Versailles 73'.

Yesterday and friend and I went to see this film. We loved it. For those not familiar, Versailles 73' chronicles the 'battle' between five American designers- Oscar de la Renta, Halston, Stephen Burrows, Bill Blass & Ann Klein and five French designers- Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Dior, Pierre Cardin & Emanual Ungaro. American designers at that time weren't taken seriously by the classically trained French couturiers but this show changed the way we see runway fashion today.

The 'battle' not withstanding, one of the focus' of the film is how the African-American models stole the show. 12 in all including Pat Cleveland, Alva Chinn, Bethann Hardison, Charlene Dash, China Machado, Norma Jean Darden, Ramona Saunders & Billie Blair. 

     Pat Cleveland

Alva Chinn

Bethann Hardison

Charlene Dash

China Machado

 Norma Jean Darden

 Ramona Saunders

 Billie Blair

To have 12 African-American models in one was show was unprecedented in 1973 but these woman opened the door for the Naomi Campbells and Joan Smalls of today.

Versailles 73' is a limited release. Don't miss this film if it's showing in your city.

Witness history.

Images- Google images