Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Yesterday I went to the press preview for Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the Met. WOWZA! The drama was mind-blowing. The best words are McQueen's own on the walls throughout.“There is no way back for me now. I am going to take you on journeys you’ve never dreamed were possible.” "I’m a romantic schizophrenic"

Costume Institute curator Anthony Boltan, reminded us of McQueen's favorite Shakespeare quote from Midsummer's Night Dream,
"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind..." Sarah Burton (Creative Director at McQueen and designer of Kate's wedding dress) told of 'Lee' coming in Monday morning with a pile of mussel shells he'd picked up on the beach on Sunday...
And making a shell bustier on the spot.

McQueen (of Scottish descent) created a 'Rape of Scotland' collection to express his political anger at England. He often showed up at events in tartan kilts.

There are McQueen tartan items in the gift shop. You don't have to be Scottish to wear them.

Stella McCartney studied with McQueen at St. Martins, on Savile Row. When they arrived together in Paris early days, Lee said,

"Come on Stell, let's start my empire!"

The idea of the sublime. An unfettered emotionalism-Primitivism -Naturalism-Exoticism

A not-to-be-missed exhibition at the Met

May 4 - July 31

McQueen's last Spring 2010 collection of digitally printed organic forms and patterns.

"It was an...unmissable formula...McQueen's message throughout was essentially sunk into the short dress—a steady development of his engineered sea-reptile prints, worked into a nipped-waist, belled-skirt silhouette. The colors—first green and brown, moving to aqua and blue—were exceptionally executed, swagged, and molded across panniered structures. Each dress was a work of computer-generated art crossbred with McQueen's couture-based signature cut." The Guardian

The catalog, Savage Beauty is just as sumptuous.

A McQueen acolyte arrives appropriately outfitted.

Don't miss SAVAGE BEAUTY!

Bill Cunningham NYC, Paris

Bill Cunningham-man-on-the street for the NYTimes has a new movie out on his shenanigans shooting fashionistas of the world. "I eat with my eyes," says Bill.
Anna Wintour says 'the fashion world gets dressed in the morning for Bill'.
I was thrilled to catch Bill in action at the Paris shows

Inside I got to stand with the BIG BOYS - the Pros on the podium. It's crowded and a lot of messy hair that gets in your viewfinder, but there's a great comraderie making it tremendous fun.

The Big Boys run to shoot a blond celeb - no way I can get in there. *Note celeb's old-fashioned Chanel bag with chain -it's back in fashion PB readers - dust yours off svp. ELLE says so.

Trying desperately to grab a shot.

But much better standing with the pros than grabbing a numbered seat in the bleachers.The Wall Street Journal has the whole scoop.

You Are Where You Sit at the Shows

 Parisienne Anne of MesVitrinesNYC covers Paris fashion windows meticulously with wit.

Peter'sParis captures perfectly Paris monuments of all kinds.

D'arcy of Chicsetera shoots tea - not a problem.

Me, I shoot backs - also not a problem, like a Printemps escalator rider.

Or dans la rue

A short cobalt blue skirt on rue Saint Honore.

Colette's dog shot inside with matching blue chairs - I was given permission.

In Colette's stunning blue loo Bear gets away with murder
Bear has decided he's an eater, not a fashion shooter.

He'll let Bill C. be man-in-the-street and stick to what he does best - shooting macarons and pastry shops etc.

BONJOUR BILL CUNNINGHAM!

Sonia Rykiel Fall/Winter10

Dessert first!

I made it to Sonia Rykiel's show!

But to get there - a lot of waiting in the frigid cold. Paris cold is like no other. It says 21 degrees/feels like 18. It should say feels like minus 18. The Seine wind chill blows right through you.

The fashionistas couldn't give a %$#@

BonjourBonjour

Style reporter man-on-the street and all-in-blue, Bill Cunningham from the Sunday Times is dressed appropriately.

We both scurry to grab a pic of barely dressed all-in-blue Lilly Allen it’s Roxane Mesquida

Inside I squeeze onto the Photog's podium. I have no actual ticket or seat # but I'd rather stand here than sit in the gigantic stadium of the Halle Freyssinet.

The first model prances down the catwalk.

A giant pompom on her head.

I love this intarsia sweater with swallows flying

Fab flaming red long trench

Sonia's stripes - a must!
Sky-high shoes with fur - a must!

Fluid, drapie..what can you say?
Tres feminine as always is Sonia.

The grand finale of high-fiving smiling girls - so Sonia

I follow these Sonia lovers into the mist at the end of the catwalk, thinking they are headed for the exit

Party time back stage

And another chance to admire while drinking champers

The model's look sheets

Makeup look photos for at least 60 girls.

Back to realite and the next show

What it takes to get "the Look"
What it takes to get back to feeling warm again - a cup of chocolat chaud at the cafe Deux Magots. Hope you had fun!

BONJOUR SONIA!