Scene: Sivan by Designer Jack Sivan Fall / Winter 2024 collection at New York Men’s Day (NYMD) during New York Fashion Week. The Brooklyn based menswear designer was inspired by Dandyism, a literary and artistic style of the latter part of the 19th century which embodies a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance; Beau Brummell, an important figure in Regency England and for many years the arbiter of British men’s fashion; and by a portrait of composer Franz Schubert by Josef Abel circa 1814. Designer Jack Sivan is a sustainable menswear designer whose work is inspired by traditional tailoring influenced by historic Saville Row and Neapolitan tailoring traditions. He is interested in what menswear means in today’s modern world and its expansion. Founded in 2020 and initially rooted in bespoke tailoring, it evolved to include ready to wear. This presentation featured his sustainable silhouettes and mastery of vintage tailoring exhibited in his suits, jackets, coats, and capes. Classic timelessness over trends. Talent for the show: Hair by key hairstylist Kien Hoang and team for Oribe utilizing Oribe hair products, Makeup by key makeup artist Michelle Webb, First Assistant Monique Marquerite, and team for Augment Tokyo, Designer Assistant Persephone Bennett, Stylist Mason Lyle, Millinery David Dunkley, Producer Matthieu Guillot and team, Location Location05, Public Relations AgentryPR, Photojournalist Fred J. DeVito, Imagemaker.
Scene: In March. I did a post on social media and Sandra Smith-Doghmi, Founder and Publisher, Red the Luxury Life magazine contacted me saying “I love the photo of you and your wife in front of the neon and would like to do a story about it”. Sure, I said. I gathered photographs, wrote the copy, and designed the spreads. She then asked me to be part of the team as Executive Producer and Editor at Large for Red. The photo mentioned was from Studio 54: Night Magic at the Brooklyn Museum as we were entering the Opening Ceremony event. I was invited to Studio 54 Radio SiriusXM with Myra Scheer, former Executive Assistant to Studio 54 co-owner Steve Rubell, and Marc Benecke, former Studio 54 Doorman, on the Marc and Myra show. I surprised them with my ad for Studio 54 Jeans I art directed at Bloomingdale’s. A few days later Myra introduced me to Matthew Yokobosky, Senior Curator of Fashion and Material Culture, Brooklyn Museum, because he was curating the Studio 54: Night Magic exhibit. Matthew included a handful of our archives in the show. The photos in the reel include my captures of our archives, the exhibit, and guests. First page original photo by Robin Platzerat, 1977. Platzer/Twin Images/The LIFE images via Getty Images/Getty Images. Photo of us inserted into Robin Platzerat photo by Dave Turner.
Scene: Benoît Verdier, co-owner of the luxury Parisian fragrance house EX NIHILO at Bergdorf Goodman. EX NIHILO Presented by Bergdorfs, Powered by Éclat Public Relations. At the press preview the French brand launched 10019 Wonders fragrance which one can customize, exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman. Benoît also featured the Speed Legend fragrance in his presentation and spoke of their other scents. The event was held in the private lounge on the eighth floor of the store. Verdier spoke about the unconventional luxury brands art, ingredients, and process of making EX NIHILO fragrances. “We source our ingredients according to the most strict protocols all over the world: from France (Grasse) for our Rose of May Centifolia, Tuscany in Italy for the Iris, and Vanilla Bourbon from Madagascar — the most splendid raw materials in perfumery. We only choose the best quality with no limits of cost. Today we focus on the most demanding sustainability programs, reducing our carbon footprint, exploring bioscience, and promoting social consciousness because we think all these elements are the future of high perfumery.” Marine Roland, Director of Americas EX NIHILO, spritzed several fragrances on scent strips for our olfactory experience. We encountered the fresh, warm, smokey, and other notes of their perfumes. EX NIHILO is a Parisian fragrance house founded in 2013 by a young trio from Paris, with other co-owners Sylvie Lodayand Olivier Royère. It is an alternative to stereotyped luxury products, inspired by both the creative Avant-Garde and the French spirit of pure refinement.
