Costume Institute 2011 + Alexander McQueen

So.... the announcement for the Spring Costume Institute exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art has been made and this year's gala and exhibition will be dedicated to the work of the late Alexander Lee McQueen.  Whether they had been planning on doing an exhibition solely dedicated to McQueen's work or whether his sudden passing was a catalyst for the presentation, is unknown. As McQueen's work is intensely theatrical and over the top not only in design but scale, it will be interesting to see how the curators will execute an effective exhibition on his body of work.  The exhibition will span McQueen's career beginning with his Senior Collection for Central Saint Martins from 1992 until his death in February 2010.  It will also feature garments from his time as head of Givenchy.  The exhibition will open on May 4th, with its annual Gala, known ("Party of the Year") taking place on Monday, May 2nd.  This year's exhibition is chaired by Francois-Henri Pinault of the Gucci Group and his wife, Salma Hayek and co-chairs for the event are Colin Firth, Stella McCartney and Anna Wintour.

 

Balenciaga + Queen Sofia Institute

A new exhibition dedicated to the work of Balenciaga and the ongoing history of the brand will be on view beginning November 19th, at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in NYC, and will run through February 19th next year. Curated by Hamish Bowles, of Vogue fame, BALENCIAGA: Spanish Master pays tribute to Critobal Balenciaga (1895-1972), one of the most important and prolific Spanish designers to impact the aesthetic landscape of modern fashion design.  The exhibition will feature over 70 clothing and accessory items from the archives at the House of Balenciaga in Paris and other prominent collections from both America and Europe.  Highlights in the exhibition include the famous "Infanta" dress from 1939, matador boleros from 1946 and flamenco style dresses from 1951 and 1961. A catalogue authored by Hamish Bowles will accompany the exhibition and it is already scheduled to travel to San Francisco to make its next stop at the deYoung Museum beginning in March of next year.

-Left: Infanta Dress, 1939; Right: Evening Dress and Stole, 1952-

-Left: Flamenco-inspired dress, 1951; Right: Ensemble with toreador bolero, 1946-
-Images from NYmag-

Cire Trudon

The buzz has been going around about Cire Trudon's new shop in New York. As the world's oldest candle maker, it is something we New Yorkers should be really excited about! Cire Trudon was first founded in 1643 when a wax merchant, Trudon, opened his candle/grocer shop on the rue Saint-Honore. His son, Jacques was eventually appointed as apothecary distiller to Marie-Therese, wife of King Louis XIV, thusly beginning the family's legacy in the Court at Versailles.  The Trudon house has created their famous wax vegetal candles for fashion houses including: Hermes, Dior, Cartier, Guerlain and Kenzo.  They also furnished the set of Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette with their candles and in 2006, Ramdane Touhani took over as head of the company and has since reinvented the company and nurtured a strong cult following.  The company's new Bond Street Outpost (54 Bond St.) recalls the company's 367-year history and its interiors are modeled after the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Candles range in price from $20-375.

-Photos from CoolHunting-

Style Icons: Taylor Tomasi Hill+ Emmanuelle Alt

Wanted to share a couple of personal style icons: Taylor Tomasi Hill, Accessories Editor for Marie Claire and Emmanuelle Alt, Fashion Director for French Vogue...Both have an effortless, polished style. Something that I think I try to achieve in my personal style. Comfort, originality and a wardrobe with neutral basics and pops of bold accessories/statement pieces. Taylor and her red hair (the perfect shade) is up first...she has mastered the art of layering...textures, prints + mixing vintage pieces with the new.

Emmanuelle Alt embodies the effortless and chic Parisian style with minimal makeup and a disheveled coif...She favors mixing casual pieces with the uber high end. That chocolate wide collar fur lined coat is TO DIE for.

Apple Picking in New Paltz

Went on the annual TGC Apple Picking trip this weekend upstate... 300 New Yorkers descended upon Hurd's Family Farm for a day of frolicking amongst the apple orchard, pumpkin patch and corn maze. A good time was had by all.

Favela

In honor of some friends who are currently in Rio.... I wanted to introduce an art group called Favela Painting a group that creates "community-driven art interventions" in the poorest places in the Rio.  Their artwork becomes places of pride in the community, raising the morale and providing a sense of hope in the City of God.  Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn, also known as Haas & Hahn, have been working with the local youth in Rio to create their large-scale murals, since 2005. Their latest project entitled: Santa Marta, they bring such light and brightness to a dark place.

Black Swan

I'm a little late on commenting on the Rodarte + Arronofsky collaboration for 'Black Swan,' but I am nonetheless VERY excited. Rodarte has been a tour de force in the design world over the last several years, and rightly so.  Their unique perspective and boldness in presentation has catapulted them to success and opened many doors for collaboration. Since I started dancing at age 3, I have a very special place in my heart for ballet and all forms of dance...can't wait to see how Natalie Portman does with those plies and pirouettes and to see the lovely costuming of over 40 pieces by Rodarte.

Collaborations between fashion designers and dance companies is one with a rich history. Both Coco Chanel and Paul Poiret had significant relationships with the Ballet Russes and provided another channel where designers could express their aesthetic.

-Dancers for the Ballet Russes in costumes by Chanel, 1928-

Sarah Burton + Alexander McQueen

Sarah Burton debuted her first collection for Alexander McQueen this week and did and amazing job in staying true to McQueen's vision while infusing each garment with her own personal style, making for a seamless transition for her as head designer of the house.  The strength in tailoring, immaculate technical construction, innovative prints and attention to detail, were all present in the show. I'll let the images speak for themselves.

-images from elle.com-