The Couture Pattern Museum will feature two pop-up exhibits during Santa Barbara’s 1st Thursday Artwalks, 5-8 p.m. May 2 and June 6, to mark the 100th birthday anniversary of James Galanos, the legendary California fashion designer.

Galanos is known for dressing Hollywood and political royalty such as Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy and Nancy Reagan.

Three Galanos dresses, one black, one red and one with a black bodice and white flared shirt will be on display at the exhibit. (Couresy photo)
Original Galanos dresses from the designer’s Beverly Hills collection will be on display. (Couresy photo)

Curated by Cara Austine, a Santa Barbara artist and couture seamstress, the exhibits will showcase three rare and original Galanos dresses from his Beverly Hills studio in the early to mid-1950s. Included will be two identical dresses that are part of the MET and Philadelphia Museum of Art’s permanent collections.

Additionally, the museum will unveil four reconstructed garments based on original 1957 Galanos patterns for McCall’s, marking the first public display of these pieces.

This exhibit spotlights the Couture Pattern Museum’s novel approach to fashion history. By preserving the patterns and the detailed construction information they contain, the museum ensures continued access to a vital aspect of cultural heritage, providing a window into the techniques and artistry of past eras.

The museum is preserving haute couture know-how by manually digitizing and safeguarding more than 1,000 historic designs, some dating back to the 1920s. This includes a rare Coronation robe and gown pattern, blessed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, that was featured in last year’s “Coronation Couture” programming.

Four Galanos dresses are displayed on mannequins: One has a colorful flower pattern on a black background; one is a white bodice with flared black skirt; one is fitted with an overall brown and black design and the last is a blue and pink design on a summery-style dress with shoulder straps and a flared skirt. (Courtesy photo)
The Santa Barbara showing marks the first public display of four reconstructed garments based on original 1957 Galanos patterns for McCall’s. (Courtesy photo)

The event is supported by Noozhawk, SBIndependent, Workzones, Paseo Nuevo Mall, and SolWave, with special recognition to Povilas Zaleskis of BiasCutWoman for his contributions of Clo3D video technology in highlighting the importance of patterns in fashion design.

In addition to celebrating Galanos’ legacy, the museum seeks donations and memberships to support free public programming and foster partnerships with Santa Barbara County fashion design students. The museum also extends its efforts to memory care programs in nursing homes, showcasing the enduring power of fashion to enrich lives.

The exhibit will be in the Tower Event Space, Workzones at Paseo Nuevo Mall. Complimentary wine will be offered and donations or tips are appreciated.

For more information, visit www.couturepatternmuseum.com.