Scene: Speed Legend was launched as a means of embodying a love of speed and performance in olfactory form. EX NIHILO Speed Legends eau de parfum gets off to a racing start, in part due to the invigorating presence of bergamot before deeper notes of vetiver and tonka bean.
Scene: Admiring the Speed Legend fragrance during the presentation is Daise Bedolla, Freelance Journalist,Harper’s Bazaar, Into the Gloss, The Cut, and Vogue.
Scene: Emily Marx, Bergdorf Goodman Public Relations, and Tatev Poghosyan, EX NIHILO Boutique Manager at Bergdorf Goodman.
Scene: Benoît Verdier introduced the new 10019 Wonders fragrance for men and women exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman which can be personalized. Top notes almond, cinnamon; Heart notes orange blossom, dates, caramel; Base notes cocoa, vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood.
Scene: 10019 Wonders cap top.
Scene: Benoît Verdier, co-owner and scent aficionado, discussed their luxury fragrances. Experiencing the essence of a scent is Daise Bedolla, Freelance Journalist, Harper’s Bazaar; Into the Gloss; New York Magazine; The Cut; and Vogue.
Scene: Tatev Poghosyan, EX NIHILO Boutique Manager at Bergdorf Goodman; Carrie Wittmer, Senior Features Editor L’OFFICIEL USA Magazine; and Jamie Rosen, Founder Office of the Surface.
Scene: Andrea Rios, Fashion Assistant Esquire Magazine, and Lauren Swanson, Editorial Director NBC Select.
Scene: Jillian Scheinfeld, Founder The Dandy, Creative Copywriter A Million Ads, and Staff Writer DVEIGHT.
Scene: Nelson Sanchez, Sales Counter Manager and NY Business Coordinator, EX NIHILO.
Sene: Tatev Poghosyan, EX NIHILO Boutique Manager, holding the scent sticks as Marine Roland, EX NIHILO Director of Americas, spritzed the various fragrances for all of us to experience.
Scene: Various scents at the press preview.
Scene: Vanes Sacoppes, CEO and Editor in Chief BELLA Magazine; Founder and CEO of BELLA Media Company.
Scene: Janet Mercel, Editor in Chief DVEIGHT Magazine; US Editor A Hotel Life; and Senior Editor, Upstate Woman.
Sene: View from Bergdorfs private lounge of the Grand Army Plaza and Central Park.
Scene: Hanane El Moutii, CEO Éclat Public Relations.
Scene: Jamie Rosen, Founder Office of the Surface.
Scene: Carrie Wittmer, Senior Features Editor L’OFFICIEL USA Magazine.
Sene: Dr. Tara Lalvan, Founder and CEO BEAUTIFECT, and Vanes Sacoppes, CEO and Editor in Chief BELLA Magazine and Founder CEO BELLA Media Company.
Sene: EX NIHILO shopping bags.
Scene: Marine Roland, Director of Americas EX NIHILO, who was an integral part of the presentation and Benoît Verdier, co-owner EX NIHILO.
Scene: Janet Mercel checking in after the presentation. Editor in Chief DVEIGHT Magazine; US Editor A Hotel Life; and Senior Editor, Upstate Woman.
Sene: EX NIHILO Boutique at Bergdorf Goodman.
Sene: Speed Legend packaging.
Scene: 10019 Wonders packaging. 10019 is Bergdorf Goodman’s zip code.
Scene: EX NIHILO 10019 Wonders. A fragrance for men and women.
Scene: Benoît explained the process of creating ones personalized 10019 Wonders fragrance exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman. Using 10019 Wonders as the base he outlined the three raw material choices, rose, orange, and amber to create a fragrance expressly for you.
Scene: The chemistry begins with EX NIHILO’s 10019 Wonders fragrance as a base.
Scene: Amber, the raw material used in this case, was placed into 10019 Wonders fragrance base.
Scene: EX NIHILO 10019 Wonders fragrance base and amber meld into a unique personal scent.
Scene: EX NIHILO Programme De Personnalisation exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman.
