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Pavilion of Art & Design at The Park Avenue Armory
November 11 – 14, 2011
Since its grand opening in Paris 15 years ago, the Pavilion of Art & Design fairs, better known as PAD, have been closely associated with presenting works of art of the highest quality which have been vetted by distinctive panels of experts. This year, PAD brought their “oeuvre d’art” to the prestigious Park Avenue Armory.Galerie DowntownThis inaugural fair brought together 49 international galleries who are exhibiting works of Modern Art, Design, Decorative Arts, Photography, Jewelery and Tribal Art. The exhibit is inviting and full of design inspirations. Many of the dealers are carrying some of the most exquisite pieces that I’ve ever laid eyes on.One such dealer is Galerie Downtown. Its owner, François Laffanour created the gallery with a thoroughly avant-garde brief: the rehabilitation of 20th century architects’ furniture which had sunk into oblivion. He is championing the works of two pioneers of 20th century Decorative Arts: Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand (joint founder of the Union des Artists Modernes with Le Corbusier in 1929), as well as that of Serge Mouille and Isamu Noguchi. I like the fact that these blue-chip artists were passionate about freedom, they were able to re-invent far more than a way of life or a way of dwelling, rather a life project, no less, a manifesto of the period’s technical and scientific modernity. Charlotte Perriand once said “What interests me is people. Spare lines whose functional quality goes hand-in-hand with everyday gestures, and simple materials (wood, metal, bamboo) combined with a keen sense of detail contributed to the refinement of their works”. This in fact is a huge interest of mine as well.For this first Pavilion of Art and Design, the French architect Jean de Piépape exclusively designed Galerie Downtown’s stand with all the geometry and subtlety that are the hallmarks of his reputation. His deft selection of furniture and objects include a seating and a staircase by Jean Prouvé, a bench, seats and shelves by Charlotte Perriand.Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue
(67th Street)
New York, New York 10065
212-744-8180
Hours: 11 AM – 8 PM
Jean ProuvéCirca 1942, Dining table
Charlotte Perriand1955, “Shadow” chair
Pierre JeanneretCa. 1955, Armless easy chair
Charlotte Perriand1961, Bench with drawer box -
Moroso, NYC
The Traveling ShowItalian furniture maker Moroso is planning an exciting traveling road show with a pop-up showroom and exhibition all across North American. First stop? New York City (until November 26th).
The show will then move to Chicago, and seven other cities are scheduled to have these pop up stores in 2012. This evening, I will be heading to their press preview in Soho. Moroso have commissioned Rockwell Group, an award-winning design firm to showcase this mobile showroom. Patrizia Moroso, the art director of her namesake firm, has long been friends with David Rockwell.Asking his firm, which is so well-versed in the art of theatrical transformation, to collaborate on this project was a foregone conclusion. As I’ve mentioned earlier, after New York, the show will make multiple stops. Some of the cities are Philadelphia, Chicago in early December. The schedule for 2012 includes Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, and Vancouver.Moroso USA
526 West 26th Street
New York
212-529-1705
Moroso, New York -
This Week in New York
Tambaran
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
4 PM – 8 PMTuesday, October 8, 20116 PM – 8 PM667 Madison Avenue
(between 60th and 61st Streets)Although I’m partial to Art Deco, I admire the fact than Art Nouveau represented a period of artistic expression of feminine liberation in fin-de-siècle Paris. I mean, back then women were freed from restrictive, corseted fashions and suddenly were experiencing the freedom of movement that public transportation and bicycles provided. Many of us can easily agree that Art Nouveau celebrated this new kind of woman.
