SKU: 744529835

The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled Into the Spotlight and Made History

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The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled Into the Spotlight and Made HistoryOn November 28, 1973, the world's social elite gathered at the Palace of Versailles for an international fashion show. By the time the curtain came down on the evening's spectacle, history had been made and the industry had been forever transformed. This is that story. Conceived as a fund raiser for the restoration of King Louis XIV's palace, in the late fall of 1973, five top American designers faced off against five top French designers in an over

On November 28, 1973, the world's social elite gathered at the Palace of Versailles for an international fashion show. By the time the curtain came down on the evening's spectacle, history had been made and the industry had been forever transformed. This is that story.

Conceived as a fund-raiser for the restoration of King Louis XIV's palace, in the late fall of 1973, five top American designers faced off against five top French designers in an over-the-top runway extravaganza. An audience filled with celebrities and international jet-setters, including Princess Grace of Monaco, the Duchess of Windsor, Paloma Picasso, and Andy Warhol, were treated to an opulent performance featuring Liza Minnelli, Josephine Baker, and Rudolph Nureyev. What they saw would forever alter the history of fashion.

The Americans at the Battle of Versailles- Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Anne Klein, Halston, and Stephen Burrows - showed their work against the five French designers considered the best in the world - Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, Emanuel Ungaro, and Marc Bohan of Christian Dior. Plagued by in-fighting, outsized egos, shoestring budgets, and innumerable technical difficulties, the American contingent had little chance of meeting the European's exquisite and refined standards. But against all odds, the American energy and the domination by the fearless models (ten of whom, in a groundbreaking move, were African American) sent the audience reeling. By the end of the evening, the Americans had officially taken their place on the world's stage, prompting a major shift in the way race, gender, sexuality, and economics would be treated in fashion for decades to come. As the curtain came down on The Battle of Versailles, American fashion was born; no longer would the world look to Europe to determine the stylistic trends of the day, from here forward, American sensibility and taste would command the world's attention.

Pulitzer-Prize winning fashion journalist Robin Givhan offers a lively and meticulously well-researched account of this unique event. The Battle of Versailles is a sharp, engaging cultural history; this intimate examination of a single moment shows us how the world of fashion as we know it came to be.



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Published: 04/05/2016
ISBN: 9781250062321
Pages: 336
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.80w x 0.90d
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SKU: 744529835

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Judith Jane
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
A classic reclaimed!
This classic Little Golden Book was my first "favorite book" as a little girl of four years who adored her daddy. Knowing full well that copy didn't survive the 60 plus years that have passed, I was elated to find it still in print. I found I still knew many pages by heart! My goal is to read it unendingly to a grandson who adores his daddy. Though the pictures are dated, and some of the occupations don't exist anymore, the love and respect a hard-working family man deserves is still well communicated--and the love of a child for it's father is still lovingly affirmed. I'm delighted with my purchase!
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Omaha, US
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A childhood favorite
Format: Hardcover
I used to read this book over and over. I bought it for someone recently and re-read it with many tears. It's a real Golden classic! It's wholesome, cute, funny, and familial. Kids AND adults will love reading it. Plus, it transports you back to the 50s!
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TheMrs.R
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 4
Just fine
Format: Hardcover
This was a good book. My husbands job doesn't really fit into any of the categories, it's very basic normal man jobs, so any job out of the ordinary won't be present in the book. Still a cute book with a good ending :)
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Rache
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Love kitties
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Such a sweet, nostalgic story! Katie the Kitten is adorable, with charming illustrations and a gentle tale kids love. A timeless Little Golden Book that’s just as lovely as I remembered.
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SJ Latshaw
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
I've wanted to find this book for years!
Format: Hardcover
This is without a doubt one of my favorite books from childhood. I still have the old copy that I grew up with--but over the years, it has lost its cover and one or two pages. Not too bad considering that it was 40+ years old. I have found a few copies online and bought one that was a Little Silver (not Golden) Book, but the artwork was completely different. I was also hesitant to pay for a used copy because "good condition" means so many different things to different people. So I would check for this book every time I went to a used bookstore or garage sale. My most recent online search brought the exciting news that it was being reprinted WITH the original artwork, so I got on a waiting list right away!!! I couldn't be happier. Thank you so much for bringing back a friend from my childhood. :)
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Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2018

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