Met Gala Magic

Darlings, here CC's red carpet rundown from Monday's Met Gala, the theme of which was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The exposition will be on view through October 26th - CC can't wait to see it! The most chic (and/or significant) looks of the night were as follows:

Photos via vogue.com.

Gabrielle Union Wade and Dwayne Wade, both in Prada

Jenna Ortega in Balmain

Kiki Palmer in Vera Wang

La La Anthony in Archival Off-White by Virgil Abloh

Mindy Kaling in Harbison Studio

Miranda Kerr in Dior

Zendaya in Louis Vuitton

Zoe Saldana in Thom Browne
Which look did you 🖤?
xoxox,
CC

CC Interview: Acclaimed Artist Dai Ying

 Darlings, CC is delighted to introduce you to Chinese-born world-renowned artist Dai Ying, a luminary in the realm of contemporary painting, installations, and performance art! She weaves intricate narratives of tradition and feminist-inspired innovation through her captivating creations. Presently residing in New York, Los Angeles, and Beijing, Dai Ying recently showed at New York’s Future Fair at Chelsea Industrial in tandem with the Frieze. She also partnered with the Pashmina Art Gallery in Hamburg, Germany where she's donating some works of art for their Louis Vuitton and Dior sponsored art auction benefiting the rescue of Asian street dogs.

Below, see CC's interview with Ms. Ying:

CC: Ms. Dai, thank you so much for sharing with Couture Carrie readers!

How do you utilize your art to channel your emotional experience？

DY: I use mixed media painting, installation, performance art, and other creative methods and media art languages to convey my emotions.

Temple, installation, 2020, marble, printmaking paper, galvanized iron sheet

CC: I also lived in New York for 6 years! What are your favorite spots in the city (museums, stores, restaurants, parks, etc.)?

DY: I like MoMA. All the art spaces and galleries with the latest exhibitions are places I often visit.

Give Me a Piece of Heaven and Earth 给我一片天地, 2023, 120 x 80 cm, oil on canvas

M-Theory 2 超弦理论M 2, 2015 - 2016, made with Chinese paint, Japanese paint, acrylic paint, marker, and Chinese rice paper

CC: You’ve graciously donated some of your work to the Pashmina Art Gallery in Hamburg, Germany for its upcoming Louis Vuitton and Dior sponsored art auction to benefit the rescue of Asian street dogs. I am a dog walker and pet sitter, so animals are dear to me, too! What inspired you to choose this cause?

DY: This charity auction is hosted and organized by Ms. Maria, the largest collector of German Expressionist art globally. She is a passionate animal rescuer, saving over 100 stray dogs from Asia each year and finding them homes in Europe. The Pashmina Art Gallery in Hamburg provided support for the space for this event. I was invited by Ms. Maria to participate in this charity auction in Hamburg. I donated a small piece I created in 2016, "Great Love, Saving All Lives," which was auctioned for 5000 euros by a kind collector. Louis Vuitton and Dior also donated their products for this charity auction, but they are not the sponsors for the event. The proceeds will go towards helping stray dogs in Asia. For me, it is the respect for life and natural compassion that inspired me to do this.

The artist in her 2023 installation Suddenly Moon White, holding soil from Suzhou.
Many thanks to Dai Ying and her translator for this amazing interview!
xoxox,
CC

CC Interview with Sotheby's Jewelry Expert Tiffany Dubin!

Darlings, CC is super excited to introduce you to Tiffany Dubin, Senior Business Development Executive at Sotheby's auction house in New York! Ms. Dubin, an art and jewelry expert, recently curated (with London gallery owner Louisa Guinness) a pop-up exhibition of art-inspired jewelry. "Sculpture to Wear" will be on view at Sotheby's East Hampton from August 3 through August 28, 2021. If you can't make it out to the Hamptons to see the show, not to worry! CC had the incredible opportunity to interview Ms. Dubin. Please see my queries and her brilliant responses below!

Favorite Artist: Gustav Klimt the Austrian Symbolist painter however I love everything from that era.

Klimt, Portrait of Baroness Elisabeth Bachoven Echt, c. 1914.

Favorite piece from Sculpture to Wear

The William Copley’s  necklace with the naked girls running around.  I was introduced to Copley’s a few years back through an exhibit Adam Lindeman curated a few years back and was struck by his American Pop Art sensibility mixed with Surrealist humor and riffing sexuality. 