Marking its 40th year on Madison Avenue, Macklowe Gallery is presenting a landmark exhibition of Art Nouveau sculpture, consisting of nearly 300 examples dating from 1880 to 1914. We were told that curators Lloyd and Benjamin Macklowe spent over two years assembling a collection of the world’s finest examples, including approximately 100 works borrowed from private collections, making this the greatest exhibition of Art Nouveau sculpture since the Paris World’s Fair of 1900. In conjunction with the show, Macklowe Gallery will publish a lavishly illustrated and deeply researched book entitled Dynamic Beauty: Sculpture of Art Nouveau Paris, featuring a foreword by Benjamin Macklowe.30 West 21 Street
New York, New York
Friday, November 11 – Monday, November 14, 2011Everyday from 11 AM – 8 PMPark Avenue Armory(67th Street)New York, New York
November 13 – 14, 2011Jacob Javits CenterNorth HallMore than 3,000 designers, architects, purchasers and developers,
along with hotel owners and operators, will attend Boutique Design New York
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The Weekender: The Scar Project
I think back on the time I met my friend David Jay at one of those trendy restaurants downtown on September 11th, this year. The city was quiet. We started speaking about photography, and its power of communication. Then the conversation led to a photo of “Glee” star Heather Morris sporting a fake black eye, and how a message can be understood differently depending on the person.David has worked in fashion for major publications in New York and overseas. He has dedicated himself to having an impact on subjects that are quite often denied and he helped women deal with traumas that can be healed through understanding and acceptance. Ultimately our discussion went into his upcoming exhibit – The SCAR Project.My interest was piqued, so I decided to check this installation, before heading back home. I was taken by the fact that David Jay was thinking differently. After viewing one image after the next, it became clear that he had a mission, not solely a statement. He was not interested in showing in galleries per se but in museums. His message goes towards women who suffer from being labelled as ghosts because they had breast cancer operations. David’s work is about having an impact on people’s lives by creating a community and making them realize they are not alone, that they are human and dignity still exists even after surgery.The SCAR Project composes a ballet of compassion.Join them on their Facebook Fan Page where they have now reached over 20,394 “LIKE”.Connect yourself, LIKE IT & SHARE ITThe SCAR ProjectOpenhouse Gallery201 Mulberry StreetNew York CityOpens Friday October 28, 2011The exhibit runs through November 6th, 2011Tickets can be purchased for the opening night galagallery walks with SCAR Project photographer David Jay,and general admission (which is by donation)Reserve your ticket at EventbriteI encourage you to see this amazing exhibition in its intended scale and viewing experience.By Laurence Fayard -
Meet Orianne Collins
OC Concept Store is celebrating their one year anniversary, this month. New York City’s first concept store was designed by Christophe Pillet, and it offers a champagne and caviar bar and personalized service. Two further stores, both situated in exclusive resorts, were opened in St Tropez and Courchevel. The flagship store have enjoyed a groundbreaking surge of avant garde artists, and century old businesses who have collaborated with the store’s owner, Orianne Collins, in order to bring her clients some of the world finest goods and services. From art, home decor, jewelery, time pieces, accessories, exclusive travel destination services, in a 300 square meter store – all beautifully curated.When you enter the OC Concept Store, what you’ll find is an array of some of the most heart stopping, and innovating pieces that you’ve ever laid eyes on. From Swarovski crystal iPod covers, vintage marquetry music box, to Orianne Collins’ own jewelry collection, which draws from many different traditions, and is a blend of mystical and fashionable elegance, for men, women and children.A few weeks ago, I sat down with the woman behind this successful store, located right across the street from the iconic Barneys New York. Orianne talked to us about her passion for travel, her heart warming charity, as well as what truly inspires her work. Her Tale Jewelry Collection can be described as “a work of art” “historical” “soulful” as well as “dreamy”. But it is so much more than that. It is an artist’s dream story told against a multi continental jet set soundtrack. Observant and reactive, Orianne draws on her dreams and experiences to nourish her passion, finding inspiration at all times – with her family, on the phone, and during her travels.High End Weekly™: Please tell us a about your charity – The Little Dreams Foundation.Orianne Collins: The foundation was founded in 2003 in Switzerland with my then husband Phil Collins. It is primarily for orphans and handicapped children from Zimbabwe, and around Europe. These children have shown excellence in areas such as music, and sports. It’s quite rewarding seeing these children grow up and having some of them participate in the US Open finals for handicapped tennis players.HEW: When you wanted to expand your flagship store, you could have chosen a number of noteworthy cities like Paris, London, Milan. Yet you chose NYC. Why is that?OC: New York City is a very challenging place to do business, and I’ve always loved a challenge. Plus it is also a destination place, the same way that OC is becoming a designation place for New Yorkers. Three years before we’ve opened our store, there was an awful lot of thoughts and planning that went into creating it. When we first opened, our objective was to make the OC Concept Store a Dream Destination store. And we’ve achieved that.HEW: What’s your definition of luxury in three words?OC: Untouchable, Priceless, Dreamy.HEW: What was your work background like, and what type of materials do you use for your jewelry?OC: I was born in Nyon, Switzerland, and I have Thai and Swiss origins. My childhood and young adulthood consist of growing up in Switzerland and studying there as well. I was first attracted by a career in design, but finally chose International Management studies and obtained my degree at the age of 19. After occupying different positions in communications and marketing, I set up my first events and communications agency, O-COM, in the 1990s. My first jewelry designs were centered around the theme of the Little Dreams Foundation. In collaboration with Van Cleef and Arpels, I created a “charms” bracelet which represented eleven of the Foundation’s areas of interest.As with my work with Van Cleef and Arpels, my own jewelry collection consists of the best quality of precious and semi-precious stones, elegant modern designs and jewellery to suit every occasion. I use diamonds, sometimes black diamonds to embellish these creations.
