Tag Archives: Yves Saint Laurent

Paris Art is Always a Good Idea. Two Celebration’s – Spring into Summer.

Posted on by

Think late spring and try to avoid summer for these two exhibitions. The exhibition, Sheer: The diaphanous creations of Yves Saint Laurent will be on display at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris. Dates: February 9 to to 25 August 2024. It will be the second chapter of a story that began last summer at the Museum of Lace and Fashion in Calais.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-1024x512.png

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris invited the curator Anne Dressen to be its artistic advisor; she will focus on transparency as a chosen artistic expression of Yves Saint Laurent. The exhibition has been designed by the architect Pauline Marchetti, whose work explores the intersection of perception and space.

Few articles of clothing are entirely transparent. In theory, transparency is incompatible with the very function of clothing, which is to cover the body, conceal or protect it. Intrigued by this contradiction, and by the powerful role diaphanous fabrics could play in his work, Yves Saint Laurent began using materials such as chiffon, lace and tulle in the 1960s. Like a leitmotif, he regularly employed transparency during his forty creative years, at times alongside embroidered or opaque fabrics. He daringly reconciled these contradictions, allowing women to proudly and boldly assert their bodies. 1966 announced the start of the sexual revolution of 1968. The female body was gradually revealed. Rudi Gernreich designed the first monokini in 1964. In 1966, Yves Saint Laurent made the female chest visible with his first sheer look, which he subtly covered with see-through cigaline. The nude look was born. In 1968, Saint Laurent designed the most emblematic example of this: a completely transparent chiffon dress with a belt made of ostrich feathers.

March 26 to July 14, 2024. The Musée d’Orsay Celebrates 150 years of Impressionism. Paris 1874.
Inventing impressionism 150 years ago, on April 15, 1874, the first impressionist exhibition opened in Paris. “Hungry for independence”, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Pissarro, Sisley and Cézanne finally decided to free themselves from the rules by holding their own exhibition, outside official channels: impressionism was born. To celebrate this anniversary, Musée d’Orsay is presenting some 130 works and bringing a fresh eye to bear on this key date, regarded as the day that launched the avant-gardes.

Try Tantalizing Tangier This Year!

Posted on by

Morocco is a Hot Destination this year and next year is beginning to fill up as well! We’ve contributed to the Morocco Mix with clients exploring the mesmerizing medinas, Atlas Mountains, and Sahara camps.

On my radar for fall, Tangier which is hitting its stride again as a Destination. One of the most free-spirited beach cities, Tangier has enticed boho artists, expat writers Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Paul Bowes, Tennessee Williams, and the Rolling Stones who called Tangier home for brief sojourns.  Anthony Bourdain dipped his toe into Tangier life as well.

The Fairmont Tazi Palace, Tangier

The gateway to Africa, perched on the Atlantic, Tangier is an intoxicating hotbed of culture and balmy Mediterranean weather.  Located about 8 miles across the Straits of Gibraltar from Spain.

Once known for its sordid reputation, from 1923 for thirty plus years, it was classified as an International Zone, which had been jointly administered by the European colonial powers and the U.S. since 1924.  People of all character flooded Tangier with a mix of brilliant writers, criminal’s, exiles, and eccentrics – a melting pot of civilization relishing a culture of no rules and permissiveness.

The Kingdom has noticed the influx of tourists as have luxury five-star hotels: the Fairmont Tazi Palace is contributing to the buzz. Tangier has lacked luxury hotels, there are a few small guest houses, La Tangeriana, where I’ve stayed – it’s a delightful riad property, with stunning views. Hotel Josephine, a bit out of town, is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is an old school traditional property.

The Fairmont Tazi Palace is a true luxury property in a magnificent location. Secluded high in the forested hills above the medina is Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier, one of the finest 5-star hotels in Morocco. Built as the opulent residence of the king’s advisor, it has been meticulously restored to its 1920s splendor, lovingly recovering the original decorative elements, and enhancing them with the exquisite handwork of local artisans. This expanded sanctuary sits amid acres of a century-old eucalyptus forest and groves of palm, olive, citrus and fig trees, interspersed with Andalusian-style gardens.

A sea of tranquility amid a modern-day international city. The SPA extends over 27,000 square feet with 10 treatment rooms and outdoor spaces bathed in natural sunlight that leads to a vitality pool, private spa, solarium and hammam. Every treatment is personalized to your wishes, combining Moroccan-inspired techniques with products. Hammam will be on my schedule after I arrive!


The 133 rooms, suites and penthouses at Fairmont Tazi Palace are designed in homage to Moroccan high craftsmanship, with vibrant mosaics, rich fabrics and delicately handcrafted Arabic moucharabiehs showcasing the talent of skilled local artisans. Seamlessly integrated modern amenities ensure the utmost in comfort and convenience.

  • Fairmont Tazi Palace, Tangier
  • Fairmont Tazi Palace, Tan
  • Fairmont Tazi Palace, Tangier
  • Fairmont Tazi Palace, Tangier

All the rooms offer balconies or terraces, some looking out over a hillside lushly carpeted in eucalyptus forest, while others afford uninterrupted views over the Old City to the mountains beyond.

Andalusian-style gardens and tranquil spaces are interspersed between the various parts of the hotel, turning the palace into a luxury home. I can’t wait to visit!

Villa Mabrouka

Also opening in June is the long-awaited hotelier Jasper Conran’s Villa Mabrouka, the ‘House of Luck. Set high above the Bay of Tangier, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. It was once the ornate home of iconic fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. The former private residence, a 1940’s estate, will offer twelve rooms, originally designed by Jacques Grange, it will be a superlative draw for fashionistas and followers. Gardens designed by Madison Cox overflow with bright bougainvillea and lush citrus trees. Famed British designer, Jasper Conran, is the ideal host of this fashion legacy property.

Always was Morocco. And recently the country’s leadership seems to have embraced it in all its ill-reputed glory. The days of predatory poets in search of literary inspiration and young flesh are probably over for good. Hippies can just as easily get their bong riffs in Portland or Peoria. But the good stuff, the real good stuff, the sounds and smells and the look of Tangier — what you see and hear when you lean out the window and take it all in — that’s here to stay. Anthony Bourdain.