Elizabeth Parke Firestone's refined sense of fashion reflected years of interest in clothing design and collaboration with world-renowned couturiers. For the 1955 Vienna Opera House reopening, Firestone requested a custom gown from the design house of Christian Dior. The finished product was indeed "something extra special." Firestone's blue-grey ball gown with metallic embroidery and iridescent rhinestones was featured in Paris newspapers and LIFE magazine.