Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend myself however, the Arizona Costume Institute has sent invitations for the following:
Théâtre De La Mode: reception Friday March 25, 2011 6-8:30Pm, sponsored by the Phoenix Art Museum and the Arizona Costume Institute, exhibit runs through July 31, 2011, the exhibit focuses around the survival of haute couture in Paris after WWII to prove its resilience as the center of the fashion world.
Fashion Independent: Also sponsored by the Phoenix Art Museum and the Arizona Costume Society, this exhibit focuses around custom made sportswear for women by major mid-twentieth century designers, this exhibit will run until May 29, 2011.
A quick run of up-coming lectures includes:
Kandahar Treasure: the production of fine artisanal textiles produced by Afghan women and sold throughout the world.
Fifty Works for Fifty States: The result of an American couple who chose to live on her salary, as a librarian, while using his salary, as a postman, to collect art.
Echos of Eden: The Garden as a symbol of the World: The theme of the garden is explored in the works of many famous interpretations including, plays, religion, paintings, satire, etc.
Insights into Théâtre de La Mode : A second life/touring for French mannequins from the 1940s representing a renaissance of timeless fashions.
An Evening with Fischl and Andres Serrano: Andres Serrano is the guest of international stature this year to act as jury for the Phoenix College Art Competition and to participate in the Fischl Lecture Series, Serrano specializes in photography that deals with the boundaries of beauty and disgust.
Celebrating the Golden Age of Dutch Art: A celebration of Dutch art with William Kloss, a distinguished teacher, art historian and national recognized scholar of European art.
The Art of Couture: Lecture by renouned Pati Palmer about couture sewing, how sewing has changed since 1945, designing and custom fitting as well as her participation in Théâtre de la Mode: The Secret Survival of French Fashion.
Bowles on Bolenciaga: Hamish Bowles, Editor-at-Large of European Vogue, talk about the European designer Balenciaga.
If you live or are at all able to get to Phoenix Arizona for these events I highly, highly encourage it, for the rest of us...we'll just dream and salivate.
