Central Park Finally Got a Chanel 2.55 Handbag

Enter Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street; keep walking westward, along the street. Follow the chic Chanel signs; you have arrived.

These are the rules for getting tickets since all the timed tickets available through the Chanel Mobile Art website are sold out.

There are many rules here, but they are worth following.
Go up the stairs. All the people who will assist you henceforth are modeliscious and impeccably dressed in Chanel ensembles.

Notice this beautiful building on the way to the pod made out of mirrorized glass. This is where the cocktail parties were/are held to celebrate the pod, the art within, and Chanel. I've been in twice and the atmosphere is cozy with couches and fine beverages and hors d'oeuvres (too dimly lit for photos with my camera, so sorry).

Keep going.

If it's raining as it was the second time I visited, at least there are glamorous umbrellas!

Zaha Hadid's Perfect Pod

The Pod from another Angle


The voice of Jeanne Moreau waits for, transports and guides you through a mysterious and wonderfully odd world.

Inside One of Several Cardboard Boxes

Inside the Mind

S&M never looked so playful and fun.

The Ideal Pet

Amusing Toys

At last, the ultimate 2.55 handbag awaits your arrival, and all you can think is this would make an awesome clubhouse for meeting the girls to discuss important style matters and then having the most sophisticated slumber party ever!

All indoor art photos are courtesy of Cynthia Tomasini
Note: This is not all the art in the pod. There is more!

Next, it's time to get some souvenirs from your travels; three postcards are at the ready, expecting your arrival. What does emptying your bag mean? You will find out. Have a wish? Make it.

You MUST see it for yourself!

Meanwhile at the New York Chanel boutiques...



along with Limited Edition Handbags, there is art by a different artist at each boutique. At 15 East 57th Street is photography by Pierre et Gilles, and at 139 Spring Street, there is an installation by Soju Tao.

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

...Still the Invites Keep Pouring in

Even though the economy is in the


and we all feel like we're sitting on
,
Richard Shaw's Porcelain Books and Cards Sculpture at MAD

there are still parties to go to and things to celebrate.

On September 18th, the French Bank, BNP Paribas, had its annual shindig at 2 Columbus Circle, the site of the yet to be opened MAD, Museum of Arts and Design. The building designed by Brad Cloepfil is beautifully designed inside. From 1964 until 2005, the marble clad, Edward Durrell Stone designed building stood in its place as an iconic modernist building that housed the art collection of Huntington Hartford, the heir to the founder of A&P Supermarkets.

Before and After

Stone's structure was on many people's and organizations' lists for historic landmark designation: Robert A. M. Stern included it in his 1996 article for the New York Times entitled, "A Preservationist's List of 35 Landmarks-in-Waiting", the National Trust of Historic Preservation called it "one of America's most endangered historic places", and it was on the World Monument Fund's list of 100 Most Endangered Sites for 2006.

The Former Interior


The Present Interior


The champagne was flowing, and the drinks and hors d'oeuvres were plenty.


Our host, Helene Penido and her husband, Joao took time out to be snapped for KromStyle.


Party Photographer in Action


Other Guests Enjoying the Museum and Reception


It was quite thrilling to gain access to 2 Columbus Circle before its official opening, and see its transformation. MAD will have a Grand Public Opening on Saturday, September 27th and Sunday, September 28th from 10:00 until 5:00, and admission is free! Note to those avid shoppers out there: The museum gift shop has a very nice selection of jewelry and gifts.

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

Backlit Beauties

Last night I went to the opening of Joel Fitzpatrick's exhibition, Backlit. It will be on display through October 14, 2008 at GalleryBar on Orchard Street.



The space at GalleryBar is ideal for Joel's art. As the place is dimly lit, the artwork illuminates the space.

The DJ was excellent, playing classic 80's - Rod Stewart, Talking Heads - you get the idea.

Madeleine Crowther (my sista), Michael Fitzpatrick (musician and Joel's brother), Cynthia Tomasini (correspondent for the fashion spot), and Murray Fitzpatrick (Joel's uncle) taking time out from admiring the art.

