Once Upon a Time in Paris Fashion Week - part I - nsha, Ploi and I

March 2009

Paris Fashion Week

No, I was not an observer, yes, I wish I went to more shows but actually this was in the recent past when I was directing Nsha so we were there for work! We were showing our 3rd season in Paris at Tranoi, which had a rather depressing atmosphere this time because the recession and all, but-for my very entertaining assistant Ploi it would have been pretty miserable . . .  

nsha booth at Tranoi

 

Ploi

After the Salon was done, my partner Nishita and I moved the collection to our very cute St. Honore apartment on top of a patisserie that claims to serve the Elysee thus Monsieur President himself.  We were just happy with the smell of fresh bread every morning and buyers and editors coming through to view the collection was like have a tea party everyday . . . and so far as effectiveness was concerend, we did much better with our private little showroom on rue St Honore. 

What I did not know back then was that this collection at Nsha would be my last, go figure, I did call it Fountainhead, after the book, where else was I to go really if Dominique Francon and Howard Roark inspired the collection - my plan for SS 10 was Astronauts in Africa, so space, literally and figuratively speaking . . .(more on this later). 

It was also Ploi's last collection with Nsha as she left to pursue her music career, she has an awesome band called The Diet Pills, nu rave/electro clash/a bit of disco - very very cool yet cute at the same time. . .I adore it . . .particularly the song Freaky Friend. . .so catchy.  At the time though Daniella (of Issa) and Susan got pretty excited by their hit single at the tie "Don't Under estimate the Power of the Diet Pills" . . perfect for a fashion show no?

A behind the scenes pic from the AW 09 book - we shot it in Bkk, but the mood was rather appropriate for Paris if I do say so myself . . .The book was done by Piyatat Hematat, his first fashion campaign, styled by Polina Aronova with model Nadia Serlidou- I was very hapy with the results. . . (I'll post the pics later).

Piyatat, Nadia (in the Catherine coat) and Polina

Back to Tranoi - the days were long though - really really long . . . how happy were Ploi and I to get back to our apartment and eat salad and pasta . . we just had no vital force left, although we did manage to be out . . MOST NIGHTS. . .

A memorable night was that of the Cavalli party - did not think they threw parties like that anymore . . I thought Ploi would go hug the bear . . . or do SOMETHING . . .

Ploi and Cavalli bears

Me feeding bears

but no, Lady Bunny was there, so there was no need for dramatics!

  

Lady Bunny

We then went to Gabe's for one of his famous dinners. . .Everyone wanted to try on the Howard blazer (on Ploi) and the Catherine (on me) . .. .I never mean to usurp Gabe's house to a fashion show . . it just happens most sea :) they suit his bags so well though that I think no one really minds . . .impromptu fashion shows - always fun.  

Vicky, Susan and I

John (not missable with yellow cassette clutch), Ploi and Mark

John, Daniella and Ploi

Gabe, Dani Stahl and John 

then I think we went to Regine after - more like stumbled there. . .wow . . . that is what i mean . . the nights all merged into one . . what party it was that night - I do not remember . . .

Lara Bohinc, Susan, Ploi and Alexia

PLOI (with Susan in the background)

It was hard to be out without a clock ticking as we knew that the next day we would have to be at Tranoi, on your feet to a dead beat which was the fair is well, not fun . . but we did it . . . 

Monkey - Chicken - Monkey

There are certain times when one can feels rather nostalgic . . . I felt that tonight . . .after an amazing dinner with Nat and entourage at one of Nat's secret spots (hint, it's Japanese), I went to pay Harry Bunyaraksh (P'Harry) a visit. 

Harry was hosting one of his famous dinner parties. . . P'Harry has become like an older brother since I met him - we have so many mutual friends we find it hard to count and have so many things we enjoy and get excited by together.  He has exquisite taste, is charming and downplays his extreme intelligence. So I have grown realy quite a attached to him and I adore Brook, Plern and David.  Hamish and I sometimes camp out at Harry's (far from camping),and there are such fond memories. . . Dinner tonight had a sprinkling of familiar faces but for some reason made me think of one night which we had together . . .a joint birthday party which Harry hosted together with Me and Hamish back in March . . . it is probably because the gift which Hamish bought for Harry which sits in the drawing room for all to see that reminds me often of that night . . . seems like a lifetime ago . . .

