Is this a jacket-dress?
The rags-to-riches back-story of Mouna Ayoub (66) drew me. Formerly an impoverished 18-year old Lebanese waitress in Paris, she was swept off her feet by wealthy Saudi business executive Nasser Rashid, advisor to King Fuad.
For the 19 years they were married she bought 50 outfits yearly from French couture (around $1,000,000) with a passion.
Designers love her because she doesn’t want to change their original concepts. Mouna now lives in Paris as an entrepreneur and socialite. A portion of the funds will be donated to la Fondation des Femmes.
Her mannequin is in every top designer’s atelier. I overheard someone say she was a size 38-40 at her thinnest.
Not your wispy model’s figure like Lagerfeld’s fav,Ines de la Fressange.
I am a full-blown bow fanatic and there were plenty 🎀 to drool over.
When Chanel said, “Take one thing off before you leave the house etc.” she was not talking about Mouna.
The ‘piece de resistance’ in Mouna’s collection was this sequined coat dress made with 800 hours of embroidery
Using a Coromandel lacquer pattern.
Inspired by Chanel’s Chinese screens in her rue Cambon Ritz apartment.
The estimated price was 150,000-200,000 euros. It went for 320,000 euros. They always underprice items to give false hope…
Another fabulous dress was this delicate black, pleated chiffon. I overheard a buyer talking on the phone 📞 to his overseas customer…
“You gotta see this black number! Karl had to be thinking Sargent! Madame X all over. Ya know the Sargent? It’s simply Beyond! Just beyond!! It’s a good jewelry dress.(something I’ve never had to worry about ☺️)
And the sequin gold jacket is another must have. Stupendous! Just Stupendous!”
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Time to celebrate 🥂 The Chanel auction was starting 6:30. I could see them polishing the Champagne glasses🥂
and the camellias...stunning
ReplyDeleteYes the CAMELLIAS ❤️
DeleteWonderful post!What an amazing collection.
ReplyDeleteHaving read Mouna's autobiograhy, and having lived in Lebanon, her words ring true. Wonderful that orhers benefit from her philanthropy.
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I’m so happy to hear! I never heard of her before…I was reading her story 6AM Monday morning & thought I gotta go see this !
DeleteAll auctions have free viewing days open to the public.
That’s why auctions are such fun to visit. Plus you get to ‘handle the merch’ ☺️
Such great photos of these exquisite pieces! I've never purchased couture, but if I could it would definitely be Chanel. Was the auction by invitation only?
ReplyDeleteAuctions always have viewing days and are free.
DeleteUsually a week before the auction takes place, including the day of…right up till they bring down the gavel 🔨
I like so much about Chanel style. Her jackets, quilted hand bags, strands of pearls, and of course the camellia. Oh, how could I forget her signature fragrance! Your water color is very nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ga ❤️
DeleteA sumptuous part of the haute couture collection of Mona Ayoub was on display at the Marseille art museum some years ago. I was there absolutely overcome by the beauty of it all. And learned that the price paid for an haute couture dress is never given only the hours spent making it.
ReplyDeleteI read about the Marseilles exhibit.
DeleteI didn’t know that about couture prices never being revealed 🤫
Mouna names prices in this video on Youtube
DeleteShe never wears the same dress twice, because she is photographed so much! She is the biggest collector of couture pieces outside the museums, who would love to own her collection.
https://youtu.be/pemrXyyIeMs?si=e9zzaVSjjOWMqjcm
I love bows:)
ReplyDeleteYou would have been in 7th heaven Monique. I was 🥰
DeleteOh, how fun! I dream of Chanel jackets…timeless. Looks like Mouna had plenty to chose from. Your camellias await, Madame!
ReplyDeleteAnd I dream of Gingermen…
DeleteThis was so much fun. What an adventure! Lynne
ReplyDeleteHow interesting to see couture pre auction rather than the publicity footage from the fashion houses! I’m kind of amazed they let you touch it when it’s so expensive, they should give you gloves, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteFifty items purchased a year is about one new item every week - wow!! That is a serious social life!
Thanks as always Carol for the fun Paris outing.
Fine arts auctions are the same Kirra - touch & examine. In the video she says how she keeps her couture outfits in special boxes with special tissue laying horizontally, so it must upset her to see them disturbed.
Delete