Paris-Salzburg 2014/15 Métiers d’Art collection

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Chanel came to New York recently and transported us in only a way Chanel could: to an 18th-century castle in Salzburg, Austria. As CHANEL stated “The Paris-Salzburg collection was inspired by Karl Lagerfeld’s contemporary take on Tyrolean tradition, Austrian history and Mademoiselle Chanel’s stay in Austria, which led to the creation of the iconic Chanel jacket.” In contrast to the tomboy elegance of daytime coats, the cocktail evening attire is delicately dramatic and feminine with those couture touches we learned about last October.

The Park Ave Armory was filled with banquettes of formal sofas, claw foot coffee tables with formal flower arrangements, crown molded walls and dimly lit sconces in a maze the models twisted and turned through, passed Beyoncé, in front of Anna, take a right at Pharell, and left by Dakota Johnson. It’s was grand and glam, opulent and who’s who… but isn’t it always when it’s for Chanel?

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Tibi Takes Charleston

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When I got the invitation to Tibi‘s pre-fall fashion show in Charleston’s historic Library Society Hall hosted by Hampden Clothing Store (more on that little gem tomorrow), I RSVP’d right away. Two of my loves coming together – fashion and the South!

I was first introduced to the fashion brand Tibi last year and lived in her pieces all of fall. Tibi is a brand that doesn’t take fashion too seriously, but instead allows you to play in interesting ways…the kind of way that makes people notice something special about you even though you’re still the girl next door…. even if you’re twirling around in RIO (!!!)

Down in Charleston I was able to meet the creator of Tibi, designer Amy Smilovic (who was born on St. Simons Island!) and ask her where it all came from, how it went from selling pieces out of suitcase to the runways of New York and now back home for the women who have seen you through it all…

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So first, what’s the connection between Tibi and Charleston?
“The first connection is that Stacy just has an amazing boutique. I don’t think her boutique defines Charleston, I think it would be a great boutique anywhere. But we do have a big southern following and I’m sure that’s because it’s where I’m from, St. Simons Island, Georgia.”

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What does Charleston mean to you? 
“All weekend we’ve been talking about things that are real and authentic, and this town is the real deal, you know? There’s so much authenticity here between the homes and the streets and the communal feel and the shopping. It’s really a thriving real town, which is so great to see especially when so many towns are struggling.”

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Ralph Lauren

For the first time in history, Ralph Lauren‘s iconic, glamorous, and classic fashions graced the runways of Paris at the L’École des Beaux-Arts. The venue chosen has a special meaning to the Ralph Lauren family…with a commitment to philanthropy and a love of Paris, the Ralph Lauren Corporation was devoted to the restoration of France’s national school of fine arts, the L’Ecole de Beaux-Arts’s historic Amphitheatre d’honneur. We were so fortunate to see the renovations in progress and take a tour of this breathtaking complex of historic and artist buildings. Renovating and preserving Parisian landmarks is not new to Mr. Lauren…as you may recall, the spectacular 17th century former hotel where we danced, dined, and fulfilled so many of my French-American fantasies has a similar story.

It was such an honor to see one of my favorite designers, a man who has sculpted the world in which I live to dream and dream to live, have this moment in Paris. Afterwards when he was asked, “Why Paris? Why the arts?”, he said, “My father was an artist. He worked hard in New York, most people didn’t know that but he was. He didn’t have a steady job but he worked hard. So that’s why I decided to work with the Beaux Arts, so I can hopefully get a diploma.”

The Ralph Lauren Fall 2013 collection, from Paris for the good of art ~



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Grace Sketches

 

“I always sketch at fashion shows. Drawings jog my memory more than any photograph… My system at the shows is to draw, sketch, put down everything – every single outfit – and worry later whether I liked it or not.”

– excerpted from Grace: A Memoir, by Grace Coddington