Daphne Night in Paris

July 10, 2008 on 12:57 pm | In SW-NewMedia, Fashion Week, SW-Events, - Jauretsi |

(Daphne Guinness speaking to press about her first Directoral effort)

I’m back in New York! Been gone for a hot minute so i’ve been truant on the blog. The good news is I come back with tales from Paris Couture Week where Starworks celebrated its first foray into New Media — The Phenomenology of Body, a simple (yet not so philosophically simple) 5 minute art piece Directed by Daphne Guinness that will forever air on The New York Times‘ T website. The video, (which was projected in large format) premiered at the Hôtel de Crillon accompanied by 12 Prints displayed in the room. Daphne describes the film in her own words here.

(POB Portraits at Hôtel de Crillon)

(Starworker Ivana with Gianluca Longo, Fashion Director at ES Magazine)

In addition to NYT’s Stefano Tonchi, the cocktail was private, mellow, and sprinkled with several influential and inspiring guests — L’Wren Scott, Andrea Dellal, Christian Louboutin, Suzy Menkes, Wes Anderson, Tatiana Santo Domingo, Margherita Missoni among others. The event was covered everywhere from WWD to FashionWeekDaily.com.

(Shelly Zander — in Marc Jacobs — playing with a dog named, um, Daphne)

I relaxed on the balcony with Phenomenology of Body’s additional producers, Brody Baker and Shelly Zander of Knowmore Productions. Newly minted Starworker Amie Witton-Wallace (who served as Alexander McQueen’s Worldwide PR Director for 12 years) attended the event as well. We’re proud to have her.

(Starworker Amie Witton-Wallace with Isobel Gorst)

(Daphne’s angels: Isobel Gorst and Michaela Cawley. A Starworker on her blackberry prepping for her Lacoste event later that night)

(Daphne — in Alexander McQueen — hosting guests on Hôtel de Crillon balcony)

(Daphne’s Private Dinner post Gallery at Caviar Kaspia)

After showing the work, it was time to sit down and celebrate. Best Caviar in Paris. Strong guest list of Daphne’s close personal friends. Can you say, “complete night”? Actually, there was just one more thing I had to do. I’d heard Santogold was in Paris playing Visionaire’s Boat party to celebrate Lacoste’s 75th Anniversary (and the release of Visionaire 54 Sport). Stage time was Midnight —– Taxi time!

(DJ booth during Santo show, Visionaire/Lacoste event. Pics on VMag.com)

I managed to arrive to the docks for Part 2 of the night. The party was on climax mode. Lacoste Designer Christophe Lemaire was spinning on the turntables before the show. Parisian hipsters sauced up. Banging dancefloor. Semi-nude women in hottubs. Inflatable animals and couture outfits on the roofdeck. The room looked like a French version of a Misshapes party. As I turn my head, Leigh Lezark (speak of the devil) was walking right towards me in the way you do when you see another New Yorker in the room — with a smiling sigh. Always a pleasure to catch up with the downtown muse. In the midst of the sweaty high energy mess, Leigh’s dress and hair perpetually look tight. It kind of amazes me. Geordian (who launched their digital identity online) emerged out of the woodworks too. The lights went down.

Finally, Santo came on stage and won over the crowd. As much as we’ve heard the album on heavy rotation at the Starworks office, I tell ya, each song sounds better and better upon each listen. Her live performance however has 1 extra dimension — two backup dancers. A mash-up of dancers past, but with flavor of its own. Think Public Enemy’s militaristic strong pauses and then synchronized twirling like soldiers to a beat. Think also Robert “Addicted to Love” Palmer women but with an indie-electro feel and the same intriguing blank faced sex appeal (video here). Now add colored Raybans, gyrating hype-man movements, spanking outfits, and some soul. It was good to see New York blood “hold down” the stage tonight.

(Close-up of Barack Obama patch on DJ bag)

Standing next Santo’s DJ, I peeped his backpack under the tables, and noticed a Barack face staring right at me with a graphic that says “Hope”. After a few days of hanging out in Paris and discussing the future of our nation to Europeans, I closed my eyes and made 1 wish to the tune of a deafening dance party. Here’s to November 08!

(View from the Boat)

Last but not least, my friends —- this was the view of the the Eiffel Tower on this spectacular night. What was the occasion? The tower was dressed up in honor of celebrating France’s rotating presidency of the European Union (EU). There were 12 stars mounted on the tower to look like the EU flag. The Blue color will continue to glow through the end of the summer (Click here to see the first moment it turned blue). Glorious.

Also, the first 10 minutes of every hour, special little sparkly lights get turned on for that extra “oomph”.

Au revoir!
J

——————————————–
All photos by Jauretsi