• Celebrity
    • OTE – Meagan Good
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • OTE – Meagan Good
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Fashion

Mikki Taylor, Alva Chinn And Deborah Riley Draper On How A 1973 Fund-raiser Broke Color Barriers For Black Models

The moment that changed everything.
Mikki Taylor, Alva Chinn And Deborah Riley Draper On How A 1973 Fundraiser Broke Color Barriers For Black Models
By James Love · Updated October 23, 2020

At the inaugural Essence Fashion House during the 25th anniversary of Essence Festival, attendees were treated to an intimate screening Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution, by award-winning filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper. The documentary tells the legendary story of the 1973 “Battle of Versailles,” a fundraiser-turned-fashion-face-off between 5 French and 5 American designers. The event is recounted through original footage and hilarious stories from the models, designers and journalists that bore witness to the epic event.

Article continues after video.
The trailer for Deborah Riley-Draper’s Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution

While the “Le Grand Divertissement at the Chateau de Versailles” started out as a charity event for the restoration of the French palace, it morphed into a platform for young American designers to prove they were just as talented as famed French couturiers Yves Saint Lauren, Pierre Cardin, Emmanuel Ungaro, Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy.

“There are moments in history that change the course of history. That was a moment that changed the course of fashion history.”

In contrast to the Parisian houses’ extravagant runway show, American designers Oscar de la Renta, Stephen Burrows, Halston, Bill Blass and Anne Klein presented a stripped down show featuring eleven Black models–something very unprecedented at the time. Black Girl magic prevailed, Pat Cleveland, Bethann Hardison and Alva Chinn sashayed and twirled down the catwalk with youthful vibrancy and pizazz. The Americans stole with thier lineup of fresh sportswear, stunning the primarily French audience.

Mikki Taylor, Alva Chinn And Deborah Riley Draper On How A 1973 Fundraiser Broke Color Barriers For Black Models
During the Essence Fesitval 2019 Epowerment Seminors held at the Ernest M. Memorial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on Friday, July 5, 2019. (Photo by {credit}

Following the 90-minute screening, Draper joined Chinn and Fashion & Beauty Expert Mikki Taylor in an intimate discussion about that legendary night with Essence Fashion Director Marielle Bobo.

The trio agreed that no one anticipated that the chilly November night would become such a pivotal moment in time, signaling the end of the old guard of fashion heavyweights and showcasing the beauty of Black models. “There are moments in history that change the course of history. That was a moment that changed the course of fashion history,” Chinn explained.

While incredibly proud of how far we have come since that epic night, the panelists reminded attendees that there is still much progress to be done. Taylor added that we most hold all fashion brands accountable for promoting diversity and celebrating Black beauty year round as opposed to when it’s “trending.”

TOPICS:  alva chinn deborah riley draper essence fashion house essence fest essence festival essence festival 2019 mikki taylor versailles 73
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now