7 posts tagged "Kiki de Montparnasse"
A Lingerie Pioneer Explores A Brave New World: Ready-To-Wear
The art of seduction is hard to master, but confidence-boosting lingerie never hurt. Enter intimates maven Jennifer Zuccarini—a co-founder of Kiki de Montparnasse and former design director at Victoria’s Secret—and her newly-launched Fleur du Mal, a collection that celebrates undressing and dressing up in equal measures—which is to say it’s half-lingerie, half ready-to-wear.
“I’ve always had a vision for this brand,” she explains, “This idea of, Okay, there’s this gorgeous sheer blouse or dress. What’s the perfect thing to wear underneath it?” She’s now making both: provocative yet sophisticated underpinnings as well as similarly sensual separates and even a gown or two. From the delicate chiffon blouses to a button-front, A-line leather skirt down to the special occasion balconette bra and matching garters, the full range is a dream wardrobe for a wife—or a mistress.
Instead of going the wholesale route, Zuccarini focused on creating a unique, interactive (read: social-media friendly) e-commerce site, Fleurdumal.com. “I wanted to make a fully shoppable experience that can be emotional, too,” she explained. The editorial images can be shopped not only for Zuccarini’s own collection; they can click to learn more about the ABC Carpet & Home rug or the glossy art book in the shot, too. That’s because, Zuccarini says, “the site is a platform for bringing together all the things I love. It can be about clothing and lingerie, but it’s also about culture and music.” They’re on display in the video debuting exclusively below, and in the series of events Fleur du Mal is throwing to toast its debut this week, including cocktails, a dinner party, and a special performance on Friday night by French electropop band Saint Michel, appearing stateside for the first time.
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld Gets Intimate
“It’s hard to know what to expect, but this is all quite amazing,” Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, who is pregnant with her first child, tells Style.com. “What I do know is I definitely need a bigger bra size!” Luckily for her, Restoin-Roitfeld has designed a new capsule collection for Kiki de Montparnasse to fit those needs. She was diligent, however, to make sure her black and white, lacy silk underthings (in the store and online December 14) are tailored for women with all body shapes. “It’s really, really technical,” she says of her collection of slips, bras, and panties. “We all have different bodies and we wanted to see what works on all of them, so there were lots of tweaks made during the design process.” Here, the photographer, brand consultant, graphic designer, and model tells us about the latest additions to her résumé—lingerie designer and mom-to-be.
How did this collaboration with Kiki de Montparnasse come about?
I have always been a lingerie fan. Lingerie and shoes are my two favorite accessories, and for many years I was hoping to do a collaboration with a brand like Kiki. Out of the blue, the Kiki PR girl reached out to me about hosting an event with them and I knew I really wanted to do something more creative than that, so here we are.
Tell me about the collaboration and design process in creating your capsule collection.
I had strong ideas about what I wanted. Right away, I did sketches for the first meeting. It’s really, really technical—it’s not just doing the drawings. We all have different bodies and we wanted to see what works on all of them so there were lots of tweaks.
What do you look for in lingerie?
I do not like bandeau bras. I think it’s OK when you have really small breasts, but otherwise it just looks awful. You want lingerie that makes you feel good about yourself and makes your body look your best. Sometimes it can be too tight and uncomfortable. We were careful to have no visible panty line.
What other projects are you working on right now?
I have really focused on this one for the past few months. The team there is so amazing and I would love to work on something else with them. I have some other brand consulting and art direction projects but I don’t like to talk about them until they are out. Then I am mainly just focusing on my pregnancy. Continue Reading “Julia Restoin-Roitfeld Gets Intimate” »
Prabal Gurung Takes The Reins At ICB, Designers At Midlife, Spring (Campaigns) Are In The Air, And More…
The Japanese label ICB, formerly designed by Michael Kors and then Victor & Rolf, stopped distribution in the West in 2002, but it will soon be back on these shores. Owning company Onward Kashiyama has announced that Prabal Gurung will helm the relaunch of the collection in U.S. and Europe, beginning here in Fall 2012. [WWD]
In 2011, designers of major labels, including Haider Ackermann, Christopher Bailey, and Nicolas Ghesquière, hit milestone “big O” birthdays (they all turned 40). In the NYT, Suzy Menkes points out that the battle of generations of designers of all ages, however, is a thing to celebrate. [NYT]
The Spring campaigns are upon us! Fashionologie rounds up the best of what’s out now, featuring star turns from Karlie Kloss, Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr, and Julia Stegner. [Fashionologie]
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld designed her own collection of lingerie for Kiki de Montparnasse—and pregnancy or no pregnancy, she’s gonna model it, too. [Elle]
The Celebs’ Loss, Your Gain
The Decadestwo pop-up at Soho’s Kiki de Montparnasse is quickly becoming a New York tradition among bargain hunters in the high-stakes game of keeping up appearances. For the past several seasons, Christos Garkinos has packed up more new-with-tags Chanel purses than one man should rightfully possess and installed them—along with a trove of designer consignment ready-to-wear and shoes, much of it donated by his celebrity clients at his home base in L.A.—in the second-floor space of the Soho erotica emporium. (Don’t call it a sex shop, please.) The getting’s as good as ever at the current sale, which opens its doors to the public tomorrow, and strikes an elegiac note: This time around, there’s a special emphasis on pieces by the late Alexander McQueen. Selections include a tiered gown from McQueen’s final collection, a lurid kimono once worn by Janet Jackson, and this diamond-patterned beauty from McQueen’s Spring ’09 collection. Though it’s priced at a fraction of retail cost—$890—it still may be steep for some. They can wait until the sale’s final day, when a collection of Louboutins and Manolos hit the floor for a mere $150.
Decadestwo pop-up shop runs Thursday, March 18, through Sunday, March 21, at Kiki de Montparnasse, 79 Greene St., NYC, www.kikidemontparnasse.com.
A Decades In The Making
“I have 75 appointments today. I feel like an Amsterdam prostitute!” Decadestwo co-owner Christos Garkinos joked as he sorted through a rack of Chanel tweed. Such is the appeal of the L.A. vintage and consignment mecca, which has finally opened on our coast in the form of a three-day pop-up store on the second floor at Kiki de Montparnasse. If you are one to mourn missed purchases from past seasons, like a rounded check coat from Balenciaga’s Fall 2006 collection or a Fall ’07 Prada ombré jacket (both were spotted for less than $500), it’s a must-visit. I died for this YSL biker jacket with checked lining and the tableful of candy-colored clutches. There are also trays of bargain-priced bijoux, like enamel insect rings and giant retro Marni bangles that beg to be stacked. Merchandise is constantly being restocked, so there’s no risk of encountering racks of leftovers. It’s already moving quickly, though. Big purchases at last night’s launch party prompted so many inquiries from credit card companies it was quickly dubbed the “credit fraud” shopping event.
Decadestwo at Kiki de Montparnasse, by private appointment Friday, May 15, and open to the public Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17. 79 Greene St., NYC, (212) 965-8070.