D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A M A R C R O S E N D E S I G N R E T R O S P EC T I V E AT T H E N A S S AU C O U N T Y M U S E U M O F A R T
Terence Mack
U.K., including Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Marina of Greece, Alexandra de Borchgrave, Countess Christina Pucci (widow of Emilio), Françoise Gallimard, Philippe Mendes, Mme. Hubert GuerrandHermès, Emmanuel Ducamp, Michael York, Infanta Pilar of Spain, Baroness Hélène de Ludinghausen, and Princess Jeane-Marie de Breuil. On Thursday of the same week, I was invited by Andrew Saffir of the Cinema Society to the “world premiere” of Manolo: the Boy Who Made Shoes For Lizards. Manolo being Mr. Blahnik, the international women’s 30 QUEST
Celine Schira and Boris Zivkovic
Juliana Terian
Carole Holmes, Coco Han and Keming Riley
shoe designer. I had wanted to see it for a couple of reasons, the first being what motivated the legend, and the second because it was at the Frick. The Frick is not some other screening room. Your presence there announces something quite contrary. It is at times a wonder, a solace, and an elevation of spirit. It’s also got what they used to say in show business: “class.” Premiering Manolo there was top of the line as these “public” screenings go. The Cinema Society is a brilliant marketer of product, and here was the evidence. From the beginning, it was a
pleasure just to be there. I got there on time but it turned out to be too early. Waiters in black tie were holding trays of sparkling water or Champagne. The limited guest list—the Frick’s lecture/screening room cannot hold more than 175 or so—had a good cross-section of fashion and social people. In the crowd I spotted Reinaldo and Carolina Herrera (who were seated with Manolo), Kristina Blahnik, James Cabourne (executive producer), Mario Testino, Bianca Jagger, Rachel Roy, Sarah Wynter, Olivia Grant, Amy
Charles Riley
Tom and Helene Suozzi
Astley, Anne McNally, Erin Fetherston and Gabriel Saporta, Indre Rockefeller, Joan Juliet Buck, Tonne Goodman, Veronica Webb, Sante D’Orazio, Iris Apfel, Amy Fine Collins, Valerie Simpson, Jennifer Creel, Daniel Benedict, Whitney Fairchild, Debbie Bancroft, Ashley Haas, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Adam Lippes, Allison Sarofim, Jazmin Grimaldi, Ian Mellencamp, Louisa Warwick, and many more. I’d never met Manolo. Still haven’t (I don’t think), although I’ve seen him more than once at Michael’s restaurant. He’s
M A R C RO S E N A S S O C I ATE S
Lucia Magnani, Marc Rosen and Arlene Dahl