60 years of Italian fashion on display until 10 January 2017

An exhibition of 60 years of Italian fashion will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia, at the Museum of Modern Art from 15 November 2016 to 10 January 2017.

The exhibition ’60 years of Made in Italy: Protagonists of the Italian Style’ is a tribute to fashion haute couture designs and unmistakable Italian style icons.

Each item of the exhibition comes from fashion archives and private collections. Some items were worn by Hollywood stars and celebrities. These include the Emilio Schuberth satin evening dress worn by actress Gina Lollobrigida in 1950 for ‘The Italian Fashion’ book.  

There is the Irene Galitzine pale pink pantsuit, called the Palazzo Pyjamas, worn by Claudia Cardinale in ‘The Pink Panther’ movie in 1963 and the 1963 Sorelle Fontana ‘cossack dress’ worn by Ava Gardner in ‘The Barefoot Contessa.’

The red silk crepe Valentino Garavani gown worn by Elizabeth Hurley at the Estee Lauder charity ball in 1998 is on display.

The cream chiffon Miuccia Prada gown with black trim and metal embroidery, worn by Milla Jovovich during the Los Angeles premiere of her film ‘Joan of Arc’ (1999) is stunning.

There is also the printed silk Gianni Versace  ‘jungle dress’ worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 Grammy Music Awards.

Carla Bruni Sarkozy wore a Venetian gown by Gia Mattiolo during the runway show in Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome in 1997/1998.

The Fendi leopard coat worn by Italian actress Sophia Loren in 1970 is exhibited with the gold metal vest from the 1991 Sun Collection by De Liguoro made with multi-coloured Swarovski crystal stones.

There is the 1950 Brioni smoking jacket worn by actor John Wayne.

Salvatore Ferrragamo’s silver evening dress decorated with tiny mirrors (1980) are displayed. There is also the Gattinoni Couture 1989/1990 two-tone grey, calf-length dress with multi-layered plisse tulle flounces and silk bodice with leaf embroidery and Fausto Sarli’s 1989 red silk crepe evening gown with organza flowers.

A Marella Ferrera 1993 dress with short jacket is displayed. It is decorated with embroidered tiles inspired by the steps of the St Maria del Monte in Caltagirone.

There is Vinicio Pajaro’s 1998 cape in Russian Bargunzinskij fur, and Nicola Trussardi’s two-piece tan-coloured outfit made from crocodile skin (1998).

In the same period, 1997/1998 is Gai Mattiolo’s ‘Harlequin’ dress with sequined bodice and the 1998 Lorenzo Riva silk organza and white lace dress, with Egon von Furstenberg’s 2003 floral gown.

  There are also many more gowns and garments on view in two large halls.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).