A Passion For Phoenix Fashion

If you’ve never explored the Phoenix Art Museum’s stunning Fashion Design Collection, you’re missing out on one of the Valley’s best-dressed gems. Founded in 1966, the museum’s fashion & costume collection is one of the longest-running, most-comprehensive programs in the nation. And three times a year, they crack open the vault to strut out stylish exhibits such as the showcase on Ann Bonfoey Taylor, the original It girl of the ski-chic generation.

Recently, we sat down with Dennita Sewell, Fashion and Design Curator for the Phoenix Art Museum, to talk about the exhibit, Fashion Independent: The Original Style of Ann Bonfoey Taylor. As it’s closing on Sunday, we encourage you to stop by and view this amazing display of fine fashion before it’s gone, but now we will treat you to a more in depth look at the exhibit and the woman behind the wardrobe.

For our readers who may not know, who was Ann Bonfoey Taylor and why is her wardrobe so important?
Ann Taylor was a socialite who lived in Denver, CO in the 1960s and was a couture client of some of the most masterful designers of the 20th Century such as Balenciaga, Givenchy,  Charles James and Madame Gres at the height of the era of Haute Couture. She really had a very defined sense of style and sense of who she was and who she wanted to work with. Her wardrobe was not a hodgepodge of different designers but rather a cohesive collection. What’s extraordinary about her wardrobe is not only the work of these masterful designers, but that she saved so much of her custom pieces. This includes daywear as well as evening wear which will be shown in the exhibition.

The Phoenix Art Museum has had some amazing fashion exhibits in the past. Where do these pieces and collections come from and how do you go about selecting them for an exhibit?
We have a permanent collection of over 5,000 objects from the 18th century to the present. What I do is originate an idea and pull objects from our permanent collection and either borrow things from international fashion houses or individual people and collectors whom I may know that have something that would work well with the collection. Sometimes the museum will go out and buy a piece for an exhibition.

The wardrobe of Mrs. Taylor was given as a gift, correct?
Yes, this collection was donated by her family in 2008 and was named one of the top 100 museum gifts of that year by Art and Antiques. It was a very generous and extraordinary donation we are thrilled to have.

For the rest of the interview, including what goes into curating a fashion exhibit and Dennita’s thoughts on Lady Gaga click here.