And indeed, it raised more than a few francs for the cause.īut the Grand Divertissement à Versailles (its official name) is remembered not for its philanthropic premise but as a watershed moment when American gusto trumped French grandeur. Ostensibly, the soiree was to benefit the venue’s restoration–even the grandest of digs get dusty-musty after centuries. It occurred 50 years ago this November, when five masters of elegant French haute couture and five purveyors of easy American ready-to-wear staged an event in one of the world’s most extraordinary enclaves. The term refers not to the young Marie Antoinette in a fit of pique over palace protocol, but to a fashion show for the ages.
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