Thursday, February 22, 2007

Kathleen Colussy,: Paris Fashion Study Tour Recap



Take a LOOK what we did in just 4 days!!!!! Copy of info sent to students --- this along with MORE photos will be availbale on my blog later today!!!!

1. Delivered December FD grad Eunah Lee to work with Top Haute Couture Designer in Paris!
2. Met personally with 4 top French designers for one-on-one meeting
3. In depth tour of the city of Paris and MOST of it's premier cultural sites!
4. Tour of one of Paris's oldest fashion schools
5. Visit to Haute Couture Designer's home! (mansion and atelier)
6. Several students gleaned job opportunities upon graduation!
7. Made new friends and memories to last a lifetime.
8. I personally had 3 other appointments to make arrangements for MORE job opportunities, internships, collaborations and appointments for my FILLED 2008 tour!

ANDRE ....My desire is to make book for each of the designers students met. Similar to the one I made for you for China….can we chat about that?

Now let's take a closer look in depth of what we did….

Thurs.
Arrive in Paris and went immediately to visit the symbol of Paris the Eiffel Tower
Time for lunch a bit of shopping and then off to meet top…
Paris designer Ana Quasoar at her studio near the chic Place Vendome area of Paris! Ana has many VIP clients for her wedding fashions along with her Haute Couture clients of Christian Lacroix and Dior who purchase her hand painted textiles! Several students shared their portfolio with Ana, as a result from conversations with Ana - she will be taking Marcia Harris and Pascal Weber to work with her when they graduate!!!!

After dinner a handful of students continued to sample the local café' nightlife near the hotel before unpacking and then catching up on much needed rest!

Friday.

Bright and early students were off on their second fashion day in Paris.

Highlights included a Tour of YSL - Ms. Colussy has interviewed numerous designers for her up coming book entitled: Fashion Undressed. Thanks to these connections she was able to garner access for her students to several "insider secrets to Paris fashion. Once such experience was visiting the Yves St. Laurent exhibition based on his famous African collection. Mr. St Laurent's personal attorney, who escorted the students into the former atelier, followed this up with a more personal tour for the 40 year achieve collection for YSL from his early days at age 17 where he designed for Dior himself! The students toured the vaults of the one-of-a-kind Haute Couture designs of this 20th century genius. Students were also privy to a demonstration of how the collections is restored and preserved. At the time of our visit the workers were working on the recent donation of NY socialite Nan Kempner. Nan was known as one of the premier American socialites to support Haute Couture. Nan's clothes represent decades of the custom work by YSL. There will be a showing of the collection beginning in May at the foundation in Paris.

Students also visited the studio, presentation room and the concept store of Longchamp. Longchamp has been a family business of leather goods, accessories and now clothing for three generations! Students had a full presentation along with a time of question with the granddaughter of the founder named Sophie Delafontaine and her head designer. Afterwards students purchased the signature 1625 handbag while Ms. Colussy's shared portfolios with Sophie. The result: FM student Jen Miller work was selected to be reviewed by Sophie's brother and co-owner who is charge of the NEW concept store in New York City. Jen's CV and samples landed her an opportunity to work as a stylist with the company in NYC! The best part was the look on Jen's moms face as she saw it all unfold before her eyes. As a mom, I can only imagine her pride at her daughter's success. For those who did not know Jen and I had several meetings to discuss her portfolio prior to our trip and how it should LOOK, sooooo Jen, aren't you glad you listened to me?

Students took advantage of the lunchtime in Paris to visit several other major retail venues as well as sight seeing stops including the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Palais Garnier, and more.

The night brought student friends on the tour a chance to closer bond to one another with night visits to the city including walking on the Champs Elysees. Still others sampled the wonderful café's and pastries that Paris is known for!

Saturday.
Thankfully by Sat. the taste of spring weather in Paris was still on our side
As students were off to visit with one of the oldest Paris fashion colleges: Ecole' Fleuri Delsporte. Ms. Delsporte was a major fashion illustrator during the 30, 40's and 50's. She founded her school based on unique method of rendering fashion. Illustration along with the art of fine sewing skills is the hallmark of French design.

