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Mount Mary University

To celebrate Milwaukee’s local connection to the Ebony Fashion Fair, Mount Mary University will debut thirteen designer garments from its signature Ebony Fashion Fair collection, part of the University’s 10,000 piece Historic Costume Collection. To complement the traveling exhibit garments in the Inspiring Beauty exhibit, Mount Mary’s collection will feature outerwear by Koos Van Den Akker whose colorful designs reflect the art-to-wear movement, and British designer Vivienne Westwood. Three sophisticated, urban day-wear garments by French designer Thierry Mugler and American designer Anna Sui are also featured.

The Ebony Fashion Fair circuit included 170 stops each year, including Milwaukee. In addition to appearing at the now-defunct Garfield Theater on the city’s north side, Mount Mary University presented the Ebony Fashion Fair to sold-out audiences in its Kostka Theater on several occasions.

Anna Sui

(AMERICAN, b. 1964)

5 pieces: Coat, blouse with tie, skirt and hat; Brown suede hat with blue fur lining; Brown suede coat with blue fur lining, blue fur cuffs, toggle closure, pockets; Striped blouse with button closure, cuffs and matching tie; Plaid wool pleated skirt, unlined, blue chainmail sewn on top of waist facing.

Douglas Hannant

(AMERICAN)

2 pieces: halter top and long skirt; Coral sequin silk halter top with yoke; Coral and gray silk chiffon paneled skirt with slits, short nude lining.

Geoffrey Beene

(AMERICAN, b. 1927)

Black knit jersey long sleeve, evening dress with nude silk inserts and black silk binding.

Koos Van Den Akker

(DUTCH, b. 1939)

Orange wool coat with removable quilted shawl/collar; Multi color quilted shawl with leather binding and two buttons; Mid-calf length orange wool coat with shoulder button and snap closures, pockets and convertible collar.

Richard Tyler

(AUSTRALIAN, b. 1948)

3 piece- skirt, top and coat; Skirt and top striped sheer lace; Coat.

Roberto Cavalli

(ITALIAN, b. 1940)

Sleeveless long suede dress, feather applique and tie belt; 3 small feathers at bottom center front.

Thierry Mugler

(FRENCH, b. 1948)

Two piece: suiting jacket and skirt; Red and black jacket, cowl back with black velvet flower pinned to back drape. Knit back and sleeves as well as skirt back. Small notched fabric belt with jacket. Red pencil skirt, lined and black knit panel in back with hidden panel zipper.

Two piece: Cardigan and slip dress; Sweater knit red and magenta cardigan and slip dress, with feather striped trim; Cardigan has hidden hook and bar closure.

Two piece: jacket and skirt; Off-white wool jacket with draped collar with raw wool fringe trim along collar, hem and sleeves; Off-white wrap skirt with zipper and snap closures, lined.

Valentino Garavani

(AMERICAN, b. 1932)

Two piece: jacket, dress, skirt slip; Pink and gold lace jacket with v-neck and button closure; Coral and gold silk devore wrap dress with side button clpsure and lace trim at hem; Pink and gold lace slip skirt with side zipper.

Vivienne Westwood

(BRITISH, b. 1941)

3 piece: coat blouse, pant; Multi color coat had detachable fur collar, hidden button closure, side vents; Plaid button up blouse with lapel, pieced seaming, dolman sleeves; Plaid wool pant, side zipper, no lining.

Tomasz Starzewski

(POLISH/BRITISH, b. 1961)

Three piece: slip, dress, shawl/wrap; Blue chiffon shawl, blue feather trim at each end; Blue silk slip with back zipper, feathers at hem; Sleeveless blue heavy beaded shift dress, floor length, fringe trim and feathers near hem, back zipper.