Tales EarringsWhite Arabesques Earrings: White Gold, White Diamonds: $134,680Black Arabesques Earrings: Blackened Gold, Black Diamonds: $84,800
Romance CollectionBangle Heart (Bracelet) – White Gold, Pink Mother Of Pearl $5,680Heart Ring – Pink Gold, Pink Quartz: $5,720During the month of October, 10% of the sale price of these or any other pink merchandise purchased will be go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.HEW: Was there a piece from your recent collection that you’re most proud of? And why does it matter to you?OC: From the Tales Collection, my love for travel and orchards came shining through. For example, the Tales earrings came from my love of architecture and a particular design from Morocco. In The Symbol Collection I use Buddhist, Tibetan and Chinese symbols as they represent love and good luck.HEW: Who inspires you?OC: My grandmother. She was an extraordinary woman. Beautiful – inside and out.
Luxury RedefinedSkull Bracelet by Michael Kanners of Kanners Jewelers(price on request)HEW: What can we expect from you in the future?OC: We have about 20 lines of new merchandises coming up – from phones, wine control panels, continued collaborations with companies like KIS. And starting this fall, we are having Happy Hours at our champagne and caviar bar from 5:00 to 7:00 PM every Thursday. It is true that we bring our clients the best of the best, but our products are also exuberant, thought-provoking, filled with beautiful history, and knowledge.OC Concept Store
655 Madison Avenue
(at 60th Street)New York, NY 10065T: 212-759-9220info@occonceptstore.comwww.occonceptstore.com -
Picture Perfect!
René MagritteDangerous LiaisonsThe Carlyle Hotel981 Madison AvenueNew York City28 October — 1 December 2011Blain|Di Donna is getting ready to present as its inaugural exhibition, Dangerous Liaisons, a survey of paintings, works on paper and objects by the Belgian Surrealist René Magritte.What’ll you see at this noteworthy exhibit is over twenty five major oils, gouaches and drawings. This is the first Magritte show of this scale to be presented in New York in almost fifteen years, and comes at a time of renewed interest in Surrealism and its key exponents.The exhibition’s title is derived from Magritte’s seminal early work, Les Liaisons dangereuses (1935), an enigmatic painting thought to have been inspired by the eighteenth century French novel of the same name, in which two rival lovers deploy sex as a weapon to humiliate others. As with many of the works in the artist’s oeuvre, it delights and disturbs in equal measure; uncanny, poetic, playful and erotic, it underlines his unsettling ability to pull at the threads of philosophical and psychological certainties, and in doing so eloquently sets the tone of the exhibition as a whole. -
Stephen Jones at the Bard
Hats: An Anthology by Stephen JonesThe Bard Graduate Center: September 15, 2011 to April 15, 2012“I was honored when the V&A asked me to curate an exhibit about hats. I had so much fun finding unique head decoration in the most interesting of places. This exhibition draws on millinery collection world-wide and is truly an eclectic and exciting anthology of hats from the last millennium to the present day.”
Givency: Ostrich Feather In order to show the universal appeal of wearing hats, Stephen Jones has chosen a wide variety of styles such as motorcycle helmets, turbans, berets, ad a child’s plastic tiara. Also on display at the exhibit are the works of contemporary New York milliners: Ellen Christine, Rod Keenan, Rod Keenan, Eugenia Kim, Lola, Jennifer Ouellette, Albertus Swanepoel, and Patricia Underwood. You will discover hats worn by celebrities such as Madonna, Brad Pitt, and Keira Knightley. Estee Lauder’s turban, Halston bunny ears worn by Candace Bergen to Truman Capote’s Black & White Ball. Divine!
Caroline Reboux: Empress Eugenie Stephen Jones spearheaded the fashionable revival of British millinery in the early 1980s. Using unusual materials and daring designs, his exquisitely crafted hats have pushed the boundaries of hat design forward for more than three decades. Jones has collaborated with many leading fashion designers including Marc Jacobs, Comme des Garçons, and Christian Dior.
Bonnet – circa late 1800s 
Gordon: Kiss Of Death
Extravagant!
