FashionEtc.com April 18th, 2024

I am fortunate to have many friends who write books. Some of these books are better than others, but for the most part they range from mildly amusing to utterly enthralling. Ivana Lowell's book, Why Not Say What Happened?, is definitely the latter.

I sat down with the intention of casually perusing it for 15 minutes, and a few hours later I emerged, mesmerized, moved, astonished that Ivana could write so uplifting a book about her life—a life fraught with family tragedy, addiction, abuse, and neglect, all hidden under the veneer of the English aristocracy and the glamour of the bohemian elite.

Ivana's mother, Lady Caroline Blackwood, was an accomplished writer who married, and lived with, a string of creative powerhouses, among them Lucian Freud and Robert Lowell. Who was Ivana's father? You'll have to read the book to find out, because as one reviewer put it, it's a "genetic whodunit."

Fashion folks braved Monday’s single-digit temperatures to attend the Metropolitan Museum’s luncheon honoring the models of the Grand Divertissement à Versailles, a little-known 1973 fashion show credited with putting American fashion on the map.

Five American designers—Oscar de la Renta, Stephen Burrows, Halston, Bill Blass, and Anne Klein—wowed the French with their minimalist designs on a multicultural mix of models.

Eight of those models attended Monday’s luncheon, hosted by de la Renta and Burrows, the only surviving designers.

“The designers themselves said, 'Well, it was those black girls that were on the stage, and they just transformed the presentation,'” Costume Institute curator Harold Koda explained.

The idea to celebrate the models formed last year when Koda sat next to one of them, Alva Chinn.

“It was sort of in my mind: There must be something related to the fashion models themselves that was significant in terms of bringing women of color into breaking through the white establishment of fashion,” he said.

“Welcome to New York. This is the birthplace of four judges on the U.S. Supreme Court and two on American Idol. We’re very proud,” NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg told the crowd at a reception for Grammy nominees who hail from the city. Joking aside, the mayor congratulated some of the local talent, including Lady Gaga, John Mayer, and Jay-Z, who will be at the Grammy Awards on February 13.

Bloomberg then pointed out Cyndi Lauper in the crowd, and said, “Every once in a while when I see her perform I pinch myself, because she happens to be a personal friend of mine. Who knew?” He said Lauper has been to his house for dinner, and is a fascinating person. Indeed, who knew?

Is it possible to have a relationship between a man and a woman that's purely sexual? The funny and sweet comedy No Strings Attached has the answer. You'll have to see it to find out.

It's clear the cast and crew enjoyed making this film: "This is the most fun I've had, ever, making a movie," Ashton Kutcher said in his introductory remarks at the Cinema Society's screening, proceeding to give most of the credit to Natalie Portman (how nice is that?).

Judging from the audience's reactions, the film will be a hit; a feel-good movie for the doldrums of January.

Tamara Mellon and Olivia Palermo loved the movie.

"I want to be Natalie Portman!" joked Nicole Miller.

"It was so much fun. Ashton Kutcher loves these kinds of movies—last year he was in Valentine's Day," said Dylan Lauren, impressing us all.