W./E.

I had the chance to see W./E. a week and a half ago and it was worth the trip to Manhattan on a rainy Thursday night.

The film, directed and co-written by Madonna, is about two love stories, one of Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII, whose romance resulted in Edward famously abdicating the British throne to marry the twice-divorced American. The other is of Wally Winthrop, a young New Yorker unhappy in her marriage who becomes fixated on the story of Wallis and Edward upon the occasion of the Sotheby’s auction of their estate.


Oscar Issac as Evgeni, the very handsome Sotheby’s security guard, Abbie Cornish as Wally Winthrop. I adore this patterned blouse on her.

I loved the actors, the story, the beyond-glorious costumes, the cinematography, the sets, and the music. Oh wait, that’s pretty much everything. I was a little worried during the opening scenes when there was a lot of grainy handheld camera work—which took me out of the moment, every time—but after that (mostly) went away I settled in for a bittersweet romance, times two. The movie has sparked in me a curiosity about the Duchess of Windsor—which, okay, was already growing after my trip to Cartier in January, and a look through my mother’s copies of the 1997 Sotheby’s auction catalogs of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s estate—so stand by for further missives on this topic, because I feel a mild obsession coming on.

James D’Arcy as Edward, Andrea Riseborough as Wallis in a still from W./E. Do not even get me started on this gorgeous gold lamé dress or the jewels in her hair!


I love this ladylike look! And now I want a Lady Dior handbag, which Abbie carries here.

When I saw this suit onscreen I actually gasped in the theater, it is that beautiful. Photo by Tom Munro.

If you’d like to visit the movie’s website, which includes a trailer, click here.

Recession Anna

This recent picture of Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue, is the third time I’ve seen her wearing this colorblocked orange and red dress and I have to say I absolutely love it when the woman with the world’s deepest closet has a Go-To dress that she wears more than once, more than twice, but three times (at least)! In this economy it’s a great message to send without saying a word.

The picture was taken during a press preview given in Milan last week to showcase a few of the pieces that will be on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art for this year’s Costume Institute exhibition Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, opening May 10, 2012. That’s Miuccia Prada next to Anna, in the wonderful patterned coat. She must be so excited to have her work featured in a major exhibition with a design legend.

Costume Design by Catherine Marie Thomas

At the end of November I had the pleasure of interviewing the costume designer Catherine Marie Thomas about the costumes Sandra Bullock wears in the 2009 film The Proposal. Please do stop by Clothes on Film, one of my favorite sites, devoted to costume in movies, to read the article I wrote.

Ms. Thomas is gorgeous, gracious, very easy to talk to, and incredibly talented! If you’ve seen The Proposal, Whip It, Grey Gardens, 27 Dresses, Kill Bill Vol. 1 or Vol. 2, you’ve seen her excellent work.

Her next film is Not Fade Away, which will be released later this year.


Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock in a scene from The Proposal. Notice how long Sandra’s skirt is? She specifically asked Cat to design it that way in order to make it harder for her to move around in, which she felt would help bring her character, uptight book editor Margaret Tate, to life. Now that’s an actress who understands the importance of costume design!


The bag is Prada and it is divine.


Sandra Bullock with Betty White, who plays Annie. Sunglasses by Prada, bag by Hermès!


The overly-large wedding gown before alterations. The fabric is 4-ply silk charmeuse purchased from Mood Designer Fabrics in New York City.


The final product in a sketch by the film’s costume designer Catherine Marie Thomas. Courtesy and © Catherine Marie Thomas.

Do head over to Clothes on Film for a behind-the-scenes look at Ms. Thomas’s design process for the movie, including another of her wonderful sketches.

Disco Dolly

When I first saw this Stephen Burrows ensemble at IMPACT: 50 Years of the CFDA, now on view at The Museum at FIT, I thought it was from the 70s but it’s circa 1997! Still, there is more than a hint of 70s disco glamour in the halter neck bodice and draped loose pants, and of course nothing says “Let’s Boogie” like bronze mesh and gold lamé.

Luring disco dollies to a life of vice!

Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA is on view through April 17, 2012.

The Museum at FIT
Seventh Avenue and 27th Street
New York NY 10001-5992
212-217-4558
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: Noon-8PM
Saturday: 10AM-5PM
Closed Sundays, Mondays, and legal holidays
Admission is free

Linda in Yellow

Linda Fargo, Senior Vice President, Women’s Fashion Director and Store Presentation at Bergdorf Goodman. Photo by Mr. Newton.

Getting back to pops of color, I am loving Linda Fargo, Senior Vice President at Bergdorf Goodman, in those yellow trousers she wore a few days ago during New York Fashion Week. I also love the studded and yet ladylike black bag, which is Valentino, and the multicolor fur scarf. Okay, I love the peacoat too, and the red lipstick. The whole outfit is perfect!

