Fashion Exibitions at F.I.T.

If you're ever in the New York City area and draw a blank on how you're going to spend your day, why not grab some friends and make a trip to the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology? They currently have three exhibits and admission to them is free. Take a look at eclectic shoes at Sole Desire: The Shows of Christian Louboutin (ending April 19th), the Parisian garments at Madame Gres: Sphinx of Fashion (ending April 19th), and even the diverse culture-inspired fashions at Exoticism (ending May 7, 2008).

In addition to the exhibits (and student exhibitions), this museum offers educational programs, a fashion and textile history gallery, and guided tours. There is a charge for the tours, but it's a great way to spend a an hour out of your day. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Log on to find out more information about their upcoming events. Have fun!

A Monument To An Iconic Jacket

At the Chanel Couture Show in Paris yesterday, the runway was turned into the stage above. Models filed out of a 75-foot cardigan jacket, then disappeared back inside of it at shows end, symbolizing a "hub from which other styles emerged and inevitably returned to." [New York Times]

In recent years, Karl Lagerfeld has strayed too far from this hub, in my opinion. I've always loved Classic Chanel and it's very hard for me to understand his thought process when I see what he creates these days. However, if he's coming back to the classics, kudos to him.

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[Photo: Jean-Luce Hure, NYT]

In Marc's Corner Again

Years ago when Marc Jacobs first burst onto the scene I simply fell in love with what he was doing. Lately, though, it's been hard to say that I'm still a fan of his. Now I have a reason to cheer for him once again. I saw the shoe on the left in the latest issue of Harper's Bazaar, in the Fabulous At Every Age section on page 146.

Yes, it's recommended for the 70+ woman, but I'm not ashamed to admit I'm in love with this shoe. It reminds me of those classic Chanel slingbacks from a bygone era. I've always been a big fan of vintage Chanel and, if I never get to own a pair of Chanels, at least I can substitute Marc's (if I can manage to save up for them).

Hurray, Marc!

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Verdura: The Life & Work of A Master Jeweler

Recently I heard about a new exhibit opening next month at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Verdura: The Life and Work of a Master Jeweler will showcase the work of Fulco Santostefano della Cerda, Duke of Verdura, born in Sicily in 1898.

Fulco got his big break in the 1920s when he went to a party hosted by Linda and Cole Porter. There he met Coco Chanel who hired him as a textile designer. He eventually became the head designer of her private and boutique jewelry collection, which led, in time, to his signature motif, the Maltese Cross (right).

Eventually he started his own company, and throughout the middle of the 20th Century, Verdura jewelry could be seen on the world's most fashionable women, including the Duchess of Windsor, Doris Duke, Slim Keith, Nan Kempner and Greta Garbo (left, wearing Verdura's curb-link bracelet watch).

After I'd read about Fulco I visited the Verdura website and recognized a ring I'd seen many times in the pages of Town & Country magazine: a three-stone ring made from peridot and blue topaz. Yes, his jewelry is very, very high-end. It can be found at Verdura's flagship store at 745 Fifth Avenue here in New York City, as well as at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.

Verdura: The Life and Work of A Master Jeweler runs from Nov 16, 2007 through Feb 17, 2008. If you'll be in Houston during any of that time, plan to go and see the work of, indeed, a master jeweler.

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A New Can of Hairspray

Well, Hollywood has gone and done it again. They've re-made another great movie. This time the victim is Hairspray. The wonderful 1988 cult hit starring Divine and Rikki Lake now stars John Travolta and newcomer Nikki Blonsky. Check out the Synopsis.

I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it over a decade ago. The whole idea of a plus-sized teenager becoming the most popular girl in school really got to me. Put that together with fashion from my favorite period in history, the '60s, and it's Hit City, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not sure if the 2007 version will make me feel the same way but, judging from the trailer, it looks pretty good:

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If anyone sees the movie, let me know how you like it. If I see it, I'll be sure to post a review.

Enjoy the weekend!

