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Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair
March 18 through July 24, 2017
For fifty years, the Ebony Fashion Fair shaped a new vision of black America through contemporary fashion. This exhibition of stunning ensembles by leading designers tells the story of the fair’s creator Eunice W. Johnson, who overcame racial prejudice to bring global fashion to African-American audiences. The exhibition features dozens of ensembles by leading designers including Stephen Burrows, Hubert de Givenchy, Christian Lacroix, Bob Mackie, Missoni and Vivienne Westwood—as well as archival photographs and video to re-create the unique Ebony Fashion Fair experience.
The Ebony Fashion Fair exhibition was developed by the Chicago History Museum in cooperation with Johnson Publishing Company, LLC, and is presented by the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum, and toured by International Arts and Artists, Washington, D.C.
Here are the museum events happening during the exhibition’s run:
Thursday, April 13, 12 PM
LECTURE
A Sartorial and Sociological Study of Stephen Burrows
Tanya Myers, fashion and textile professional
Free; no reservations required
Thursday, April 20, 12 PM
FILM (94 minutes)
Ebony Presents the John H. Johnson Interview (94 minutes)
Free; no reservations required
Thursday, April 27, 12 PM
GALLERY TALK
20th-Century Italian Designers and the Ebony Fashion Fair
Tanya Williams Wetenhall, GW assistant professor of design
Saturday, April 29, 2 PM
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION
Memories of Ebony Fashion Fair in D.C.
Moderated by Audrey Smaltz, Ebony Fashion Fair commentator (1970–77)
A collaboration with the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
Free, but registration is required
Saturday, May 13
FAMILY DAY
Children’s Ball
10 AM–12 PM and 1–3 PM
$10/members; $15/public
(entrance for one adult and one child)
Thursday May 18, 6 PM
CONVERSATION
Ebony Fashion Fair and the European Connection
Shayla Simpson, former Ebony Fashion Fair model, commentator, and buyer
A collaboration with the Embassy of France and the Embassy of Italy as part of the European Month of Culture
$10/members; $15/public
Wednesday, May 24, 6 PM
LECTURE
African-American Dress and the Will to Adorn
Diana Baird N’Diaye, curator and cultural heritage specialist at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
$10/members; $15/public
Thursday, May 25, 12 PM
FILM (115 minutes)
Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution
Free; no reservations required
Thursday, June 8, 12 PM
GALLERY TALK
Hanae Mori Evening Dress and Kimono Coat
Lee Talbot, curator
Free; no reservations required
Thursday, June 15, 6 PM
LECTURE
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Inspiring Beauty
Joy L. Bivins, director of curatorial affairs at the Chicago History Museum
$10/members; $15/public
Saturday, June 17, 11 AM
CURATOR TOUR
Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair
Joy L. Bivins, director of curatorial affairs at the Chicago History Museum, and Camille Ann Brewer, curator of contemporary art
Free, but registration is required
Thursday, June 29, 12 PM
WORKSHOP
Fashion from Paper
Free, but registration is required
For more information, Visit the GW Textile Museum website.
