Dreaming of Chanel: A Wardrobe Full of Stories- A Talk with Charlotte Smith
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011, 7:30 PM
Radcliffe Children’s Wing, Perrot Memorial Library
The Chanel suit: it is one of the 20th century’s most iconic garments. Seen by many as the epitome of style, its classic silhouette is instantly recognizable, and yet owning one is, for most women, only a dream.
Author and curator Charlotte Smith will return to Perrot to discuss her latest book, Dreaming of Chanel, which reveals the backdrop and dreams attached to pieces of clothing, whether they are made by famous designers or unknown dressmakers. She chronicles the lives and times of the wearers, and what evolves is a fascinating history of style and couture throughout the ages. Ms. Smith is the curator of the Darnell Collection, Australia’s largest private collection of over 3,000 items of vintage clothing and accessories, which she inherited from her American godmother, Doris Darnell. Ms. Smith will enhance her stories with examples of some of the fabulous pieces from the collection.