I just discovered that John Patrick, one of my favorite designers both stylistically and ethically, now has a home collection. Not surprising, this beautifully curated assemblage is a perfect extension of Organic by John Patrick’s sensibility and integrity. What am I craving right now? These gorgeous Italian linen and cotton napkins.
www.organicbyjohnpatrick.com
The Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris’s newest museum of contemporary art, finally opened yesterday to the public. Designed by Frank Gehry and over 12 years in the making, the Fondation Louis Vuitton resides at the edge of the Jardin d’Acclimation in the Bois de Boulogne. Assuming the form of a massive vessel, the structure is made of 3,600 glass panels creating 12 sails. And although the design is fully of this century, the tremendous use of glass is a very intentional nod to late 19th-century garden architecture (think Grand Palais). The glass is also, quite clearly, in reverence for the natural beauty that surrounds it. Its inaugural event was rightly Nicolas Ghesquière’s presentation of the Louis Vuitton Spring 2015 collection during Paris Fashion Week. Opening programs include an exhibition of Gehry’s designs (sketches, models) for the Fondation and the construction of the building itself, a selection of works from the FLV collection, and a stellar series of concerts and live performance. Fingers crossed I’ll get there in 2015…
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| Coco Chanel’s original “Maltese Cross” cuffs designed by Duke Fulco di Verdura circa 1930 |
A wonderfully special exhibition opened today, The Power of Style: Verdura at 75. This retrospective of master jeweler Duke Fulco di Verdura (1898-1978) features over 150 jewels designed and created by Verdura himself as well as his objets d’art, photographs, gouache jewelry designs and archival materials. Curated by Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera, who were personal friends of the jeweler, and their daughter Patricia Lansing, The Power of Style celebrates the 75th anniversary of Verdura on Fifth Avenue. Duke Fulco di Verdura, an Italian aristocrat, began his career at Chanel in 1927 after being introduced to the fashion designer by mutual friends Linda and Cole Porter. In 1934, Verdura left Chanel for Hollywood and later New York where he established his own brand in 1939. Over the course of his nearly fifty-year career, he built a notable clientele that included Diana Vreeland, Joan Fontaine, Babe Paley, Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, Millicent Rogers and Greta Garbo, and became one of the most important and influential jewelers of the 20th century.
The Power of Style: Verdura at 75 is on view through December 23 at 745 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, in gallery space adjacent to the Verdura flagship store
www.verdura.com/power-of-style
Looking ahead to next week, we are really excited about Dwell on Design New York. Hosted and curated by Dwell Magazine, Dwell on Design New York is not only the coolest trade show but three days of lectures, panel discussions, presentations and conversations about modern design. And on the final day, October 11, tours of modern residences in Manhattan. So great! This is the first year Dwell on Design will be in New York, joining the annual Dwell on Design Los Angeles, the largest design event in the country, happening in May. The good news is, you can still register!
www.dwellondesign.com
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| Photograph Pierre Antoine |
If I was in Paris right now I would be heading straight to the Palais Galliera, Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris, to see The 50s: Fashion in France, 1947-1957. These are my absolute favorite years in fashion history, with Christian Dior leading the charge in France with the New Look, and Balenciaga, Pierre Balmain, Jacques Fath and so on. I swoon..
The 50s: Fashion in France, 1947-1957 runs through November 2. Be sure to take a look at the exhibition video here!
www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr
This past weekend Yaddo, the hallowed and very private artists’ retreat in Saratoga Springs, opened its doors to the public for only the sixth time in its 114-year history. Situated on 400 acres of stunning wooded property, Yaddo has hosted (and continues to do so) well over 5,000 artists, across five disciplines, in stays that range from two to eight weeks. Yaddo’s roster of celebrated guests includes Leonard Bernstein, Louise Bourgeois, Truman Capote, Noah Baumbach, Sylvia Plath, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Langston Hughes and Aaron Copeland. There is something so tremendously inspiring about this place, we felt it all around us. Among the countless standouts we’re still thinking about are the lovely cocktail room, the communal dining room and the magnificent Tiffany & Company fireplace in the 19th-century art-filled mansion. A glass mosaic frontispiece depicting a phoenix rising out of fire and ember, illuminated by the glow of the actual fire behind it. We can only imagine how breathtaking it is when in use. We’re also still thinking about Katrina Trask, a poet in her own right and the founding patron of Yaddo, and a true romantic and visionary. It was she who envisioned this haven where artists could create freely and without interruption, this haven that has made such a profound impact on the development of the arts in this country. And no less important, we learned that white was her personal color, which she wore exclusively, and love was her chosen emotion. LOVE.
www.yaddo.org
I couldn’t let New York Fashion Week pass by without saying a word about the Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear line from Calvin Klein Collection presented yesterday. Simply put, I love every single piece. The palette of navy, red, black and white, and the long, lean silhouettes make these pieces feel decidedly modern, and for me, overwhelmingly appealing. Exactly what I dream of wearing when the weather turns warm again.
We are so excited about the collaboration between Happy Menocal (one of our very favorite designers) and Paperless Post. Her lovely collection features 29 designs in total, in versions both online and paper. This great news is, for us, reason enough to have a party!
www.paperlesspost.com/cards/group/happy_menocal
www.happymenocal.com
Among my favorite blogs of the moment is LA GARÇONNE, one of the most inspired out there. Each post is a thoughtfully curated gem, with a strong visual presence and few words. I love it. And I love La Garçonne’s online shop and their boutique on Greenwich Street, equally as inspired.
One of our go-to shops in Portland, Maine is Folly 101 where we always find a treasure or two for our table. The Folly 101 aesthetic is clean, simple and straightforward and, best of all, arranged entirely by color, which is especially pleasing to the eye. They don’t have a website, so you must go and visit in person — we love that.
Folly 101, 101 Exchange Street, Portland, Maine
