The brand-new 2,000-square-foot Joan Spain Gallery for Costume and Textiles is hosting an exhibition honoring three Philadelphia natives who have achieved international stature in the field of fashion design. A Passion for Perfection features examples of the work of James Galanos, Gustave (Gus) Tassell, and Ralph Rucci.
Drawn from the Museum's extensive collection of Costume and Textiles, as well as loans from private collections, the exhibition includes approximately 50 works, many of them gifts from the designers themselves, including several of their model gowns.
The installation underscores how each of these designers created a uniquely American style by applying Parisian haute couture technique to ready to wear apparel.
Designing for and dressing clients that have included First Ladies, actresses, and other notable figures, each designer has, in his own way, sought to achieve perfection through tailoring, use of materials, attention to surface details, and sheer excellence of design.