Yesterday was one of those surprising days where I had an unexpected pleasure bestowed upon me.
I went to see the Little Black Dress exhibit at the Mona Bismarck American Center, which I had posted about on my July Eye Need to Do’s earlier this month, and had not seen yet.
I was about ten minutes into the show when I saw a young woman beautifully dressed in a black dress and a great pair of heels, giving an exuberant tour of the exhibit. She was with a well-dressed man in a suit and another woman with an English accent. The other woman turned out to be Suzy Menkes, my journalism idol/super hero.
Even though I looked as unfashionable and touristy as possible, wearing a T-shirt (okay, slightly fashionable, I was wearing a Uniqlo T-shirt), shorts, and sneakers and a camera hanging around my neck, I still summed up the nerve to speak to Suzy. I gently apologized for interrupting her, telling her I was a huge fan and her writing inspired my own writing. I apologized for blabbering on but she was so obliging and said not to stop. I told her about Eye Prefer Paris, and she handed me her card. I gave her my card and she said she would take a look at my site. I practically pinched myself to see if this was a dream: Suzy Menkes, the most powerful fashion writer in the world, was interested in reading in my blog.
I was flying so high from my Suzy Menkes experience, I could hardly concentrate on the show. I came back down to earth a few moments later and started to enjoy the chic and imaginative black dresses and gowns in sumptuous lace, silk, tulle, sequins, and wool. I got a kick out of a see through lace coat dress on a male mannequin, part of the Comme des Garcons men’s collection 2012. The elegant high ceilinged rooms with gold moldings and Chinese tapestry panels and the Diana Vreeland red walls (the curator Andre Leon Talley specifically chose the color and the special Benjamin Moore paint was flown in from the U.S. It took four coats to get the right saturation) plus the shiny white mannequins were perfect backdrops for the dramatic dresses.
The show originated at the SCAD/Savannah College of Art and Design Museum of Art in 2012 and charts the significant impact a single garment has made on fashion. Over 50 looks are shown from current well known designers and fashion houses including Tom Ford, Oscar de La Renta, Yves St. Laurent, Valentino, Chanel, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, and Givenchy, some old masters like Madame Grés and Fortuny, and a few surprises including Norma Kamali and Stephen Burrows.
As I was leaving, I saw the man who was with Suzy Menkes again and I started chatting with him. His name was Eddie McDonnell and he is the director of the center. We discovered we knew some people in common and he was kind enough to take me on a tour of the rest of the building, showing me rooms that were off-limits to the public and also the lovely garden in the back. He also told me a little history of the former mansion built in 1890 and inhabited and redone by Mona Bismarck starting in 1959.
A day in my blogging life to remember.
Little Black Dress
Till September 23
Mona Bismarck American Center
34 Avenue de New York, 75016
Metro: Iena
Open 11AM to 6PM, Wednesday to Sunday
http://monabismarck.org
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale
I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.
Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.
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