Tom Sachs (artist, Hello Kitty/Lever House) and Madeleine reminiscing about their days at Bennington.

Andrew Kromelow, Artist and Friend of Joel's, Clowning Around

Andrew with Lisa de Kooning (artist and daughter of Willem de Kooning), left, and her friend enjoying the show.

Joel's father, Robert Fitzpatrick and Andrew are catching up. Joel's father was formerly the Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Dean of the School of the Arts at Columbia University, President of CalArts and CEO of Euro-Disney. Currently, he is Haunch of Venison's International Managing Director which is set to open Haunch of Venison New York in Rockefeller Center on September 12, 2008 with the exhibition, Abstract Expressionism - A World Elsewhere featuring paintings, sculptures and photographs by artists such as Franz Kline, Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and David Smith.

As I was leaving Joel's show, his friend Marisa Tomei was just arriving. She is absolutely lovely and gorgeous to boot.


U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

Central Park Wants a Chanel 2.55 Handbag Too

Sylvie Fleury's Work of Art in Hong Kong

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

From October 20th until November 9th, 2008, 20 works of art inspired by Chanel's 2.55 handbag (issued in February of 1955)
will be exhibited in Central Park (Rumsey Playfield, midpark at 70th Street). The structure in which the art is housed was designed by Zaha Hadid. The exhibition has already made stops in Tokyo and Hong Kong, and will travel to London, Moscow, and Paris after visiting New York. The 20 contemporary artists involved in this project include Sophie Calle, Sylvie Fleury, Subodh Gupta, Blue Noses, Yoko Ono, Y.Z. Kami, Yang Fudong, Wim Delvoye, Tabaimo, Stephen Shore, Soju Tao, Pierre & Gilles, Nobuyoshi Araki, Michael Lin, Loris Cecchini, Lee Bul, Leandro Erlich, Fabrice Hyber, David Levinthal, and Daniel Buren.

The Chanel exhibition in Central Park will be free; however, it is advised to book timed tickets through chanel-mobileart.com, the website containing all you need to know about the exhibition.

Other Superfabulous Variations of the 2.55 Handbag

See you at the Park!

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

I Heart Isabel and Ruben Toledo (Part III)

As my sista and I were leaving the penthouse, Ruben asked us if we had seen Isabel's studio downstairs; since we had not, we HAD to check it out! Even going from the penthouse to the studio was easy on the eyes. It's like visiting a museum.

As we approached the door to the studio, these mannequins and lions welcomed us.

She was ready for her close-up.

Isabel's studio is divided into 3 spaces: her office, her sewing room and a hallway connecting the two.

This is her office. Everything about it is beautiful, and artfully arranged. Although with Isabel and Ruben, you get the sense that it all occurs naturally and unintentionally and wherever and whenever they happen to lay something down it becomes part of a magical composition.

Behind the Desks



A Newspaper Clipping about the Isabel Toledo Ensemble Worn by Michelle Obama and Isabel and Ruben at the Met's Costume Institute Gala

I had written a post about Michelle Obama's style or lack thereof, Is Michelle Obama Stylish?, but Isabel Toledo + Tom Binns = Total Superfabulousness. I've never seen Michelle look better!

More Brilliantly Arranged Stuff behind the Desks



This mirror hung high on the wall looks majestic; upon closer inspection, you can see the common materials used in its construction.

Even the dress form looks like a work of art.

This dress stands guard in front of Isabel's office. I love this dress in all its seeming simplicity.

The details at the neck are exquisite.

In the hallway, there were racks of magnificent dresses. I wanted to try every single one of them on.

Her sewing machine is a thing of beauty, at least to my eyes. And to think, this simple machine is capable of making such a glorious collection. Of course, Isabel's ingenuity is the driving force behind the machine's accomplishments.

The fabric of and the details on this dress caught my eye.

I'm a huge fan of trompe l'oeil! The fabric is so rich looking.

This mannequin decorated by Ruben would look great in the dress above.

Come to think of it, this mannequin would look great in anything or nothing!

I hope you enjoyed the Studio tour!

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom