IMPERIAL

Style and Status: Rich Textiles and Ottoman Silks Inspire Turkish Designers in a New Exhibition and Gala

“THE OTTOMAN CAFTANS ARE SO AMAZING IN STYLE, CUT, FABRIC AND PATTERN, THAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG INSPIRATIONAL SOURCE FOR MY WORK. THEY ARE SO PRECIOUS AND DELICATE AS A WHOLE; THE CUT COMPLEMENTS THE FABRICS, AND THE PATTERNS AND COLORS ARE SO MUCH IN HARMONY WITH EACH OTHER AND THE FABRIC.”

— ATIL KUTOGLU

MASSUMEH FARHAD Chief Curator Freer and Sackler Galleries wearing purple silk jersey dress by ATIL KUTOGLU and MRS. SERPIL AYASLI, Freer Sackler Benefactor and Gala Committee Member, wearing black two piece silk jersey dress with jet beaded belt by YILDIRIM MAYRUK. Farhad’s gold filigree earrings, $70, belt, $150, and gold cuff, $210, & Ayasli’s beaded drop earrings, $185, and gold cuff, $750, all from TABANDEH. A silk and taffeta kaftan from the 16th-17th century; Istanbul, Topkapi Palace Museum

“THE MAIN LINES AND GEOMETRY OF THE IMPERIAL KAFTANS INFLUENCE ME. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT, ONE REPRESENTS THE PAST AND THE OTHER THE PRESENT.”

— GONUL PAKSOY

SERPIL AYASLI and MARY OURISMAN Gala Committee Members and Benefactors, and MEVHIBE (“MIMI”) LOGOGLU, wife of Turkish Ambassador O. Faruk Logoglu, all wearing the designs and accessories of GONUL PAKSOY. Below: A silk satin kaftan with applique design from the 17th century; Istanbul, Topkapi Palace Museum

MEVHIBE (“MIMI”) LOGOGLU wife of Turkish Ambassador O. Faruk Logoglu in a taupe and café strapless satin gown by YILDIRIM MAYRUK with bronze cluster necklace, $350, and drop earrings, $355, both from TABANDEH

SAVE THE DATE!

WASHINGTON LIFE is proud to sponsor this years FREER & SACKLER GALA featuring a sizzling fashion show with top Turkish designers and special guest OSCAR DE LA RENTA October 26, 2005, in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. A reception and private tour of ‘Style and Status’ in the Sackler will begin at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner in the Freer at 8:30 p.m.

STYLE AND STATUS IMPERIAL COSTUMES FROM OTTOMAN EMPIRE The exhibition will showcase over fifty of the world’s finest Ottoman royal textiles from the collections of the Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, the Kremlin Armory, Moscow and other international collections. These Ottoman Imperial silks are rich in their visual design and technical complexity. Designed to impress, the Imperial Kaftans were the ultimate luxury items of style and status.

Oct. 29, 2005 – Jan. 22, 2006 Arthur M. Sackler Gallery For ticket information contact Jessica Hammond at 202-633-0447

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