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Fashion
writer
Michèle
Gerber
Klein
hosted
a
private
dinner
to
celebrate
Gilles
Mendel,
the
famous
designer
of
luxury
furs
and
evening
dresses,
following
a
talk
at
the
French
Institute/Alliance
Française
(FIAF).
Guests
included
Countess
LuAnn
de
Lesseps,
Larry
Creel,
Anne
Caruso,
Blair
Clarke,
Laureen
Goodman,
Susan
and
Michael
Sokol,
Amanda
Ross,
Dana
Gers,
Eduard
Pesch,
Juliette
Longuet
and
FIAF
director
Marie-Monique
Steckel.
During
the
talk
at
the
FIAF,
Mary
Alice
Stephenson,
Fashion
News
Live
commentator
and
Harper’s
Bazaar
editor-at-large,
interviewed
Mendel,
who also discussed the similarities and differences between French mode
and
American
style.
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Parisian
Mendel,
heir
apparent
and
head
designer
of
the
firm
J.
Mendel,
discussed
the
reinvention
of
the
fifth-generation,
family-owned
luxury
brand.
The
French
furrier,
founded
in1870,
has
been
a
favorite
of
the
world’s
most
demanding
clients
from
the
beginning.
In
2003,
Mendel
revitalized
the
brand.
He
moved
the
headquarters
to
New
York
and
launched
a
ready
to
wear
collection
that
was
an
unquestionable
success
from
the
initial
presentation.
The
ready
to
wear
line
demonstrated
Mendel’s
ability
to
work
in
fabrics
ranging
from
silk
chiffon
to
woolen
tweeds
with
the
same
creativity
and
emphasis
on
design
that
he
is
known
for
in
fur.
The
refined
yet
modern
designs
have
made
J.
Mendel
a
red
carpet
staple
and
a
favorite
of
stars
like
Laura
Linney
(his
first),
Kate
Hudson
and
Demi
Moore.
The
evening
was
the
first
of
three
talks
organized
by
the
French
fashion
writer
Pascale
Richard.
The
series
will
also
feature
Tommy
Hilfiger,
speaking
about
the
intriguing
business
of
creating
an
international
fashion
brand
and
Marc
Jacobs
who
will
be
discussing
the
evolution
of
fashion
designers
into
stars
and
the
relationship
between
fashion
and
Hollywood.
During
Klein’s
dinner,
Mendel
entertained
the
table
with
amusing
stories
and
anecdotes,
especially
one
about
how
the
Mendel
fashion
house
had
to
alter
Celine
Dion’s
dress
just
before
her
appearance
at
the
Oscars.
He
was
excited
about
a
new
commission
to
create
costumes
for
the
New
York
City
Ballet.
“So
beautiful!”
he
exclaimed
happily,
“just
like
dressing
little
dolls.”
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