(Newport, RI)  A Newport House Party Weekend is the theme of The Preservation Society of Newport County's 2009 costume exhibition at Rosecliff, presenting a collection of designer evening fashions of the 1970s.

The exhibition is inspired by a selection of photo albums from the collection of Mrs. Alletta Morris McBean (1912-1986), whose Newport summer cottage Chepstow is one of the Preservation Society's historic properties.  The albums depict some of Mrs. McBean’s weekend cocktail and dinner parties held at Chepstow.  Some of these dinners preceded Newport’s seasonal charity events of the era, as well as Newport’s Bicentennial celebrations in 1976.  Mrs. McBean’s family members were long-standing Newport summer residents, a tradition she continued throughout her life, using Chepstow for the traditional three-month summer season.

The exhibition is arranged around the concept of a 1970s dinner at a summer cottage, followed by another evening’s dinner/dancing at a seasonal charity event—a house party weekend.  The dresses shown might have been worn to parties at Mrs. McBean’s house, or elsewhere around the city during such occasions.  One evening ensemble designed by Malcolm Starr (circa 1970) was indeed worn by Mrs. McBean.  It is a lime green tunic-style dress accented with elaborate yellow beading.  Other well-known designers featured in the show include Hubert Givenchy and Christian Dior.  Among the Givenchys are a flowing red chiffon evening dress with a horizontal-pleated bodice and a matching cape; the other is a classic solid black ensemble emblazoned with sparkling rhinestones along the neckline and cuffs.  Both were worn by Mrs. Martha S. Crawford von Bulow.  The show also features designs by Dimitri Kritsas, Arnold Scaasi, Adolfo, Halston, and Oscar de la Renta, that were worn by several of Newport’s leading ladies including Mrs. Oatsie Charles, Mrs. Elinor Dorrance Ingersoll, Mrs. John G. Winslow and Mrs. John R. Drexel III.

Curated by Preservation Society Curator Paul F. Miller and Associate Curator Charles J. Burns, the exhibition will be on display in the Lesley Bogert Crawford costume galleries on the 2^nd floor of Rosecliff through November 19.  Admission to the exhibit is included with any Rosecliff tour ticket.

The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island is a non-profit educational organization accredited by the American Association of Museums and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes and decorative arts.  Its 11 historic properties—seven of them National Historic Landmarks—span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.