Graceful fashion at museum

THE JAMES A. Michener Art Museum is pulling out all the stops for this surefire exhibit, on view Monday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Jan. 26. Since it's the only place to see the show in the States, book your timed tickets early, pony up the extra few bucks for admission, enjoy the extended hours, plan to return for a screening or lecture - and don't miss these iconic fashions on display in "Beyond the Icon" :

* Pale aqua silk gown and coat, designed by Paramount designer Edith Head, and worn by Grace Kelly to accept her Academy Award for her leading role in "The Country Girl." Re-worn soon thereafter on the cover of Life magazine.

* Embroidered silk chiffon frock with striped trim by MGM designer Helen Rose, worn as Tracy Lord in "High Society" for her character's (spoiler alert) impromptu second marriage to C.K. Dexter-Haven, played by Bing Crosby.

* Silk crepe bathing dress, also by Helen Rose, also from "High Society."

* Civil ceremony suit, by Helen Rose again. In Monaco, couples wishing to wed must have a civil ceremony. Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Kelly performed this tradition the day before their church wedding. For the smaller occasion (a mere 80 guests, including representatives of 24 nations), the bride wore this smart yet stylish suit. Completing the ensemble were kid gloves and a Juliet cap.

* Custom lace headpiece, veil, and heels (the latter by David Evins), worn for "the wedding of the century." On loan to the Michener from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The PMA also has the princess' famed formal dress, made with 25 yards of silk taffeta, 100 yards of silk net and 125-year-old rose lace, and last exhibited in 2006. The garment is now considered too fragile to transport or display.

* Hermes' iconic Kelly bag, designed in 1892 to hold saddles, appeared on the actress' arm first in "To Catch a Thief," and later in an apparent attempt to conceal the princess' first pregnancy from curious onlookers. Today, the "it" bag is available by very special order only, and can retail from several (around 7) to many thousands (say, 60) of bucks.

* Yves Saint Laurent's colorblock dress, an homage to contemporary painter Piet Mondrian, was a modern yet modest departure from Kelly's conservative style, and turned heads in the mid-1960s.