Incredible Cardin

A couple of months ago, I posted about the legendary designer, Pierre Cardin.  I felt that most "non-fashion" people only recognized him for luggage and fragrance (for shame!).  Well, that may soon change.  Friday evening, I was lucky enough to not only attend Mr. Cardin's showing of his Spring 2011 collection, but I also met the extraordinary designer!  If my fifteen year old self could only have imagined that one day, I'd shake his hand and he would compliment my dress...!  What?  Yes, HE complimented MY dress!  Surreal.

in the original, gold "Elizabeth" dress

Photo: Richard Renda

The dress in question?  The original "Elizabeth" dress from my Spring line.  Yep, it's short, no doubt about it, but I managed.  Cardin actually touched the fabric and asked if it had metal in it... the man knows his stuff!  "It's beautiful," he said.  OK, I can die happy now.  I thanked him and told him that he was a very big influence on me growing up and that I was honored to be there to witness his unbelievable show (comprising of 200+ looks!!).  Very humbly, the white-haired man asked me, "Do they like it?  What are they saying?"
Just like an artist.  I guess it doesn't matter how successful or how experienced we become, there will always be that teeny weeny bit of self-doubt and that nagging urge to impress.

Pierre Cardin chats with Marisa Berenson after the show

I covered the show for the online fashion publication, "Lookonline" -- click here to read my article and to view some runway pictures from Cardin's show shot by the incomparable fashion photographer (a.k.a. my house photographer!), Randy Brooke.

Paco & Pierre

Paco Rabanne and Pierre Cardin are two designers who have always inspired me. I like the strength that comes across in their pieces and the way the details are significant be not overdone. For me, metal equals modern and that speaks to my personal style. Nobody did metal better than Paco. Lovely Madeleine (of In New York Paris Tomorrow), put it perfectly in her comment on my last post (about Paco), “So far away and yet classic and futuristic.” This brings me to Mr. Cardin, who was known for his space age designs and futuristic fashions. Cardin studied architecture (like another one of my favs, Ferré), so it follows that he used geometry in his creations. And I bet all the “tweens” have no idea that they have Mr. Cardin to thank for their precious bubble dresses...sort of!

Paco Rabanne, 1967

Pierre Cardin, 1967

I find it such a shame that these two groundbreaking, iconic visionaries are pretty much known today for cologne. Maybe not for those who actually know about fashion, but to the average Joe they are, unfortunately, just another Drakkar Noir.

Pick A Decade

Yesterday's post about costume design got me thinking-- if I had to choose a decade that I would like to have lived and experienced in terms of fashion, which would it be?  Would I prefer the cumbersome, yet ornate dresses of the 18th Century as in Milena Canonero's designs for the film, Marie Antoinette?

18th Century dress at the Metropolitan Museum (left) / me on Halloween as Marie Antoinette

Probably not.  I don't know if I could deal with the corsets!  Maybe I would like to be an independent, modern girl of the 1920s...

dress: Jeanne Lanvin, 1927

Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel in 1926

Photo Credit: guardian.co.uk

Nah, I couldn't handle prohibition!  A girl has the right to enjoy a glass of wine or two, doesn't she?  I think I would prefer the Hollywood glamour of the 1930's and 1940's.  Famous costume designer Adrian could be my personal stylist!

  

Designer, Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930's

Mainbocher, 1936

Photo Credit: by Man Ray from the book Couture by Caroline Rennolds Milbank

Or, I could get groovy in the 1960's by wearing some Andre Courreges.  Yeah, baby!  Maybe I could even put the "grrrr" in swinger.  Take that Austin Powers!

Pierre Cardin, 1968

Photo Credit: AP/Worldwide Photos

1960's aluminum tunic, Paco Rabanne

Well, I missed all of those time periods and I grew up in the fabulous 80's.  Lucky me!

Thierry Mulger (left) and Claude Montana (right), circa 1987

both pictures from my personal archives (i.e. ripped out of Vogue)