Bals

I have an advanced copy of this beautiful new book.

Bals: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century’ by Nicholas Foulkes published by Assouline. 

Due in September.

There is much more news about this book, some of which you can read Here

On BrandWatch A Walk Around Place Vendôme, part 1 in English

A Walk Around

Place Vendôme

I am pleased that I have been invited to guest blog for Michel Gutsatz of the Brandwatch blog I am contributing a series of articles analyzing the history and the current state of the venerable French jewelry houses on the fabled Rue de la Paix and  Place Vendôme.

Explore this blog it is incredibly insightful.
In either French or English.

We moved to France 14 years ago because my husband went to graduate school at the French business school, ESSEC. At that time ESSEC  had the only International Luxury Brand  Management MBA program in the world.  We met Michel Gutsatz because he was the founder and chairman of  the ESSEC MBA program. He created this program through long standing relationships and partnerships with L’Oréal, LVMH, The Estée Lauder Companies, Cartier, Montblanc, Escada, Ermenegildo Zegna, Firmenich and many more.

Today Michel is a highly respected international brand specialist and consultant,  he is  part of The Scriptorium Company, a Brand Strategy Agency whose clients encompass investment funds, luxury brands, mass brands and retailers.  He also writes books, articles, gives conferences, and blogs.

There will be six more installments continuing through the fall. The next part will look at Cartier, followed by Mellerio dits Meller, Boucheron, Van Cleef  and Arpels, Mauboussin, and Chaumet.

 I hope you enjoy it

Le XVIIIe Au Goût Du Jour: The 18th Century Back in Fashion in Versailles

The Chateau de Versailles and the Musee Galliera present

The 18th Century Back in Fashion: Couturies and Fashion designers in the Grand Trianon

In a pink marble palace 2 kilometer west of the  palace, the fantastic style of the 18th century is explored both in its historic context, and the context of its continued influence and reinterpretation.

The historic collections are juxtaposed with 20th century and more recent haute couture.

 

Robe à la française

 Galerie des Dames 1778-1787

Robe à la polonaise

Galerie des Dames 1778-1787

 Robe à l'anglaise

Galerie des Dames 1778-1787

of 18th century fashion  silhouettes, the shapes of things to come.

Yesterday we attended the  private press preview at Versailles

Guard at the gate
You can see where Elsie de Wolfe got her stripes

photograph by J.M.Manai, a view from the Garden
The pink marble Chateau, the Grand Trianon, derives
its name from the villages Louis the XIV demolished to build Versailles

Exhibition catalog
A small soupçon of the exhibition

 Vivienne Westwood 1995-1996

 Vivienne Westwood 1995-1996

 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld 1985

 Balenciaga 2006

 

 Robe de ville 1850-1852 corsage à basques bordé de

passementerie sur jupe. multi-colored silk Collections Galliera

Thierry Mugler 

 Thierry Mugler prêt-à-porter 1992-1993
Photo by Patrice Stable

Thierry Mugler 1997

 Habit L'homme transformé 1775-1785

Jean Paul Gaultier

 Maison Christian Dior 2004-2005

Dior 2007-2008 photo by Marcio Madeira

a reoccurring theme

Vivienne Westwood prêt-à-porter1990-1991

Fashion in the chateau in the garden. 

Remember Be Romantic in Paris