Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Out & About--Old Hollywood Glamour from Los Angeles' Mon Atelier

For those of us who love the style of the Golden Age of Hollywood, our imaginations run wild at the thought of the studios' costume design departments. Designing giants such as Adrian and Helen Rose at MGM and Travis Banton and Edith Head at Paramount had lavish salons where they saw their clients, the most beautiful women in the world. Stars like Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly visited these lavish ateliers that were filled with racks of custom-made gowns and fit to perfection by an army of assistants in front of three-way mirrors. And in between their costume changes, the ladies could lounge on chaises, light a cigarette, and sip coffee (or cocktails) while gossiping about their life in Hollywood. Though those days of the great studio system are now long gone, one Los Angeles boutique has done more than remember that time....Mon Atelier has brought that storied elegance back in both its couture as well as its stylish salon.

ABOVE: lemon chiffon dream fit for Lana Turner in the window at Mon Atelier

Edith Head at her Paramount salon with Grace Kelly preparing for To Catch a Thief

The design talent behind Mon Atelier is Ali Rahimi, a couturier whose brilliance appeared early in life; family found him creating clothes as a mere 6-year-old. He studied design at school then worked his way through the fashion industry from sourcing to pattern making (the key to a great production process) to full-time design. His love for classic cinema informed his design as well as the steadfast belief that the right dress makes a woman come to life. Thus, he decided on a course of custom-made couture and started Mon Atelier in 1990. He and partner John Barle opened their boutique on La Brea Avenue in 1996 and customers came running, including many second generation Hollywood like Mariska Hargitay (Jayne Mansfield's daughter), Joely Fisher (Connie Stevens' daughter), and Anjelica Huston (John Huston's daughter). Oscar nominees Angela Bassett and Amy Adams are also among their fans. As a testament to their timeless style, their clothes have been worn by girls of all ages--from a 3-month-old in a wedding to a 94-year-old Carol Channing when she performed at the Kennedy Center Honors.

I may not be a customer (yet), but I have experienced the luxury of Mon Atelier. When you arrive, the salon is bathed in a warm glow and walled with gowns in the most luxurious (often vintage) fabrics you've ever seen. Silks, sequins, feathers, and lace are all around you. It's hard to miss the infusion of Old Hollywood style, especially in the extraordinary craftsmanship of their built-in corsets and hand beading. I've enjoyed hours with Ali and John talking about classic cinema and fashion. For them, the connection is direct. They are well-versed in film history and sources of inspiration frequently come from costume designers Jean Louis and Helen Rose as well as stars like Lana Turner, Doris Day, and Loretta Young. In fact, anyone who works with the duo is given a list of required viewing, including Lana's Jean Louis wardrobe in Imitation of Life (1959) and one of my own Style Essentials Pillow Talk (1959).

Mon Atelier is known for gorgeous gowns, but they also have tailored suiting for women that is equally timeless in its design. In fact, I was first introduced to the brand by Patricia Ward Kelly--Mrs. Gene Kelly--at the TCM Classic Film Festival. There she stood on the red carpet in a perfectly cut navy suit from Mon Atelier, which made me immediately approach her. Because of my own classic style, we struck up a conversation that included her great compliment to me, "Gene would approve!" An introduction to Ali and John quickly followed as well as an invitation to the Centennial Tribute to Gene Kelly at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (AMPAS). There she looked radiant in Mon Atelier once again. And she wore yet another custom-made suit when she recently appeared on TCM to introduce Gene's greatest movies--such as An American in Paris and Singin' in the Rain--on what would have been his 100th birthday.

Everyone understands my passion for classic cinema and its incredible style, and Mon Atelier is some of the most perfect design I have ever seen. It captures the magic that we love from Old Hollywood costume design while making it absolutely modern for today. And because each of Ali's gowns, dresses, and suits are custom-made...well, you just have to feel like the luckiest woman in the world wearing them. So steady yourself, ladies. If you love fashion at its highest art form, Mon Atelier will positively set your heart racing.

Welcome to Mon Atelier

The sitting room is perhaps my favorite part of the salon

Mon Atelier is famous for luxurious fabrics that even include limited supplies of vintage
that are used to their best advantage in both men's ties as well as newly designed dresses

One wall of the atelier is full of color-blocked gowns

A favorite Little Black Dress--it's perfect, isn't it?

