The Book on Top 100 in Fashion Designers A-Z

Valerie Steele, Yeohlee and guest on Yeohlee's "Fashion Designers A-Z" page. Photos by Angela Pham.

12 Feb. 2013/NEW YORK – IF not during Fashion Week, there would have been few other fitting occasions to celebrate the release of "Fashion Designers A-Z."

It went down Tuesday night, Day 6 of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York, at TASCHEN Store New York (http://www.bit.ly/gYODIp) Two of the 100 featured designers, Jean Wu and Yeohlee, showed to be feted by the assembled.

The limited-edition (11K copies ), 654-page coffeetable tome is one that anyone and everyone who gives a hang about fashion may wish to have in his/her library, or atop her/his – coffeetable.

Akris, Diane von Furstenberg, Etro, Missoni, Prada and Stella McCartney provided cover for “Fashion Designers A-Z.”

Authored by venerable fashion writer Suzy Menkes and Director and Chief Curator of The Museum at FIT Valerie Steele (also the editor), "Fashion Designers A-Z" is a book that features the most important designers of the last century. It includes profiles, Web sites, caricatures of each designer and HD photos of their works from the permanent collection of The Museum at FIT. Text is written in several languages. The designers are listed alphabetically by first name. Just about every truly big name graces its pages.

That includes Coco, Gianni, Yves and Vivienne who is presenting a collection today at London Fashion Week (http://www.vevlynspen.com/2013/02/next-stop-on-fashion-express-london.html). Don’t fret; U.S- and U.S.-based designers aren’t left out. One can’t imagine the FIT would snub Ralph and Diane. In fact, Diane is one of six designers who was pressed into service to cover the books in a fabric from one of their collections. Miuccia went bananas by offering four different prints!

Deputy Director of The Museum at FIT Patricia Mears and Jean Wu have a happy moment.

No doubt, to keep dirt, dust and other particles, as well as nonbuying prying eyes at bay, "Fashion Designers A-Z" is encased in a plexiglass sleeve.

Visit http://www.taschen.com to learn more about Fashion Designers A-Z, including purchase information. The book is also available at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com)

Choice Words Before University Settlement Dinner

Could Chefs Andre Soltner (left) and Jacques Torres (right) be sharing tasty secrets about a very special dinner with Marjorie Gordon? Photos by Gregory Partanio/ManhattanSociety.com.

11 Feb. 2013/NEW YORK – CHEF André Soltner spiced up the evening and served up a few bons mots for the evening to come. He is a gentleman of a certain age and has earned the privilege to say just about anything he wishes.

“I didn’t know anything about it until I was told but I was happy to learn about it and help,” said he when asked about his association with University Settlement.

The nonprofit takes an impressive integrated, comprehensive approach to helping those in need. Initially after his remarks, there was a possibly uncomfortable silence in the room before folk realized that the truth is the truth and Chef Andre wasn’t doing any sugar-coating and broke out in very appropriate laughter.

So it was Monday night at an Upper East Side penthouse apartment for the warmup – an amuse-bouche, if you will – to the “University Settlement 9th Annual Fine Wine Dinner & Auction, an evening at Lutece with Chef Andre Soltner” on 16 April. Chef Andre is best and fondly known in this country for putting the now-shuttered Lutece on the culinary map. He was among several old lions/lionesses in the house.

A culinary pride: Andre Soltner, Sirio Maccioni and Alain Sailhac.

Also putting in an appearance at the runup to University Settlement’s largest fundraiser of the year were Sirio Maccioni, Alain Sailhac, Arlene Feltman Sailhac and Jacques Torres. While Chef Andre promised a classic French meal, to be preceded by a Champagne (Henroit) reception for the April affair, Chef Jacques promised chocolate for dessert.

Quite the wit, Mr. Chocolate asked the crowd during the week of Valentine’s Day what is the difference between men and chocolate. Many heads were being scratched before the chef revealed the answer: “Chocolate gives you pleasure every time.”

Well said, Chef.

Visit http://www.universitysettlement.org/ to learn more about University Settlement and the University Settlement 9th Annual Fine Wine Dinner & Auction, an Evening at Lutece with Chef Andre Soltner.

IOSSELLIANI Arrives Happily in the New World

W29 Showroom owner Susanne Rehnstrom joins Roberta Paolucci at the latter’s IOSSELLIANI NY-04-IOS housewarming party. Photos from IOSSELLIANI.

10 Feb. 2013/NEW YORK – ROBERTA Paolucci and Paolo Giacomelli continue their march across and around the world with their first freestanding store in the Americas.

The pair’s exquisite jewelry brand, IOSSELLIANI, celebrated the occasion with a soiree in a storefront space Sunday night on West 29th Street in a neighborhood that is trying to become known as NoMad (North of Madison Ave.). How cute! But not as cute as the pieces of vintage-based necklaces, bracelets and other geegaws – some with New York City themes – that will be lying about.

IOSSELLIANI NY-04-IOS draws a crowd through its doors.

Colleague Michael Spirito showed to help RP celebrate her cozy new joint – IOSSELLIANI NY-04-IOS – that was kept jumpin’ by disc jockey Andy Rourke and well-hydrated by Planeta wine.

A second may be in the works, word is.

Visit http://www.iosselliani.com/ to learn more about IOSSELLIANI NY-04-IOS and other IOSSELLIANI stores around the world. Rx