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Poiret: King Of Fashion-- Opening Today

Designer Paul Poiret (1879-1944) was known for having freed women from wearing corsets and introducing pantaloons. The title King of Fashion was one that he gave himself. Now the self-proclaimed king is the subject of a new exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, here in New York City. Here's a preview:

(Photos courtesy of Coutorture)

The exhibit opens today and runs through August 5th. If you're visiting NYC this Summer keep it in mind!

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Black History Monday: The Night I Met Iman

I didn't actually meet Iman. Back in the late '80s I was preparing to take the road test for my driver's license. I'm not sure if it's still the case now, but part of the requirement in New York State back then was to sit through a five-hour class. Anyone who wanted to take the road test had to sit through this class, even people whose licenses had expired long ago. No, my license hadn't expired, but Iman's had.

After I'd walked into the Midtown classroom and got in line to register, I just happened to look over at the door. There she was! She walked in wearing jeans and a crisp white blouse and carrying, surprisingly enough, a boxed bottle of Eternity perfume and a pack of Marlboro Lights. She obviously didn't want to be there and took her time walking over to the line. She took so much time, in fact, that I thought she had no plans to get on line. A man had walked in slightly ahead of her and it looked like he was with her. I mistakenly thought he was getting in line for her. Then I realized they were not together, as she finally made it to the end of the line.

Always shy around celebrities, I said nothing. Inside, however, I was screaming. I couldn't believe I was going to spend the next five hours in the same room with Iman! I looked around at everyone else in the class. If I remember correctly, they were all men! No one even seemed to recognize her. As time when on, however, it was obvious that a few of the men did, but they acted like they didn't care.

The instructor, a middle-aged, overweight, rather disheveled man, began the class and, I wish I could remember everything that happened, but I can't. I only remember a few things: Iman raised her hand to voice concerns about getting a new license in time to travel. That was when she mentioned her long-expired one. I looked over at her as she was speaking and was just blown away at how clear her skin was and how shiny her hair was. She was probably close to 30 years old then but still in the prime of her modeling career. The marriage to David Bowie and her grand dame status was still years away.

Another thing I remember is the instructor's visual aids. He used little toy cars. One of the cars was a white Rolls Royce. At one point he created an elaborate scenario involving the Rolls and two other cars, saying that Iman was inside the Rolls. I laughed, but then I felt stupid when no one else did.

After about 3 1/2 hours Iman announced that she had to go. The instructor said he understood and she wished everyone a nice evening and left. The instructor looked around the room , wanting confirmation that she was famous. "Her name is 'eye-man,' right?" A few of the men nodded and said "Yes." And that was the end of that.

I suppose that, under different circumstances Iman would not have been left alone as she was that night. We were all there as a means to an end, trying to get something we needed in order to get from once place to another. For most of us there that night it meant getting from Manhattan to Long Island or the Bronx to Scarsdale. For Iman it could have meant anywhere, and it did.

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Black History Monday: Beverly Johnson

With all the recent buzz about Jennifer Hudson gracing the cover of American Vogue next month, now is the perfect time to remember the first black woman ever to do so. Beverly Johnson appeared on the cover of the August 1974 issue.

Born in Buffalo, New York in 1952, Beverly first strived to be an Olympic swimmer. She missed qualifying for the 1968 Mexico games by a tenth of a second. With dreams of becoming a lawyer, she studied political science at Northeastern University and worked summers as a swimming instructor at the YWCA. When budget cuts eliminated her job at the Y a few of her friends suggested she try modeling.

She began her career doing freelance stints for Glamour. Eventually she decided she needed an agent. After hearing that Eileen Ford was the best, she went to see her. Ford was not very encouraging, telling Beverly she was too big to be model. After she'd made the rounds at other agencies, Eileen Ford called her back with a change of heart. The rest, as they say, is history.

By 1975 Beverly was having the time of her life and enjoying every minute of it. She was beautiful, she was making money, and she was full of self-confidence. "I'm the biggest model, period," she told a radio show host that year. "I've been in the business four years. There's not a model, black or white, who's done what I've done, what I've done in such a short time. It's so, and I think I should say it." These comments later ended up in a profile by Ted Morgan in The New York Times Magazine. The fashion industry was furious and shunned her. While it hurt her she didn't lose work over it. She was soon making $100 an hour for photo shoots.

