FabSugar

Fab Field Trip: The Yves Saint Laurent Exhibit at the De Young Museum, San Francisco

FabSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:08:52 PDT

Thursday morning, I was enlightened. Since Yves Saint Laurent's death this past Summer, the fashion world has been paying tribute and speaking praise. Perhaps one of the best ways to do both is to showcase an extensive collection of the artist's work. And so, the de Young museum of San Francisco gave me a sneak peek of Yves Saint Laurent's highly anticipated exhibition, spanning 40 years and 130 ensembles. The exhibit is open to the public Saturday.

The most special guest was there: Pierre Bergé, Yves's partner and business associate since 1961. Pierre spoke to a small group of local press and was humble and heartfelt. His words about Yves tugged on my heartstrings and got me really excited to view the exhibition. "Today is the first collection after his death." He referred to Yves as "one of the greatest of our time." He pointed out that "in our world women are more and more important" and Yves recognized that. "The collection is just a part of Yves's work," reminding us of the 5,000 plus YSL pieces that are preserved and kept in Paris. Can you imagine? He also called San Francisco "a beautiful city" and was proud to have the foggy city house such a collection. Side note: Pierre was wearing an Obama pin.

To read more about my enlightenment and to see loads of wonderful Yves Saint Laurent creations,

As a fashion journalist, I am aware of the importance of Yves Saint Laurent. But personally, I haven't had much experience with the house's clothes. Yves showed his last collection in 2002. Only now can I actually purchase pieces from the house, but today's pieces aren't touched by the originator. I have admired vintage YSL, but no, I have never worn an original Yves Saint Laurent. My enlightenment emerged upon viewing precious pieces from "Le Smoking," his homage to Africa collection, the famous Mondrian dress, and representations from his Ballets Russes collection. These were all familiar, as seen in textbooks and pictures, but in real life they are incredible.

The massive collection, curated in an organized yet unique fashion, made my head spin. Another realization was how many of today's designers draw inspiration from these ideas that were presented decades ago. I saw Giambattista Valli in a voluminous LBD, Armani in sleek beaded evening wear, Marc Jacobs in quirky party dresses, Michael Kors in jetsetting separates. YSL Haute Couture was presented through a glass display, and videos and runways shows played throughout. It was a YSL feast for the eyes.

While everything impressed, I had a few favorites I went back to admire a couple more times. First off, the body revealed collection of evening dresses. Yves pushed the envelope with revealing flesh, but he did so with taste. These are key examples. The Africana pieces were super fun; the intricate beading and the exotic cuts were stunning. This famous knit wedding gown made me chuckle. Lastly, his art inspired pieces were pretty magnificent.

This exhibit is both a proper homage and a destination for any fashion lover. On this spooky holiday, this Yves quote felt rather fitting: “My profession is the loving dialogue of this naked woman with all the magic spells of the wrapping of my fabrics.” Consider me spellbound.

View 43 Photos ›

Kate Winslet Honors Mario Testino at a Bash With Josh Hartnett and Sophia Lie

Allie Merriam — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:05:00 PDT

Mario Testino was the guest of honor last night at a gala thrown by the Latin American museum El Museo de Barrio at NYC's Cipriani restaurant. Kate Winslet, who just worked with Mario on a new round of ads for Lancôme, introduced the photographer and presented him with a silver Asprey tray that had been signed by friends like Sienna Miller, Julia Roberts, and Demi Moore. The Narciso Rodriguez-clad actress started with a joke, saying, "The two other Kates, Kate Moss and Kate Middleton, were unavailable so you have to make do with me." Mario, who confessed that his favorite person he ever worked with was Princess Diana, spoke for the first time about lensing Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement pictures. He said of the shoot, "You know, it's not so much what they say to each other because there is no time. Everything is compacted into a very short time because we have to produce these pictures. It's more like me screaming and trying to get everything to go - well, not screaming, but getting in a fluster, I guess you say . . . They are a young couple in love." Affection was in the air for John Legend and Chrissy Teigen as well as fellow attendee Josh Hartnett, who hung out with his girlfriend, Sophia Lie, when he wasn't catching up with fashion heavyweights like Anna Wintour and Donatella Versace.