Hamish and I are born one year and one day apart, that makes him a Pisces monkey and me Pisces chicken, Harry is also a March baby and a monkey so we decided to throw a joint bday party after I came back from Paris.  It was rather fitting that the Spring/Summer collection of nsha was called Monkey Loving . . .based on a true story where a monkey belonging to Hamish fell in love with a chicken in his backyard back when we used to be kids living in Jakarta.  The monkey took her up into a tree where they hung out for 2 days.  The monkey was so in love with her that it did not want to let her go even they could not really be together (she was fine after they decided to come down) . . . absurd and very cute, so I used this as inspiration for a print that we did for nsha . . .it was called Chickmonk . . . with a line of t-shirts too called Monkey Loving/Summer Loving . . .

So yes, a joint b-day at Harry's, even Hammie's friend Sayan even came along from bali  . . .

The night before . . .the boys feeding fish at In Love

On the night, after a day of shopping and preparation, mine and Harry's friends flocked over and celebrated with us . . .  

I should mention that also the theme of the night was Arabian nights . . . hence my version of Princess Jasmine I designed many years ago and Hamish's harem/fisherman trousers, again Chomwan circa 2003 . . .wow . . time flies . . .Martina definitely got best dressed after our ultimate host in the robe of course. . .

Natasha, Me, P'Boyy

Martina, Me, Natasha, P'Boyy, P'Brook

Pette, Hamish, Me, Harry, Powpow

all good friends :) . . . on a very long table, sprinkled with flowers

Jeremy, Pette and I

The cake . . .

 

monkey-chicken-monkey

. . . but an applied version . . .the monkey loving chicken - rather appropriate really  . .  as I do love them both.

Harry, Me and Hamish

and not to forget that Michele's bday is also the same year and a day before Hammie's, so a monkey went to her too (on a slice of Pumpkin pie which we baked earlier)  . . . 

Michele - piece unique!

Michele and Tim - gorgeous couple

So a great night that was . . . and the way fairy tales have a happy ending those moments for me felt a bit fairy tale-like . . . .it's probably because  Harry is a master at that . . .creating a fantasy in his home, the way he entertains is legendary and of another time . . . as Harvey Weinstein said last year upon visiting a party after the Shanghai wrap dinner . . .going to Harry's was like walking onto a set of his own movie . . .circa 1940 . . .so Harry is as rare as those moments are rare - very special indeed. 

It would be so wonderful to play chicken and monkey all year long and eat cake of course. Alas, perhaps it is better that fairy tales do only a last a moment and we get back to reality - it makes the them more special that way - and also a fantasy.

The ancient sculpture that sits in the drawing room

nsha x baseman . . .

So Chichi of La Clique blogged about this little collaboration of mine in her fantastic blog for Colette - thanks Chichi (Chichi is amaazing - love Chichi - check out her photographs too - my faves are the dayscapes)! So here it is . . .nsha x baseman

Nsha is the label that Nishita Shah and I started, I was the creative director and whilst I was there we did a little collaboration with artist Gary Baseman who I ADORE, after Gary came over to Bkk for the Nsha Launch last October, we talked about it a bit then, some more in Miami during Miami Basel (this is where Gary and I actually met 4 years ago!) and well, and I am thrilled with the results -  a set of limited edition bikinis, swimsuits and boardshorts for girls and guys, though we kept the guys' boardshorts to only 50 and girls' to 80.  There are 150 bikinis and 60 swimsuits in 2 patterns . .  . . .I've cheated and tested them out already and I looove them . . . there is Chouchou which is the orange little guy.

 Bali

and then Hot Cha Cha in electric blue on black . . It is sooo dope.  

HOT CHA CHA CHA

Not to get all the technical on you but the bikinis fit so good, I mean, I can go surfing in them and they don't fly off, I chose top grade polyamide for it and the boardshorts are dope too - light weight but falls well . . thus it is the only bit of nsha that I have kept and is kinda the little baby that will being launching. . .somewhere very soon . . . Chichi is right, we are keeping mum about this till further notice . . .I shall keep you posted  . . in the meantime yes, that's me in the bikini . . !

middle of the sea - Samui