Moments from the Opening of the Daphne Guinness Exhibit at FIT

Last night my evening began standing before a massively bosomed woman with a big toothy grin.  She was Woman, I painted by William de Kooning in 1950 and she is a part of the exhibit, De Kooning: A Retrospective which opens on Sunday at the Museum of Modern Art.  And the show is unbelievably beautiful and lush.  It was very hard to leave but another woman beckoned, Daphne Guinness, and her personal collection of couture and accessories which is on exhibit at the Museum at FIT.

I think it is one of the best shows that I have seen at FIT even though it was so crowded that it was hard to see very much.  But what I did notice was that Daphne Guinness is a woman who enjoys a good plume, a bit of sequin and a whole lot of black.  Her collection is also extravagant and monastic at the same time.  The mannequins have coifs of Daphne's iconic white and black hair do and some have netting over the eyes.  There are films of Daphne and a beautiful halogram floating over the exhibition space.  

Here a few moments from the opening.  DG Style was the inspiration for the evenings attire...

Daphne Guinness at The Museum at FIT.  Opening September 16, 2011

FIT Lunch Honoring Valentino

Valentino received the Fashion Institute of Technology's Artistry in Fashion award today at Lincoln Center.  I was lucky enough to be seated at the table next to Valentino where there was much air kissing going on.  Daphne Guiness was there in towering sparkly shoes, Anna Wintour gave a lovely speech about Valentino and Simon Doonan gave a very funny speech about Valentino's Université of Fabulosité.  

Giancarlo Giammetti and I arrived at the same time.  The perenially lovely Bill Cunningham was about to take a photo of me in my vintage Valentino Couture when he saw Giancarlo Giammetti and I insisted he photograph Giancarlo (after all, he can take my picture anytime:)  

Anna W and Valentino:

Chiu-Ti Jansen wearing Valentino Couture and a Valentino panther belt from RARE vintage at the lunch:

Daphne Guinness beautiful in black and white:

And everyone rises for the King of Couture, Valentino:

Here a kiss, there a kiss, everywhere a kiss kiss.  Diane Von Furstenberg and Valentino:

Diane Von F and the always beautiful Marisa Berenson:

Looks like somebody's dogs were barking:)

BFF's:

I wish I could whip my hair into a similar confection.  Love it.  She looks beautiful.

Simon Doonan said, " With Valentino you get the whole package: talent, genius and a ferocious commitment to craft."