious and unabashed spirit.

The Eye Has To Travel is now playing and can be seen at these theaters around the country.

Watch it and come back to share your thoughts!

-xox0-

Joy

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