Each podium is designed like a vinyl record with the title of one of her 2 000 most famous songs

One needed a magician like Robert Carsen to build the perfect whimsical setting for the collection of dresses of Italian/Egyptian singer Dalida, who was Miss Egypt in 1954 and became one of France’s most popular singer in the 1970’s and 80’s. After her death in 1987, her brother Orlando decided to give her « garde-robe » to Palais Galliera. And the show is very fun.

Balmain and Carven for her cocktail and day dresses

When you enter Palais Galliera, you are surrendered by two sets of six early dresses from the sixites in soft colours with black and white close up shots of the singer hanging above them. They are designed mostly by Carven and Balmain. It is a jolly and perfect vision of the artist who had a very dramatic life. In the second room, a corridor of beige and white evening gowns standing on a black background, is very stage like. Then come the grey and black dresses.

Stage dress designed by Michel Fresnay and made by Mine Barral Vergès, 1980, ostrich feathers and black velvet body

A wall covered with colour pictures of hers on and off stage,  is a perfect background for less prestigious but funky dresses. And in the large room in the back of the museum, stand seven podiums designed like vinyl records with her famous songs written on them. Each podium has a colour theme, and the whole room is lined with gold on the walls and on the carpet. It is totally spectacular and very music hall like.

Léotard, design by Michel Fresnay, for the “Money Money” song at Palais des Sports, 1980

Her favourite designers were Jean Dessès, Jacques Estérel and Pierre Balmain. Loris Azzaro and Yves Saint Laurent came later with Jean Claude Jitrois. More than a fashion statement this show tells us of an atmosphere of the time and a moment in show business.

Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti,  was raised in Cairo by her father, a violinist in the Egyptian orchestra who died when she was 12, and her mother who was a seamstress. She was spectacularly beautiful and became very soon famous as a model, then was elected Miss Egypt at 21, and starred in a few films. She emigrated to Paris the same year in 1956 and was discovered by Eddie Barclay and Lucien Morisse who became her impresario and married her in 1961.

William Khoury, ca 1970, organza polyester, gold threads and embroideries

She could sing in many languages including Arabic, Hebrew, Japanese, Italian, French and German… and sold 140 million records, starting in 1956. She is the most popular French singer with Edith Piaf and President Mitterrand had a special affection for her.

Green cotton dress made fro the film “Parlez moi d’amour”, 1961 by Giorgio Simonelli

Dalida lived in Montmartre, near the Moulin Rouge,  where she is buried in the cemetery and was much loved but committed suicide too young. The men of her life all had tragic destinies. Her younger brother Orlando keeps her image alive and gave these dresses to Galliera. Do go and see the show  for the sake of old times! (until August 13, 10 ave Pierre 1er de Serbie)