Lolita Tea Party @ FIT

Yesterday I went to the JAPAN FASHION NOW show at the Fashion Institute of Technology(FIT).

Comme de Garcons pink gingham skirt
This is one fabulous, huge exhibit of Japanese clothing design from the '70s till now on through January 8, 2011.
I was in Tokyo for 6 weeks in the '80's on a Parsons' graphic design program led by CBS Art Director, John Berg and the memories came flooding back. The dollar was good in those days. Comme De Garcons had navy blue trucks daily delivering new merch to the department stores and I was there (instead of in class) to grab it - I bought a ton of stuff, most I gave away. It was impossible to figure out how to put it on. We got invited to an Issey Myaki sale and given garbage bags! to fill up - I bought a red bus conductor's belt with attached purse - I wonder whose wearing it now..?Current fashion trends called 'Cosplay' include "a kind of role play involving dressing up as characters from popular manga (comic books), anime (animated films), computer/video games" or as The New York Times mentioned,"a bizarre pastiche of Central European folkloric costume pieces." The WSJ has a video on the 'Hime' or princess style. Thanks TamiElegant & Gothic Lolita styles are represented in depth. With lifelike Volk dolls in matching outfits... Later there was a Lolita Tea party. Oh why did I leave my Sonia hairbow at home?
Hints of Alice

And Marie-Antoinette are part of the Lolita look.

Wear your cupcakes.

Or eat them.

Cat cookies for the cat fanciers.

And macarons bien sur!

Please wear pink shoes with your macaron skirt...

Bags with bows=essential

There's a dark side to this sweet Lolita subculture - like the Simpson's 'Itchy and Scratchy' - it's not all sugar and pink marshmallows. Character cats, Hangry & Angry creator, Gashicon, was there for a discussion with the show's fashion historian and curator, Valerie Steele pre-tea party to tell all.

A tea party attendee decked out in all the accoutrements - these outfits are elaborate and expensive...

If you're in New York, do NOT MISS the Japan Fashion Now show and there are lots more related events to attend.

BONJOUR LOLITAS!

Lanvin Spr'11/Jan Gossart 1532

Photo by Grance Dore

While Sunday surfing I came across this arresting photo by Garance Dore of Lanvin's Spring 2011 collection...

Yesterday I went to a press preview of the Jan Gossart exhibit at the Met - can you see where this is headed? Lanvin's fabulous flowie drapery... Has Alber Elbaz been looking at Neatherlandish painting?
Or is it just me that sees... These complex draperies... Repeated in these paintings of Jan Gossart?
Scrunched...

Red pigment was such a rare commodity for artists back in the 13-14th century - vermilion or cinnabar was usually reserved for the most exquisite of painted subjects like the virgin. But here the artiste has deemed himself worthy of the finest. Is that why I see RED everywhere?

Of course Lanvin loves black too...

As does this Met preview observer draped in noir...

Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz would make a worthy portrait subject for 13th century Jan Gossart don't you think?

Can't you envision the couture sketches pinned to the wall behind his head and fabric swatches/colored threads on his work table..?

Bien sur only a 21st century designer could dream up these fantastical shoes-who knows if they bothered with shoes under all that drapery?

Man, Myth, and Sensual Pleasures: Jan Gossart’s Renaissance

opens tomorrow at the Metropolitan Museum - a spendid exhibit.

Back in New York a boy braves the cold with not much drapery at all. He better cover up - it's 54 degrees out there.

BONJOUR LANVIN/JAN GOSSART!

Dalloyau

Have you ever been to Dalloyau?

This picture is from Dalloyau's party catalog.

A quite traditional Parisien insititution?

(Pronounced Dall-why-o or however you like it...)

The Dalloyau family has been making gateaux, ice creams and bread for over 200 years for French royalty. I went to Luxembourg branch at 2, place Edmond-Rostand 75006

There are 7 Dalloyau boutiques around Paris

I got The Works.

*Have you noticed how the French like to drink their OJ through a straw.

Exquisite jams too. You go upstairs for petit dejeuner at Dalloyau. There's something about a messy table.
Do look at Dalloyau's splendid dessert catalog.

Some Dalloyau factoids: They have 97 cooks, 100 pastry cooks, chocolate makers and confectioners, 4 ice-cream makers and 4 bakers. In a year they make 55 tons of macarons, break 1,300,000 eggs, bake 1,500,000 Viennoiseries, and create 50 tons of chocolate candies !

You often ask me about Paris restaurants. Since I mostly exist on breakfast, pastry and salads in Paris.

I thought you'd like to check out restaurant recommendations of David Lebovitz, who lives in Paris full time.

I ate lunch at one of David's favs, Christian Constant's Les Cocottes, 135, rue Saint-Dominique, 75007
It was formidable.BONJOUR LUNDI PB readers!

La Nuit du Gateau

I opened a Pandora's box yesterday, in fact 2 of them... I went to a preview tasting at La Maison du Chocolat for their Nov 3 La Nuit du Gateau event and you are ALL invited.
So PLEASE mark your calendars !They are celebrating their 20th anniversary by inviting you for a free tasting of their cakes including the New York launch of their divine eclairs You will get to taste their exquisite 'Salvador' cake of chocolate + framboise. This is every bit as good as it looks and simply melts in your mouth...
miam-miam And the chocolate ganache tarte...

A plate of what we tasted...

And of course there will be MACARONS on Nov 3!!!

I left La Maison floating on a chocolate cloud...

Everything was chocolate as I walzed down Madison Avenue like this belt- a reminder I must show some restraint this weekend...

Dreamy chocolate shorts at Juicy Couture, with an emphasis on the keep dreaming...

Stacks of chocolate dresses at Morgan Le Fay-I must be dreaming...

Dior has chocolate boots, bags, leggings...

A chocolate mommie as wall decor...

A celebrity mom (Serena's mom, Kelly Rutherford of Gossip Girls) with her kids in tow wearing a chocolate feathery coat!

And a chocolate New York dog bien sur...

I'll remind you again when Nov 3 draws closer, but do mark your diaries.

7pm - midnight all the New York La Maison du Chocolat will be celebrating with tents, tastes and jazz.

And Thank you for your suggestions yesterday.

Bon Week-End!