VENICE: Valentino: The Last emperor - Film and Party

La Fenice: The World Premiere of the Movie “Valentino: The Last Emperor.” A standing ovation for Valentino Garavani after the showing of the film Valentino: The Last Emperor, at La Fenice, opera house, during the 65th Venice Film Festival. Matt Tyrnauer, who directed the movie, followed around Valentino for two years. The movie is a realistic and often amusing insight into the world of Valentino, his forty-five years in Haute Couture, his lifestyle, his dogs and his love for beautiful things “I love beautiful women, beautiful dogs and beautiful furniture.” Valentino confesses.

Liz Hurley, Natalia Vodianova, Valentino Garavani and Eva Herzigova

Marta Marzotto, Carlo Giovannelli and Elsa Martinelli

A detail: antique crucifixes and Madonnas.

A detail: the gold leather clutch with a skull clasp.

Simona Ventura

Elisabetta and Ferruccio de Bortoli, Albertina Marzotto and Inge Feltrinelli

Lucilla Bonaccorsi di Reburdone, Matteo Marzotto and Luisa Beccaria

Alessandra Facchinetti

Afef Jnifen

Giancarlo Giammetti and Valentino Garavani

Natalia Vodianova, Tamara Beckwith and Eva Herzigova

A detail: a back view of the red carpet.

Giancarlo Giammetti and Liz Hurley

Natalia Vodianova, Carlos Souza and Eva Herzigova

Marina and Carlo Ripa di Meana

A detail: hat by Grimaldi and Giardinia

Justin Portman

Eliana Miglio

Cornelia Brandolini d'Adda and Lapo Elkann

Gabriel Garko

Marina Cicogna

The Vogue Italia and Vanity Fair party at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection: Following the world premiere of the movie, Valentino: The Last Emperor, directed by Matt Tyrnauer, Vogue Italia’s editor in chief, Franca Sozzani and Italian Vanity Fair’s editor in chief, Luca Dini co-hosted a magical candlelight gala dinner for Valentino in the gardens and the rooftop of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

The host and hostess: Franca Sozzani and Luca Dini

Jane and Philip Rylands

Can you guess ???

Carla Sozzani and Kris Ruhs

Luca Stoppini

Daniela Giardina and Guido Torlonia

Antonella and Ginevra Boralevi

Paola Gradi and Allegra Donn

Sergio Salerni

Franca and Carla Sozzani

Gabriella and Attilio Codognato

Manfredi Bellati, Franca and Piergiorgio Coin and Inge Feltrinelli

Sophie Hackford and Fatima Bhutto

Eva Herzigova and Liz Hurley

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Paris in August - Musee du Quai Branly

Musee du Quai Branly. The Musee du Quai Branly was recently built on one of the last available sites in the heart of Paris on the Quai Branly, at the feet of the Eiffel Tower by the 2008 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate, Jean Nouvel. The building resembles a long bridge, partly covered in wood, with suspended “boxes” which stretch into the trees. It is protected from the noise of the quays by glass palisade. To reach the museum you must cross un-dulating paths of what seems to be untamed greenery, designed by vertical garden designer, Patrick Blanc. The arts of Africa, Oceania, Asia and the Americas are beautifully lit and exhibited inside. The museum is also an educational and research centre and a public living space all in one. Though architectonically, I don’t think the building will stand the test of time, the permanent exhibition is certainly worth a visit, especially if you are interested in ethnic art and cultures.

Musee du Quai Branly – Oceania. Funeral masks from Papua New Quinea. The Asmat Papua tribe on the south east coast of New Guinea, perform a funeral ceremony called Jipae in order to drive out the soul of the dead person, which may wander around the village. The soul of the dead person is represented by one of his relatives wearing a mask like this one. The man in mask dances throughout the night until sunrise and then he is attacked and expelled by the village men.

Musee du Quai Branly – Africa. The back of an Akhnif berber cape, from the Aitouaouzguit region. The cape is typical of Jewish or Muslim Shepherds from the mountainous regions of Morocco. Made with sheep and goat wools, silk and leather. The cape is hand-woven in one piece, usually by the shepherd’s wife or mother. The colorful motifs are characteristics of the Akhnif tribe.

Musee du Quai Branly - Africa. The front of an Akhnif berber cape.

Musee du Quai Branly – Africa. An early twentieth century, black and white, pigments and wood Bedu mask from the Nafana population of the Ivory Coast in Africa.

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Paris in August - houseboats on the River Seine

Houseboats on the River Seine – the rental. For a holiday with a difference you can rent luxurious houseboats in the center of Paris moored on the River Seine with views of the Eiffel Tower. A tree-lined entrance to the cobble stone quai gives easy access to the barge and the neighborhood with its variety of shops, boutiques, bistros and restaurants. In the evenings you can enjoy a cocktail watching the beauty of the City of Light float by.

