Hi Elegant Readers,

If you are in the Philadelphia area or will be visiting the summer or fall, you will need to check out the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Your trip to the City of Brotherly Love would not be complete without a trip to see the wonderful new exhibition that examines the styles of fashion designer Patrick Kelly. The exhibition, titled Patrick Kelly:Runway of Love, opened April 27, and runs through November 30.

Patrick Kelly

Excerpt from Philadelphia Museum of Art press release.

“Fashion is celebrated this spring at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the retrospective Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love, which explores the meteoric rise and remarkable achievements of a 1980s legend whose clothing was worn by women of every age, from actress Bette Davis, late in her life, to singer Vanessa Williams, then in her twenties.This is the first exhibition to showcase the full scope of Kelly’s head-to-toe runway ensembles, and will include selections from the artist’s significant holdings of black memorabilia, videos of his exuberant fashion shows, and works by renowned photographers Horst P. Horst, Pierre et Gilles, and Oliviero Toscani.”

Patrick Kelly
Photograph of Patrick Kelly by Oliviero Toscani.

Patrick Kelly was a couture designer who loved bold colors and prints with over the top embellishments.

 “I want my clothes to make you smile,” said Patrick Kelly.

I really like the behind the scenes teaser on the exhibit seen in this video.  The exhibitions assistant at the Philadelphia Museum of Art gives an overview of how each look is put together. The ensembles are matched  exactly as if they were being styled for the runway.

Doesn’t this dress, with a coordinating hat, bring a ear-to-ear smile to your face?  The colors of the rainbow is shown throughout this dress. However, it is not too overpowering. It makes a bold statement.

Patrick Kelly Design Woman’s Ensemble: Dress, Hat, and Shoes, Fall/Winter 1987. Designed by Patrick Kelly, American (active Paris), c. 1954 1990. Dress and Hat: Wool and spandex knit. Shoes: Black suede, cotton embroidery, plastic. Promised gift of Bjorn Guil Amelan and Bill T. Jones.

I included the video below because I wanted to show that his fashion shows were fun and filled with excitement.  He celebrated women in all different shapes and a variety of ethnicities were showcased on his runway.
Patrick Kelly’s designs are bold and the models are actually smiling and playful.

The Patrick Kelly ensemble below is so ahead of its time. This design could be worn right now, and noone would know that it was a design from the 1980s.  Patrick Kelly’s designs are timeless.

Patrick Kelly Image Woman’s Top and Skirt, Spring/Summer 1985. Patrick Kelly, American (active Paris), c. 1954 1990. Cotton and acrylic knit. Promised gift of Bjorn Guil Amelan and Bill T. Jones.

This  metamorphosis of the Eiffel Tour is very cool, but oh so different. The symmetry elongates the body and makes a woman look tall and statuesque.

Patrick Kelly Woman’s Ensemble: Dress, Hat, and Shoes, Fall/Winter 1989. Patrick Kelly, American (active Paris), c. 1954 1990. Dress: Wool and spandex knit, plastic. Hat: Wire, nylon velvet. Shoes: Leather. Promised gift of Bjorn Guil Amelan and Bill T. Jones.

Excerpt from the Phliadelphia Museum of Art website.
“Patrick Kelly was born and raised in Mississippi by his mother and his grandmother, who helped foster his love of fashion by bringing him fashion magazines. He moved to Paris in late 1979, and in 1988 became the first American and the first black designer to be voted into the prestigious Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode, the French fashion industry association and standards organization. Kelly’s brilliant vision and career were cut short by AIDS, to which he succumbed on January 1, 1990.”

There is a companion exhibit called, Gerlan Jeans ♥ Patrick Kelly

Marcel Gerlan is truly inspired by Patrick Kelly, her designs are evident because they are just as bold, vibrant and individualistic.

Below is a video of Marcel Gerlan discussing how Patrick Kelly has inspired her designs through the years.

 The boldness of the color palette and the accessorizing of the bows on the Gerlan dress exudes inspiration.

“Take a Bow” Dress. Fall/Winter 2009 Cotton knit. Peace & Love, Inc. Collection. Designed by Gerlan Jeans, New York, 2009–present. On loan from Gerlan Jeans.
Bow Braid. Fall/Winter 2009. Human hair. Peace & Love, Inc. Collection. Designed by Chuckie Amos. American, 1969. On loan from Gerlan Jeans.

The Gerlan dress/tunic below reminds me of a Patrick Kelly design. He loved hearts and the bold red jumps right out at you.

Patrick Kelly’s vigor for life and love of color, bold prints and patterns continually is an evident inspiration for Gerlan’s designs.

“Hit by Hearts” Dress and Sweater Scarf. Fall/Winter 2009. Merino wool knit. Peace & Love, Inc. Collection. Designed by Gerlan Jeans, New York, 2009–present. On loan from Gerlan Jeans.