COVER STORY 52 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE Beene Essentials Expert advice on what to look for in the MOVE exhibition THE COMFORT “Mr. Beene was ahead of his time in the current athleisure trend we have. He created these wonderful jumpsuits out of gorgeous silk jersey and wool jersey that were incredibly comfortable.” – Helen Jean THE SEAMS “You can move in these garments. That’s because of the way they’re cut. The seams curve, so you’re not getting pinched in anywhere. It’s going with the way your body would naturally move.” – Patsy Tarr THE VERSATILITY “You could pull some of these off the rack and walk right out the door and wear your trainers during the day and slip into your stilettos for the evening and wear the same jumpsuit all day long.” – Helen Jean THE SUPPORT “If you were somewhat flat-chested, you really didn’t need to wear a bra, because the seam started high up in the armpit and then kind of curved around your bosom. The garment supported you.” – Patsy Tarr THE SECRET “Another quick thing for people to note is the pockets — a lot of his evening gowns had pockets!” – Helen Jean THE STYLING “Any kind of shoe will look good with his jumpsuits. That is the truth. I have worn them with everything. High heels, flats, sneakers, boots — no matter what you put on your feet. You look great.” – Patsy Tarr THE LONGEVITY “One last cool thing is all of the people I’ve been speaking to that have Beenes still wear their Beenes. These are not pieces that have been dusty in their closets for decades. They still are practical today and fit within their lifestyle because Beene did not care about trends, and that is important.” – Helen Jean Patsy Tarr swears she never set out to become a fashion collector. “I was just the regular lady in the street who needed a dress,” she said. And though today she is a grandmother more likely to wear jeans and a T-shirt, she remains grateful for the glorious years when Beene’s life overlapped hers. “It was nothing intentional. There was no agenda. It just happened,” she said. “When I look back on it, I think this was one of the greatest strokes of fortune that ever happened to me. Because literally, for decades, I wore gorgeous clothes with very little effort. It was simply a phone call away.” To learn more, go to phxart.org . Geoffrey Beene, bolero, 1995; Geoffrey Beene, coat, 1990s; Geoffrey Beene, bolero, 1990s. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Patsy Tarr. Photo by Dan Vermillion. Photos by Dan Vermillion