Although visions of shorts, tank tops, and flip-flops may come to mind when one thinks of fashion in South Florida, the University of Miami Libraries’ “Deep Dives” series will show otherwise. Cristina Favretto, head of special collections, is hosting a webinar that will give an inside look at fashion-related rare books and other items in the archives.
“People don't necessarily associate fashion with Miami, but the city has a thriving fashion industry,” explained Favretto. “Miami isn’t seen as a fashion capital. It’s viewed as a place that absorbs mainstream fashion, but I think there's a flavor of our own that we project out into the world.”
During the series, participants will learn about local style stars—including pin-up photographer Bunny Yeager and South Beach legend Gianni Versace—and thrill at the beauty of Art Deco-era fashion illustrations.
“Bunny Yeager started out as a model and she ended up going behind the camera and evolving into an influential swimsuit photographer who had a special way of making women feel comfortable. We have a large collection of her materials. She lived in Miami. And after she passed away, we acquired her collection,” said Favretto.
“We are also going to talk about Gianni Versace, because his work is very much a part of our Miami history,” she said. “Gianni was a top figure worldwide in fashion, and he could have lived anywhere. But he loved Miami because he was so inspired by the city’s colorfulness, which was reflected in his vibrant designs.”
The series will also comb through over-the-top hairstyles, take a look at aviation-related fashion, and examine examples of 19th-century lace making and embroidery.
Favretto is most excited to share the library's extensive collection of “The Face”—a British music, fashion, and culture magazine. “It’s a really interesting magazine that ran from the 80s until the 2000s, and it shows the history of avant-garde and street fashion from those years. It's full of interesting writing, and you’ll see early images in one of the earliest issues of a young Boy George before he was famous,” noted Favretto. “The magazine was very hard to get hold of and we’re one of the few places in the world that has a complete run of this magazine.”
The Zoom event will take place on July 8 at 1 p.m. Register here.
