It’s always a pleasure to attend the opening night fashion show at Fashion Week El Paseo in Palm Desert. All the nights are great but there’s something special about the first night.
Photo: d. king
I was thrilled to get 1st row Diva tickets for “NARCES” by Nikki Yassemi from my friend Candy through her friend Bobbi Lampros; a giving sponsor for the five non-profit local charities benefitting each show.
Standing by a large cover of Palm Springs Life Magazine (a sponsor). Wearing vintage satin cocktail dress with lace trim and a mohair ostrich feather wrap (bought in Capetown years ago). Vintage Gucci kitten heels + matching clutch.
The show was excellent. There were even a few pieces that I could actually see myself wearing given the right occasion. And yes; these unique pieces are especially designed for a special occasion.
NARCESis a womenswear line creating luxury eveningwear, cocktail and bridal designs inspired by the romantic glamour and elegance of the mid 20th century with a distinctive modern twist. The silhouettes are strong yet feminine.
Photo: d. king
Designer, Creative Director and Founder Nikki Yassemi Wirthensohn brings her international background to her feminine aesthetic. She was born in Austria and grew up in Iran and the UK before moving to Toronto, where the brand is designed and made.
She was surrounded by design, art, and fashion all her life. Her mother worked with esteemed British tailor to the Royal Family, Victor Edelstein, who is renowned for having created some of Princess Diana’s most iconic gowns.
Photo: d. kingPhoto: d. king
From her website: The pieces are meant to be worn and styled in different ways to show individuality. From a voluminous-sleeve organza gown, which could be worn as an overcoat, to a dress that can be disintegrated into four pieces, there are numerous creative combinations. The feel is ethereal-meets-supernatural, and bodies are textural with hand-embellished flowers that are both dainty and bold with metal and spark.
Photo: d. kingPhoto: d. kingFriend Tammy in middle wearing a killer jumpsuit to go with her killer figure flanked by her friends Geri (L) and Valerie (R)Photo: d. king
Ummm… maybe high impact glamouris what I really meant to say.
Photo taken from Tracy’s new Website (see link at bottom of page).
Tracy is someone I met in Palm Springs last year and I’m happy that she’s become a friend. Needless to say, Tracy stands out from any crowd and has a multitude of talents to her credit. There’s almost nothing that she cannot accomplish. She’s also a gracious hostess. I find her inspiring.
And earlier this week she launched a new website that lists all of her creative ventures and adventures. To name a few.…if you’re looking for a cool place to stay in Palm Springs you might consider the ART Hotel, Tiki Hotel or Tiki House that she personally designed.
For now, I thought it would be perfect to share a tidbit of information taken from her actual website. At the bottom of this page you can go directly to the website where you’ll find everything you need to know.
Taken from Tracy’s website:
The creative mind behind brands such as SalonTea, Tracy Stern Shoes, Tea & Co. and a whole lot more, Tracy Turco – formerly Tracy Strern – is an artist, designer, author, hotelier, entrepreneur and style icon residing in the midcentury mecca of Palm Springs. As an interior designer she has brought her touch to numerous stylish residences and businesses, as well as vacation homes and colorful boutique hotels such as the Tiki House, Art Hotel and Tiki Hotel in Palm Springs, not to mention her own home decor collection.
Tracy also attended numerous Paris fashion house shows as well, regularly seen front row dressed by luminaries such as Emanuel Ungaro and Guy Laroche to name but a few. She was voted ‘Best Dressed New Yorker’ five years in a row by the respected Avenue magazine, and has also featured on style-driven TV shows such as Bravo’s ‘Mad Fashion’.
Tracy’s shoe line came into being when she created a patented design for interchangeable uppers on a shoe giving multiple shoes with just one pair.
From there the Tracy Stern Shoes line took off internationally, selling to destinations such as Japan, Russia, Paris and Italy. It was equally popular with celebrities around the world including the likes of Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson and Lindsay Lohan.
Didn’t I tell you she was inspiring? For more go to:
Though Helen Rose may not be a household name like her contemporary Edith Head, she was a costume design legend in her own right.
Lena Horne, Cyd Charisse, Deborah Kerr, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall , Esther Williams, Lana Turner, Judy Garland – They all loved to be dressed by Helen Rose.
She Made Them Beautiful
Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MARGARET HERRICK LIBRARY, ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES, WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Photo: Tammy Preast. Elizabeth Taylor’s dress in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”
Palm Springs Life presented a runway production of the Palm Springs Historical Society’s Helen Rose Collectiondonated by Barbara Marx (Mrs. Frank Sinatra) on Monday, February 25th.
I was among those who were lucky enough to have a ticket to her glamorous sold-out show. Held behind the gates of the stunning private Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, we sipped on champagne and ate a delicious lunch while waiting for her creations from classic films to come to life on the runway.
A brief history – La Vie en Rose:
A resident of Palm Springs, Rose won two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, for The Bad and the Beautiful in 1952 and for I’ll Cry Tomorrow in 1955. She was nominated a further eight times and was also very well known for designing famous wedding dresses of the era. She designed the famous wedding dress for Grace Kelly when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956. She also designed clothing for Elizabeth Taylor in the movies Father of the Bride and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as well as Elizabeth Taylor’s wedding dress when she married Conrad “Nicky” Hilton. The show did not disappoint. Susan Stein, fashion editor for Palm Springs Life Magazine, did a wonderful job as MC for this event. The models were as gorgeous as the gowns and outfits. Simply stunning afternoon.