Speaking of perfection, you can see inspiration from Lana Turner

in their yellow and white goddess gowns...so much my own personal style

Ethereal gowns in white line the other side of the salon

I adore white dresses...look at the detail and design differences in these gowns

Caftans are all the rage and I adore this one in orange floral sequins

John capturing me in a mirror that once belonged to MGM (and possibly Helen Rose herself)

Time to say good-bye...for now

Meeting Patricia Kelly at the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival in Mon Atelier suiting (above)

and once again at the Centennial Tribute to Gene Kelly at the AMPAS

Monday, April 23, 2012

TCM Classic Film Festival 2012--Opening Day On Air and On the Red Carpet for CABARET

The TCM Classic Film Festival officially kicked off last Thursday at the Roosevelt Hotel and what excitement. The relative calm of the day before was gone and replaced with the feverish energy of 25,000 fans flooding Hollywood and Highland for four full days. Being part of this festival is an experience like no other. Each one feels like you're strapping into a roller coaster...though you have a sense of where the wild ride will take you, you're never quite sure of all the unexpected twists and turns. This constant rush of adrenaline gives you something of an out of body experience that is enhanced further by food and sleep deprivation as you make it your mission not to miss any festival favorites. It's as if you're floating through it all much like falling in love, which makes sense since that's what separates this festival and its festival goers from any other--genuine passion.

First on the agenda Thursday was meeting the incredible people behind the network at Club TCM in the hotel's famous Blossom Room. Producer and podcast host Scott McGee introduced TCM's new General Manager Jeff Gregor along with VPs Sean Cameron (Studio Production), Pola Changnon (Production), Charlie Tabesh (Programming), Richard Steiner (New Media), and Tom Brown (Original Productions) to the appreciative audience. This was quite the stage for our Q & A time with them...the Blossom Room happens to be the location of the very first Academy Awards. Fans shouted out that it cost a mere $5 to attend the ceremony there. Honestly, the history of Los Angeles never ceases to amaze me. When you're as big a classic cinema fan as I am, this kind of setting always gives me goosebumps.

Adding to the excitement was the fact that I was then invited to be interviewed on air by the great TCM host Robert Osborne. Since the festival's theme was Style in the Movies, that's what we discussed in front of the audience...from my earliest exposure to classic film (including film noir greats The Thin Man and Double Indemnity) to my biggest influences in costume design and style. Of course I spoke of the life changing moment twenty years ago when I saw Edith Head's work in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window for the very first time. As my friends and fans know, that laid the foundation for almost everything...from the way I dress to the very existence of GlamAmor today. I also added my appreciation for the iconic style of TCM's April Star of the Month Doris Day, which was particularly evident in the outfit I chose for filming (above). I will be sure share the interview just as soon as the video is ready. It was heaven.

Not long after the interview, we in the media headed across the street to Grauman's Chinese Theater to set up for the opening night premiere of Cabaret. I chose a great spot on the red carpet--right next to the TCM stage where hosts Robert and Ben Mankiewicz would both hold their interviews with the stars. Even so, I was still sitting among the notorious paparazzi of Los Angeles and literally fighting a throng of photographers who make their living from these types of events. One even climbed the railing hitting me with all his equipment to try and take my spot! Not that I could really blame them--style icons Liza Minnelli, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint, and Debbie Reynolds all walked the red carpet along with Woody Allen alumni Tony Roberts and Michael Murphy, and many others. There were also younger celebrities there as well such as Rose McGowen, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Jordana Brewster. Photographers were screaming at celebrities and running back and forth to try and get their shots, which made the entire experience quite the challenge. I was even the subject of one such moment...1927's Wings star A.C. Lyles approached me on the red carpet and showed he still had the moves at a frisky 93-years-old. The photographers couldn't get enough.

But it was Patricia Ward Kelly, widow of Gene Kelly, who was my favorite throughout the festival for her impeccable style. We first bonded on the red carpet over her vintage alligator handbag (since I have the same one). But it was her custom-made suits--by L.A. based designer Ali Rahimi for Mon Atelier--paired with gloves that made every one of her appearances special. Patricia was there to introduce Singin' in the Rain Saturday night (which coincidentally was our weather report) and I was lucky enough to talk with her twice over the course of the festival. Since both of our styles are so classic, we couldn't help but connect and have a genuine appreciation of one another. Saying of my style, she gave possibly the greatest compliment--"Gene would definitely approve!" Soon I'll be going to visit her and her talented team to discuss influences, inspiration, and all things style. Couldn't be more thrilled!

As you'll see from the photos below, the red carpet was tented in anticipation of the oncoming rain. In fact, the threat of thunderstorms loomed so large that the evening's poolside screening of High Society was moved inside the Blossom Room. No matter...nothing could dampen the fun when Frank Sinatra's daughter Tina joined us and gave a champagne toast to the incredible style of the movie. A great way to end our first day with still so much to look forward to at the festival. Stay tuned here for even more coverage and check out GlamAmor's YouTube channel for a video playlist of TCM's daily recaps and clips of my favorite festival films. Cheers!