She was the stuff legends were made of.

Dalida, one of the greatest superstars of France, did it all- singer, actress, performer and entertainer. But her brilliant, unstoppable career came to a tragic halt when she committed suicide at age of 54 in 1987, while still at the pinnacle of her fame. At the time of her death, she had already sold over 170 million records, achieved international success all over Europe, the Middle East and Japan, sang in over ten languages including French, English, Italian and Arabic, received 70 Gold Records, starred in films, and sold out concerts around the globe.

Dalida: Her Wardrobe On and Off-Stage, charts the rise to fame through her wardrobe. Born Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti in Egypt in 1933 to Italian parents, Dalida was crowned Miss Egypt in 1954 and soon became a singer. At the entrance to the exhibit is a strapless red velvet dress with a cinched waist which Dalida wore when she sang her first hit song Bambino. The dress symbolizes her early sophisticated but quaint style based on the popular New Look of Dior and the remainder of the dresses from the 1950s in the first room reflect that era.

In the 60s and 70s her style progresses with designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Balmain and Louis Azarro. Her nearly perfect figure with supple hips, long neck, sexy back, ample bust and square shoulders was ideal to show off versatile looks from different designers. Azarro dressed her in elongated column gowns of white and black and she wore Yves Saint Laurent’s black trench coats and tuxedo looks with flare.

1950s

1950s

In the late 70s and early 80s Dalida went disco, recording songs with a thumping, endless beat along with videos of her sashaying her hips and waving her arms with scantily clad male back up dancers. (There are video monitors in the exhibit of her disco hits).

With the glitz and glamor that was disco, her clothes were now showgirl costumes and she enlisted costume designers to create outrageous outfits with feathers, sequins, ruffles and cutouts to show her sculpted body off. Some of the clothes were so outlandish, they make Cher’s outfits from the same era look downright demure.

In the next to the last room were a selection of leather dresses with exaggerated shoulder pads form the 1980s, resembling designs by Claude Montana and Thierry Mugler.

Dalida: Her Wardrobe On and Off-Stage is not only a terrific costume exhibit but aan informative and entertaining probe into a legendary singer and fashion icon.

Dalida’s brother Orlando generously donated all of the pieces in the show to Musee Galliera.

Till August 13
Palais Galliera
10, rue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75116
Metro: Alma- Marceau or Iena
http://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/dalida-une-garde-robe-de-la-ville-la-scene

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Yves Saint Laurent Tuxedo

Channeling Cher

Gotta go disco!

Going down in flames

#Alexis Carrington #Crystal Carrington #Dynasty #shoulder pads #1980s

 Eye Prefer Paris Postcards