The Met, Halston, Best TV, Pride NYC, Walk of Hope, Lincoln Center Diamond Jubilee Savanna Rooftop
Halston & Couri
It’s always scary to look at myself on the big screen; but there I was, throughout French film director Frédéric Tcheng gorgeously shot documentary of the designer, Halston. The interesting part is that he used vintage footage of me interviewing Halston and his hero/enemy and my mentor, the haute couturier Charles James, by the artist Anton Perich form the age of 19 to 2017. Watching myself age on camera is not my idea of a good time, but the film itself is an authentic if surface reflection of the man who I once called my lover. I’ll leave the story of my teenage affair with Halston for my memoir. I saw the film at the Southampton Arts Center where founding board member Simone Levinson and founder of New York Fashion Week Fern Mallis hosted a screening as part of their documentary series. southamptonsartcenter.org Director Tcheng, knows his fashion history having also made “Dior and I” (2004) and “Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel.” (2011) I’m trying to convince Tcheng to do the life of Charles James to finish this trilogy as their lives were all so intertwined, but only time will tell. The film traces the rise and fall, via cocaine and AIDS, of Roy Halston Frowick and his career from farm boy to making Jackie Kennedy’s iconic pink pill box hat and fashion fame to his friendships with Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli and me. If you like fashion ’s bigger than life characters, you’ll enjoy this movie. With that said, I agree with Los Angeles Times reviewer, Kimber Myers “like Halston’s bias-cut designs, Tcheng’s documentary only skims the surface of his life, but boy, does it look great doing it.” Bravo!
The Handmaid’s Tale
If you’re still trying to recover from the shocking ending of Season 2, brace yourselves. The Handmaid’s Tale is back on Hulu. Season 3 is already serving up frightening political narratives that move the story forward into a terrifying future. June Osborne/Offred, played by the wonderful Elizabeth Moss, who won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in this series, and her fight for the freedom of the repressive Republic of Gilead and her two young daughters is the main focus of Season 3. Moss confided “You have to fight with fire. That’s become June’s journey in Season 3. To fight against the people she has to fight, she has to become more like them.”
Big Little Lies
Hopefully, you’re done watching HBO’s bloodcurdling and depressing hit Chernobyl because everyone’s favorite TV show Big Little Lies is back for a Season 2. If you need a recap, head to HBO’s Instagram. The premium network cleverly posted a video with everything you need to know or remember from the first season. Based on the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, the show stars Oscar winning actresses Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, and Laura Dern fill out the stellar cast. The unmissable dark, comedic drama is still delving into lies, friendships, parenting, and marriage. Meryl Streep joins the cast playing Mary Louise, the mother of Perry, played by Alexander Skarsgard, who was murdered during the finale of last season. On her role, Streep confessed: “We imagine that not only our children’s problems but everything in the world, is our fault. I think it’s sort of a more complicated landscape than that, and this piece enters into that very bravely.”
The Met’s Battle of the Legends
The Mother of Fashion, Met trustee and Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour helped host a celebration of the exhilarating exhibition Camp: Notes on Fashion, on view at The Met through September 8, 2019, and in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. The hilarious highlight of The Met’s Pride festivities was a competition dubbed Battle of the Legends: Vogueing at The Met. This Happening, staged on the museum’s plaza, featured some of ballroom’s fiercest competitors including Asia Balenciaga, Bootz Prodigy, Omari Mizrahi, Malik Mugler, Tamiyah Mugler, and Ty Ebony. Jack Mizrahi, co-founder of House of Mizrahi, picked the participants. Judges included the Iconic Queen Mother Sinia Alaia; Twiggy Garçon, executive producer of Kiki; Our Lady J, producer and writer for POSE; the Legendary Mother Lola Mizrahi; Jose Extravaganza, Father of the House of Xtravaganza; Jordan Roth, president of Jujamcyn Theaters who sponsored the event; and a beaming Anna Wintour. The judges kept giving out all 10s and the crowd roared for everyone, but in the end crowned Malik Mugler the “Legend Slayer.” This authentic, interactive experience with the public was just one of the Mets Pride events. The Met Rules! met.org
The Love Ball
Susanne Bartsch, the iconic downtown party giver, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) threw a fanny basher dubbed Love Ball III at Gotham Hall with lighting by the brilliant artist Bentley Meeker. The benefit blended high fashion and celebrities and highlighted Ballroom culture, while helping raise money for the CFDA- Vogue HIV/AIDS Fund. The ball’s Master of Ceremonies’ was Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor Billy Porter who sang his new song Love Yourself. Performers were judged by a group that included Marc Jacobs, Char Defrancesco, Mary J. Blige, David & Phillipe Blond, Nicky Hilton-Rothschild, Kevin Aviance, and Dita von Teese. Harlem fashion legend Dapper Dan presented the trophies to Roger Superstar, Orlando, Yasmine Petty, Invertebrate, Charlene and Xtravaganze. In the mix were Jason Wu, Amanda Lepore, David Barton, Fernando Garcia, Christian Siriano, Janet Mock, Jonathan Adler, Brian Donnelly (KAWS), Linda Fargo, Simon Doonan, Simon Huck, Stan Herman, Steven Klein and Timo Weiland. The Love Ball III was made possible with the support of M∙A∙C Cosmetics, Lyft and SKYY® Vodka. In 1989 and 1991, Susanne presented the first Balls at Roseland and raised over $2.5 million in programs for those affected by HIV/AIDS. The CFDA is a not-for-profit association founded in 1962 with 500 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. The after party was held at the Boom Boom Room in the Standard Hotel which still remains the most glamorous night club in NYC. cfda.com
Walk of Hope & Lincoln Center’s Jubilee
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) marked its 60th Anniversary with a Diamond Jubilee Gala honoring the families of Southampton’s Audrey and Martin Gruss, the David Rockefellers, Daisy and Paul Soros and Laurie Tisch. Audrey is the longest serving female board member at 26 years and is also the founder of The Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF), which recently honored Anderson Cooper, Brooke Shields and Ashley Judd. Performers included violinist Joshua Bell, and Harry Connick Jr. Chelsea Clinton, Justin Peck and Damian Woetzel were among the presenters. lincolncenter.org Gruss is on the move and has enlisted model Christie Brinkley and children Sailor Lee Brinkley-Cook, Alexa Ray Joel, and Jack Paris Brinkley to be the Grand Marshals of her annual 5k Walk of Hope in Southampton on August 4th. This fun walk/run is sanctioned by The USA Track and Field and always attract a glamorous crowd. Everyone is welcome and entrance fees range from $15 to $40. The event takes place rain or shine. For more information, go to hopeofdepression.org
Savanna Rooftop
Restauranteur Abraham Merchant has opened Savanna Rooftop a vibrant open-air lounge on top of the Z Hotel in Long Island City. The new hot spot features breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline and the sexy décor is inspired from the savannas of Africa. Actors Anthoula Katsimatides, Tatum Peacock, Jeff Lima, and Janel Tanna sipped cocktails created by Chad D. savannarooftop.com