SCHIAPARELLI & PRADA: IMPOSSIBLE CONVERSATIONS

What everybody is talking about today is the MET Gala tonight for the opening of the new exhibition of the Costume Institut at the Met.

Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, explores the striking affinities between Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, two Italian designers from different eras. Inspired by Miguel Covarrubias's "Impossible Interviews" for Vanity Fair in the 1930s.The exhibition will showcase approximately ninety designs and thirty accessories by Schiaparelli (1890–1973) from the late 1920s to the early 1950s and by Prada from the late 1980s to the present.

Schiaparelli, who worked in Paris from the 1920s until her house closed in 1954, was closely associated with the Surrealist movement and created such iconic pieces as the "Tear" dress, the "Shoe" hat, and the "Bug" necklace. Prada, who holds a degree in political science, took over her family's Milan-based business in 1978, and focuses on fashion that reflects the eclectic nature of Postmodernism.

I am very excited about seeing more of Schiaparelli designs,especially after my encounter with the « Shoe » hat last month at the wonderful exhibition « Hats : An Anthology by Stephen Jones » at the Brad Graduate Center.Not so much about Prada,I have never been a fan…Strange, as I am a lover of kitsch and bad test,but I like my women to be chic.

In anticipation of the exhibition Bergdorff Goodman has dedicated their 5th Avenue window to it.

On View May 10–August 19, 2012 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

http://www.metmuseum.org/

And to see who was best or very often worst dressed go to
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/olivia-bergin/TMG9251798/Marc-Jacobs-at-the-Met-Ball-2012-I-just-didnt-wanna-wear-a-tuxedo-and-be-boring.html

A bientôt,

Pierre Candra

for NicNat Chat!

            

From the runway to the windows

I am never been a big fan of Louis Vuitton fashion as designed by Marc Jacobs but I must admit that as a visionary merchant, he and his team are brilliant.

Case in point the new windows who come directly from the runway set, an all white old fashion carousel.

Linking the runway spectacular set, the institutional advertisement (shoot by Steven Meisel in a ice cream shop decor) and the windows is a genius idea and a first as far as I know.

Photos Steven Meisel for Louis Vuitton

And if in Paris don’t forget to visit the Louis Vuitton exhibit at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs.

Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs 
9 March–16 september 2012

http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/english-439/

http://www.louisvuitton.com/front/#/eng_US/Homepage 

A bientôt,

Pierre Candra

for NicNat Chat!

NEON

If you have been following my blog from day one you may remember that my first post ever was about the art installation “Flaming Cactus” in NY East Village and how the neon colors were reflected on the runway for Spring/Summer fashion.

I was thinking accessories but here it is in the Bloomingdale’s window in New York, full neon Fashion.

http://www.bloomingdales.com/

A bientôt,

Pierre Candra

for NicNat Chat!

Colors in my mind...

It is cold and grey outside,I am dreaming of sun and beaches when suddenly around the corner the new windows from Bergdorf Goodman put me in a sunny mood.

The most important trends for me from the Spring/Summer collection were prints and colors and here it is : Colors,colors and more colors from the “Home” window to the one on Fifth Avenue,an explosion of color.

Then I went home and pulled my “Harlequin” set of dishes and had tea in bright colors pieces, then everything looked better.

http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/

A bientôt,

Pierre Candra

for NicNat Chat!

"Noël, rêves d'évasion"

In collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld and the house of Chanel the Paris department store Printemps dedicated his Christmas window to the world of luxury.

Each one of the eleven windows is dedicated to a world city and a collection over the last 10 years,using symbols of each city and iconic elements of the Chanel legacy.

A trip through the world in witch the animated windows are populated by dolls of Karl himself and other mannequins all dressed up by the house.

If this windows are not very holiday and will have been more suited during the January couture week it’s still a wonderful homage to the “know how” of the French couture.

To all of you I wish a very Happy New Year.

A bientôt,

Pierre Candra

for NicNat Chat!