Artsy Party

Can I tell you...about the Whitney Art Party. Last June 6, Peter (Som) and I attended this yearly benefit for the Whitney Independent Study Program. The theme: Summer of Love. The sponsor: BCBG Max Azria. The dress code: Hippy Chic. The music: DJ La Jauretsi. The location: Skylight at Hudson and Spring Street, all the way downtown, but of course! The party was a madhouse and there was a huge line to get in. Fortunately we were spotted by the fabulous PR girls of Paul Wilmot and were whisked inside immediately. Inside the paparazzi was going crazy with all the stars (Chloe Sevigny, Emmy Rossum, Rashida Jones, Claire Danes) and socialites ( Zani Gugelman, Fabiola Beracasa, Olivia Palermo, Byrdie Bell, Amanda Brooks, Olivia Chantecaille, Tinsley Mortimer and Lauren Davis) in abundance. It was like the CFDA all over again but only...groovier. There were prints in abundance, some vintage and some new. Everybody donned their dashikis, Puccis, paisleys and love beads.
There was a silent auction area where Doo Ri and her husband was stalking an art piece by Do-Ho Suh and Peter had also bid on several pieces. Contemporary artists like Ryan McGinley, Duncan Hannah, Jenny Holzer, Dennis Hopper, Jack Pierson, Kenseth Armstead and Ryan McGinness had donated their works to raise money for the program. There was a lot of hovering in that section.
The dancefloor unfortunately was a little bare. I guess all that silent bidding were making the young curators a little antsy and as a result stayed mostly in the bidding room. I took photographs of a lone woman dancing by herself.
The party was going to go on til after midnight but we got out of there before to avoid the "taxi rush". If you've ever been to a party in New York in an out of the way place, you'll know exactly what I mean.

Flower Power

Can I tell you...about the Tulips and Pansies show last May 21st. A few months ago, super stylist, trend forecaster and photographer Kate Schelter asked me if I would be interested in collaborating with a floral designer for a floral fashion show to raise money for Village Care of New York, a non profit organization providing healthcare for people living with HIV & Aids. Anything that involves raising money for HIV and Aids plus using my creativity is always an easy one for me. Past designers who collaborated were Marc Jacobs, Pat Fields, Carolina Herrera, etc. This year I would join Diane Von Furstenburg, Erin Fetherston, Lela Rose, Heatherette, Libertine, Michael Volbracht for Bill Blass, Edward Wilkinson for Lafayette 148 among others to be paired with floral designers for the show.
I was paired with the talented Stephanie Gueldner of award winning Studio Artiflora to create a headress. We decided we wanted something totally outrageous and something that involved a handbag somehow. Since I wasn't a clothing designer, we had more of a challenge than most of the other partnerships. I suggested to make a really huge straw basket to be worn on the head full of flowers spilling over the top. The model would balance the headress on her/ his head on the runway. We conjured a "Bombay fantasy" theme. Colorful sari with gold thread, piles of gold bangles, gold shimmer on the skin and even gold sequins on the straw bag. The flowers would be the most exotic Stephanie could find.
I even took casting into my own hands when I attended a party 2 days before the show and I met our model Victoria. I walked up to him and asked him if he was free Monday early evening and if he could save my life in form of walking a runway show. Victoria is tall( 6'2"), dark (black) and gorgeous! He was already wearing eyeliner so the fact that MAC was doing the make up for the show, made it impossible for him to say no.
I must say Victoria was a total ham and was a dream to work with. A bundle of energy and enthusiasm is needed when balancing a 4 foot basket on top of one's head, and that's just the basket! The flowers made the total height to about 6 feet tall. It was staggering and utterly over the top, quite literally.
Lady Bunny was the DJ for the event and she kept the crowd swinging and swaying to familiar 80's favorites. Style Network's James Aquiar was the emcee of the evening, co-chaired by Paper Magazine's Mickey Boardman and Kate Schelter.
The event was held at Bridgewaters, in South Street Seaport. The judges included Glenn O'Brian and Ann Magnuson. Our team didn't win but it didn't matter. We had a lot of fun doing it and it was all for a good cause. The event raised over $125,000 by the end of the evening. I always say that, " Every little bit goes a long way."