Never afraid to try anything, she also became an actress and an author, and in 1978 she became a mother at a time when few models dared to get pregnant. After divorcing her husband she was linked to numerous handsome men, including Chris Noth. Now well into her 50s, she continues to be a stunning beauty, admired not only by the likes of Iman, Liya, and Alek, but by all of us who grew up in the 1970s learning that Black Is Beautiful.

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Black History Monday: Ophelia DeVore

Ophelia DeVore is considered by many to have been the first woman of color to become a fashion model in the United States. She was born in Edgefield, South Carolina in 1922, the daughter of parents who were of European, African-American and Native-American heritage.

As a teenager, Ophelia was sent to New York to live with relatives. While there she developed an interest in modeling. She attended the Vogue School of Modeling, an institution which excluded woman of color. The school assumed she was a white girl with a suntan. In a 2002 interivew with Kerry Burke of the Columbia News Service, she talked about how naive she had been, thinking she'd been accepted for who she was. "I didn't know they didn't know...I never pretended to be anything I wasn't. I just sold talent," she said.

After modeling for two years she no longer felt the work was challenging. Like other people of color in early 20th Century America, Ophelia DeVore had grown up watching the media's negative protrayal of them, and she wanted to do something to help change it. She and a few friends started the Grace Del Marco Modeling Agency to sell the idea of black modeling to the advertising industry. Shortly after that she began the Ophelia DeVore School of Self Development and Modeling. Thousands of upon thousands of people have benefited from these two organizations, including such big names as Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, Richard Roundtree, and Camille Cosby. Many success stories, indeed, but two of the earliest occurred in 1959 and 1960, when two of Ms DeVore's models were crowned Queen of The Cannes Film Festival.

Ms DeVore attended New York's prestigious Hunter College High School and majored in mathematics at New York University. In addition to her modeling businesses, she was a fashion columnist for the Pittsburgh Courier. In 1970 she became the publisher of the Columbus Times, after its previous publisher, her husband, had passed away. She has served as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies, has received appointments to Presidential committees and has been the recipient of hundreds of awards.

I first heard about Ophelia DeVore when, as a young child, I went to live with my aunt. Her only daughter, a 20-year-old, had attended the Ophelia DeVore school and both she and my aunt were devotees of a cosmetics line of Ms DeVore's. I still remember the little containers with pink labels sitting in our bathroom. I also remember a day when I was about 8 or 9 years old, when my aunt and I went to the school to pick up some foundation she needed. There were no parking spaces nearby so my aunt double-parked and stayed in the car while I went upstairs for the makeup. When I walked into the small space I saw a woman who seemed to be doing a million things at once and was under a lot of stress. When she saw me it was like she forgot about all of it and I was the most important person in the world. She looked at me smiled. "What does mommy want?" she said gently. I rattled off what my aunt had drilled into my head and gave her the money. She kept smiling, placed the bottle in my hand and wished me a wonderful day. No, that woman wasn't Ophelia DeVore. But if an over-worked clerk employed by her could make a small child feel like a princess, it was a good indicator of who Ophelia DeVore was: a beautiful woman, inside and out.

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Black History Monday: Ann Lowe

Wedding Dress
Originally uploaded by Dailyville.

The wedding gown on the right was worn by Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953, the day she married John F Kennedy. It is a part of African-American History. Why? This dress was designed by African-American fashion designer Ann Lowe.

Ann Lowe was born in Alabama in 1899, the daughter and granddaughter of dressmakers who designed for Alabama's first ladies. When Ann was 16 her mother passed away, and Ann completed the projects her mother had been working on. She then went on to design school in New York, where she was shunned by her white classmates. She didn't let them get to her. Instead, she concentrated on her studies. It paid off. Her customers included the DuPonts, Roosevelts, Posts, Biddles, Rockefellers, Auchinclosses, and other families that were listed in the Social Register. They loved her work. She was known as "society's best kept scecret," because, of course, no one would admit their clothing was being designed by a black woman. I can't help but wonder how different her life and career would have been today. Perhaps she would have been as well known and has wealthy as Vera Wang.

Things were, indeed, difficult for Ms Lowe. She never gave up, however, especially when a ruptured water line flooded her store 10 days before the future First Lady's wedding, destroying the dress and all others that had been made for the occasion. But Ms Lowe managed to remake all the dresses in time for the wedding. Later, in 1962 she lost her store due to back taxes, and lost her eye due to glaucoma. After the glaucoma surgery, when she was released from the hospital, she found that an annonymous benefactor had paid her all her debts. (The Kennedys, perhaps?) However, she developed cataracts in her other eye. Luckily, surgery saved the eye and she went ahead with plans to open a store on Madision Avenue. She retired in the '70s and passed away in the early '80s.

I have seen pictures of the wedding dress before, but they were always side views. I had thought there was only one circle detail on the side, but they seem to be all around the dress. To be honest, I don't really care for the dress. (Neither did Jackie, I've read. Her mother insisted that she wear it.) However, none of that matters today. What matters is that Ann Lowe be recognized for who she is: an African-American Fashion Pioneer.

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Welcome To February: Short But Sweet

I simply cannot believe that it is February already! I almost feel as if I mised January. It went that fast. Last night I was thinking about this short month, trying to decide if there is anything important to look forward to. Here's what I came up with:

African-American History Month: I always love the programs and activities offered this month. This time around, however, I get to offer something, rather than just watching and reading. Starting this Monday, February 5th, I will have Black History Monday at The Glamorous Bee. You will be able to read about a different African-American beauty or fashion pioneer for the next four Mondays. This Monday, find out why Jacqueline Bouvier's wedding gown is a part of African-American History!

Alice Ritter Show at Fashion Week: I'm going! Thanks to Julie Frederickson at Coutorture, I'll be seeing my first ever show at Fashion Week on Saturday. I can't wait! I'll tell you all about early next week.

Divabetic: Makeover Your Diabetes: If you'll be in New York City the week of the 22nd, plan on attending this event, for women living with or affected by Diabetes. Along with health and nutrition advice they'll be giving free makeovers and image consultations! For more info see my recent post about it.

There was one event that was supposed to take place this month (today, actually) that has been pushed back: The relaunch of Perfumecritic.com at which I am a new staff writer. Due to a tragedy, this will not take place until April 1st. I will keep you posted as the date draws near.

So, welcome to February! Buzzing off for now...




What's Your Scent Personality?

Nan Kempner American Chic: How I Saw It

Nan Kempner: American Chic
Originally uploaded by coutorture.

On Saturday I finally had a chance to see Nan Kempner American Chic at the Met. As mentioned in previous posts, Mrs Thomas L Kempner, a member of the Best-Dressed List's Hall of Fame, was a New York socialite, who (and I never get tired of saying this) had so many clothes she had to convert two of her bedrooms into closets.

When I arrived, I walked down the stairs to the museum's ground floor into a top floor salon of sensational style. It was very clear from the start of my self-guided tour that Mrs Kempner was in love with the designs of Yves St Laurent. Most of the pieces on display are from this French couturier. There are many pieces by French designers in the exhibit, and Mrs Kempner was known as a Francophile when it came to her clothing collection. She did not ignore American designers, however. Michael Kors, Bill Blass, Levi Strauss and other successful Americans designers were well-represented in her closets.

What really impressed me about her clothing choices was the fact that almost everything she wore was tailored or fitted, a look that I love. I have always said, that before I die, I want to own a Chanel Suit. Mrs Kempner owned many, as well as suits by other designers.

I wanted to take take pictures while I was there but was told it was not allowed. Thankfully, Julie Fredrickson of Coutorture was kind enough to share her photos of the exhibit, which she acquired during the press preivew last week. To see them, simply click on the one above.

Nan Kempner American Chic will be running through March 4, 2007. If you have plans to be in New York City during this time, please include a trip to the Met to see this important piece of fashion history.

