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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Powerful easy to operate but splashes
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Excellent frother--Very powerful and easy to turn on/off with one button. The only downside is it requires a deep container in which to froth. The frothing pitcher I had was too small and milk splashes everywhere. There is no lower speed so it works fast. I am using a deep insulated container now for frothing. Otherwise, very quite, easy to operate no pushing down on the top like other frother wands. I love it as long as I can control it to limit the splashing.
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Frother I had for a couple of years broke. Based on reviews I bought this. Love it being rechargable. The POWER! It froths milk in seconds. Also great for that after workout protein drink. Also is a little longer than my last frother so it works great with larger glasses.
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Birmingham, US
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This frother is absolutely amazing such power behind it . Quality is just as amazing made very rugged. And I love the stand and the best thing about it is no more batteries to change now we just charge it up. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this product to everyone and I will be buying more of these for gifts and more for our winter home also. You won’t be disappointed at all.
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Heather Montgomery
Grantham, US
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Works as described
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Love this whisk. I have arthritis and this is light weight enough for me to use. I love the push button, and the stand for it. It’s really easy to clean, and it blends my shakes nicely without leaving the powder behind.
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Carnegie, US
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Very Powerful Frother!!
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I’ve been using a frother daily for my drinks, and this one really impressed me with its power for such a compact size. It blends heavier powders into smooth, clump-free mixtures in seconds. I’m a big fan of the build—the metal whisk gives it a solid feel, and it comes with a stand to keep it neat on the counter instead of being shoved in a drawer. Cleaning is a breeze, just a quick rinse, and the rechargeable battery lasts much longer than I anticipated between charges. Just a little tip: start in a taller cup and don’t fill it all the way to the top, as this thing can create a serious vortex if you’re not careful. Overall, it’s been a super handy little tool, and I’m so glad I bought it.
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