F A S H I O N
100 Years of Costumes
Michael Vollbracht Collection
By Margaret Word Burnside
Photography by Gram
Steve Sika congratulated renowned fashion designer and artist
Michael Vollbracht on the well-curated exhibit that he assembled
as a benefit for breast cancer.
More than a hundred years of costumes, textiles and
shoes were painstakingly repaired and artfully
displayed by renowned Coty Award-winning
fashion designer and artist Michael Vollbracht for a onenight
exhibition to benefit St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital’s
Hinks and Elaine Shimberg Breast Center in Tampa. The
event in Ybor City showcased vintage fashions that had
been either designed or collected by Michael. He described
his fragile treasures by saying, “While these may be a little
tattered and torn, they are still beautiful, like the ladies
who once wore them.”
Michael is known for dressing, as well as being a close
friend of, fashion icons who range from stars, such as
Elizabeth Taylor, to women of style, such as Joanna Carson.
As an artist, Michael designed one of the collectable
Bloomingdale’s brown shopping bags. He also created an
iconic, often reproduced, portrait of Marilyn Monroe. Since
moving to Safety Harbor several decades ago, Michael has
been a treasured member of our community, as he has
used his time, talent and persona to help raise funds for
a multitude of charitable organizations. He was inspired
by his passion for fashion to create this recent fundraiser.
He searched through his extensive collection of dresses,
gowns and accessories from his own shop, as well as from
those of other world famous fashion mavens. He carefully
Michael Vollbracht created
the art for the fundraiser’s invitation.
Michael Vollbracht created this doll’s
dress by piecing together the usable
remnants of vintage Chinese opera coats.
66 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL 2016