Swans may not have been swimming in the Seine Thursday night, but there were plenty at the Swarovski party that introduced the company’s signature 2008 Swanflower signature pattern under the Pont Alexandre III bridge. Club Showcase was transformed into a concert stage and a gallery space at once, with Rihanna being the main attraction for the evening. “I was so nervous, because I didn’t recognize anyone in the audience from the stage,” shared the singer, clad in custom-made Daniel Swarovski crystal dress created especially for her for the occasion. “But I felt very comfortable around all the sparkles.” Inside the VIP area, Vivica A. Fox danced up a storm, while Kanye West shared gourmet gelato with Alexis Phifer and admitted they couldn’t resist dressing up as well, “We wanted to dress up tonight, mostly because of YSL’s big show, but also to support a friend,” he offered. “But it’s pretty cool that you can have it all in Paris.”
We had a chance to capture the hotness that is Max Minghella both for print and video last night at the screening of Elvis & Anabelle. Now, while he’s off the market – he’s dating the fashion world’s dark darling Leigh Lezark – we wanted to maximize your Max experience by offering this chic clip of young Max, holding his dad’s Oscar. (Just wait to hear how he describes this experience!) Perhaps this talented newcomer will soon hold a gold statue of his own.
Elle Décor’s Lexus-sponsored Young Collectors Night on Thursday drew a fashionable group of home-furnishings junkies to Christie’s, where Carlos Mota, Campion Platt, KimberlyFlaster, Douglas Hannant, and Lisa Anastos patrolled the many rooms checking out the 100 lots (most of which boasted affordable estimates). “We need a sofa,” said Adam Lippes, who roamed the expansive space with a svelte-looking Paul Wilmot in tow. Also on the hunt for a couch was Milly de Cabrol. The interiors guru, who’s currently in the midst of decorating Alex Kramer’s new Upper East Side apartment (“very contemporary,” she promised), found herself the center of attention when she arrived with newly shorn locks a la Katie Holmes. “Frédéric Fekkai cut it two weeks ago,” she said, eyeing a 20th-century cream upholstered satin sofa for a client. “20th century is so in right now,” she laughed. “Like Hamish [Bowles] says, it’s all about provenance, provenance, provenance!” All the talk about ottomans, lamps, and vanities, however, had de Cabrol spinning, and by night’s end, she declared she was moving downtown. “My building’s gone co-op,” she rationalized. “And I have to move.”
Popped collars, pink, and plaid were worn en masse Wednesday night at the Rugby store for the celebration of Tom Dolby’s new novel, The Sixth Form. “Ever since I started writing this book I wanted to throw the party here,” exclaimed Dolby, who drew on his own memories of his prep experience at The Hotchkiss School. “My first year there I asked a girl to the Valentine’s dance. We were in the dining hall and she ran to the bathroom to throw up! I later learned she was borderline bulimic…” Hosts Gillian Hearst Simonds and husband Christian have their own attachments to their prep school, Lawrenceville, making the party a perfect match for the newlyweds. “My husband and I went to prep school together and we have such a huge tradition there!” quipped Gillian. Meanwhile, Dick Page and Daniel Vosovic floated around, while guests snacked on popcorn, and the former Project Runway star dished his latest literary gossip–a coffee table book called Fashion Inside and Out, which will be published in October.
Scarlett Johansson didn’t make it to Tuesday night’s Alberta Ferretti-sponsored screening of The Other Boleyn Girl, but she did check in with Regis and Kelly earlier this week. Cut to 5:03 to hear the scoop on her scenes with Eric Bana, who plays the handsome Henry VIII to Scarlett’s Mary Boleyn.
Emporio Armani has put a smile on chic tennis girls’ faces by designing a hot new must-have. Armani has teamed up with Babolat – one of the tennis world’s top brands, to create the new EA7 racquet. These two industry leaders combined their savoir-faire, resulting in the perfect balance of fashion and performance. Dressed by Emporio Armani in white, silver, and black, this chic piece is sure to go with even the most stylish of tennis whites.
