The Ebony Fashion Show Is Reborn at The Chicago History Museum

27 Mar, 2013

The Chicago History Museum brings the Ebony Fashion Show back to life in its newest exhibit, “Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair.” The exhibition takes its audience on a walking tour of couture that embodied the Ebony Fashion show.

The underlined core of the exhibit’s message is as striking as the in-your-face fashion that’s sure to conjure vivid memories from those who lived it and create a desire for the next generation.

The display goes beyond the vivid colors and textures of such famed designers as Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Stephen Burrow to delve deeper into the “how’s” and “why’s” of the show.

Bringing high fashion to an African American audience using African American models in 1958 was no small feat. Eunice Johnson’s story of resilience and fortitude is told with unyielding strength made stronger only by the voice of her husband that comes through a plasma television that hangs suspended on a wall.

The voice is statically placed far enough to be separate from the fashion show but close enough to grab your attention. The area is decorated with a mosaic of Ebony magazines that tell the story of African American life through its covers.

Black and white images of times long ago float in transparency across what would be the dining room table. It is there you learn the history of Ebony in its founders own words.

From start to finish this exhibit, the museum’s largest special exhibition to date, pleases. It’s clear how the Ebony Fashion Fair helped transform the image of African-Americans as affluent and accomplished while redefining the definition of beauty.

The exhibit runs at The Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark Street, through Jan. 5, 2014.