Talent, beauty, and style - the Supremes had it all. From Stop! In the Name of Love to Where Did Our Love Go, their Motown hits have stood the test of time and a new exhibition shows that many of their fashions have held up too! You can view the Supremes' fantastic frocks up close and personal at the African-American Museum in Philadelphia from January 25, 2012 to June 30, 2013 in the fantastic exhibition Come See About Me: The Mary Wilson Supremes Collection.
Mary Wilson strikes a pose with a few of the Supremes' dresses from her collection that will be on display at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
A few weeks ago I was invited to get a sneak peek at a few of the dresses and to meet the marvelous Mary Wilson. A founding member of the Supremes, Ms. Wilson became the guardian of the dresses when other members left the group - the singers may have come and gone but the dresses stayed with Mary. Sadly, some of the dresses vanished when Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles but occasionally they pop up on eBay and Ms. Wilson has found herself in the surreal position of purchasing back the gowns. (Really, if you're reading this and have a Supremes gown in your collection, can you please return it to Ms. Wilson and not charge her? Come on people - show some respect for a music legend!)
More than just a dazzling collection of sequins, beads, and feathers, the dresses displayed in Come See About Me send a powerful message about achievement and overcoming obstacles. The original Supremes were poor young women from Detroit who made their dreams come true and went from singing in the housing projects to topping the charts and performing at the request of the Queen Mother. And, through it all they made a conscious decision to appear glamorous and to show the world that young black women could be elegant and sophisticated. Bravo! I think every woman can be inspired by the Supremes' story.
Today, Ms. Wilson still performs and has just released a solo CD. I asked her to share the secret to her incredibly youthful appearance - "Prayer and Bikram Yoga," she said with a dazzling smile. Amen and sign me up!
For more details on Come See About Me, visit the website of the African American Museum in Philadelphia. This exhibition is a great girlfriend getaway.
Where to Stay: I recommend the Loews Philadelphia Hotel at 1200 Market Street for your stay. Within walking distance of the Come See About Me exhibition (about 10-15 minutes), the Loews Philadelphia Hotel was recognized as one of the "World's Best" by Travel+Leisure readers. Located in the first skyscraper ever built in Philly, the Loews is in the heart of the city and boasts 581 guest rooms. I stayed here on my recent trip to Philly and the room was spacious and the bed very comfortable. The Loews is also just down the street from Macy's in case you feel inspired to buy a new dress after viewing the exhibition! Check out VisitPhilly.com for more tips on planning your Philly getaway.
