Showing posts with label Metropolitan Museum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Metropolitan Museum. Show all posts

8/24/2014

Toast of Manhattan Wrap-Up

To pick up where I left off...I loved the Winterthur trip and the Broadway show but, seriously, I could have made those optional excursions at any time because of where I live. That decision was on me. Luncheon at the DuPont hotel is probably something I'd never have experienced. It was a nice touch that could have been enhanced by a little background info or tour of the public rooms. The dining room was magnificent.



The Metropolitan Museum's Charles James exhibit was insanely wonderful. I learned so much about the artist and his work.


I was so looking forward to was George Sarofeen's presentation. Something went wrong and it was rescheduled to the next day at a time when I couldn't be there. :-(
His talks have been highlights of prior events for me.

My table mates were the best! (Go Table 6!) Luckily I was able to use credit card miles to pay for the hotel stay which was pretty pricey for a less than nice facility. Maybe I just got a crummy room. I know some people thought the hotel was fine. 

I thought I'd come home with some amazing stuff other than what I purchased and two of the convention gifts, (Tree Ball Gown and Coney Island Cutie.) The other fashions just did not do it for me.  The optional purchases were, for the most part, droolworthy. I purchased four extra fashions and wanted several more.  I have pre-ordered three additional items. During the event, as the cost went up and up, I erased my name from a few pre-order lists.

I am very fond of Sandra. She knows how to put an event together. If you have read any of my past experiences with her conventions, you will know how much I loved them. There is an incredible amount of work and planning that goes into a convention; however, I would like to see less attention focused on the optional sales and more care given to the "gifts" attendees go home with. In my opinion, the stuff given to attendees should be at least equal to the best of the lot.

I am very happy with these Charles James inspired fashions. The first three were optional purchases. 




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More in FDQ's next issue.

12/24/2013

Save the Date: Sandra Stillwell Presents "The Toast of Manhattan"

Sandra Stillwell has announced the date and location for her next convention. Here are some excerpts from her blog and a link to the post itself.

I've been hard at work on our 2014 convention, and I'm proud to announce that Sandra Stillwell Presents: "The Toast Of Manhattan" will take place August 7-10th at the Crowne Plaza in Edison, New Jersey! 
 
Imagine "The Toast of Manhattan" in exclusive salons and department stores on the most fashionable avenues of 1940's and 50's New York City -- in a private box at the opera, or opening night at the latest Broadway play --  dining and dancing till dawn at THE "most happening" club in town! Imagine award winning American designers and fashion icons gracing the covers and pages of New York's Vogue and Harper's Bazaar -- the height of fashion, their creations in as much demand as the latest from Paris.... Imagine....

Exciting things are being planned for "The Toast of Manhattan" -- the cornerstone of which will be our group tour of the Metropolitan Museum's "Charles James Beyond Fashion", the inaugural exhibition in the museum's newly renovated Costume Institute! The landmark exhibit, which features over 100 of the legendary couturier's most notable designs, will also include sketches, pattern pieces, fabric swatches, and partially completed works from Mr James' last studio in New York City.
Please RSVP as soon as possible if you would like to join us, as having an idea of how many to plan on for convention and the tours is a big help.


This not to be missed event will be limited to only 50 attendees. Registration will begin in Spring. Those on the RSVP list will be notified before opening registration to the public.

You won't want to miss all the fun and fabulous fashions that we have planned, so mark your calendars and make your plans to attend now!
 Sandra Stillwell Presents
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"Venus Bringing the Arts to Manhattan" by Wheeler Williams, 1940's Art Deco, 980 Madison Ave, New York,
 Jake Rajs
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The Secrets of the Metropolitan Museum of Art