The Fashion File Blog

It was an emotional evening at the Grand Palais in Paris last night.

The curtain on the last act of the Yves Saint Laurent legend rose with the gigantic auction of the designer's art and furniture collection. The whole exquisite lot will take three days to auction off by Christie's and YSL's partner of 50 years, Pierre Berge.

The well heeled audience beheld a spectacular parade before the auctioneer's block of modern twentieth century masterpieces - the most eagerly awaited event - which only proves that Saint Laurent not only created beauty but lived with it!

His favourite Matisse "Les coucous tapis bleu et rose", which obviously appealed to his love of pattern and colour, broke a world record and went for 35,905,000 Euros. His Mondrians, which inspired his famous dresses of the same name also brought in record prices.

Just shows you that there is still money out there for a masterpiece or two, especially when it has the aura of the YSL cachet!

At the end of the auction, an emotional Pierre Berge declared that the sale the first night had brought in a record of 206 million Euros, all of which will go to his foundation's humanitarian works.

Berge said he was happy with the sale and added that "while I cannot speak on behalf of the dead, I am sure Yves would be happy to know that this collection of art which we have collected for the past fifty years has so captivated the art world and the general public as well."

Grand Palais:

Auction in process:

Pierre Berge and the auctioneer:

And the art!!!:

Les Couscous Tapis Bleu et Rose by Matisse

Duchamp

Ensor

YSL's living room recreated

Matisse

Matisse

Mondrian

Mondrian

Picasso

Auction Attendees:

Photographed by ALICE
Posted by MADELEINE

February 24, 2009 6:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you've ever read the FF blog, you'll know that we're ardent supporters of skyscraper heels - comfort be damned! So of course we couldn't pass up an opportunity to spend the afternoon at Holt Renfrew with up and coming shoe designer Jerome Chouinard-Rousseau. He met us at the door, in a fitted Hugo Boss shirt, vintage bow tie and elephant grey Buddhahood boots. Before we got into it, we were met by his friends Leslie Feist and Simone Rubi (from Rubies, a Cali band by way of Sweden) who joined us for the afternoon. From his design inspiration, to his friends, it is clear music is very important to him.

Jerome's love of shoes began at twelve while watching Deee-Lite's music video for Groove is in the Heart - the perfect combination of "60's psychedelia with 70's disco".

He left Montreal at 18 to study at London's Cordwainers College, which also boasts Jimmy Choo and Patrick Cox as graduates. Once finished school he worked in London for Matthew Williamson, John Richmond and John Rocha. He then moved to LA in 2004 to head up the shoe division for Isabella Fiore, until 2007 when he launched his own collection of shoes.

Now that we're all caught up - let's get to it - what to expect from Jerome for SS09. Inspired by Ettore Sottsass the architect and designer behind the collective, Memphis Group; and hardcover book, Dreamscapes by London artist Verena Paloma Jabs, Jerome's outlook on spring is all about angles, lines and whimsy.

Saga is available at Holt Renfrew for $ 795CDN

This is also the shoe he picks up, when asked about his favourite.

He shows us the colour palette inspired by Jabs, consisting of mint green, lilac, lipstick pink, bright coral, and a chartreuse green - subtle, but sexy.

Dragon is available at Holt Renfrew for $625CDN

The shoes he creates are inspired by women, and named after goddesses for SS '09; and so, fittingly, they are beautifully constructed and mindful of the wearer's comfort (with padded soles, straps and linings). All of his shoes are made in Tuscany, in the same factory as many of the blue chip labels he will be standing next to on the shelves of Holt Renfrew, Barney's and Harvey Nichols.

Looking ahead to FW '09 - Jerome has mad love for Elli Medeiros of 80's French electro-pop group Elli et Jacno. The Victorian boho look of London's late 70's in Kate Bush is also a major influence - he is fascinated with the way she moves. As for colours - his signature element, it looks like purples and jewel tones will be featured.

Inspired and surrounded by strong women in music - I am compelled to ask, who is the Jerome Rousseau girl? "She has twelve lovers and another fifteen crushes ... they don't know about each other and she loves to wear her most beautiful shoes dancing alone at home to her favourite song - she's quite musical." He wants a love affair with his customer - "she will choose one of these shoes because she falls in love with it, like a crush - head over heels - the emotional connection between people and shoes is the most fascinating..."

Since he's "into shoes through music" I ended the afternoon looking for some personal inspiration, by asking what tracks are currently topping his playlist, he answered:

1. Elli et Jacno: "I am madly in love with them... #1 on my playlist"
2. A Camp: Nina Persson of The Cardigans, side project
3. Patrick Wolf: a British singer-songwriter
4. Simon Bookish: a British electro-pop composer
5. Rubies (Simone Rubi's band)
6. And of course, Ms. Feist

Posted by JACQUIE

February 17, 2009 7:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Givenchy designer Ricardo Tischi is coming into his own. He showed a well edited and beautifully executed collection at the romantically lit Couvent des Cordeliers in Paris . Check out the rose petal strewn runway. The mood was romance with a bondage twist : gracefully draped dresses that hid straps discreetly hidden under transparency. Fabric research was state of the art : we especially loved a little beige dress that was painted jersey ! Could have sworn it was leather, but so soft to the touch.

Posted by MADELEINE
Photos by ALICE and ELIZABETH

February 12, 2009 9:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Set in the grand amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, Valentino's new design team (a partnership between Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli) debuted their new Haute Couture collection to an expecting audience. While not as fashion forward as the recently ousted Alessandra Facchinetti the designers explored the roots of the fashion house with a more traditional approach.

The new designers walking out after the show:

Valentino celebrating his new design team backstage after the show:

Posted and photographed by ALICE and ELIZABETH

February 12, 2009 8:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The always festive and colorful Christian Lacroix showed his Haute Couture Spring Summer 2009 collection this past Tuesday in Paris. Fashion File had backstage access before the show and joined in an impromptu photo shoot with some of the models and had the privilege of watching famous fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth at work. We got a detailed look at the floral tights and crazy accessories while the models had a little fun in front of the camera. On the runway the brilliant colors and the extravagant bridal couture left us craving more Lacroix.

Posted and photographed by ALICE and ELIZABETH

February 12, 2009 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This Chinese inspired collection featured models with short black bobs and heavy dark eye makeup. Silver, black, purple, and yellow where the featured colors in the show each garment with a touch of shimmer. The striking collection even received a standing ovation from the normally cynical fashion crowd.

Glenn Close looking gorgeous before the show:

Posted and photographed by ALICE and ELIZABETH

February 12, 2009 8:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"La chic parisienne" is a perfect description of Alexis Mabille's Spring/Summer 2009 Haute Couture collection, shown in Paris this past Monday. The whimsical show featured both men and women wearing flowery garments accented with pink and purple accessories. The romantic collection was shown in Karl Lagerfeld's former residence, the Pozzo di Borgo Hotel. Supermodel Linda Evangelista also attended the event.

Photographed and posted by ALICE

January 30, 2009 6:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)