The necklace he made for Louisa Guinness shows his high style, with ten of his cartoonish figures suspended from a circular link chain.  This is an object that can be played with and manipulated in various ways. I think this is the absolute expression of the artist’s DNA.  However I am also obsessed with the Man Ray lips based on his 1936 surrealist painting.  The surrealists believed in the concept of the devouring woman... Well I would like to devour that necklace! 

 

How does your current career differ from what you envisioned doing when you were at Georgetown?

When I was at Georgetown I studied Eastern European affairs and thought I was going into the diplomatic corp. I had visions of being Keri Russell on The Americans.  Instead I am an art world version of a character in “Call my Agent” keeping clients happy and business afloat. 

As a former boutique owner (I miss Henri Bendel!), what are your go-to shops, online and/or brick-and-mortar, for the most fabulous clothing and accessories?

My go to for this summer has been Reformation introduced to me by my daughter.  I love AmandaRossGirl, Soler in London, I still look for old favorites on eBay, theRealReal, obsessed with Live Auctioneers, Matches based out of London, Moda Operandi.  

Who is your favorite fashion designer, past or present? Which label do you currently wear most?

I have to say I dress in a bit of a hodgepodge of old YSL, old Valentino,  70s silk blouses, adapted vintage items I update to today with a superb dressmaker. 

I do have a Chanel ballet slipper habit but buy them on eBay. 

They are just super comfy to me.  

Cotton and grosgrain ballerinas, at chanel.com.

However my favorite designer of all time is not a fashion designer but a mind blowingly talented jewelry designer named Rene Biovin who ironically was related to Paul Poiret.  As a disco child from the 80’s I am obsessed with her version of disco jewelry in the 30’s and have managed to collect a few of her brooches since they have been a bit under the radar. 

Rene Biovin Art Deco necklace.

If you could visit only one museum or gallery for the rest of time, which one would you choose?

I think it would be a choice between the Louvre or placing myself at Peggy Guggenheim house/museum in Venice and having constant revolving artist shows come in and out every time there was a new biennale.  

If I did that I would probably channel the Marchesa Luisa de Casati and hold legendary soirées and look to spot today’s new Fortuny or Poiret. I agree with her; there is too much sameness in the world and one should be a work of art.

 

Of all the places you've lived or visited, which is/was your favorite? 

I am madly, deeply in love with Capri and my fantasy in life is to have a fabulous house in Capri where I could have constantly  revolving groups of friends who were artists, philosophers, writers, thinkers from all parts of life join me.

A big CC thank you to Ms. Dubin and to Ron Boling of Jonathan Marder + Co. in NYC for the intro!

xoxox,

CC

Magnificent Millinery

Millinery has such a long and glorious tradition, and sadly, is a dying art. Let us resuscitate it, darlings! Don a cap of some sort this autumn!
At left: Milliner Albertus Swanepoel and model Caroline Trentini in Vogue.
The quintessential millinery tome.
James Coviello; this and next via nymag.com
Temperley
Banana Republic fedora, via nytimes.com.
CC stuck a feather (or three) in her cap! Fedora from Urban Outiftters.
This and next via elle.uk.com.
Natalia, courtesy Fellow Fashionista Fashion Moment.
Irina, courtesy vintagetraffic.blogspot.com.
Serge Leblon photo, via fotodecadent.com.
Fashion flashback: The Art of Expensive Hats, illustration from The New York Times, 1908.
Vogue U.K., May 2008.
Arturo Elena drawing courtesy Fellow Fashionista Nemerae of So Trendy!
Ciara wearing a Noel Stewart Millinery headpiece in Elle.
Cyber Cabaret Fashion courtesy Fellow Fashionista Fashion Moment.
Chapeau Claudette mini top hat with detachable mesh veil, at pixiemarket.com.
Topshop.com.
Claudia Schulz Coco hat, at supermarkethq.com.
Ellen Christine Couture Millinery.
CC’s List of Magnificent Milliners; links provided where possible:
Albertus Swanepoel
Cha Cha's House of Ill Repute
Crowncap
Ellen Christine
Eugenia Kim
Nathaniel Cole
Noel Stewart
Paul Heinlund
Philip Treacy
Pinkham Millinery
Stephen Jones
Stetson
Victor Osborne
Also, be sure to check out Fellow Fashionista Anya’s blog, Couture Millinery Atelier.
Who is your favorite milliner, darling?
xoxox,
CC
P.S. Don’t forget: today is the last day to enter CC’s Flora Bond $75 Gift Voucher Giveaway!
P.P.S. If you have a moment, do pop over to Fellow Fashionista Sonia's blog Etrapar to see the outfit she created for CC!