ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Christian Dior, Suit jacket, 1952. Wool and velvet. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum. Gift of Mrs. Donald D. Harrington; Valentino, Dress, c. 1982. Silk crepe with sequins and dyed feathers. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum. Gift of Georgette Mosbacher.
Drawn entirely from the renowned PhxArt fashion-design collection, The Power of Pink celebrates the complex history of the color pink, which is typically associated with feminine expression. The exhibition traces the history of the hue and the evolution of its role in fashion, from its origins in 17th-century France, where it was worn by both men and women as a symbol of status, luxury, and power, to 1940s North America, when mass-marketing efforts began to gender the color, assigning pink to girls and blue to boys. Featuring more than 10 garments and ensembles, The Power of Pink encourages thoughtful examination of the color and its influence on major designers such as Gianfranco Ferré, Christian Dior, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, and more. The exhibition is presented in conversation with major exhibition Barbie: A Cultural Icon, created by Illusion Projects and curated by Karan Feder, in collaboration with Mattel.

Charles James, Black velvet and ivory satin ballgown with full skirt, 1951. Silk velvet, silk faille and silk satin. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Eleanor S. W. McCollum.