The minute I stepped outside my house without an “Attestation de déplacement provisoire ” (authorization to walk on the street…) on May 12 th, I found new wonderful events taking place in the area. On place de la Madeleine, Mettez, the Austrian hunting shop, opened new luxurious premises which reminded me of the first Ralph Lauren shops on Madison Avenue, … Read More
“The Chiffon Trenches”, a fashion testimony with wit
“My mother loved clothes, though I am not sure she ever fully loved me” says André Leon Talley halfway through his amazing book “The Chiffon Trenches”, the history of the fashion world between Andy Warhol’s “Interview” magazine and today’s “Vogue”. This well known figure of the first rows of fashion shows, is African American and was raised in Durham, North … Read More
How to create your own mask, couture style
A friend of mine, who used to be men’s designer for Lanvin and for Dior has created his own mask with “Le plissé Dior”. He kindly shared his tips with us.
Harper’s Bazaar is celebrated at MAD
Vogue magazine was predominant in 20 th century fashion magazines but it was only founded in 1892 and it acquired its fame and power thanks to Condé Nast who bought it in 1909. I learnt in this new exhibition at MAD (Musée des Arts Décoratifs), “Harper’s Bazaar, First in Fashion” that its long time competitor had been started 152 years … Read More
Christian Louboutin glitters at Porte Dorée
When he was a little boy, Christian Louboutin wondered why his three older sisters were blond while he was so tanned. He only discovered a few years ago that his mother had an affair and his father was Egyptian, not from Brittany… Is it this Oriental influence that gave him a genius for creating shoes that are universally loved, and … Read More
Alaïa and Balenciaga, a brilliant association
I was invited to a rare birthday party recently and the hostess, a very elegant International personality, was wearing a beautiful claret velvet dress. I thought it might be a vintage Givenchy but it looked more modern… and it was by Azzedine Alaïa, from one of his last collections, as she confirmed. It could also have been by Balenciaga. This … Read More
Mes chaussettes rouges, socks, chic and shock ….
It all started with the Italian brand Gammarelli which became famous over the years as the provider of red socks for the Cardinals in the Vatican and French Prime minister Edouard Balladur. Two young graduates from business school, Jacques Tiberghien and Vincent Metzger, decided ten years ago to acquire the company and have since travelled a long way around the … Read More
Two French girls in Shanghai, create “Chinoises”
After working for 15 years with Hermès in Paris and in Shanghai, Félicie le Blan has started her own luxury company with business partner Carine Boyer, who recently moved to New York. These two French ladies were frustrated not to find the right designs in Chinese fashion so they decided to use the best of Chinese silk and pristine velvet, to create … Read More