Houseboats on the River Seine – the car. A 1950’s convertible is parked on deck of the Saint Paul. Houseboats anchored on the River Seine house everything from bed and Bbreakfasts to restaurants to private homes or rentals.

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Paris in August - Poilane

Poilane – pain decore. Every month, Poilane creates a theme loaf, which can also be made to order. This seashell inspired loaf-representing August and vacation time is particularly attractive. The Poilane boulangerie is the most famous in Paris. On the site of a seventeenth centenary monastery, in a vaulted cellar, below the store in the Latin Quarter of Saint Germain des Pres, six bakers work 24 hours non-stop. Since 1932, together with the other Parisian store and oven they produces 15,000 loaves of bread a day, which are shipped all over the world. Sometimes people wonder how come the bakery can make so much bread and still remain an artisan bakery. The answer is easy: the same care is taken with each single loaf that comes out of the wood-fired brick ovens. And, each loaf is handmade using the simplest tools and carefully selected ingredients.

Poilane – pain classic. These are the classic Poilane loaves with the P logo branded on the front. The tanginess of Poilane bread is the result of natural fermentation with yeast. Like salt and pepper, it enhances the flavor of the foods it accompanies, like smoked salmon or foie gras and the natural acidity of the sourdough bread stimulates your taste buds, adding another dimension to what you taste and enabling you to better appreciate what you eat.

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Paris in August - La Maison du Chocolat

La Maison du Chocolat. La Maison du Chocolat, was the only chocolate “boutique” open during the first part of August in Paris. It was probably open because it’s a global brand with boutiques all over the world. Established in 1997, world famous, maitre chocolatier, Robert Linxe, was the first to open an all-chocolate store. I was attracted to the window by this colorful display of sorbet and ice cream cartons, which contain the very best chocolate ice cream and sorbets on the market. Especially noteworthy are the coveted dark chocolate noir, the vanilla, the lemon and delicious caramel flavors. New tastes include, passion fruit and mango, raspberry and apricot. All great cool summertime treats.

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Paris in August - La Grande Epicerie de Paris

La Grande Epicerie de Paris - pastries. La Grande Epicerie de Paris is situated inside the department store Le Bon Marche on the rive gauche. As a gourmet food hall it comes second only to Harrods in London, though somehow I prefer the atmosphere here. It is one of my very favorite stores in Paris and I often go there just to wander around and make my mouth water. Especially appealing are all the fresh food and take away counters. “There is nothing as good as the best.” is the motto of all the teams working at the great Parisian grocery store.

Note: this tower of delicious tarts is called 7eme Ciel or seventh heaven and is actually seven little individual pistachio and chocolate tarts.
La Grande Epicerie de Paris – salts. I have a thing about salts and collect different salts from all over the world. I love to put them along the table in little ceramic sake cups, which I buy at Pearl River in New York. Like a magnet I was attracted to the salt display and was pretty impressed, though the selection is more refined and recherché at Harvey Nichols in London, the choice here wasn’t bad.

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Paris in August - La Grande Epicerie de Paris

MOVIE: La Grande Epicerie de Paris – cheese counter. Admire and let you mouth water as you look at this selection of French cheese.

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Paris in August - Marche Raspail Bio

Street Market: Marche Raspail Bio – the documentary. While I was there they were filming a documentary for the Nuits Blanches de Paris, scheduled from October 4th through the night to the morning of the 5th. The Golden Retriever in the foreground is the mascot of the film crew. Though it was August a good thirty of the hundred vendors came out on the tree-lined divider of Boulevard Raspail. This is the chicest outdoor Parisian street market and you can find the best organic and gourmet products like; bread, meats, cheeses, cakes, pastas, as well as, natural products like hand milled soaps, candles, homeopathic remedies, clothes scarves and gloves.

Note: The Marche Raspail can be found on Boulevard Raspail between ru du Cherche-Midi and the rue du Rennes in the 6th arrondissement, it is open from 7am to 2pm on Tuesdays and Fridays; Sunday (organic) from 8am to 3pm.

Street Market: Marche Raspail Bio. One of the many organic farmers who sell at the Marche Raspail Bio street market on Sundays. As you can see the carrots and potatoes come straight from the earth.Street Market: Marche Raspail Bio – Roger Le Guen. I really liked the assortment of these pretty ethnic reversible quilted silk or cotton jackets on Roger Le Guen stall. I also loved the scarves and bijouterie. Roger has been selling in the Parisian market for fifteen years and one of his most famous customers is Isabelle Huppert.

Street Market: Marche Raspail Bio – Roger Le Guen. This long wool waistcoat, photographed from the back is fantastic and original. It is quilted on the outside and plain on the inside and has long points in the front. It would look stunning on top of a thick woolen jacket and would also keep you very warm.