Scene: Jamie Rosen, Founder Office of the Surface; Jillian Scheinfeld, Founder The Dandy, Creative Copywriter A Million Ads, and Staff Writer DVEIGHT; and Lauren Swanson, Editorial Director NBC Select.
Scene: EX NIHILO fragrance testers.
Scene: Ric Cobos attending to an inquisitive customer.
Scene: Hanane El Moutii, CEO Éclat Public Relations; Troy Salmans, Digital Coordinator Éclat Public Relations; and Janet Mercel, Editor in Chief DVEIGHT Magazine; US Editor A Hotel Life; and Senior Editor, Upstate Woman.
Scene: Benoît Verdier, co-owner EX NIHILO; Dr. Tara Lalvan, Founder and CEO Beautifect; and Vanes Sacoppes, CEO and Editor in Chief BELLA Magazine and Founder CEO BELLA Media Company.
Scene: EX NIHILO Blue Talisman for men and women is a cutting edge fragrance symbol of an infinite spiritual energy expressed by the subtle freshness of Ginger, softened by abstract Musky and Ambery notes.
EX NIHILO Presented by Bergdorfs, Powered by Éclat Public Relations.
Scene: Harry King and Nancy Donahue at their fun event at Slate in New York City. It was the perfect Friday evening for a fashion reunion! Their parties have stayed true to a musical beat. The vibe was upbeat and happy as the DJ spinned Studio 54 dance music pumping up the buoyant mood. The attendees mingled over cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and music. It was a get-together full of joy, celebration, and conversation. Guests included art directors, bloggers, family and friends, fashion designers, hairstylists, magazine editors, makeup artists, models, photographers, producers, public relations, stylists, and other industry greats and notables. Talented, wonderful, and fun people. The mood was festive. Another stellar night with Nancy and Harry at their shindig!
Scene: Loris Diran, Gildo Spado, Esma Korn, and Tony Spinelli.
Scene: Joey Hunter and Karen Lee-Grybowski.
Scene: Rodger del Valle, Renaldo Barnette, and Barry Weinbaum.
Scene: Lisa Zari and Vivian Scalia Dash.
Scene: Nancy Donahue, James Bosco, and Harry King.
Scene: Rashgene Gazi-White, Yasmine Guenancia, Deborah Hughes, and Rob Walter.
Scene: Tony Spinelli and Jade Albert.
Scene: Gretchen and Steven Maginnis.
Scene: Joanne Russell and Sandy Linter.
Scene: George and Yasmine Guenancia.
Scene: Nancy Donahue, Constance von Collande, and Harry King.
Scene: Joey Hunter, Debbie Dickinson, and Freddie Leiba.
Scene: Mitch Klien and Rob Kaplan.
Scene: John Warner and Denise Walch.
Scene: Russell Dash and Vivian Scalia Dash.
Scene: Mother and daughter, Carolyn Rea and Jennifer Backus.
Scene: The Naeem Khan Spring Summer ’24 collection at New York Fashion Week. The theme was To India My Love. The show was a heartfelt homage to the colors, culture, and craftsmanship of India which inspired the vibrant tapestry of the designer’s homeland, where beauty and diversity, tradition and innovation intertwined seamlessly on the runway. A true marriage between East and West. Talent for the show: Hair by key hairstylist Jon Reyman and team for Aveda complemented Naeem Khan’s vision with elegant back braids with strong parts, a fusion of Indian heritage and high fashion achieved with artistry — Couture Indian Princess. Key makeup artist Georgi Sandev and team enhanced the collection with gold eyeshadow and glowing skin with d’Alba global skincare and especially by using their White Truffle First Spray Serum. Key nail artist Julianna Dahdura, Founder of Deco Beauty, and team applied matte gold and high chrome look nails. Stylist Anna Katsani. Jewelry Sterling King, Bonheur Jewelry, Uncommon Matters, Alexis Bittar, and Ben-Amun By Issaac Manevitz. Undergarments Commando. Shoes Alexandre Birman. Location Naeem Khan’s Showroom. Photos Fred J. DeVito.
Special thanks to Helen Oppenheim, hair historian, archivist, and blogger, for asking me to collaborate during Fashion Week.