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Nan Kempner American Chic--Opening Today

4. Yves Saint Laurent_Evening Ensemble, Autumn-Winter 1983-84
Originally uploaded by coutorture.

The long-awaited exhibit of Nan Kempner's fabulous clothing collection opens today at The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, here in New York City. Mrs Kempner was a New York socialite whose clothing collection was so large she had to convert two of her bedrooms into closets. Julie Fredrickson, Editor-In-Chief of Coutorture, was lucky enough to see a preview of the collection yesterday. This beautiful Yves Saint Laurent ensemble was one of the pieces shown to her.

I'll be making my own little trip to the Met this weekend to see the exhibit, and I'll tell you all about it next week. I can't wait!

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Black Style Now: A New Exhibition

The Museum of The City of New York is running a fabulous exhibition right now. It's called "Black Style Now." Billed as "a groundbreaking exploration of hip-hop style and the black fashion revolution," this show is a must-see for anyone who considers herself a hip-hop style enthusiast, or anyone simply curious about it, as I was.

The exhibition not only details the birth and growth of hip-hop style in New York City, it pays homage to the early days of black style in New York, featuring photos of nattily dressed Harlem residents in the 1920s, info about early black designers (including Ann Lowe, who designed the dress Jacqueline Bouvier wore when she married JFK), and magazine covers featuring Naomi Sims (Fashions of The Times) and Daphne Maxwell Reid (Glamour) among others. There are also dozens of outfits on display, by designers ranging from Stephen Burrows to Jay-Z.

"Black Style Now" will be running through February 19, 2007. If you plan to be in New York City during the Holiday Season, plan on stopping by the Museum of The City of New York during your stay. Visit their website for further details.

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The Buzz Begins

While I continue to get this blog (and myself) organized, I am discovering some glam stuff I want to share right now, instead of waiting until I have a flashy page to show off. So, for your reading pleasure, some Glam Buzz!



Glam Flick: The heatwave was in full swing last weekend, so my friend Janie and I decided to abandon our outdoor plans for what we hoped was a cool movie. We chose The Devil Wears Prada and it turned out to be a really cool treat. Not much of a plot but, a fabulous array of fashion to sink our eye-teeth into: Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, and lots more, including, of course, Prada. Meryl Streep is wonderfully bitchy in this movie, as Miranda Priestly, the devilish editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine. I loved Andy Sach's (Anne Hathaway) transformation from fashion-clueless newbie to fashionista Emily (Miranda's first assistant, whose diet consists of eating nothing but a piece of cheese, and only when she is about to pass out.) The glamorous worlds of beauty and fashion are shown in their extremes ("Size 6 is the new 14," declares Runway staffer Nigel, played by Stanley Tucci.), until altruism takes over, when Andy decides she doesn't want to be Emily anymore and leaves Runway for more fulfilling pursuits. If you're looking for a serious film with dozens of underlying meanings, this movie isn't for you. The Devil Wears Prada is perfect summer movie viewing for anyone who wants to escape reality and the heat.


Glam Product: Exfoliation and microdermabrasion have become a 21st Century buzz words. Products such as these line the shelves at Sephora, Ulta, and every other beauty retailer and department store cosmetics counter. I've tried only one and have fallen in love with it. Origins Modern Friction is billed as "nature's gentle dermabrasion." The active ingredient? Rice Starch, which makes it a gentle exfoliating treatment you can do at home by yourself, no expensive doctor's visits needed. I use it two to three time a week and, the most impressive thing I've noticed, is that the duration of any breakouts I get has decreased dramatically. My skin is also smoother and clearer-looking. Modern Friction is available at Origins stores and in most major department stores. A 4 oz jar will set you back $36.00 but, as is the case with a lot of products out there, "less is more."


Glam Birthday: Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (August 19, 1883-January 10, 1971). Known best for her timeless Chanel Suits and her equally timeless Chanel No. 5 Perfume, this French designer proved that a woman did not need a corset to look fashionable. Her comfortable, yet elegant clothing was an innovation in the 1920s and this, along with the myths about herself (that she either created or promoted), made her a true style icon. Happy Birthday, Coco.






Thanks for reading! Your comments are welcome. I hope to have more Glam Buzz in a few weeks!