It was so very hard to pick a favorite from one display after another. But if I had to make a few choices, I would say that the English Bonnet, and this “hat” from Gordon made the list for me, as well as some other eye catching favorites from Stephen Jones.
Balenciaga Spiral HatThe exhibit consist of hats ranging from a twelfth-century Egyptian fez to a 1950s Balenciaga hat and couture creations by Jones and his contemporaries.
Christian Dior Haute Couture Last weekend, my husband and I went to see The Stephen Jones exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center on the Upper West Side. It was extraordinarily beautiful, and we were delighted to discover the exhilarating world of Mr. Jones. Personally, I simply cannot wait for the next opportunities to visit the show again, and again. What’s so exciting about a hat exhibition, I mean what is the fuss all about? For one thing, I adore good looking hats, and the history behind these was too good not to have a mention here.
This collaboration is between the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and Stephen Jones, the world’s foremost hat designer. An array of 250 exquisite hats (some dating back more than 300 years ago right into the 21st Century’s top fashion power houses) have been chosen with the expert eye of the master milliner. The BGC is offering a special series of lectures, study days, gallery talks, and conversations in conjunction with the exhibit. For further information, please call 212-501-3011 or e-mail them at programs@bgc.bard.edu
Don’t forget THE book!
Honestly, this is one of the most notable fashion page turners. Penned by Stephen Jones and Oriole Cullen, curator of textiles and fashion at the V&A, and published by V&A Publishing, this book draws on Jones’ unparalleled body of work and the V&A’s extensive collection of hats. Also featured are key pieces from international hat collections and design houses. Lawrence Mynott’s specially commissioned illustrations preface chapters that examine the milliner’s inspiration, the creation and process of making, how to buy a hat, and the etiquette of hat-wearing.The Bard Graduate Center
18 West 86th Street
Between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
Gallery hours are: Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. -
Cape Town
The Cloak of Visibility
From its medieval European origin (actually it goes further back) to right into the 21st Century, the cape has always been in vogue. However, 2011 is the year of the cape.
These days, it doesn’t matter where I am, or what time of the day it is, I see stylish men and women crowding the streets of Manhattan, and evening parties with their indispensable capes. And who can blame these fashion-conscious folks for wanting to make such a bold statement? Capes have been fuelling the daily wardrobe of fashionistas because of its simple and elegant lines, and also because they have this costume look about them, which is also very modern. Lately, I’ve asked myself this question: Is the recession responsible for the popularity of the cape? Maybe. The last time this item was so much in demand was in the swinging 60s when people were so optimistic about the future. Perhaps these difficult times are producing a generation of caped crusaders, no?
Lawren Howel
Pringle PreFall 2011
Comme Des Garcons Spring 2012
Louis Vuitton PreFall 2011
Alexis Rodrigues Duarte and Tico Torres
Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Fall 2011Images from VogueNOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.
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The Weekender: Chateau du Portail
Sometimes in life it’s the little things that matters on a grand scale. Whether your weekend calls for complete solitude, celebrating life with your friends and family, or simply indulging in the arts and fairs that we often find in big cities, why not make this one an extra special fabulous one?We picked out these photos from our friend Claude at Chateau du Portail, because they speak to us of past sun-drenched weekends, when we use to enjoy nothing more than the simple divine feel of the country side, and the serene quietness they convey, as we eagerly enjoyed life to the full.
Chateau du Portail, France -
Someone To Watch Over Me
In the movie Someone To Watch Over Me, Mini Rogers plays Claire Gregory, a wealthy Manhattan socialite whose life is threatened after she witnesses a murder, but don’t worry, her character soon gets protected by Mike Keegan who is played by Tom Berenger, who ended up falling in love with her. The story develops into a very interesting one. The score is exceptional and the photography and set decoration leave more than inspiration – and allot to the imagination.The architecture of the prewar upper east side apartment of Claire’s residence inspired the acclaimed designer, Thomas O’Brien, to create a haven of graciously scaled furniture, and well placed antiques. What I loved about the space the most was its modern feel, even though Thomas used his own designs for Hickory Furniture which are traditionally-inspired. The overall introduction of patterns and layers, and the soothing color combination he used to elevate the space to a new height was beautiful and very much in line with the other designers’ decor. The guest room will remain one of my all time favorite room. I loved the contrasting patterns he used in that small space, which often felt like a warm cocoon of love.For additional highlights on the other designers’ rooms, please go to the Wall Street Journal story on Scene-Stealing Decor.
Library
Living Room (Details)photos by Max Kim-Bee
