Dresses tell story of Miss America 1953

Every little girl remembers playing dress-up — wearing her mother's heels and dreaming of elegant ball gowns.

The Kimball Art Center in Park City is bringing that dreamlike feminine elegance to life in its current exhibit of the dresses of Miss America 1953, Neva Langley Fickling.

Orignally from Georgia — she was Miss Georgia 1952 — Langley is a part-time Park City resident. She has performed piano with the Utah Symphony on a number of occasions.

Each of the 11 original gowns on display tells a chapter of Langley's Miss America story.

The seashell gown is coral with sea foam green. Sequins are carefully lined over the entire dress in a swirling pattern. The off-the-shoulder sleeves have long, hanging, veil-like sheens and are gracefully hung to show the drama of the dress. Langley wore the dress when she crowned her successor, breaking the tradition of Miss America ending her reign in white.

A black dress with a red undertones seems like an oddball in the bunch because it is so dark. Langley wore it during the talent competition as she played the piano.

To date, she is the only Miss America to win each category of the competition.

A gown made of what must be hundreds of yards of creamy, white tulle is accented with large rhinestones and small mirrors in an asymmetrical pattern. This dress seems modern, even by today's standards, which speaks to the collection's timeless appeal.

Another item that stands out is a simple pink dress with a long, gray cotton jacket. As was the style in the 1950s, a dress and matching coat was standard. The gray jacket has a pink rose print that accents the pink hue of the dress. Complicated ruching along the bust, knees and feet add a little something extra to this otherwise plain dress.

When Langley appeared in President Dwight D. Eisenhower's inaugural parade, she wore a textured, white, floral gown that she said was comfortable because of the addition of matching straps. The beading accents on the dress added a richness only appropriate for the event.

The standout dress in the collection is the champagne and pink gown, weighing in at 60 pounds. The pink of the bodice continues past the waist and meets delicate gold roping, which begins the transition to a champagne color. The silhouette is simply stunning.