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We All Need Some! The Costume Institute’s, Camp: Notes on Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute’s spring 2019 exhibition, Camp: Notes on Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Without a little twinkle, some pizzazz, that certain something that makes us smile, or some camp in our lives it would all be so very boring. I visited the Costume Institute’s spring 2019 exhibition, Camp: Notes on Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art earlier.  It certainly added a sparkle to my day and will do the same for you. Here's a sneak peek of the exhibition (photos do not do it justice) before tonight's Met Gala, co-hosted by Lady Gaga and Harry Styles, sponsored by Gucci and spearheaded by Ana Wintour. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sharon Haver▪️Modern Business (@focusonstyle) It's hard to pick favorites, but I love Liberace's head to toe diamonte, Bjork's swan dress,

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The Art of the In-Between: Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garcons at The Costume Institute

What would your life look like if you saw The Art of the In-Between in your every day life? I've been pondering this idea as a metaphor since I saw a sneak peek of the Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garçons exhibition at The Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art earlier today. The Art of the In-Between is the exhibition name which examines the "in-betweenness' of Kawakubo's collections... meditations of the endless possibilities for creation and re-creation in the disruptive way that expands the norm of "regular" fashion.| The preview was particularly quiet and reflective, as if each guest was pondering the meticulous beauty of inspiration as well as their own personal reflection on how they see art in

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The Iconic Style of Jacqueline de Ribes: The Art of Style at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Growing up I was always inspired by the style of Jacqueline de Ribes. I would tear through the society pages in my mother's Women's Wear Daily and amidst all the socialites photographed at charity functions and black tie events, one woman would grab my attention like no other. Countess Jacqueline de Ribes with her regal profile, long neck and volumes of dark hair, model slim figure and unmeasurable poise was a beacon of authentic style... a woman who knew how to make the most of what she's got in the truest form of iconic style. The Costume Institute is at The Metropolitan Museum of Art is honoring her style in the special Jacqueline de Ribes: The Art of Style costume exhibition

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Killer Heels, maybe my husband was right

Walk don't run (in those shoes) to Killer Heels, shoe lust for your soul I'm a confirmed shoe addict. Don't believe me, here's a tidbit conversation with my husband while we were on the way to see The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe at the Brooklyn Museum. Scene One: Sunday drive to the museum Husband: Which exhibition are we going to? Me: Shoes Husband: Can't you just look in your closet? Well, err, he was sort of right. One of my favorite pair of shoes were on display at the exhibition; you can see why I got them here. Ok, so it's a version of my Nicholas Kirkwood wedges with the kooky architectural heel but a slightly different upper. And, they

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A sneak peek into Charles James: Beyond Fashion at the Met

I popped uptown yesterday to the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute’s new Anna Wintour Costume Center for the press preview of its first exhibition, Charles James: Beyond Fashion spotlighting the career of  the legendary 20th-century Anglo-American couturier  (1906–1978). Through the years, I've seen pieces of James work  and many of the gowns on display seemed like beautiful old friends that I was delighted to reaquaint with. But it wasn't a gown that made me smile. The first down jacket, and it was couture. It was seeing his white celenese satin jacket with eiderdown filling, 1937, a textile based sculpture in response to the boxy fur jackets that designer Elsa Schiaparelli was showing and what many women wore at the time. Love it or leave it, this

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American Cool: What is cool to you?

What is American Cool? One of the highlights from our family trip to Washington, D.C. this weekend was taking in the "American Cool" exhibition of 100 People Who Define Cool in Arresting Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery. It's a collection of 100 photos that go deep into the soul of those who posess that certain edge. In this selfie world of "duck lips" and "signature poses" we often lose the spontainaity that comes with honestly capturing oneself as these photos of icons Laureen Bacall, Patti Smith, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Depp, Michael Jordan, Deborah Harry, Susan Sarandon and the spontenaity of those images work to showcase each subject's individual style. Honestly, cool is probably the most overused word in my personal vocabulary.

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Yup, there’s a museum for IT bags in Amsterdam!

