A rare exhibit honoring fashion pioneer Halston has popped up in an unexpected place. No, the designer is not the theme of this year’s Met Gala — San Antonio fashionistas will have to make a nearly six-hour drive to Odessa’s newly revamped Ellen Noël Art Museum.
Halston’s minimalistic fashions are rarely the subjects of retrospectives. Although the designer’s dramatic life story recently had a pop-cultural resurgence through a 2021 Ryan Murphy miniseries, the Odessa exhibit, "Halston: Inventing American Fashion" assesses the talent that made him a household name.
Known now for outfitting 1970s icons like Liza Minelli and Bianca Jagger, Halston changed the international reputation of American sportswear as part of the famous 1973 “Battle of Versailles” fashion show, holding his own against Paris’ most lauded couturiers. His uniquely louche style still influences contemporary brands like Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, and Tom Ford, who was briefly the creative director for a revised Halston label.
In the exhibition, mannequins are outfitted with 75 ensembles from flowing Ultrasuede daywear to more dramatic draped gowns. The pieces “illustrate how Halston revolutionized fashion by prioritizing comfort, confidence, and modern femininity,” according to a release.
Although Odessa may seem an odd choice for the show, Halston had deep Texas connections. After he moved on from hat making, Amarillo millionaire Estelle Marsh was his sole backer willing to fund his first Madison Avenue boutique.
The new facade at Ellen Noël Art MuseumPhoto courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum
This red ensemble was once worn by Broadway legend Carol Channing.
And the recently completed renovation at the Ellen Noël Art Museum has some of the designer’s signature sleek. Designed by architect R.J. Lopez, the renovation includes new galleries and improved circulation, but the centerpiece is a striking transparent façade, replacing the original brick of the 1985 building.
“The renovation project has been over 10 years in the making and in the construction phase for the past two years,” says the museum’s buildings manager, Steve Patton, via a release. “The completion of the project has resulted in an incredible facility that is a shining star in West Texas, offering programs and exhibits that will be a destination point for people all over the world!”
"Halston: Inventing American Fashion" will run through March 22. Admission to the Ellen Noël Art Museum is free.