I think I will have to bring a skirt or pair of pants with major color into my closet soon. I like this pencil skirt from J. Crew.

No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Casablanca Blue.

I also adore their yellow capris.

Café Capri in Baked Citron.

Which would you pick?

Meeting DVF

Diane von Furstenberg speaks to the press at The Museum at FIT.

At the press preview of Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA, I looked up from photographing a cluster of dresses in the exhibit hall and in the dim light found myself a foot away from Diane von Furstenberg, with both of us smiling at each other and nobody else around. And even though I am very shy in approaching famous people I knew I had to take this opportunity to say hello. I introduced myself and told her how excited I was to meet her. She smiled, touched my cheek and said, “You’re so pretty!”

What?

I was floored, this was not what I was expecting. At all. I had to laugh, she caught me so completely off-guard and then I said the first thing that came to mind: “Do you think so?” “Yes!” she said. We only chatted for a moment and I mainly told her I needed the leopard wrap dress of hers (from 1974) in my closet, and about how well her dresses sell at Bloomingdale’s across all generations (which they do). She was being hustled away by museum staff to give remarks to the press but before she left she said, “You’re a beautiful woman!”

Wow!

There’s something very generous and inviting about her, and she’s so glamorous with her big bouncy hair, her chunky gold jewelry, and her flowing colorful clothes (of her own design, of course). I read on Twitter that she rolled up to FIT that morning in a green vintage Bentley. Now there’s an entrance! But there was not a hint of diva about her when we met—she’s so solicitous of people, asking them questions (“What did you do at Bloomingdale’s? How many children do you have?”), complimenting them. I think she gave me a lesson on what someone who is beautiful inside and out looks like.





A leopard print DVF wrap dress from 1974.


Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA is on view through April 17, 2012.

The Museum at FIT
Seventh Avenue and 27th Street
New York NY 10001-5992
212-217-4558
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: Noon-8PM
Saturday: 10AM-5PM
Closed Sundays, Mondays, and legal holidays
Admission is free

Hello, Lover

A 2012 Zac Posen dress.

From the exhibit Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA, now on view at The Museum at FIT, consider this stunning red Zac Posen gown from 2012 my valentine to you.

I would love to sit around the house tonight wearing this beauty and drinking champagne with my husband. I wouldn’t need to go anywhere. The dress itself would be the occasion!




Happy Valentine’s Day!

Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA is on view through April 17, 2012.

The Museum at FIT
Seventh Avenue and 27th Street
New York NY 10001-5992
212-217-4558
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: Noon-8PM
Saturday: 10AM-5PM
Closed Sundays, Mondays, and legal holidays
Admission is free

Pops of Color, Two Different Ways

Lauren Santo Domingo, co-founder of Moda Operandi. I love the green skirt. Photo by PacificCoastNews.com.

At an Obama fundraiser in Manhattan last week, both Lauren Santo Domingo and Anna Wintour wore bright colors under neutral coats. I shy away from a lot of color in my wardrobe, preferring to use it as an accessory, but these pictures are inspiring me to think about adding a skirt with a pop of color to my closet.


Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue. Photo by PacificCoastNews.com.

Do you own a brightly colored skirt?

Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA

Diane von Furstenberg speaks to the press at opening of Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA.

Diane von Furstenberg, in her remarks to the press at the new exhibit Impact: 50 Years of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which opens today at The Museum at FIT, stressed the motto of her native Belgium: “Unification Makes Strength.” Similar values, she said, are the foundation of the CFDA, begun in 1962 as the brainchild of fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert when, as von Furstenberg noted, “There was little recognition for American designers.”

Lambert wanted to change that so she and 50 leading designers of the time formed a council to promote American fashion. For von Furstenberg, the current President of the CFDA, American fashion is all about the impact—a key word that she said kept coming up in her conversations with FIT co-curators Patricia Mears and Fred Dennis about an exhibit to celebrate the CFDA’s 50th anniversary, to the point that it became the title of the show. It is also about commercial success. “Commercial is not a dirty word,” von Furstenberg said. “American fashion is about the success of design, the success of popularity.”

Oscar de la Renta speaks to the press. I was so excited to see him!

Mr. de la Renta said John Fairchild, the publisher of Women’s Wear Daily from 1960 to 1996, was another huge promoter of American fashion in the early days of the CFDA.

Left to right, Tory Burch, Yeohlee Teng, and Mary McFadden (looking so old school glamorous in a full length fur coat and beret!).