I honestly don't remember the Hendrikje Museum for Bags and Purses when I was in Amsterdam because I would have made a bee line towards it right after the Rijksmuseum. Lucky for us, Richard Nahem paid the handbag museum a visit and brought back plenty of photos to share. What I do remember is a visit up to the Judith Leiber showroom to repair a bag of mine way back when. It was a black circle suede shoulder bag with passimenterie and the grommet that held the strap on broke.   Ms. Leiber walked by as I was waiting for my turn and paused to look at my bag, "Such a young girl, such an old bag," she announced in her Hungarian accent and

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You really want to see this Dries Van Noten Paris Exhibition

First look at this Dries Van Noten Paris celebratory exhibition had me cheering for the designer’s novel approach to mixing bold prints, vivid colors, ethnic references and plays with textiles in ways that are fiercely modern. Let's see what Richard saw. –S.H. I went to see the newly launched Dries Van Noten exhibition last Thursday with a friend visiting from out of town who is into fashion (and who comes once a year to Paris to buy her clothes), so I thought she would enjoy taking in the inspirations too. The fashion exhibitions at Musée des Arts Decoratifs are studiously presented in a specially designated space. The atmosphere is almost like going to the theater: it’s pitch black except for

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Warning: You may be blinded by desire! Jewelry by JAR dazzles at the Met

I daresay that even the most glitz phobic could not help but  be wowed by this exhibition. I ran up to see the press preview of Jewelry by JAR at The Metropolitan Museum of Art this morning and barely wanted to leave the show. Honestly, I could have spent the day soaking up the radiant jewels on display and although I didn't get a ring to 'put on it,' I did come back with a tome to explore on the way home… A native New Yorker, Harvard educated Joel A. Rosenthal, based in Paris, has worked under the name Jewels by JAR with this being his first stateside retrospective exhibition with over 400 pieces on hand. What started out as

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Beyond the Fashion Pack: Don’t miss the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit

Follow my blog with Bloglovin See inside the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit 'From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk' at the Brooklyn Museum Hard not to admit that this costume exhibition is close to my heart. Waxing nostalgic, as a Brooklyn native, my mom used to take me to art classes at the Brooklyn Museum. It's architecturally a gorgeous regal museum that's a houses an excellent permanent collection of Egyptian art as well as an incredible Rodin collection. I chose to wear Jean Paul Gaultier in this "back in the day" magazine article about me where I am quoted as saying, "There's no point wearing jewelry unless it is weird, or at least, unusual." And, then there was the 80s and on.

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Celebrating Roger Vivier in Paris, the Creator of the Stiletto Heel and More

Roger Vivier Paris retrospective
Celebrating Roger Vivier in Paris, the storied creator of covetable footwear for even the most regal of society women, with a new retrospective honoring his legendary career: Roger Vivier Paris retrospective Richard Nahem, our FocusOnStyle Parisian correspondent, has an admitted fancy for genius shoes as he worked in a family retail shoe business as a teenager selling platform shoes and later on at the Delman Shoe Salon at Bergdorf Goodman in the early 80's, dispensing shoes to the hautiest of women. Let's hear what he says about this fantastic shoe exhibition… Roger Vivier Paris retrospective As many of you know I have a thing for shoes, as I worked in a family retail shoe business as a teenager selling platform

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You really want to see this: Azzedine Alaia Paris exhibition at Palais Gailliera

Azzedine Alaia is simply a master at his genius. I don't now about you, but I'll always covet the few Azzedine Alaia pieces that I was lucky enough to own. Stepping into the world of Alaia is a universe driven to make the woman's body look as beautiful as possible, never edging on vulgarity or over exposure.  Let's have Richard take us on a virtual tour of this extraordinary  homage to Alaia in Paris. --S.H. It's fashion month in Paris with the glorious Azzedine Alaia Exhibition at Palais Gailliera coinciding with Paris Fashion Week. The designer’s designer, Tunisian born Azzedine Alaia is a master couturier and one of the rare designers who is as adept at tailoring as he is at draping. Alaia aspires to flatter and sculpt the female form to

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See: The Perfect Little Black Dress in Paris… all here!

Little Black Dress Exhibit, Mona Bismarck American Center
Everyone  wants a perfect Little Black Dress, or two or three in their wardrobe. But imagine when not "little" but MAJOR black dresses are curated into one exhibition, and that's in Paris…. ohh la la, it's drool city. Take an inspirational tour of  the Little Black Dress Exhibit at the Mona Bismarck American Center Paris with Richard Nahem as your guide and tell me which LBD is tops on your wish list?   Oh, yes, and Richard met his fashion idol, let's see who… -S.H. >> WATCH: How to accessorize a little black dress Yesterday was one of those surprising days where I had an unexpected pleasure bestowed upon me when I went to see the Little Black Dress exhibit at the Mona Bismarck American Center. I was about

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