Ms. Delsporte and the schools current president (also her daugher-in-law) invited students to preview behind the "seams" of the secrets of their illustration classes. Hopes for future exchange and collaborations between France and the US are being reviewed. One insightful glimpse into this doyenne of fashion was this hearing accounts from this talented woman's love for America. Why? She dearly appreciated our liberation of her beloved city. Unknown to the students, she shared with me how she has suffered the ravages of WWII. What overwhelmed me was her poignant tale of how she risk her own life to hide and protect many Jews from the Nazi occupation. She was also one of the key mentors of a young Olivier Lapidus who learned to illustrate at her school.

The Lapidus family is especially significant to Paris Haute Couture, Olivier's father and aunt both were members of the Chambre. (The organization of Haute Couture designers)

Students rested for lunch before they continued to enjoy the sunshine from the view of Haute Couture designer Olivier Lapidus studio and mansion on the famous Avenue Foch! Can you imagine? A top French designer opening his home and his studio to over 20 students? Recent grad, Eunah Lee is currently working side-by-side this amazing man. Olivier has made history with his many contributions to fashion in the area of technology. However, for those in the know, viewing first hand his quite and humble man share with students his secrets and encouraged their dreams and aspirations. Olivier is one of only a handful of designers who has won the coveted "GOLD THIMBLE" award. This is the equivalent of the Oscars!

Later in the day, students we honored by La La Rose lingerie designer meeting up with them directly on location at one Paris's top specialty department stores. Stephanie shared with students her meteoric rise to prominence. Her designs outsell top brand such as Dior and others, as she is known for one of the trendiest hot labels in lingerie's.

Also did you know? Arrangements have been made for one student who did NOT attend this tour, FD student Danielle Lovello to work along Stephanie after she graduates this summer! My contacts are NOT for just the students who can afford the luxury of travel…be sure to tell your friends ANY student with a worthy portfolio can make an appointment with me to share their work with the designers and companies I visit.

Sunday brought a bit of down time for students who enjoyed a private motor coach tour of the city. Next students continued their tour to Versailles.

As Versailles the students were treated to a private guided tour with one of Paris's fashion journalist. Rolas who studied at the American University in Paris is one of a handful of writers and guides who are licensed lead such tours.


Upon arriving back in the city students were given entrance to the Louvre. There they enjoyed visiting the famous Mona Lisa along with the thousands of other artifacts from one of the world's most remarkable museums.

The evening students dined on regional cuisine where it was planned to celebrate several student birthdays. However, because the students were anxious to savor their last night in Paris the students instead privately celebrated with their friends.

All in all it was a fantastic trip. Where students learned a lot about fashion, about Paris, about traveling, culture shock and even about themselves. As the casual observer it was delightful to see how many students came away with a deeper sense of who they were and who they wanted to be. I suspect they might just take those classes a bit more seriously after their Paris adventure. My trust is that they will deeply appreciate more the talented faculty who can best prepare them of their future. For those desiring to become illustrators, I predict that many will be sitting at the feet of Ms. Ivanova to glean more of her secrets as with the pattern making, portfolio and draping genius of Ms.T, Adrian, Ernestine. While I can say for sure that Ms. O'Reilly's surface design class will now be more appreciated than ever thanks to viewing the work of Ana Quosoar. And finally for our own Tim Gunn, Andre West and as well as our all -around fashion guru Mr. Milman ---how blessed our students. As for FM…Kerry and Chris…watch out you will soon be bombarded with groupies yearning for your insights!

Monday
Finally I was pleased that all of my students successfully navigated re-entry into the US… For my foreign students all I can say is WHEW! (Right Marcia? Over 1 hour and counting!) For me the greatest joy was to finally arrive at the gate to see the precious impromptu to birthday celebration in full force. To all of you who came with me… my heart is that you each came back with a wonderful memory that was unique and special to you. It did not have to be fashion related, if you had a special time with your family or friends that is more than enough. Relationships eclipse fashion and should last forever.

For all of you who showed me respect on this trip - I deeply thank you. Someday my prayer is that you look back on this trip you will know the heart I had to serve you with all of the care and preparation that went into this trip. I also hope you will treasure all the wonderful new friends you met along the way…. I am presently collecting thank you card or samples of work to send off in packages for each of the designers we met. My experience has been they appreciate a collective effort more than the isolated few who write them.

Again my deepest thanks for permitting me to be the one to introduce you to MY Paris. Until next time…
Kathleen Colussy

posted by art design project @ 4:42 PM

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