Debutante Clothing :: A vintage clothing and fashion blog for unconventional style where vintage and runway meet.

Two Saturdays ago, I experienced  a day full of haute couture and style. The Costume Society of America, Western Region hosted a curator led tour and premiere documentary screening of High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Curators Kevin Jones and Christina Johnson led us through this magical, privileged world of haute couture and high fashion. We took a curated walk through Mrs. Betsy Bloomingdale's wardrobe, overflowing with Givenchy, Balmain, Galanos, Adolfo, and of course, Dior. To be that close to real live haute couture worn by one of the last remaining wearers of haute couture was an amazing experience.

Mrs. Bloomingdale was the wife of businessman, Alfred Bloomingdale, a descendant of the famous Bloomingdales that found the iconic department store. Mr. Bloomingdale made is fortune in the credit card business as co-founder of the first independent credit card, Diner's Club. He wanted to bring his business to France. This was the beginning of the beautiful beginning of Betsy's relationship with some of the most important couture houses of the 20th century.

In the documentary, which unfortunately will not be released to mass media, Mrs. Bloomingdale reminisces fondly about the glory days of shopping in Paris at the couture houses of Balmain and Dior. "I had no idea I was collecting anything so important," says Mrs. Bloomingdale. She recalls how shopping for haute couture was such a quiet experience. Society ladies met for lunch in Paris and attended the shows at 3pm. There wasn't much sound, just stunning gowns parading through the show room. No fanfare, no theatrics, just the ladies and the gowns.

Betsy's world of couture spanned about 30 years. Her first purchase was at the house of Balmain in 1961 and she faithfully attended couture shows until 1996.

Walking through the FIDM museum was visually overwhelming. Three galleries were punctuated with gowns and ensembles that looked like sculpture.

Mount maker Carolyn Jamerson gave us a detailed tutorial on how to create invisible garment forms. I have to be honest and admit that this wasn't nearly as important to me as some of the other CSA members considering that many of them are involved in curating and museum studies. I just love clothes. They could hang on a hanger for all I care. Until I saw the garments displayed in the galleries. I was mesmerized by the artistic display of clothing. They were almost an optical illusion - a parade of floating silk, lace and satin. It was a stunning display.

Kevin Jones, who was as entertaining as he was educational, explained that FIDM now has custody of around 200 croquis from Christian Dior. Croquis were the hand colored reproductions of the designer's original sketches with a swatch of fabric attached. Christina Johnson, co-curator, told a funny story of how these wonderful croquis were decorating office walls. Aye!

If you can't make it to the gritty streets of Downtown LA to see the exhibit, you can purchase the catalog at the FIDM Museum gift shop. The exhibit ends December 13. Check FIDM's website for more details.