Phoenix Art Museum paired up with the Arizona Costume Institute to present a special screening of the documentary, Versailles 73 this past Saturday. The event was a fundraiser to support the ACI and all the most fashionable in Phoenix were there to attend.

The fundraiser was perfectly paired with Phoenix Art Museum‘s newest fashion exhibit, Modern Spirit, showing fashions of the 1920’s. From elegant gowns to day-wear and everything in between, the exhibit displayed apparel that transported guests back in time. We were awed by the beaded details, stylish hats, and don’t even get us started on the coats….

Guests were then ushered into Whiteman Hall for an exclusive screening of Versailles ’73. The documentary told the story of the French vs. American fashion battle, an event that changed the history of American runway. For the first time ever, director Deborah Riley Draper uncovered the details behind a seemingly forgotten piece of fashion history.

“It was like the fashion Olympics, really,” Draper tells the crowd. She traced the journey of how five American designers – Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Stephen Burrows, and Anne Klein – gained the respect of the French in a 33 minute fashion show.

Deborah Riley Draper

We loved hearing the details from the models, photographers, and designers themselves, telling the hidden secrets of a monumental occasion that seemed to have disappeared for many years. Draper does an amazing job uncovering the stories, facts, and even original documents and photographs from 40 years ago.

Although the film premiered at NYFW and was presented again for the Phoenix crowd, it’s not widely available until February 2013, when the dvd is released. We promise it’s worth the wait though!

“It had an energy that was representative of the original show. It was fresh and lively and basically made you feel like you were at the original show,” said a guest in the audience.

“I’m very honored and privileged to tell the story, and very grateful to be here in Phoenix,” Draper told the crowd. We’re sure the Arizona Costume Institute couldn’t have been more thrilled with how the event turned out. We were seriously so inspired by the documentary and words of Deborah Riley Draper. To see more about the film, visit versailles73movie.com.