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For those of us fashionistas who lived through the 1980’s, it was a decade of sumptuous fashion that was sexy, flirty, pretty, glamorous and, at times, downright fun. But not everybody was on board. Hiding in the shadows in the atelier of French designer, Jean Paul Gaultier, was a young Belgian named Martin Margiela. He was against everything my favorite decade represented: from the omnipresence of designer logos to the planned obsolesce of the fashion trends. As the 1980’s drew to a close, we found ourselves facing a Gulf War, economic constraints AND….a radical revolution within the fashion world itself. "Recoup" A gown is belted and worn as a skirt. The lining is pulled out and worn as a top Considered one of the most atypical and mysterious designers of his generation, Martin Margiela with his conceptual collections, his predilection for deconstruction and recycled materials, his catwalk shows  staged at unusual venues (warehouses, car parks, a metro station even a waste ...

“I love (clothes), uncomplicated by details, ornamentation or color that remain beautiful and are timeless,” the late Azzedine Alaia once declared. “I love those clothes which are simple but yet, the most difficult to make.” That signature look of the late designer,  is the subject of an exhibition entirely devoted to the greatest Tunisian fashion designer of our times. Me and the girls are in Paris right now where we are taking in beautiful weather, nice walks along the Seine (river), great food and wine and, of course, all the cultural fashion events Paris has to offer. Our first stop---“Je Suis Couturier,” a small but powerful glance at the career of this five foot tall, giant man. Situated on the premises of what was once his atelier/boutique in the center of the city are 40 or so dresses and gowns prestinely displayed—ranging from his iconic looks from the 1980's: leather skirts that wrap sensually around the body and hooded, jersey sheaths to the softness of more recent dress...

“The boy might become something one day, if he would simply cut his hair and follow me.” (Coco Chanel speaking about Yves Saint Laurent) This exhibition was very personal for me. When I first arrived in Paris years ago, I discovered the way I dressed myself throughout my teens and 20’s was unconsciously, inspired by Yves Saint Laurent. I wore copies of the Mondrian dress and accessorized it with go-go boots, made my own safari jacket to wear over straight legged trousers, loved my paisley printed skirts and boleros and was the first to rush out to buy a fur trimmed flared coat (inspired by the designer’s Ballet Russes collection). Within two years of arriving in Paris, I landed a job writing fashion for a magazine, where from time to time, I was sent to pick up press materials from the press attache of Yves Saint Laurent. Each time I attended a fashion show, or walked through the doors of this famous right-bank mansion, I felt overwhlmed with great reverence--as if I had entered a temp...

From now through January 7, 2018 the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, is paying tribute to the seventieth anniversary of the most famous name in fashion, Christian Dior with a grandiose exhibition entitled,  “Christian Dior, Designer of Dreams.” Well conceived, meticulously organized and incredibly executed, this exhibition is a 3,000 square meter artistic voyage of pure visual delight and discovery. Though Mr. Dior was only present for the first 10 years of his namesake fashion house, his work as couturier and businessmen as well as contributions made by the designers who succeeded him paint a picture of the enduring legacy and evolution of France’s number one temple of style. Some 300 haute couture garments  surrounded by handbags, shoes, bags, perfume bottles, photographs, paintings, illustrations (by Rene Gruau and Mats Gufstasen), along with documents, letters, sketches, print ads, fashion show video clips spread over 3000 square feet is more than enough to plunge the ...