Share/Save

In an effort boost sales and resuscitate the fashion industry, American VOGUE, CFDA and New York & Co. have conceived a global shopping extravaganza to span across continents from New York City to India, Brazil, and China. Tomorrow night shall be the night to remember. Virtually every store in the city will stay open late serving drinks and hosting fabulous events to lure shoppers in. ‘TIS THE night to rub shoulders with the likes of André Leon Talley, Anna Wintour and some of the most fabulous and talented people in the worlds of fashion, art and entertainment.

Here are our event picks.

Yves Saint Laurent’s store at 3 East 57th Street will welcome a performance by New York-based cabaret entertainer Joey Arias from 8pm to 11pm.

Jil Sander’s Crosby Street boutique at 30 Howard Street will host an exclusive film presentation of “aesthetics as a way of survival” by artist Germaine Kruip.

Our beloved Bergdorf Goodman will offer a myriad of must-attend events. Here are just some of them:

At 5:30pm, Zac Posen will paint one-of-a-kind dresses in the Fifth Avenue windows.
At 6:00pm, Padma Lakshmi will judge a designer cook-off with Cynthia Rowley, Edward Bess, Gilles Mendel, Lela Rose, Naeem Khan and Peter Som.
Alexander Wang will present his t-shirts benefiting the September 11 Memorial.
At 7:00pm, an exhibition of photographs from the book EXTREME BEAUTY IN VOGUE, with special guests curator Phyllis Posnick, Dr. Patricia Wexler, Daria Werbowy and Caroline Trentini.
At 8:00pm, André Leon Talley will host a life-sized version of the new game Fashion Rules!™, with teams led by Donna Karan, Linda Fargo and Robert Verdi.
At 9:00 PM, Isaac Mizrahi will converse with shoppers to the tunes by the Ben Waltzer Trio.

The star cast of the night will also include Victoria Beckham, Kaufman Franco, Narciso Rodrigues, Manolo Blahnik (oh!) and our absolute favorite Giuseppe Zanotti, among many other fashion luminaries and celebrities.

Enjoy tomorrow and shop, shop, shop!

For a full list of events visit www.fashionnightout.com.

Share/Save

In 1979 Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought a nineteenth-century house—Chateau Gabriel—near Deauville in Normandy— several miles east from where Marcel Proust himself used to vacation from 1907 to 1914.  The house was originally built by Ernest Saintin for a wealthy American in 1874 in a style reminiscent of grandeur of the Second Empire. The couple spent three years renovating it and subsequently hired the legendary Jacques Grange to re-create the aura of a country home where Proust’s characters from Remembrance of Things Past passed their summers.  Everything in the house bears symbolism of Proust including the winter garden that was modeled after that of Princesse Mathilde Bonaparte which he used to frequent. Furthermore, all nine bedrooms have been appointed to reflect sensibilities of each character of the novel. Jacques Grange was rumored to have gone through several kilometers of draped silk taffeta in the process of decorating.

The estate has several buildings, one of which resembles Russian dacha and is built entirely out of birchwood—an inspiration that came after Saint Laurent’s trip to Russia in 1987.

Chateau Gabriel was purchased during Yves Saint Laurent’s self-inflicted confinement and disappearance from the public eye. He used the house as a retreat, spending days in solitude, luxuriating in lush gardens and contemplating the ending of 1970s. To this day, Chateau Gabriel embodies the very essence of luxury, decadence and designer’s exquisite taste.

Last February, the estate was purchased by the family of Russian tycoon for 9.6 million euros.
As a second part of Christie’s auction of Saint Laurent’s extensive collection of art and antiques, the estate will be open to art connoisseurs on November 17-18 where the select few will be able to experience the unique spirit of the iconic couturier.

Photos of the estate can be found at: http://www.luxuryculture.com/home.html?gotourl=LN/features/0000443/luxury-now/homage

Share/Save

Not to be missed!!

An important and mesmerizing collection of images by Richard Avedon (1923–2004) who revolutionized fashion photography starting in the post-World War II era and redefined the role of the fashion photographer. The exhibition features 175 works by Richard Avedon, spanning his entire career, and includes vintage and edition prints, contact sheets, and original magazines.

http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.5079531/k.9571/Avedon_Fashion.htm

Image:  Veruschka, dress by Kimberly, New York, January 1967 © 2009 The Richard Avedon Foundation

Share/Save

Anna Wintour made her much-anticipated appearance on David Letterman last night… and, boy, she was fabulous!