Gwyneth Talks About Musical Tips From Chris and Parties in SF With Orlando and Miranda

Allie Merriam — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:49:00 PDT

Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr were among the many ladies who dressed up last Thursday in San Francisco for the opening of the "Balenciaga and Spain" exhibit at the de Young museum. Miranda attended with her husband Orlando Bloom to party alongside Gwyneth, with the trio reuniting after celebrating at a hotel bash in Morocco together back in 2009. Gwyneth showed support for a country near and dear to her heart while on the West Coast, where she may now be following in the footsteps of her costar Jude Law to film Contagion. Even Anna Wintour made the trek to California for the event, which was curated by her Vogue buddy Hamish Bowles. Jane Eyre's Mia Wasikowska was there as well to have fun with Miranda, Gwyneth, and Orlando, who's front and center in a new Three Musketeers trailer. Gwyneth hung out with her good friend and GOOP contributor Juliet de Baubigny during an evening off from plotting the next move in her music career. She recently spoke about rumors she's recording an album, getting help from her husband, Chris Martin, and the direction she'll go with the tunes. She said:

On wanting a record to be genuine: "I really would love to make a record, but I don’t know exactly how you do that so it’s not cheesy. I would love to do it."
On a direction for the sound: "I have to just figure out what I do want. I am having fun with it, though, even if it’s kind of giving me a mid-life crisis because I don’t know who I am anymore."
On getting tips from her husband Chris Martin: "I trust him so much. If I do it, he just wants it to be really good."

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin Pick Separate Plans For Their Day Out

Lauren Turner — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:32:29 PDT

Gwyneth Paltrow led the way for a group of kids as she left Apple and Moses's school in London today. She took care of pick-up duties while Chris Martin got his own ride home from Heathrow. Gwyneth landed at the UK airport herself yesterday after a trip to California, where she celebrated the opening of the "Balenciaga and Spain" exhibit at the de Young Museum in San Francisco and also attended pal Reese Witherspoon's wedding. She was one of many stars to witness the nuptials between Reese and Jim Toth in Ojai, but it looks like Gwyneth now has a few days to enjoy with her family.

Gwyneth Paltrow Heads Home as Progress Moves Forward on Her HBO Miniseries

Allie Merriam — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 07:36:37 PDT

Gwyneth Paltrow touched down at Heathrow Airport this morning. She's back in England after leaving just last week in order to spend a few days in San Francisco, where she joined Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom Thursday to celebrate the opening of the de Young Museum's "Balenciaga and Spain" exhibit. Gwyneth had the weekend off from doing promotional work ahead of her movie Country Strong's opening abroad. She's involved in a variety of projects with her blossoming music career and her upcoming release of her cookbook, My Father's Daughter, later this year. Another endeavor is moving forward as well, with a European production company signing on to coproduce her BBC and HBO miniseries based on Marlene Dietrich's life.

Marie Antoinette's $900 Perfume

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:00:57 PDT

Move over, Clive Christian-you've got company in the ranks of priciest perfumes.

Yesterday, FabSugar and I went to an event previewing an upcoming Marie Antoinette exhibition at San Francisco's Legion of Honor. It was there that I was able to smell Marie Antoinette Sillage de la Reine, a luxurious fragrance that costs $900 for 25ml.

Marie Antoinette Sillage de la Reine was created by French perfume maker Francis Kurkdjian, who recreated Marie Antoinette's signature fragrance. In that sense, it's a ghost of a perfume, but the scent is anything but faint. To see what went inside this limited-edition perfume,

Kurkdjian based his work on A Scented Palace: The Secret History of Marie-Antoinette’s Perfumer by Elizabeth Feydeau. The book explores the notes of the queen's Versailles perfumer, and from this information Kurkdjian was able to recreate her beloved scent.

The fragrance is entirely natural, which is why it was initially a bit strong for Fab and me. But it does smell very regal-as it should, of course. It contains rose, iris, cut jasmine, tuberose and orange blossom. Woody touches of cedar and sandalwood are also present, with the sandalwood more fragrant to my nose than the cedar. Additionally, it has notes of Tonkin musk (that's, um, the content of Himalayan goats' glands) and grey amber.

It was such a wonderful treat to smell such a rare fragrance, and it did transport me into another time (if only for a moment). If you are the kind of high roller who wants to smell like a queen, you'll be able to purchase Marie Antoinette Sillage de la Reine this fall from the de Young/Legion of Honor Museum Store in San Francisco. Proceeds from the perfume's sale will help restore an area used by Marie-Antoinette at Versailles.

Finally, if you think $900 is expensive, wait until you hear how much the "prestige" edition cost. Decanted into a Baccarat crystal container, and limited to only 10 worldwide, it sells abroad for 8,000 euros-just over $11,000. In contrast, $900 is a bargain, eh?