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COLLECTION IN ‘THE FASHION SHOW’ AT RIDGEFIELD GUILD OF ARTISTS

RIDGEFIELD—Couture—the designs, fabrics, embellishments and accessories, and the inspirations behind the clothing—is the theme of
“The Fashion Show,” a group exhibition at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists to run from February 23 through March 22, 2008. The Guild will host an opening reception on Saturday, February 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This event is open to the public and free of charge.

The centerpiece of “The Fashion Show” will be the Spring 2008 ready-to-wear line from the Jessup Collection, created by noted women’s apparel designer Jerome Jessup. Making an immediate splash since the eponymous collection debuted in 2007, Jessup clothes have been featured in the New York Times Travel magazine, InStyle magazine and the influential Daily Candy Miami website.

In his 25-year design career Jessup has worked with several of fashion’s household names, including Halston, Perry Ellis and Oscar de la Renta—who, along with art icon Andy Warhol, was instrumental in encouraging Jessup to earn a BFA in fashion design from Parsons School of Design.
Jessup transformed the Banana Republic image into a brand of modern, accessible luxury, ultimately becoming co-president of the 400-store chain.
The Jessup Collection, according to its creator, is intended to dress women who “have decidedly uptown sensibilities but tendencies that reflect a downtown pulse.” The Guild’s artist members will interpret the fashion theme with both handmade clothing, accessories and jewelry pieces and fine art relating to fashion. Among the works will be ink and gouache drawings from the 1930s through the 1950s, created by the late Margaret Malval,
a Ridgefield resident and Guild founder who illustrated for fashion advertisements during her long artistic career. Guild members’ works
will be offered for sale.

Designer Jerome Jessup Featured in Ridgefield Guild of Artists’ “The Fashion Show” / 2 The Ridgefield Guild of Artists is located at 34 Halpin Lane,
off Prospect Ridge Road in downtown Ridgefield. Gallery hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 4:00 p.m. For directions and further information, contact the Guild at 203-438-8863; email to rgoa@sbcglobal.net or visit www.rgoa.org.

The ‘clamshell’ dress has become a signature piece in designer Jerome Jessup’s Jessup Collection. Nearly 60 pieces from the designer’s Spring 2008 ready-to-wear collection will be featured in “The Fashion Show,” a group exhibition about couture, at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists from February 23 through March 22, 2008. The Guild will host an opening reception on Saturday, February 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Ridgefield Guild of Artists barn is located at 34 Halpin Lane, off Prospect Ridge Road in downtown Ridgefield. Gallery hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 4:00 p.m. For more information call 203-438-8863 or visit www.rgoa.org.

Spanning decades between the 1930s and 1950s, Ridgefield resident Margaret Malval drew fashion advertising illustrations for various designers and department stores, including this pen-and-ink illustration from the ‘30s. Ms. Malval, who passed away in January at age 95,
was a founding member of the Ridgefield Guild of Artists and an accomplished watercolorist. This and more of her drawings will be on display in “The Fashion Show, ”a group exhibition about couture, at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists from February 23 through March 22, 2008.

The Guild will host an opening reception on Saturday, February 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Guild gallery barn is located at 34 Halpin Lane, off Prospect Ridge Road in downtown Ridgefield. Gallery hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 4:00 p.m. For more information call
203-438-8863 or visit www.rgoa.org.

CONTACT: Debra Browne/ 203-834-0643/ rbrowne997@aol.com

DATE: February 4, 2008

NOTED CLOTHING DESIGNER JEROME JESSUP TO EXHIBIT SPRING 2008

COLLECTION IN ‘THE FASHION SHOW’ AT RIDGEFIELD GUILD OF ARTISTS

            RIDGEFIELD—Couture—the designs, fabrics, embellishments and accessories, and the inspirations behind the clothing—is the theme of
“The Fashion Show,” a group exhibition at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists to run from February 23 through March 22, 2008. The Guild will host an opening reception on Saturday, February 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This event is open to the public and free of charge.

The centerpiece of “The Fashion Show” will be the Spring 2008 ready-to-wear line from the Jessup Collection, created by noted women’s apparel designer Jerome Jessup.   Making an immediate splash since the eponymous collection debuted in 2007, Jessup clothes have been featured in the New York Times Travel magazine, InStyle magazine and the influential Daily Candy Miami website.

In his 25-year design career Jessup has worked with several of fashion’s household names, including Halston, Perry Ellis and Oscar de la Renta—who, along with art icon Andy Warhol, was instrumental in encouraging Jessup to earn a BFA in fashion design from Parsons School of Design.
Jessup transformed the Banana Republic image into a brand of modern, accessible luxury, ultimately becoming co-president of the 400-store chain.
The Jessup Collection, according to its creator, is intended to dress women who “have decidedly uptown sensibilities but tendencies that reflect a downtown pulse.” The Guild’s artist members will interpret the fashion theme with both handmade clothing, accessories and jewelry pieces and fine art relating to fashion. Among the works will be ink and gouache drawings from the 1930s through the 1950s, created by the late Margaret Malval,
a Ridgefield resident and Guild founder who illustrated for fashion advertisements during her long artistic career. Guild members’ works
will be offered for sale.

Designer Jerome Jessup Featured in Ridgefield Guild of Artists’ “The Fashion Show” / 2 The Ridgefield Guild of Artists is located at 34 Halpin Lane,
off Prospect Ridge Road in downtown Ridgefield. Gallery hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 4:00 p.m. For directions and further information, contact the Guild at 203-438-8863; email to rgoa@sbcglobal.net or visit www.rgoa.org.

The ‘clamshell’ dress has become a signature piece in designer Jerome Jessup’s Jessup Collection. Nearly 60 pieces from the designer’s Spring 2008 ready-to-wear collection will be featured in “The Fashion Show,” a group exhibition about couture, at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists from February 23 through March 22, 2008. The Guild will host an opening reception on Saturday, February 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Ridgefield Guild of Artists barn is located at 34 Halpin Lane, off Prospect Ridge Road in downtown Ridgefield. Gallery hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 4:00 p.m. For more information call 203-438-8863 or visit www.rgoa.org.

Spanning decades between the 1930s and 1950s, Ridgefield resident Margaret Malval drew fashion advertising illustrations for various designers and department stores, including this pen-and-ink illustration from the ‘30s. Ms. Malval, who passed away in January at age 95,
was a founding member of the Ridgefield Guild of Artists and an accomplished watercolorist. This and more of her drawings will be on display in “The Fashion Show, ”a group exhibition about couture, at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists from February 23 through March 22, 2008.

The Guild will host an opening reception on Saturday, February 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Guild gallery barn is located at 34 Halpin Lane, off Prospect Ridge Road in downtown Ridgefield. Gallery hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 4:00 p.m. For more information call
203-438-8863 or visit www.rgoa.org.