Summarizing last week’s article by Maureen Dowd where she was likened to Sun King, dominatrix and alien from District 9, Anna pronounced herself  as a “lukewarm royalty with a whip from outer space” —a title that somehow fits this much feared and worshiped editrix of American VOGUE.

Dressed in Carolina Herrera, slim and impeccably put together, Anna does carry herself as royalty. She admits that she is not always “warm and fuzzy,” quoting her publisher, Grace Coddington, in the upcoming documentary, “The September Issue.”  In response to how similar her management style is Miranda Priestly’s of ” The Devil Wears Prada,” she states that she appreciates the creativity but will never tell people what they want to hear, she knows exactly what she wants and is not afraid to make a decision. If you ask us, these are the exact qualities one needs to stay on top of their game, for decades.

When asked how to stay fashionable on a much slimmer “fashion budget,” she replied: “Well, buy a lipstick.”

Kudos to Anna!!

Share/Save

Shop for good cause!

Uncontrollable shopping addicts and designer bargain hunters! Line up for the 4th annual DIVAS Shop for Opera fundraiser for design and creation of new costumes for New York City Opera.  This special night features THE MOST fabulous selection of alluring merchandise (the list of names will make your heart beat fast!) from today’s most fashion forward designers - at amazing prices.

While shopping, guests will enjoy cocktails, music and dancing and leave with a fantastic gift bag.

DIVAS Shop for Opera
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

City Opera’s Pop Up Shop
717 Madison Avenue
Between 63 & 64 Streets

VIP Preview 5:00pm - 6:00pm
General Shopping 6:00pm - 10:00pm

For tickets, please call 212.870.5622 or click here.

Diva Ticket - $300
Includes one ticket to the event with a preview shopping hour starting at 5pm, a special VIP gift bag and 10% off any purchases made during the event.

Couples Ticket - $125
Includes two tickets to the event starting at 6pm and gift bag.

Single Ticket - $75
Includes one ticket to the event starting at 6pm and gift bag.

All ticket purchases include a one year subscription to Gotham magazine valued at $70.

Co-Chairs
Patricia Field
Isabel and Ruben Toledo
Faith Hope Consolo
Rebecca Taylor
Elsa Klensch
Lorry Newhouse

Share/Save

Recently released  film “Chanel No 5″ by Jean-Pierre Jeunet with lovely Audrey Tautou truly is a beautiful way to celebrate the legendary fragrance.

The fascinating, 2.5 minute feature is a story of romantic encounter and longing set in a gorgeous, Art-deco clad car of Istanbul-bound express train. Think gorgeous mahogany and gold paneling with intricate insets… rich, dark and sumptuous palette, stunning lighting (how clever are those haunting shadows of the No 5 bottle?). Add picturesque shots of the Bosporus and the bazaars (not to mention the very chic ensembles) and you get pure visual bliss! Visionary to the minute detail.

Click here to watch the film, interviews and a great narrative on the mysterious story of No 5.

{chaneln5.com}

Share/Save

The new exhibition of Art déco jewerly Les Art Décoratifs in Paris is a celebration of purity of form and modernity. Open till July 21st, the show features breathtaking work of the jeweler and precious metalsmith Jean Després (1889-1980). 180 of this major yet little-known artist’s works, inspired by the movements of Cubism and Futurism of 1920s and 1930s as well as industrial machinery, are being shown for the first time, alongside works by the great names of French jewelery in the 1930s: Jean Fouquet, Gérard Sandoz, Raymond Templier, and also by architects (Robert Mallet Stevens), interior designers, (Jean Dunand) and silversmiths (Jean Puiforcat), all illustrating the formidable attraction jewelery exercised over the artists of the period. {www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr}

Click here to flip through the exhibition publication. These are the most beautiful sculpture-like treasures rendered in a variety of  materials rare gem stone, lacquer, gold and crystals.  Pure genius! Pictured in this post -

Share/Save

Our latest obsession - cage accessories from YSL Spring 2009 collection. The shoes and the belt come in patent leather with intricate fine lines that make them the perfect must-haves for spring.

The belt will add a touch of French chic to just about anything - a summer dress, high-wasted skirt or a plain tee.
It can be worn both with the the straps in the front and in the back.

The sandals also come as booties with cage heels but the sleek and classic Tribute platforms are our favorite.

Available at Yves Saint Laurent stores  for $495 for a belt and $950 for the sandals.

www.ysl.com

Share/Save

On the much speculated about subject of her replacing Anna Wintour at American Vogue, Carine denied the rumors stating that she has never been offered a job and saying how happy she is in Paris. In the video, Carine also talks about her father and children who are both pursuing artistic careers in New York.

Share/Save