SCAD FASH Exhibit Displays 100+ Items From C.Z. Guest

SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta is showing C.Z. Guest's style.

The exhibition, titled C.Z. Guest: Portrait of an American Style Icon, runs through Feb. 21. It gathers more than 100 garments, accessories, and photographs. These items created the public image of the socialite and style icon.

Guest was born in 1920 in Boston. She married her first husband, Christian Guest, in 1941. She lived in Savannah, Georgia, and later in New York. Truman Capote called her "blanc de blanc perfection" in a 1975 book introduction. He also described her as a "cool vanilla lady" with "ice-cream reserve."

The show includes pieces from various eras. A 1971 dress by Carolina Herrera is on display. It is paired with a vintage Hermès bag. There are also items from Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen. The exhibit features a 1980s Givenchy dress that Guest wore in a public appearance.

Photographs by Cecil Beaton and Annie Leibovitz appear in the gallery. Beaton shot her in 1970 and 1979. Leibovitz captured her in 2004. These images show her in white or light-colored clothing. The visuals reinforce the pristine persona that defined her public life.

Guest spoke about her approach to dress in a 1996 interview. She said she wanted to look effortless. She noted that the best clothes are the ones that do not draw too much attention. "I am always wearing the same thing," she told the interviewer. "It is just that I wear it better."

The museum's director, Ashley W. Smith, said the exhibit aims to go beyond the surface. Smith said the show offers a rare glimpse into the woman behind the myth. The curator for the project is Mary Ellen Mark. She worked with Guest's family to select the items. The family approved the inclusion of personal letters and early sketches.

Guest kept a strict routine. She wore white or cream almost exclusively. She avoided bright colors and loud patterns. Her style was simple but expensive. The exhibit displays a 1998 Chanel suit. It was one of her last public outfits before she stepped back from social events.

The gallery also shows a 2004 photograph by Leibovitz. It depicts Guest in a white suit. She is seated in a garden setting. This image is from a shoot for Vogue magazine. The photo highlights her continued presence in fashion media even in her eighties.

Admission to the exhibition is $5 for students and $10 for adults. Children under 12 enter free. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The location is at 1659 Peachtree Street N.W. in Atlanta. Visitors can view the collection through Feb. 21.