Saturday, June 8, 2024 The Couture Pattern Museum wrapped up its latest no-cost showcase with resounding success at the elegant Tower Event Space within the Paseo Nuevo Mall in Santa Barbara, coinciding with the city’s 1st Thursday Art Walk. The event attracted a massive turnout, with visitors queuing by the hundreds, some arriving hours early in anticipation of gaining a sneak preview. Devotees of James Galanos from across California converged at the event.
Enthusiastic fashion design students from Long Beach, as well as their counterparts from UCSB, SBCC, and Allan Hancock College, gathered to delve into the illustrious career of James Galanos and explore his renowned techniques in cutting and sewing. A highlight of the display was a museum-owned James Galanos gown that was shown publicly for the first time. This stunning creation, adorned with intricate beadwork on its bodice and a flowing Watteau back, utilized an impressive 100 yards of chiffon.
Its design echoed a 1952 Galanos silhouette that is a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s permanent collection. Attendees praised the museum’s initiative in digitizing and safeguarding this important historical fashion collection. Cara Austine, founder of the Couture Pattern Museum , remarked, “James Galanos was arguably California’s most influential fashion designer, outside of Hollywood.
He dressed everyone from political icons to Hollywood starlets. Seeing this turnout to celebrate his legacy in his home state i.