The National Marian Anderson Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania houses a collection of Anderson’s beautiful couture clothing, accessories and shoes. “One of the things that Marian was able to re-imagine about her life and about her style was being introduced to the European fashion scene,” said Jillian Pirtle, CEO of the museum.
Written Features
Marian Anderson biography and timeline
Five firsts that made Marian Anderson famous
“I am not a dazzler”: How Marian Anderson’s fashion legacy recast the role of opera diva
Marian Anderson’s success challenged racial typecasting
This Historic Marian Anderson Performance Made Her an Icon of the Civil Rights Movement
Marian Anderson Had a “Once in a Hundred Year” Voice. Start With These 5 Recordings.
Marian Anderson quotes on music, discrimination and success
Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein’s unexpected friendship
How representation can empower you in the arts
Video Features
Clip | How racism affected Marian Anderson’s vocal classification
Clip | Denyce Graves, George Shirley and others on Marian Anderson’s legacy
Clip | Marian Anderson overcame discrimination with Danbury farm
Clip | Marian Anderson’s love of fashion and shoes
Clip | Marian Anderson’s singing recalls America’s racial unrest
TRANSCRIPT
- Marian left the United States for her European educational tour experience in the fall of 1928, boarding the Queen Mary ship landing in London.
And one of the things that Marian was able to reimagine about her life and about her style was being introduced to the European fashion scene.
As you can see from these beautiful shoes, peau de soie, that you have here, where Marian was able to go to a wonderful atelier and poetic license for this beautiful stated shoe that has the formidable fashion zipper on the side for Marian at the time.
A bit different than the lace-ups and about the wonderful eye hook lash of the spat.
We're getting into a modernistic European shoe, which is quite wonderful.
And it was all a part of Marian's wonderful love for the accessories and the fashion and the shoes that she had to go along with her beautiful gowns.
Many that were made for her custom, a lot that she purchased while in Europe, on her many different tour experiences.
And even those that she purchased in the United States.
It's a complete list and look, every shoe has a story.
It's Marian's story, and it's being told here through this amazing documentary.
(bright music)