Selena Breed, Eric Lauzat, and Elettra Rossellini-Wiedemann
Lancôme is already at the forefront of eco-chic, but on Monday night, it was good ol’ philanthropy that had the Epic Theatre Ensemble honoring the L’Oreal-owned beauty giant at its 7th-annual winter gala. On hand to present Eric Lauzat, the dapper—and as his acceptance speech would later reveal, witty—Lancôme president with his crystal apple accolade were Lancôme spokesmodels Selena Breed and Elettra Rossellini-Wiedemann, the latter of which—clad in Chris Benz—was headed to L.A. the next day for a Vogue photo shoot. “I’m giving my boyfriend the shave foam,” she said, digging into her goodie bag. “I’m slowly turning him the way of Lancôme.”
Specifically, Lancôme was being honored for its support of Epic’s after-school Shakespeare program at Chelsea High School in SoHo (whose principal, Tim Timberlake, was also honored) in a multitude of ways, including financially, through product donations and training, and even inspirationally–such as when Lancôme ambassador Kate Winslet created her own mini “Inside the Actors Studio,” answering questions posed by the theater students. In March, for the second year in a row, Lancôme will also be the sponsor of the P.S. Arts Bag Lunch in L.A.
Over dinner, auctioneer Gordon Elliott got the bidding started on a series of coveted live auction prizes: sports fantasy days, box seats to the U.S. Open, and even your own on-call divorce attorney. And while Lauzat made a valorous attempt to win the VIP box at Madison Square Garden for an upcoming Van Halen concert (which eventually sold for $3,000), his company’s vice president of public relations, Kerry Diamond, had much better luck, winning, with a group of friends, a live at-home performance by screen actors David Strathairn and Kathleen Chalfant for $4,400. “What’s your name?” Elliott asked Diamond. “Eric Lauzat,” she smiled.
When it came time for the awards ceremony, Wiedemann quoted Shakespeare. “They do not love that do not show their love,” she recited. “And Lancôme shows its love.” As Lauzat took to the stage to accept the award, he couldn’t help but extol his Francophile roots. “It’s been a good two days for the French,” he joked. “First Marion [Cotillard], and now me.”
During Fashion Week, away from the madness of the tents, Chic Report trekked uptown to chat with Sophie Theallet, an elegant designer whose attachment to the craft of designing and creating clothes makes her garments that much more beautiful. She’s already gained celeb attention from fans like Stephanie Seymour and Rosie de Palma, plus her outfits can be found at Barneys, Colette, and Maxfields…but she’s looking to put down roots for a little store of her own in the Meatpacking District or on the Upper East Side.
On her collection:
The inspiration is about a beautiful woman and I try to mix fabrics from menswear and use silky materials with beautifully tailored clothes to give sensuality to my garments without making them over-sexy. I don’t want the woman to be lost in my clothes but I want her to be pretty and strong but feel sexy at the same time.
On the women who buy her clothes:
It’s always the same kind of thing. Some buyers tell me that there are women who begin to collect my pieces, because I do little slips to go under chiffon dresses. This collection is a continuation of my work. I don’t believe in doing something really new to make something that’s not going to be worn by women. I believe in doing fashion really well to make a woman feel beautiful and different from everyone.
The way I do dresses is based on what I feel in my heart. I have an idea out of the blue and go with my instinct. You walk down the street and you feel something and it becomes a collection. I have no idea where it comes from. There’s no special idea or anything.
On the inside of the clothes:
It’s really important because when a woman takes off her dress you can see how beautiful the dresses are inside. I think it’s important to see the construction of clothes and make the finishings beautiful. The people who make them are really proud of their work. What we try to do is everything I learned in the studio of Mr. Alaïa. I really want to open a little shop with an atelier in the back with my two seamstresses whom I really respect because without them I cannot survive. They are so proud and I think it’s the team that’s very important.
On painting her designs:
Since I was small I designed patterns and I played with colors. I love colors that you’re not supposed to mix usually–I think it’s really important to play with colors. I love to draw. It can take me one night to do a whole pattern, with all the little flowers–I mean normally people work on a computer, but I can’t do that. If I don’t do the drawing the way I do my paintings, I’m not interested in doing fashion. It’s like this little girl for me is alive and I make dresses for her. It’s the way that I work. When I do that; when I paint, I think about the next dress and that’s how I do a collection. It’s the incorporation of an idea. I change the details and after I find the life that I want to follow.
Even when posing topless, she puts the focus back on relief work!
See Petra Nemcova starring in the new “Sex Kitten or Philanthropist” campaign for Rampage Spring 2008 and chatting — avec her cuter than cute Czech accent — about the good cause behind the sexy shots.