Street Market: Marche Raspail Bio – Roger Le Guen. Roger Le Guen’s philosophy is simple, he displays it on this board on the side of his stall:

Beaute et Qualite FIRST!
Pour ELITES authentiques – PREFERABLY –
Et les autres (WHY NOT)
(DE TOKYO a SAN FRANSCISO DE RIO a TORONTO DE CAPE TOWN a HELSINKI)
Vous ne trouverez que des soies de qualite, des modeles EXCEPTIONNELS et SUBLIMES
en FOULARDS, ECHARPES, uniquement a l’enseigne
“LES YEUX DE MATISSE”
Sur les marches de la VILLE DE PARIS.
MAUBERT. MONGE. QUINET. RASPAIL BIO.
Et nulle part ailleurs (NOWHERE ELSE)
PAS MEME A ROME

Street Market: Marche Raspail Bio - the Breton T shirt. The best gifts are these one hundred per cent cotton long sleeved stripped original Breton T shirts for only twelve Euros. They come in a variety of colors and sizes that go from babies right up to men and women.

Street Market: : Marche Raspail Bio - Foies Gras Lafitte. Though I don’t really approve, their stand did look typically French. Jean and Marie Gremillet sell Lafitte goose and duck liver whole foie gras on Parisian markets and online. They also sell jams and jellies, especially inviting are their Sauternes Jelly and the truffle products, like the Truffle Pieces, a jar of Tuber Melanosporum, which can be used to enhance the flavor of soups, sauces and vinaigrettes. Their most famous customer is Alain Ducasse.

Street Market: Marche Raspail Bio – Sabi et Sabi. Get your Bonpoint fix for one hundredth of the price at Sabi and Sabi, who sell the most beautiful smocked children dresses and wait for it, they cost at the very most twenty Euros. All their other products are also hand-embroidered in Madagascar. Talking of children clothes, you must go and visit the new Bonpoint flagship store near the Luxembourg Gardens on the rue du Tournon. Unfortunately I was not allowed to take photographs. The 1,200 square meters space, houses ten rooms with clothing, accessories, shoes, a restaurant, a garden and a VIP private boudoir for their rich and famous customers like; Angelina, Nicole and Claudia.

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Paris in August - Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg – the gates. Let’s enter into the largest public park in Paris situated in the 6th arrondissement of the rive gauche, The Luxembourg Garden. It was doubly exciting to visit this beautiful twenty-five hectares park, to see the natural and well kept landscape gardening, flowers, fountains and antique statues, as well as, the contemporary art exhibition, ArteSenat, which features, every summer, forty-one sculptures and installations by French artists.

Jardin du Luxembourg: Jean-Marc Sicard. I found this installation by Jean-Marc Sicard very attractive. Red ribbons, which flutter in the wind, are tied to branches of this tree-lined walk. They read “Etre dans le vent est un ambition de feuille morte.” Sicard is one of the forty-one contemporary French artists showing in the Artesenat exhibition, until September 21st, in the Luxembourg Garden. The modern pieces look good against the beautiful landscaping, architecture and statuary.

Jardin du Luxembourg: Jean-Marc Sicard – a detail. A detail of Jean-Marc Sicard’s istallation which reads “Etre dans le vent est un ambition de feuille morte.” which roughly translates as "To be trendy is a dead leaf’s ambition". This quote, originally by Milan Kundera, is also the title of the 2008 Artesenat exhibition in the Luxembourg Garden.

Jardin du Luxembourg: the flower borders – a detail. A detail of the flower borders surrounding the Luxembourg Palace, now the house of the French Senate. The Palace was built by the architect, Salomon de Brosse in 1615-1627 in the Florentine style for Maria de Medicis.

Note: I was intrigued by the unusual mixture of lavender and geraniums.

Jardin du Luxembourg: La Fontaine Medicis. I turned a path in the gardens, round the corner of the Senate and was surprised and enchanted to come upon this magical fountain. Built in 1630 at the request of Marie de Medicis to remind her of her childhood walks spent in the Boboli Gardens in Florence. The statue group at the top, Polyphemus Surprising Acis and Galatea by Ottin (1861), was not part of the original fountain but was added after relocation. This fountain is the only one of the Queen’s original decorations in the Luxembourg Garden to survive to the present day. In the foreground a bird’s nest inspired sculpture by Polska in wicker and bamboo.

Jardin du Luxembourg: La Fontaine Medicis – a detail. A detail of The Medicis Fountain. I loved the garlands of ivy that line the path along the water on both sides. In the foreground a floating sculpture by the French artist, Polska entitled La Pirogue, it’s ten meters long and made with bamboo and wicker.

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