PARIS COUTURE
WINTER 2013
“ My appreciation for chic style is part of my DNA thanks to my fabulous mother and Auntie Mame and I celebrated that during Paris Couture... Which was 72 hours of pure fashion bliss… Paris was on parade... beyond my fashion dreams...pure theatre!"
–Anne “Nan” Fitzpatrick
The ‘Paris Couture’ Series is a compilation of photos taken during my whirlwind pilgrimage to the epicenter of global fashion "Paris Couture" (January 21-23, 2013). My journey began with a blizzard in London, as snow is very rare, the white blanket of snow had grounded all planes departing from London’s Heathrow Airport. In a flash my concierge reserved a First Class ticket in the EuroRail and my driver delivered me to St. Pancras train station. I arrived 6 hours later in Paris at La Gare train station, my driver met at the station and whisked me away to the Four Seasons Hotel George V...I was not dissuaded.
After settling in to my room, I met with two fashionable friends from Boston for dinner at L’atelier de Joel Robuchon St. Germain…“Simply divine”…and so began my perfect Paris experience.
I
My first day in Paris began with a visit to the atelier of the famous French fashion photographer, Frank Horvart with my stylish companion. After touring his studio, we headed out for a winter photo shoot beneath the Eiffel Tower. There is simply nothing more enchanting than Paris in the snow. At that moment I felt I had entered a chapter straight out of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. After a charming afternoon, touring the city by foot, my friend and I returned to the hotel to prepare for cocktails with a friend and dinner soirée at La Société in St. Germaine.
II
Today marked our first foray in to Fashion heaven. First on the agenda, was The Palais de Tokyo for Stephane Rolland's Haute Couture fashion show. The show climaxed with the formidable and legendary model, Carmen Dell'Orefice. After a riveting parade of Haute Couture at its highest, we returned to the hotel to refresh ourselves at the George V...our driver delivered us to the Theatre National de Chaillot for the Armani Prive show. An intimate group was invited backstage, for "post show" champagne to meet Mr. Armani and toast his successful collection with the models.
After the show, a select group continued on to Le Laurent Restaurant for the Giorgio Armani Prive dinner which was "bellisimo". Today was the jewel of my fashion fantasies. Many of the photos used in my ‘Paris Couture’ Series were captured on this day!
III
My friend hosted Frank Horvat for a special luncheon at La Galerie at George V. In celebration of the unveiling of her portrait, from our snowy photo shoot 48 hours prior. It truly was a delight to dine and spend time with such an esteemed photographer; and of course the final piece was "trés trés bon". After the show my friend had to dash to Gare de Lyon to catch her train back to Zurich. I spent the afternoon strolling the streets of Paris and power shopping my way back to my room at the George V.
That evening, my friend Ines hosted a chic dinner party for me. The guests included an array of ex-pats and diplomats. The evening trailed late in to the night with wonderful stories after a terrific dinner and imbibing on fine French wines.
IV
The final day in Paris is always a relatively melancholy one. Fortunately, my flight back to Boston was later in the day, which left me enough time to visit the Les Arts DÄcoratifs for the Van Cleef & Arples L’Art de la Haute Joaillerie exhibit. This exhibit was a very apropos culmination to my dazzling experience in Paris. I returned to my hotel, collected my bags, and the driver made his way to the Charle deGaulle Airport. On board I sipped a glass of champagne and soon fell asleep, lulled by the purring engine. I dreamt my way back to Boston, reminiscing on the fabulous fétes, couture clad goddesses, fine French dining and of course, Paris in the snow. My tailor-made "Paris Couture" experience will remain in my memory forever...I cannot wait to return next year!
All photomontages are digitally printed on archival paper