We talked a lot in class about the energy of American fashion vs. the French, and the Battle of Versailles captures that spirit perfectly.

In 1973, five American designers (Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta, Halston, Anne Klein, and Stephen Burrows) took on five French designers in a "battle" of sorts, and the Americans killed it. It was one of the first runway shows to feature African-American models, and despite how important it was, there's not many photos or much coverage of it even today. Here's a good slideshow from ABC News. Would make the best thesis topic!