MONTREAL COUTURE: GAULTIER CORSETS, CLASSICS, AND DETAILS

MONTREAL COUTURE: GAULTIER

LES CORSETS, lES CLASSICS, LES DETAILS

Much is said here and there in the exhibit about Gaultier's fascination with underwear especially corsets and he let his limitless imagination fly with that particular garment.

Wheat

The finest of laces

(notice it is worn over a stocking like body suit that is itself embroidered with a million beads mimicking lace.

A metal like cubist version

The few classics on display were totally wearable including the exquisite scarf

This navy jacket with a draped shawl-like top over cream pants would be perfect right now! I'd even wear the beret.

The details

A green leather hand bag made to look like a palm leaf. BEAUTIFUL!

Wool crochet and embroidery on a tulle dress.

Typical Moroccan detail on a grey sweat suit... a la Gaultier

An Eskimo silhouette with colorful detailing

A woven raffia bolero and skirt top.

I am so delighted I managed to see this unique show. Who knows when it will come our way. 

Bravo Mr.Gaultier! comme toujours.




au revoir.

MONTREAL COUTURE: GAULTIER STRIPES, BEADS AND FEATHERS

MONTREAL COUTURE

GAULTIER:

STRIPES 

The stripe story was surprising in this sense that the simple "pull matelot"- sailor sweater- was declined in a number of materials, all very un-sailor like...

BEADING

Lace like beading

This dress is ENTIRELY covered in beads.

This dress blew my mind! I thought it was a very stunning leopard skin on a maroon skirt apron style.

It was. 

BUT, the leopard skin is in fact embroidered in tiny beads (detail below).

FEATHERS

The parrot as sleeve ornamnet

The pheasant as boot

The Apache warrior as bride

Just another detail that made the exhibit so unique: the moving images of people talking,smiling and even winking projected on mannequin faces, including Jean Paul Gaultier! 

 Slightly "creepy" at first, but extraordinary.

 au revoir.

DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND...

POUR DES TAS DE RAISONS...

I cannot post in any proper way today... just a hint of what is to come:

au revoir.

WHEN A DESIGNER...

QUAND UN CREATEUR ...

When a designer can create this

and that

but also this 

When he can smoothly go from this 

to this

when he can just as happily send his collection down the runway on this silhouette

and this one

we know we have been blessed with the genius of an extraordinary one-of-a-kind design GOD!

I had the great pleasure of meeting Jean Paul Gaultier years ago during a few business meetings when I was the designer buyer for the Paris department store Le Printemps. He was already quite a fashion icon and yet there was not an ounce of haughtiness or self importance in him. Quite the contrary. He was charming and enthusiastic and attentive to everyone. 

I saw him a few weeks later in a restaurant and smiled more out of admiration and respect rather than any wish to seem more familiar to him than I was and though he surely had not a clue who on earth I was and where he could have seen me before, he smiled very warmly back at me. Now, there is elegance and tact. 

I am off to Montreal today and will have an opportunity to go to the mind-blowing Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit (mind-blowing, so I hear from my sister who will be going there for the second time!) The show, a retrospective of J. P. Gaultier's work spanning the last 35 years, is being held at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

I just can't wait!

I'll report on Monday. It will be a very busy 4 days, too full of day appointments and night activities to have time to produce anything worth while, I am afraid. So with apologies...

à lundi.

A WONDERFUL SHOP IN PARIS

LA JOLIE BOUTIQUE A PARIS

On my last trip to Paris it was suggested that I visit a small shop at 11 Rue Coetlogon in the 6th arrondissement called La Maison Des Rêves.

It is a modern store, with the most stunning lightning: a fine web of wire with tiny white low voltage bulbs cover the shop window; the same idea has been translated into a wonderful shade (image above) sold inside.

The assortment in the two room space is a mixture of very modern lighting and glassware, some Moroccan linens, bags and rugs, the most luxurious cashmere scarves and throws and much more.

If ever you are in the area, do pay them a visit. You will not be disappointed.

I also strongly suggest that you visit their website, www.maisondesreves.com. 

You will be surprised to learn that they also have 3 hotels-one in Brazil, one in Portugal and one in southern Morocco- plus a desert "camp", that are all breath taking!

au revoir.

THE DAY SEQUINS AND HOW TO WEAR THEM

LES SEQUINS DE JOUR ET COMMENT LES PORTER

The London based company Ashish covered enlarged tartan prints in clear sequins.

Prada covered their skirts in giant geometric ones

Those example of sequins as day wear will probably be adorning the svelte silhouettes of edgy celebrities and cool "fashionistas" this winter. 

But if, like me, you don't mind your everyday wear with a small dose of shine and sparkle once in a while, there are more easy versions of the look.

Sequin tank top on a long sleeve wool tee, in a subtle gray colorway.

A gold tanktop under a very sporty shirt and a wild fur vest

A simple boat neck on a very skinny pair of pants - for long legs...

All three options are understated and low "impact" more like a necklace or a scarf.

A relaxed mini skirt/striped tee combination. For that occasion when jeans take the day off.

A very classic choice can be made much more hip with the addition of a little stardust.

images elle, jcrew, vince, mulberry, kaboodle, 

au revoir.

THE SHORT STORY OF MISSONI AT TARGET

LA COURTE HISTOIRE DE MISSONI CHEZ TARGET

Yes, I can be a tad naive; no, make that clueless, or even innocent, or why not, totally trusting in fate. Call it what you may. 
A friend had said "don't even try, there is nothing left, everything is sold out, there was a run on Target the first day at 8:00 AM" etc., etc. 
Well, little old stubborn me went to Target yesterday to check out the now famous, OVER HYPED, under delivered line by Missoni.
I walked up to the first salesperson I saw and simply asked in my most no-I-am-not-the-millionth-annoying-shopper kind of voice, where the Missoni line was. The answer was short, to the point and final: "all sold out".
Period. 
Oh my, so it IS true.
As luck would have it, a very much more cheerful salesperson having heard my question offered the following comment: "I just hung 5 returns over there near the aisle". 
Better. Not that much better, but better none the less.
Not to be defeated by what was apparently a huge lack of stock following a gigantic PR hurricane, I proceeded to said aisle.


There were 2 articles by Missoni: 
1) what seemed to be purple/black heather leggings sized for a 4 year old.
2) a gold/copper/burgundy lurex thread cardigan in Missoni's iconic zigzag motif.
I checked the size: L. 
Rats! but wait, it seems rather smaller than large at first sight. It looks like it could very well be my size.


To make my now very long story shorter, I later went home, and tried it on (I hate to try things on at the store without the right shoes and accessories etc.). I am happy to report it IS indeed exactly my size. It is comfortable, somewhat shiny but in a discreet sort of way and it will be PERFECT for that dinner next week in Montreal.
Oh, and to end my story: the most adorable elegant woman with straight gray hair and the nicest smile on earth asked if she could give me her telephone number in case I changed my mind: she would have grabbed it if she had seen it first. 
I have called her to announce that, so-sorry-but, the sweater is a keeper. 
Sorry charming lady.
Moral of the story: an inexpensive designer top+ perfect black pants+ dressy shoes+ a great pair of earrings and you are done!

images target, tahari,  antonio melani, karl lagerfelt via ebay

Dear daughters in Paris, a bit of bad news: no, they did not have ANY bathing suits. I questioned a third salesperson about other Missoni items in the store; The answer was once again short, to the point and final: "all sold out".
There is nothing? NO.THING. Period.
Missoni, to your machines please. Or maybe the rarity is in fact the appeal...

au revoir.