Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution

In an era known for protests and sit-ins, the 1973 Grand Divertissement at Versailles made a statement of its own – a fashion statement that changed fashion history. This documentary details the impact of this revolution. First time director Deborah Riley Draper is a BBDO marketing executive.

The event pitted the five lions of French couture (Givenchy, Dior, Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin) against five American designers (Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows and Bill Blass) and became known as ready-to-wear’s iconic coming out party. In front of an audience of royalty, jet-set millionaires, and icons including Princess Grace of Monaco, Andy Warhol, Christina Onassis, and Josephine Baker, designers and models joined together at Versailles for an unforgettable evening of haute couture, starry entertainment and A-list partying.

Less