the bicentenary of the French Revolution

For the commemorative ceremonies of the Bicentenary of the French Revolution on July 14, 1989, Jack Lang, the Minister of Culture under President François Mitterrand, entrusted Jean-Paul Goude with the choreography for the ambitious evening parade. It was a challenging task: more than 6,000 artists and extras participated in this “great parade of countries” which was broadcasted on all of the television stations throughout the world.

Goude asked Azzedine Alaïa to collaborate with him for the parade costumes. Alaïa constructed the Soviet military frock coats and the now famous French flag dress worn by Jessye Norman.

It was not the first time that these two great artists and friends would work together – Alaïa also called upon the artistic direction of Goude for his 1985 runway presentation.

"In our professional endeavors, we both seek to magnify the body, to sublimate it, to glorify it." Jean-Paul Goude