Diplomacy and design were on display Friday night during a fashion show at the National Museum of Women in the Arts that brought together fashion experts, diplomatic leaders and policy influencers.
WASHINGTON — Diplomacy and design were on display Friday during a panel discussion at the National Museum of Women in the Arts that brought together fashion experts, diplomatic leaders and policy influencers.
Put on by the Meridian International Center, the “Diplomacy X Design” event also featured an exhibit of the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte.
The night included a panel discussion with fashion experts and writers on the relationship between design and world issues. Those on the panel included The Washington Post writer and fashion critic, Robin Givhan; Hildy Kuryk, former communications director at Vogue; and Michelle Obama’s stylist, Meredith Koop.
The Rodarte exhibit served as a backdrop for the night. The showcase featured the tutus worn by actress Natalie Portman in the film, “Black Swan” and a collection of gowns inspired by the motion picture, “Star Wars”.
The exhibit is on view until February 10, 2019.
See photos of the event below.
Visitors view gowns from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Jan Du Plain (left), Embassy Liaison for the Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center; and Cheryl L. Crowell, Director of Resource Development for Cultural Tourism DC, view gowns from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Panelists for the Diplomacy X Design conversation (left to right) - Meredith Koop, fashion and wardrobe advisor to former first lady Michelle Obama; Robin Givhan, fashion critic for the Washington Post; Hildy Kuryk, founder and CEO of Artemis Strategies; and Indira Gumarova, wife of the Czech Republic Ambassador to the U.S. and a PR consultant - discussing the impact of fashion on diplomacy at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Visitors view gowns from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Robin Givhan, fashion critic for the Washington Post, discusses the impact of fashion on diplomacy with a panel of fashion industry members at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. (Robin Givhan, fashion critic for the Washington Post, discusses the impact of fashion on diplomacy with a panel of fashion industry members at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
A gown from the Spring/Summer 2009 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte." (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Gowns from the Spring/Summer 2009 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Ensembles from the Fall/Winter 2009 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte."(Boots by Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte) (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Ensembles from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Ensembles from the Fall/Winter 2008 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte."(Shoes by Christian Louboutin for Rodarte). (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Gowns from the Spring/Summer 2010 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
"Star Wars" inspired gowns from the Fall/Winter 2014 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte." (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Ensembles from the Spring/Summer 2017 and 2018 collections from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Ensembles from the Spring/Summer 2017 and 2018 collections from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Ensembles from the Spring/Summer 2018 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Boots from the Spring/Summer 2017 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte." Boots from the Spring/Summer 2017 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte." (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
A visitor views a dress from the Fall/Winter 2008 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte." (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Dresses from the Fall/Winter 2008 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
A gown from the Fall/Winter 2008 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Her Excellency Cristina Balan, Ambassador of the Replublic of Moldova to the United States, greets Indira Gumarova, wife of the Ambassador of the Czech Republic,at the Diplomacy X Design event at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Ambassador Stuart Holliday, Meridian CEO and President, welcomes guests to Diplomacy X Design at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Ensembles from the Fall/Winter 2008 collection from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019.(Shoes by Christian Louboutin for Rodarte). (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
From the 2010 film, "Black Swan", the tutu and crown worn by actress Natalie Portman from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
A tutu worn by actress Natalie Portman in the 2010 film, "Black Swan," from the American luxury fashion house, Rodarte - a part of the National Museum of Women in the Arts' first fashion exhibition, "Rodarte", on view now through February 10, 2019. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/shannonfinneyphotography.com)
