Versailles 73:American Runway Revolution Screening During Paris Fashion Week SS/24

To mark the  milestone 50th anniversary of the eponymous Battle of Versailles held in Paris in November 1973 at the Palace of Versailles. Director Deborah Riley Draper, CEO of Coffee Bluff Pictures planned a special screening during Paris Fashion Week in a tandem design competition partnership with The House of Ungaro, With Love Halston Foundation and featuring students at L'institut Marangoni Fashion Design School. Students presented their creations on September 27, 2024 and the winner was announced at Ungaro Atelier with creative director Kobi Halperin. 

Opening night of Paris Fashion week began with our attendance at Pierre Cardin's SS24 fashion show, September 26, 2024 under the cavernous concrete dome of the futuristic building designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Niemeyer. It was Cardin's second show featured at Paris Fashion Week since the death of Pierre Cardin in 2020. Once we entered the venue for the show Rodrigo Basilicati Cardin, the late designer's great-nephew seated us in the front row (a coveted row) adjacent to the entry where the models enter the stage. The new collection got its inspiration from the blue colour of the ocean. We can be seen throughout the video stream since the camera recording the show was directly across from us. Sitting just across from us was Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Carlo,_Duke_of_Castro  and his wife Camilla Crociani, daughter of Italian billionaire Camillo Crociani. The Models, included Princesses Chiara and Carolina of Bourbon des Deux Siciles who both wore dresses in indigo blue on the blue catwalk.

Versailles 73: American Runway Revolution

 Coffee Bluff Pictures kicked off the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Versailles 73 the historic fashion showdown in Paris at the Palace of Versailles in November 1973. The Museum of Fine Arts Boston's Theo Tyson the Penny Vinik Curator of Fashion Arts, and Neiman Marcus Boston hosted "A Seat at the Tableau" honoring Boston's own supermodel Alva China. Ms. Chinn one of fashion designer Halston's Halstonettes was honored for her contributions to fashion history and her role in the epic runway event at Versailles. After the soiree Ms Chinn and Deborah Riley Draper, writer and director of the documentary film Versailles 73: American Runway Revolution engaged the invitation only audience in conversation and a Q&A. 

Guest were enthusiastic and wanted to know all about the backstage shenanigans of that celebrated and ground breaking event. From behind the scenes secrets of the famous event and The Who's Who guest list of attendees the two women shared the story of representation, breaking barriers and inspiring generations of other young women to achieve their dreams no matter what and who tries to deter you.

Neiman Marcus provided guest with an elaborate catered tableau of tasty finger foods and edibles. The event location is next door to the store and was acquired by Neiman and an event space. The esthetics were amazing with beautiful flower arrangements and other decor that was a vision for the senses. It was a glorious afternoon and the small guest list of invitees were smartly dressed and looked every bit fashionistas who definitely would enjoy a 'Seat at the Tableau".

I attended the premiere screening of Ms Drapers documentary film at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012 and met Deborah at that time and have we become forever friends and she dubbed me as her "Fairy Film Godmother." 

If you haven't seen this amazing documentary you can purchase or watch the the film on Amazon Prime. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B071HF9QZ8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Stay tuned as Ms. Draper has many more captivating films in store for you telling the rich history and stories of African Americans that heretofore have been left unheralded.

Alvah Chinn

Deborah Riley Draper

Deborah Riley Draper and Alvah Chinn during the Q&A

Theo Tyson 

Alvah Chinn

Guests at a Seat at the Tableau

Gift bag with a copy of Versailles 73: American Runway Revolution DVD

74th Cannes Film Festival is Back in 2021, Day One- 06-07-2021

After canceling the Cannes Film Festival in 2020 because of Covid 19, the 74th Cannes Film Festival is back in 2021 with its opening day on July 6, albeit two months later than its usual May date.  However, with some major changes to protect attendees, including Covid testing daily, fully vaccinated people along with social distancing and the wearing of masks.  

The red carpet steps are as lively with the paparazzi who I am sure missed having the opportunity last year of capturing pictures of the stars in attendance. This year they have the added pleasure of having Jury President Spike Lee Jury who always brings a lot of antics and wit on the red carpet. Opening day at the 74th Cannes Film Festival he showed up in a Louis Vuitton hot pink suit with matching sunglasses and custom Nike sneakers with his face on the tongue and a pink trim. Spike also has the added attention of having his likeness on the this years program, the Palais billboard and the official poster. An unheard of accomplishment at the Cannes Film Festival. I have attended every year since 2000 and never saw this offered to any other Jury President. Spike Lee will lead the jury of this year's at this years Cannes Film Festival and organizers hope the provocative American director will “shake things up” at the gathering of the world's cinema elite. Lee said he was “honored to be the first person of the African diaspora" chosen for the prestigious position. I am so sorry I was not able to attend Cannes this year for this historic moment and to cheer on Spike Lee in his history making role. 

