A must read is BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE Saint Laurent, Lagerfeld: all the splendours and miseries of fashion, written by Madame Alicia Drake and published by Folio. Despite its showy title the book is in fact a very serious double biography of two creative geniuses. There’s something for everyone : Spontaneous, true to life memories of the great Palace years, a kind of parallel with the Studio 54 that we all dreamed of. That was pre-AIDS totally crazy Party, Party time. Life was freer then, if only in the way we dressed to go out, before Tom Ford dictated to us that it had to.. || Read more →

You must go and see PRIMERO by Lisi Estaras at the Chaillot. Primero is good (even though my wife didn’t like it). It’s good because it’s not too long and because there’s this woman, this tall dancer who captures everyone’s attention because she is so unusual. She appears to be passing through. She was in the street just moments before and she has a real life, she has a home somewhere and feelings for someone. The stage is normally a place from where a story is told, not from where we can sense someone’s “civil” personality. She reminds me of our former creative.. || Read more →

We cracked open a bottle of great music on Thursday night at the Nouveau Casino. THE SHOES are just too cool. Instead of hardcore riding boots, this electro music is a cross between platforms and medieval poulaines. They are part of the group of fabulous friends from Champagne which includes YUKSEK. On stage they form a perfect symmetry (two keyboards up front, two drum kits at the back) as DESPROGES was wont to say “everyday my wife has an orgasm at 11.11am”. This familiar sounding music is however a journey of joyful discovery. Arnaud Deverre was also there and here’s.. || Read more →

Last week, the New York Times wrote that Frenchmen are boorish with their women and have manners that date back to “the old regime”. I felt targeted because I kiss the hand of most women that I meet, including on professional occasions. All to please my grandmothers, even if they’ve been dead for some time. There are two types of women. Those who allow you to kiss their hand because they are used to it and then those who stiffen as soon as you begin to move the hand upwards (because the hand must rise while I bend, otherwise it’s not a pretty picture). I recognize them.. || Read more →

On November 6, the Perrotain Gallery presented Kaws at an extreme opening where two distinct categories of guest were…mingling. On the one hand the Gotha of the contemporary art world and on the other, the graffiti author’s buddies and groupies who were definitely not dressed in local colors, which made them truly charming. This second category somewhat frightened the Perrotain staff due to their seated rather than zapping behavior. I called him an author because the great debate was, for the first category mentioned, whether or not he is a genuine artist. Behind this discussion.. || Read more →

Yesterday was the greatest day in the INROCKUPTIBLES Festival. It began with the Cascadeurs, a kind of Gary Numan-Moby style with its own very melodic and melancholic accent. This one-man band has DIY edge but in a positive way. And apparently, he even does a bit of improv at parties. A great idea for your next soirée… Then it was Monarchy’s turn. The purists say that it’s a bit soupy, like Stars for example. But I love it. It’s Depeche Mode-esque or even Partenaires Particuliers (for the more malicious) but above all it’s all about very beautiful vocals. Dazzling.. || Read more →