ON THE RED CARPET

Thursday, December 6, 2012

An Evening in Montmartre

An Evening in Montmartre, Sunday, November 4, 2012 was a fabulous gala benefit event featuring an afternoon ballet performance by Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago, followed by a gala reception and dinner at The Palmer House Hilton. The dance performance "Moulin Rouge - The Ballet" was spectacularly produced with outstanding performances by principal dancers, Amanda Green, Dimitri Dovgoselets, Yosuke Mino and Sophia Lee (who stole the show by the way). Moulin Rouge is the most famous cabaret in history which produced the famous and scandalous Cancan dance. The event was hosted by the Consul General Gitane De Silva of Canada, Consul General Graham Paul of France, Nicolas and Kathleen Amatangelo, and Frantz and McGhee Osse.

The post-performance reception at The Palmer House Hilton featured Cancan greeters, caricaturists and a juggler. The three course dinner, a smoked salmon with white truffle oil appetizer, stuffed filet oscar with crabmeat entree, and a french dessert sampler was superb and served with either a Cadet d'Oc Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon from Languedoc-Roussillon, France. My tables mates at the dinner included Pianist Ramsey Lewis and his wife Jan. The City Lights Orchestra played an unobtrusive set during dinner with just the right tone and volume to allow guest to converse with each other.

It was a delightful and enjoyable evening. Thanks to my friend McGhee Osse for the invitation.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Alicia Keyes http://www.iheartradio.com/iplaylist/artist/469431/

Alicia Keyes lights up The Empire State Building on the eve of her new album drop "Girl On Fire". The lights on The Empire State Building are coordinated with the songs Girl On Fire and Empire State of Mind in a glorious light show. Watch the video as Alicia watches the light show for the first time.

http://www.iheartradio.com/iplaylist/artist/469431/

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Photographer Mario Testino's MFA Gala Brought the Glitz to Boston

Last night along with my sister, I attended the biggest event of the year in Boston. The Museum of Fine Arts opening night exhibition gala featuring a provocative exhibition by famed photographer Mario Testino, aptly named "In Your Face." The black carpet event brought out the well-heeled and an array of A-list models along with the reigning queen of Fashion, American Vogue editor, Anna Wintour.

The A-list models in attendance, most of whom have been photographed by Testino and are featured in the exhibition, included Gisele Bundchen (who is very pregnant), a long time friend and muse of Testino, Joan Smalls, Karlie Kloss, Constance Jablonski, Bianca Balti, Candice Swanepoel, Alessandra Ambrosio, Edita Vilkeviciute, Erin Wasson, Sigrid Agren, and Kiara Kabukuru. The exhibition contains some of the most beatiful and provocative images of A-list Hollywood stars and models. Anna Wintour was quoted by the Boston Globe as saying "It's wonderful to someone so talented and so humble to have such great success. I was urging him to be a little more conservative with the show. It's Boston." Well in my estimation Boston will just have to get used to it.

Other A-listers in attendance were, Hamish Bowles Vogue's international editor-at-large, Derek Blasberg, editor-at-large at Harper's Bazaar, Jane Weitzman wife of sponsor Stuart Weitzman and Nadja Swarovsky. There were so many New Yorkers in attendance that according to the Globe, MFA director Malcom Rogers was quoted as saying "This feels like New York".

Anna Wintour, Mario Testino, Gisele Bundchen

Gisele Bundchen

Ophelia Bakon

Evelyn Bakon, Jeffrey Rudman, Esq

Hamish Bowles, Anna Wintour, Mario Testino

Anna Wintour

Exhibition Photo Diddy and Naomi

Gisele Bundchen

Joan Smalls, Karlie Kloss, Constance Jablonski, Sigrid Agren, Edita Vilkeviciute

Candice Swanepoel, Joan Smalls

Karlie Kloss

Kiara Kabukuru on the Cover of Spring 2012 Jones Magazine

Erin Wasson

Friday, September 7, 2012

Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Versailles '73 American Runway Revolution

Tuesday, September 4, 2012, I attended the Red Carpet screening of the documentary film "Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution at the Mandarin Oriental in Atlanta, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, Korbel, Chambord Vodka, Jim Ellis Porsche and The Atlantan Magazine. This was not my first time seeing the film as I first saw it at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012 at the Palais de Festival. I must say that seeing it the second time around was just as enjoyable as the first. This film is a must see from new film director Deborah Riley Draper of Coffee Bluff Films, and narrated by Cameron Silver owner of LA hot spot Decades. The film tells the story of the runway battle that pitted French haute-couture designers against American designers Halston, Anne Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass and Stephen Burrows. The runway show was held at the Palace of Versailles on November 28, 1973, and when it was over the Black American models Pat Cleveland, Billie Blair, Alva Chinn, Bethann Hardison, Jennifer Brice, Norma Jean Darden, Charlene Dash, Barbara Jackson, Armina Warsuma and Ramona Saunders who sashayed down the runway for the American designers became the toast of France and forever changed the way fashion was shown on the worlds runways. Myself being of age at that time, I can remember the event when it first hit the worldwide press in 1973. It brought back memories and the inspiration that these women instilled in me as a young black woman. I was inspired to venture into my own version of the fashion world by becoming a fashion consultant and eventually opening my own boutique, aptly named Nouveau Fashion Gallery.

The evening started with champagne and Hors d'oeuvres served in the courtyard and then guest were moved into the screening room reception area for a champagne toast to the director Deborah Riley Draper. The screening of the film followed to an enthusiastic audience who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the film. A Who's Who of Atlanta's elite was in attendance, hosted by Mikki Taylor, Cameron Silver and Judy Mauldin, as well as two of the models who participated at Versailles, Pat Cleveland and Jennifer Brice. Everyone was well dressed in cocktail dresses, haute-couture and pret-at-porter. I chose to wear one of my favorite dresses of all time, a vintage Halston cocktail dress that I have not worn since 1979 and stored in a plastic container for 33 years. Cameron Silver of Decades was wearing a vintage Brioni tuxedo jacket and recognized my dress as a Halston design. Pat Cleveland who was wearing a vintage Stephen Burrows gown also recognized the Halston design. As a matter of fact, she informed me that the dress I was wearing was designed by Halston for Elizabeth Taylor and that she used to have one as well. Was I floored or what? Meeting Pat Cleveland was a dream come true. Pat Cleveland was known for her unbelievably dizzying spins and twirls on the runway and became a runway legend.

This film is a must see and to all my followers I implore you go out and support this film when it comes to a theater near you. It is currently playing a limited engagement at the IFC theatre in New York City.