The phoenix—a mythical bird that cyclically regenerates, symbolizing everlasting life, renewal, and the sun—was often used in revival styles in combination with other neoclassical motifs. An early-nineteenth-century blue-and-white textile draws upon this Greco-Roman imagery, as does McQueen’s long white dress with confronting birds beaded on a sheer back panel. Although show notes for the collection describe them as phoenixes, this motif has also been interpreted as the swan, a bird that likewise features prominently in classical mythology. Another dress with crystal-encrusted center-front plastron in a columnar silhouette, a favorite style for neoclassic fashions, is accessorized with Michael Schmidt’s crown befitting a sun goddess.