Written by Acquille Dunkley, contributor
The Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair Exhibition has come to MODA. From Oct. 19 to Jan. 4, you will have the opportunity to enter the colorful gateway that brings you back to the past. Ebony Fashion Fair elegantly displays haute couture designs, showing the evolution of style over five decades through the vision of Eunice Johnson.
Eunice Johnson and her husband John Johnson founded the John Publishing Company which had Ebony Magazine as a flagship publication at that time. From 1958 to 2009, the Ebony Fashion Fair travelled across the world. The Fair displayed iconic garments by Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin to name a few. The event raised over $55 million dollars for charities across America. Throughout its history, the Fair was a platform for African Americans to showcase their work on a larger scale and created a pathway for those who followed.
Entering the wonderfully decorated museum, I noticed the red carpeted hallway leading to the exhibition rooms. The dazzling lights gleaming down on the hallway walls created high expectations of greatness that would lie ahead. A timeline of Ebony Magazine hugged the pearl white walls, showcasing the evolution of the fashion world.
When I entered the showcase room, I noticed the “Picasso” dress done by Yves Saint Laurent. This dress was featured in the haute couture category for Fall/Winter 1979-1980. In my further exploration, I was tempted to touch the delicate garments made by all these world renowned designers. But the “Please Don’t Touch” sign forced me to keep calm and collective as I got lost into such a colorful past of fashion and style.
The exhibition overall was a day in fashion history and it was refreshing to learn all I did especially about the trend from haute couture down to the simple but elegant business attire of the 20th century.
It is a must-see for fashion majors and anyone who likes to dress with style!