Met Erica Watson in Cannes in 2012 when she was promoting her short film Rubado. I was fortunate support her in that effort and since then she has been making quite an impact in Hollywood, directing numerous episodes of major television shows. 

https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/the-4400-reboot-cw-erica-watson-director-1234934897/?fbclid=IwAR02ie5q0ug9Cir0W-HG5Pl-lfXb04NvUEHU5Ef7k-musQLOrHdGdf-v2Q4

The hottest new actor on the scene right now is the breakout star of Netflix's Bridgerton Series, Rege'-Jean Page.

From the moment Rege'-Jean Page appears on the screen in Netflix's Bridgerton series from Shondaland Productions, you were mesmerized, caught up,  falling in love and swooning all at the same time. Like one of my associates said, "everyone get out your fans, because Rege' is hotter than the fourth of July."

This was not Rege's first turn working with Shonda Rhimes (Shondaland), he starred for two seasons in the series "For the People" from 2018-2019. Born in January 1990 he falls under the zodiac sign of Aquarius. His name pronunciation is Rege' as in reggae, and Jean as in Wyclef. Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe of mixed race to a Zimbabwean mother and British father, Rege' moved to London at the age of 14. He formed a punk band with his younger brother where he played drums and sang.

Movies - Troublemaker (2004), Space Ark (2014), The Merchant of Venice (2016), Mortal Engines (2018), and Sylvies Love (2020).

 TV Shows - Casualty (2005),  Fresh Meat (2013), Waterloo Road (2015), Roots (2016), For the People (2109) and Bridgerton (2020). 

As of January 2021, Rege'-Jean's social media following has gone from 72.6k followers in December 2020 on Instagram to 2.8M, and 15.6K followers on Twitter to 93.2k.

Nice, France Old Town at night

Red Carpet Productions Vintage Clothing for Sale

This vintage Gianfranco Ferre dress is one of kind and is new and never worn. Price provided to interested parties only. #GianfrancoFerre #vintageclothing #vintage #runway

2016 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party

The Clive Davis Annual Pre-Grammy Party

Sunday, February 14, 2016 is not only Valentines Day but the date of one of the hottest parties in Los Angeles during Grammy weekend.  The entire week leading up to the Grammys are filled with parties throughout the City but none creates the hyper madness as Clive's pre-grammy affair.  This year there is a battle for A-list star attendance between Davis and the wedding of Apple Executive and Interscope Records founder Jimmy Iovine's marriage to Liberty Ross (ex-wife of movie director Rupert Sanders). Low and behold they are both schedule for the same date and time. The Iovine/Ross wedding is being held at David Geffens Beverly Hills mansion which is only a few miles from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, site of the Davis annual A-list soiree. There was an attempt made by the Davis organizing team to change the date to Saturday evening which has been the day of the party for the past 40 years, but unfortunately the hotel had already booked the date.  The reason for this years Sunday date is because the pre-grammy party was always held the day before the Grammy and this year the Grammy's have been moved to Monday instead of Sunday, thus canceling out the Saturday date.

The logistics this year included a massive security checkpoint for partygoers with scanners and waning of guest before they are even checked into the ticket line.

From my perch in the Beverly Hilton lobby I spotted a number of A-Listers and B-Listers lining up to be waned and scanned, dressed in black tie and evening gowns.

The annual pre-Grammys event honored music manager Irving Azoff, who received the Recording Academy’s Industry Icon Award and a cast of movie stars, music industry hotshots were also in attendance. Party goers included Jamie Foxx, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Rock, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Jane Fonda, Christina Aguilera, Carly Simon, Barry Manilow, John Legend and a whole lot more.

There were several musical performances with Beck and Dave Grohl providing a tribute to David Bowie by performing his song “The Man Who Sold the World.”  Some other performances included Carly Simon, Barry Manilow, Fetty Wap, and  Earth, Wind & Fire, who honored the recently deceased founder and front man Maurice White.


At the pool the next day I spotted several of the attendees (Dionne Warwick, Chaz Ebert) resting up and getting some sun before the nights Grammy Awards.  I actually hung out with Jamie Foxx who was babysitting his daughter and some young relatives while they played in the hotel pool. We sang some old school music that he was playing on his boombox, including the Average White Bands, Play That Funky Music White Boy and Bell Biv Devoe's Poison. He was busy signing autographs for anyone who came up to him and taking selfies with anyone who asked. He finally turned it into a party when he and another pool attendee started dancing to BBD's song.  He kept turning the sound up until finally security came over to see what was going on.  It was funny watching the guys face when he realized it was Jamie. Of course he couldn't do anything about it because it was Jamie.  The perks of being an A-lister. #CliveDavisGrammyParty @JamieFoxx #BeverlyHiltonHotel #Grammy #Pool #Party #BellBivDevoe

Jamie Foxx with his daughter and nieces and nephews in the Beverly Hilton Hotel Pool

Jamie Fox, Evelyn Wheeler and Linda O'Bannon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel

Jamie Foxx and Evelyn Wheeler and the Beverly Hilton Hotel

Jamie Foxx and friend dancing to BBD, Poison at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Pool


Jamie Foxx and friend dancing to BBD, Poison at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Pool

The 58th Grammy Awards

Monday February 15 was the Grammy Awards at the Staples Center hosted by LL Cool J.