Miss America news: EUROPE.....Museum Visits Recap Part Two: Les Arts Decoratifs Museum "Fashion Forward: 3 Centuries of Fashion" and "Barbie" Exhibitions!

Thursday, May 26, 2016

EUROPE.....Museum Visits Recap Part Two: Les Arts Decoratifs Museum "Fashion Forward: 3 Centuries of Fashion" and "Barbie" Exhibitions!

Couture and Barbie: Collage of the "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" and "Barbie" Exhibitions--Les Arts Decoratifs Paris

Continuing with my EUROPE MUSEUM RECAP, here's Part 2 of my Blog. In my previous blog HERE I covered attending the "Vogue 100 Years of Style" London Exhibition as well as the "James Bond: 50 Years of Style" Exhibit in Paris. David and I were in Paris for less than 24 hours but we wanted to make sure to take advantage of the brief time we had.

David Paul and Nick Verreos--Barbie Exhibition, Les Arts Decoratifs Paris

Mon Dieu!--Nick Verreos at the "Fashion Forward: 3 Centuries of Fashion" Exhibition, Les Arts Decoratifs Paris

We were very excited when we found out that there were TWO fabulous fashion exhibitions in Paris and in ONE Museum: Les Arts Decoratifs. The exhibitions were "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" (3 Centuries of Fashion), and the "Barbie" Exhibition (enough said!). So, naturally, we had to attend!

Les Arts Decoratifs Museum, Paris France

So, let's begin with the "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" fashion exhibition. This amazing exhibition celebrates three centuries of fashion--from the 1715-2016. The Exhibition is a fashion designer's/fashion historian/fashionista/fashion lover's DREAM! It begins with stunning 18th Century clothing from the Louis XIV time including all the fabulous Watteau-backed gowns, elaborate brocade waistcoats, and then into the Napoleon and Empress Josephine era with the delicately gorgeous Empire gowns. The exhibition segues right into the bustle-backed fashion period and the start of modern Haute Couture with Charles Frederick Worth in the late 1800's and early 20th Century Chanel, Lanvin, Schiaparelli and so many more...

Pannier Divine: Court Dress, around 1778--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Watteau Couture: Watteau-back dress and petticoat (robe a la francaise), around 1740--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition, Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Striped Bustle: Striped satin gown "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Worth Sublime: An 1865 gown from Couturier Charles Frederick Worth--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Fortuny Chic: "Delphos" Dress from Mariano Fortuny 1905-1907--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Empire Couture: Dress from Callot Soeurs 1909-1913--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Empire Train: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Early 20th Century Mode: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

The exhibition then moved onto the 20th Century highlighting the height of Haute Couture with late 1940s/1950's designs from Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Cristobal Balenciaga, Pierre Balmain as well as the fabulous 1960's looks of Andre Courreges, Paco Rabanne, Emanuel Ungaro. When I walked into the main hall of Les Arts Decoratifs which contained these designs...I almost began to cry...

1950's Couture Superb: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Dior 1947 New Look: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Toreador and Picasso: Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Emanuel Ungaro and Andre Courreges: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Cardin Caftan: 1960s Pierre Cardin flower printed silk gown (right)--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Balenciaga Pouf: Cristobal Balenciaga evening ensemble Haute Couture Fall/Winter 1961-- "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Comme des Garcons, 2016: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris

Next up was the "Barbie" Exhibition---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Barbie!--Les Arts Decoratifs Museum in Paris also had the wonderful "Barbie" exhibition, showcasing...Barbie (!), of course. The exhibit pays tribute to the iconic doll, featuring 700 versions of the doll with many different styles of Barbie fashion. I was especially excited to seeing this exhibition since naturally, I am and have always been, a big Barbie fan. Also, if you might remember, I had a very nice moment during my time on Season 2 "Project Runway" when my design won the "Barbie Challenge"...

Nick Verreos "My Scene Barbie" Winning Design--Season 2 "Project Runway"

Nick Verreos "Malibu Barbie" design--FIDM 2009 DEBUT show

I eventually had my own Barbie design sold all over the world. I also designed a "Malibu Barbie" look for the 50th Anniversary of Barbie celebration at the FIDM DEBUT fashion gala show. I was a bit sad that these creations/designs did not make it into the exhibition but, alas, there was enough there, to keep my attention.