Julie Brunk of Bellevue couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the exclusive Halston Fireworks dress featured on the show “Ugly Betty” this season. As a designer gown collector and avid fashion follower, Brunk owns one of five Halston Fireworks dresses made by the women’s clothing designer in the ’80s.

Halston is best known for designing the pillbox hat Jacqueline Kennedy wore to her husband’s 1961 Presidential inauguration and his clothing designs worn by Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli, Anjelica Huston, and Elizabeth Taylor.

The Halston Vintage Fireworks Dress Brunk owns in her collection was worn for Gerald Ford’s inaugural ball.

In season three, episode 11 of Ugly Betty, actress Keira Knightley appeared on the show as a guest star. In the episode, Knightly agreed to pose for Mode magazine’s next cover on the condition that she would get to model the famous Halston Fireworks Dress.

“We all gasped watching the episode as they were pretty rough with the dress,” said Amy Iwasaki, who works with Brunk at Lake Sammamish Foursquare Church in Bellevue. “Carting (the dress) around on a mannequin – just knowing the delicate fabric of the dress.” Brunk takes extra precautions to preserve the history of her designer clothing collection.

Patterns played an important role in Halston’s trademark beadwork for dresses as evident in the Fireworks dress. Halston’s designs often used chiffon fabrics that were detailed with an explosion of beads and sequins.

Brunk featured the Fireworks dress along with other amazing gowns at a benefit fashion show she put on last Spring in Bellevue.