Photo: d. king – Carol Channing’s dress and mink stole from Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.
Photo: d. king – Grace Kelly dress
Rose stepped in to do Lena Horne’s hair on set of the 1943 film Stormy Weather when the studio hairdresser refused to work on a black woman, and the star became her lifelong friend thereafter.
Photo: d. king – Audrey Hepburn’s dress from My Fair Lady.
Photo: Tammy Preast. Black strapless: Lana Turner’s ensemble from The Merry Widow
Photo: Kathy Wright
Photo: Kathy Wright
Photos: d. king
These images are just a sampling of some of my favorites. I met some very interesting women in that room. Some I will see again for sure. In the meantime…
FASHION WEEK
takes place March 16-23rd – held at The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert. Tickets are on sale now https://fashionweekelpaseo.com/
MC Susan Stein, fashion editor of Palm Springs Life Magazine. Photo: Tammy Preast
Friend Tammy Preast. Dress by London designer, Karen Mullen. Shoes, Vince Camuto
OLD LAS PALMAS – an intimate glimpse into old Palm Springs
Mary Pickford Estate
Thanks to a friend of mine I had the privilege of visiting eight outstanding homes & gardens as part of Modernism week. This is the first time that these unique homes have been opened to the public. The little enclave known as Old Las Palmas has always been recognized as one of the premier neighborhoods in Palm Springs and many of the older estates and homes have been updated and enhanced over the years. As we tiptoed through the tulips Mary Pickford’s estate, the home of Mary Martin, a home Howard Hughes had built for himself (a long time residence of film director Howard Hawks) Liberace’s house and others, we wore little slippers to cover our shoes from tracking dirt through the houses. Each home was as interesting and magnificent as the next. Of course I sneaked in a few selfies!
A little info about a lotta glamour
Old Las Palmas boasts the largest number of celebrity homes in Palm Springs, dating back to the mid-1920’s. Some of the well-known celebrities who have lived here include Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Todd, Liberace, Mary Martin, Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell, Lily Tomlin, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Debbie Reynolds, Kirk Douglas, Edgar Bergen, Samuel Goldwyn, Edward G. Robinson, Clarke Gable, Gene Autry, George Hamilton, Harold Robbins, George Randolph Hearst, Ronald and Nancy Reagon and countless others. The many, world-renowned architects who have built homes for their clients here include William Krisel, Cliff May, Donald Wexler and E. Stewart Williams.
Home of the original Peter Pan – Mary Martin
Among the splattering of residents the area is alive and kicking with current Hollywood icons such as Leonardo DiCaprio who owns the house Dinah Shore used to live in. We drove by but it was unfortunately not part of our home & garden tour.
A colorful quintessential midcentury update
The Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization makes sure to protect and preserve its special heritage.
photos: d. king (while lovely to look at, these photos only reflect a bit of the elegance and don’t really capture the expanse of these charming homes). Also, I took many photos inside the homes and realize that it would overwhelm one post.) I hope you enjoy them nonetheless.
I’m on a classic kick…with everything.In fact, my two best friends growing up in Montreal were compared to the likes of a young Rita Hayworth and Catherine Deneuve so I’ve always been aware of these timeless beauties. I think there was more to them than just their loooks; like a strong character and an ease with style. They embodied charm, appeal and a bit of mystery. So for style; who is best to exemplify classic cool French girl chicbetter than Catherine Deneuve? Even today at 72 (she just celebrated her birthday this month), she’s still glamming it up, as per her appearance on the red carpet at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, an event she has been attending since the 1960’s. When she stepped out at the festival’s opening ceremony and the premiere of her new film, Le Tête Haute, cinema goers and fans experienced a little Deneuve déjà vu.
So looking back no words are needed because the photos speak for themselves. Une belle du vie.
2015 – getty images
Just like a good perfume that never changes
Besides there is no one who has been able to pull off le trench as well as Deneuve. I try, I try
Nothing, except your perfume, gets as close to your skin on such a regular basis as your lingerie.
These photos are only a teaser of some very lovely additions like chemises, garters, teddys,
Sheer Desire
camisoles, babydolls, etc.SEXY LINGERIE comes in many sizes and guises but don’t forget to consult the blush sizing chart on website to find your correct sizing. Please note: more styles are being added.
TRUE BLISS CHEMISE
The sexiest part of lingerie is the way it makes you feel. You can find glamour, seductiveness & sheer delight. I hope you like these styles.
And earlier this week she launched a new website that lists all of her creative ventures and adventures. To name a few.…if you’re looking for a cool place to stay in Palm Springs you might consider the ART Hotel, Tiki Hotel or Tiki House that she personally designed.
The little enclave known as Old Las Palmas has always been recognized as one of the premier neighborhoods in Palm Springs and many of the older estates and homes have been updated and enhanced over the years. As we tiptoed through 
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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