What to know about 'Say Yes to the Dress' star Monte Durham and the Jackie Kennedy exhibit

Michelle Gullion, curator at the National First Ladies Library, said she was overwhelmed when she first walked into Monte Durham's "Jackie Room."

"Every wall was covered with framed pictures, articles, documents, posters, china plates and shadow boxes," she said of the bridal fashion consultant's private collection of Jackie Kennedy artifacts. "He’d even displayed his reproduction Jackie gown for us in the room, too."

A John Kennedy-style rocker sat in the room, stacks of books were everywhere, and a glass cabinet was filled with more china, dolls and books.

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Durham turned to Gullion and said, “All of this is for the museum.”

"I was so overcome I was totally speechless," said Gullion, director of collections and research at the National First Ladies Library in downtown Canton.

Durham and Gullion are now excited to share the sprawling collection with the public when "Beyond Camelot: The Life and Legacy of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday with curator-led tours at the National First Ladies Library and First Ladies National Historic Site, 205 Market Ave. S.

"For a museum professional, it is a once in a lifetime experience to be invited into someone’s home and be given the contents of an entire room," Gullion said. "It is a lot of responsibility to be entrusted to care for someone’s beloved collection."

Finding a good steward for the prized items made it easier to let go of them, said Durham, who has served as the fashion director at Bridals by Lori, the bridal salon featured on the former TLC television show "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta."

"I just thought this really needs to be seen and shared," the Virginia resident said of the donation. "And I felt this is the right thing to do.

"The first ladies museum is a teaching museum, so the thought that it's going to educate and inspire and teach others to look at our current and former first ladies" compelled him to gift his collection.

Durham also will be at the National First Ladies Library for a private reception Monday and also from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday for a meet and greet with the public when the exhibit opens. Those wanting to attend the meet and greet are asked to register for free at the shortened link, bit.ly/3VerzXE or firstladies.org/jackie-o-exhibit.

The Jacqueline Kennedy-themed exhibit will be open through April 27, 2024. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is $7 for adults; $6 for those age 62 and older; $5 for ages 3 to 17; and children 2 and under are admitted free.

During a phone interview, Durham chatted about his intrigue with Jackie Kennedy, unique items that will be on display in Canton, a new line of Jackie-inspired wedding gowns he's designed, and the status of his involvement with "Say Yes to the Dress."

Durham's mother mimicked Jackie Kennedy

"I'm from West Virginia originally," Durham said. "The president-elect was coming through the state, and my mother took a liking to Jackie at that point. We were coming in behind (First Lady) Mamie Eisenhower. And my mother mimicked Jackie her entire life. She looked like her, she was (5-foot-8), the whole thing. There was a huge push in West Virginia for the Kennedys ... (and) we were one of the states that pushed (John F. Kennedy) into the presidency, and they made a huge impact visually coming into our home state."

Reading about the iconic first lady and studying her life, Durham also admires the way in which she carried herself with grace and class, as well as strength following her husband's assassination in 1963.

"There were major changes happening in the '60s, and just to imagine this young woman who was at the time 32 years old stepping into this role unprepared, and what a great job she did, and I think her sense of history, her sense of family and her sense of duty really calls to us."

New exhibit features Jackie Kennedy-inspired fishing lure

"One of my favorite articles in the quirky collection ... is I have a fishing lure with Jackie's head on it in the original box," Durham said. "I think that's one of the craziest things."

Gullion, of the First Ladies Library, said the lure has a bobber in the shape of Jackie's head.

"It was made in 1962, and Monte framed it in a shadow box," she said. "He doesn’t know much more about this oddity, but this is the type of unexpected thing that brings me joy."

Another favorite collectible of Durham's is a receipt from a pair of sunglasses Jackie had purchased while shopping in Georgetown when John Kennedy was a senator.

Jackie Kennedy's replica wedding dress will be on display

"Obviously, the one that takes center stage is the dress (a reproduction), and it mesmerizes people," Durham said.

"Apparently, it has been written and said she wanted a very simple, a very clean dress, which was her style and (John Kennedy's father) stepped in and said, 'No, you have to look like a bride.'"

Featuring 50 yards of ivory silk taffeta, a portrait neckline, voluminous bouffant skirt and tiny wax flowers, the original dress was designed by Ann Lowe, an African-American designer who is now considered a trailblazer.

Durham is donating entire Jackie collection

Asked if it's difficult to bid farewell to his Jackie mementoes, Durham said: "It was just a good feeling, it was the right time and the right thing, and it just felt good to do it."

Jackie's spirit still remains at his home in the form of magazine covers, plates and a portrait. But "that, too, will be joining the ranks of the other collection," said Durham, who plans to bring those items to the First Ladies Library next week.

Durham and 'Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta' still on hiatus

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Durham said, TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta" went on hiatus and hasn't returned.

However, Durham said it's been rewarding to be part of "Say Yes to the Prom," which has treated hundreds of high school girls in underserved communities in Atlanta and Los Angeles to an all-expenses-paid prom, including makeup and a dress, said Durham, owner of Salon Monte in Alexandria, Virginia, where he cuts and styles hair.

"It's very, very satisfying," he said.

Asked about future projects, including a return to television, in his characteristically upbeat voice, Durham replied: "There are some other irons in the fire, but it's just that. We'll see what happens."

New wedding gown line pays homage to Jackie

Durham was gleeful when revealing that he's designed a new line of wedding gowns scheduled for release later this year, possibly August.

"Nobody knows this yet ... but I just finished five sketches of wedding gowns that are to be manufactured under my brand," he said.

Revealing what he called "the secret to the gown," Durham said there will be a Jackie Kennedy-inspired design element − a tuxedo bow on every gown.

A name hasn't been decided yet for the wedding dress line. Details will be announced later on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealmontedurham/?hl=en.

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On Twitter @ebalintREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Monte Durham of 'Say Yes to the Dress' shares Jackie Kennedy treasures