Donna Karan spoke of the mentorship aspect of the CFDA, with older designers helping the younger ones. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Anne Klein,” she said. Karan worked for Klein early in her career.

Each of the approximately 100 garments and accessories on display was chosen by a member-designer as the most representative of their work, and the exhibit as a whole is a stunning testament to the breadth of American design and the rich heritage young designers of today have to inspire them.

A Mary McFadden ensemble from 1979.

Detail from the McFadden ensemble. Look at the color, look at the pleating!

A 1985 Donna Karan ensemble.

Norman Norell evening set, gold sequined camel silk jersey sheath dress and cashmere coat with sequined lining, circa 1958. Gift of Lauren Bacall.

A 1971 Sidney Wragge dress.

Left to right, a dress by Thakoon, a Yeohlee Teng ensemble, and a Proenza Schouler dress.

A simple and lovely cream-colored dress by Halston from 1976.

Oscar de la Renta silk taffeta gown with black Guipere lace bodice, Spring 2012.

Detail of black Guipere lace bodice by Oscar de la Renta from his Spring 2012 collection.

Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA is on view through April 17, 2012.

The Museum at FIT
Seventh Avenue and 27th Street
New York NY 10001-5992
212-217-4558
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: Noon-8PM
Saturday: 10AM-5PM
Closed Sundays, Mondays, and legal holidays
Admission is free

Lauren Santo Domingo and Her Hermès Kelly

Lauren Santo Domingo in front of Lincoln Center during New York Fashion Week, September 2011. Photo by Marko MacPherson.

New York Fashion Week is upon us and I want to kick it off by sharing a look I like from last NYFW, in September 2011. This is Lauren Santo Domingo shown on 5 Days, 5 Looks, 1 Girl, a fun feature on Vogue.com. I somehow missed this when it originally came out last October. Lauren is a Vogue contributing editor, co-founder of Moda Operandi, the internet site where you can buy looks directly from the runway, and New York socialite (Her husband is Andrés Santo Domingo, a Colombian beer heir).


Shoes by Céline. These are a little high for me but I like the look of them. Photo by Marko MacPherson.

Photo by Marko MacPherson.

I still can’t get over the Into the Gloss interview where she said she never washes her own hair, but maybe that interview is why I now like to see what she is wearing, and in this case, I love the entire look. It’s so modern and clean, and then you have the ladylike Kelly. J’adore!

If you go over to Moda Operandi today, you can shop her (million dollar) style. I will definitely be there to have a look.

Dreams of Cartier

From the windows of Cartier, NYC.

I blame you, Duchess of Windsor, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rachel Zoe. Between the movie W.E., the auction of Elizabeth’s jewels in December, and all the bling Rachel Zoe regularly wears on her show, I have jewelry on the brain. And not just any jewelry—big jewelry, gorgeous jaw-dropping jewelry, jewelry you leave to your kids to fight over (or sell at auction).

I mean, hello. I’m dying here.

Tank Américane watch of white gold and diamonds, $54,100.

So I made a trip to the Cartier boutique in Manhattan, which I’ve never been to before. It was a freezing Saturday in January, which ended up being the perfect time to go: plenty of room at the counter and an associate free to show me some rings from the Trinity de Cartier collection—the Cartier classic featuring three linked bands, one of white gold, one of yellow gold, and one of rose gold. I also tried on one with the white gold band set with pavé diamonds. Forgive me for not getting pictures, I was deep in trying-on mode and didn’t want to break my stride!

I tried on this ring. It’s from the Trinity collection and costs $11,050. It looks sooooo good on me. Honey, please?

For fun I also tried on the gigantic Panther ring that Rachel Zoe often wears, made of 18K yellow gold with peridot eyes, an onyx nose and spots made of black lacquer. It is quite heavy in weight and price, $23,700. Not really my style, but I wouldn’t kick it out of my jewelry box either.

Rachel Zoe owns this amazing Cartier panther ring.

Pearls the size of gumballs, anyone? Maybe for that Wilma Flintstone look?

I have a friend who doesn’t like to go on these trips I make to check out beautiful things because it depresses her afterwards. She’ll say, “Why can’t I be rich?” I’m the opposite, I can see, try on, and hand back expensive things. Just because I want to look at something doesn’t mean I want to own it. I can appreciate the craftsmanship, materials, and design of an object, and then call it a day. In fact, I like these excursions because I don’t spend any money. I didn’t walk out with a ring (that day, anyway), but I did get an education on why Cartier is so special.



What I did actually go home with from Cartier. You can bet this bag garners some glances on the street!

The handsome and attentive Robert gave me four samples of Cartier perfumes.

What about you? Do you find it depressing to see something and not be able to buy it (immediately or ever) or is it okay to look and leave?