Far From, Close: by Helena Christensen...Opening Reception @ Dactyl Foundation, SoHo

12/16/08

Supermodel, photographer and overall do-gooder Helena Christensen hosted the opening reception of her new photo exhibition "far from, close" Monday night at Dactyl in SoHo. The exhibit is a series of images that include "environments, characters, objects and somber abstractions," and for every work sold the Dactyl Foundation will give a kid at ICP at The Point in the south Bronx a camera to pursue his or her own creative vision (I love that). Profits will be donated to The Point and to CPI Chernobyl organization.
The exhibit runs till Jan. 10.


Artist/founder of the Dactyl Foundation Neil Grayson, ?, Vogue's European editor-at-large Hamish Bowles, Helena Christensen and legendary b-boy Crazy Legs

Helena looking absolutely stunning (like that's a big surprise...) with Crazy Legs

Photographer Jeremy Kost

PR extraordinaire Kelly Cutrone (and her fabulous Rick Owens jacket)

Actor/comedian Judah Friedlander


And fashionable guests...


Few people can get away with an orange bob...She wears hers very well.

I just liked the way his tie popped

Flapper-chic


Rocking the bangs

Glenn Belverio Christmas Party...East Village

12/14/08

My good friend Glenn Belverio threw his annual holiday fete Saturday night and, needless to say, it was a jolly good time. While the place was too packed to take many pictures, I did manage to get some shots of Glenn's politically-themed Christmas tree, which, p.s., I loved.

Since I missed Glenn's tree-trimming party the weekend prior, I brought him a late politically-themed ornament: a pickle. It's a symbol of the state Bush and his administration has left our country in.

Glenn chose a Barack Obama finger puppet as the 'star' to top off his tree. A shining star indeed...

Of course it wasn't all politics. There were disco balls...

Ahhh...It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Thursday Art Crawl...Chelsea, 24th St.

11/15/08

Seems November is the month for art openings...Thursday night art crawl in Chelsea on 24th Street. The block was abuzz with art fans, scenesters and, of course, fashionistas, weaving their way in and out of galleries to see new artist exhibitions. I visited the Bortolami Gallery where an old friend of mine (and now internationally celebrated artist) Aaron Young was having the opening reception for his new show "Punchline". I'm not great at explaining artwork, but according to the gallery, it's "an installation in which he invites the viewer into a participatory space constructed within the gallery." Right...The show runs until Dec. 20.

A Piece of Work: Artist Aaron Young in front of one of his famed pieces

Parisian Chic: The scarf, the jacket, the shoes...très magnifique

Australian import (and newest member to the posse) Matilda Boland with Danielle Saxe

Purple Reign: the colored tights make the outfit

Tokyo in the House

Six Scents Launch Party @ the New Museum...Bowery

11/13/08

A serious fashion set turned up Wednesday night to celebrate the launch of Six Scents, a new fragrance initiative that pairs designers and perfumers to help raise money for select charities (smelling good for a great cause...I like it!). Hosted by London-based designer Gareth Pugh, with tunes provided by The MisShapes, the party was held high atop Bowery in an all white, glassed in gallery space at the New Museum.

This year's designers and fragrances: Alexandre Herchovitch - "Urban Tropicalia", Bernard Willhelm - "Wicken 3000", Cosmic Wonder Light Source - "The Spirit of Wood", Gareth Pugh - "Diagonal", Jeremy Scott - "Illicit Sex" (this was my friend Glenn Belverio's favorite...how appropriate), and Preen by Thornton Bregazzi - "Teen Spirit".

I loved her Kimono-style jacket. It's always nice to see color in a sea of all black. I love how the leather clutch on the left is in the exact same colors, too.

The sophisticate and the school girl...cute.

Sharp shooter: Check out that belt buckle

Anh Tuan Pham and friend (whose name I'm not sure how to spell but I know it's pronounced 'We')

This is Chad. He wears his makeup like this every day (of course I asked). He said it takes him like an hour to put on. How cool does he look against the chartreuse elevator wall?

Speaking of the chartreuse elevator wall, I couldn't resist taking photos in there. A) it was just so big. And B) how often do you see chartreuse elevators? Me with my date Glenn Belverio (and his new pewter Piere Hardy shoes).

No, it's not coc he's doing there on the mirrored surface, he's actually smelling perfume. Guests could smell all 6 designer fragrances from a shiny black plexiglass riser like you see here. See the holes in the corner? That's where the scent came out.

These are some serious spiked boots.

View from the terrace

Sophia LaMar...

...I asked her about her shoes and she said she made them herself. "You have to be creative in times like this--a recession." I agree 100% and will be keeping my out for more recession-inspired fashion.

The hair, the green layers...she reminds me of mother earth.

I'm a big fan of suspenders

Flower girl

Beautiful Sophie Na and Glenn Belverio

For more on the evening, check out Glenn's post on Diane, A Shaded View on Fashion

José Parlá: Layered Days, Opening Reception…Green St., SoHo

11/9/08

One of my dearest friends and all time favorite artist José Parlá had his opening reception last night for his latest show "Layered Days" at Cristina Grajales in SoHo. I wouldn't have missed this for the world! Not only am I'm a huge fan of José's work (also the very proud owner of a one-of-a-kind jacket he painted for me back in 2001), but I rarely get to see the guy since he's usually out the country tending to his own sold out shows.

Just like his new work, the turnout for the reception was very impressive, full of art fans, fashionistas and, of course, lots and lots of flavor. The show runs until December 20, so if you're in the neighborhood, I highly recommend checking it out!

Man of the Hour: José Parlá
Note: When José signs something (for example here, a copy of his book) it's never just a simple 'autograph'. It's more like a little work of art.

The Pop Off: From the necklaces to the colorful blouse to the printed bag...she's holding down the mix-n-match look.

Last of the mohawkins...


Mari J. Always fly and now officially a regular here on Josie's House of Style.

Love her '80s vibe...

Urban Legends: (clockwise) Crazy Legs, Lee Quiñones, José Parlá and Bobbito Garcia


My best friend and now New York resident (yay!) Danielle Saxe (and one of my favorite paintings in the show)

Always stylin', Robyn Fernandes (and one of my favorite paintings in the show)

Black, White and Red All Over: The very lovely Louisa St. Pierre

Kelly Mills of Black & White PR sporting her company colors

More favorites from the show...


José Parlá and moi

West Village...Bedford Street

11/6/08

Having fashionable friends has its perks...In my case, they let me photograph them so I can feature them on my blog.


Lisa Finkelstein. Jewelry designer at J.Crew (and if you've seen the jewelry, you know just how fabulous she is...). Color coordinated from head-to-toe.

Michelle Frantz. Handbag designer at Donna Karan (Handbags? Donna Karan? Need I say more?) So chic in black and white--topped off with her Prada coat.