February feels like it’s flying by but there’s still a lot of new things to do, see, watch, and try this month.

The Madison Avenue Diptyque store took over the neighboring space and renovated to create one of the most beautiful boutiques in the city now and the biggest Diptyque store in the US. The store features all the product categories, including candles, home scents and décor, perfumes, and bath and body, with each having their own dedicated areas. According to Julien Gommichon, President of Americas at Diptyque Paris, “every detail was carefully curated from the architecture, to the interiors, to the product displays, with inspiration taken from our first boutique at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris, as well as New York City’s architectural codes, from places like Grand Central and Old City Hall stations”.

“Throughout the space, we feature stunning artwork by Redfield & Dattner. The stained-glass windows near the entrance are also something to be admired. Developed in collaboration with Studio Vitrail and Bryce Bianconi, they are inspired by the Diptyque archives in Paris and bring such a magical touch both in the space and from the outside looking in. The mirror on our fireplace mantle is by American designer Michael Javidi Design, based in Greenport, NY.”

I stopped in yesterday and couldn’t believe how chic it looked in person and the salespeople could not have been nicer. Make sure you stop by the next time you are in New York.

Chanel also recently opened a new store dedicated to watches and fine jewelry at 730 Fifth Avenue.

The interiors were designed by architect and longtime Chanel collaborator Peter Marino, with nods to founder Coco Chanel and her iconic Paris apartment. 

“Her favorite design motifs and color pairings play out across the gleaming two-story space: black and gold lacquer paneling, coromandel wall screens, gilded mirrors, and an opulent mix of contemporary and fine art and antiques. There’s even a spectacular staircase featuring 24-k gold-framed rock accents by Goossens, the famed Parisian goldsmith who crafted the custom “Dream Catcher” chandeliers.” 

Renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has expanded his New York footprint with the launch of Four Twenty Five, a new restaurant that perfectly blends culinary excellence with architectural marvel and sustainability practices.

“Four Twenty Five boasts a remarkable design by the esteemed Lord Norman Foster of Foster+Partners, a recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Prize. Four Twenty Five will deliver extraordinary experiences on both its Mezzanine and Street levels. The captivating cocktail lounge and bar downstairs feature 45-foot high ceilings, complemented by a 24-foot painting created by artist Larry Poons and a stunning staircase. Enhancing its appeal, the restaurant’s Mezzanine level features an intimate dining room suspended above Park Avenue showcasing a grand open kitchen.”

Artist Anh Duong has a new show at Galerie Gmurzynska that will be on view until May 31, 2024. She mentioned in an interview that her models kept failing to show up which is why she began painting self-portraits which make up the exhibition.

I walked by the Neue Galerie yesterday and saw a sign up for a new exhibition Klimt Landscapes. I wish I had know it had just opened because I would have gone before an appointment uptown because it was too near closing time so I will have to return. It doesn’t close until May 6, 2024 so I have some time.

“This major exhibition of Gustav Klimt’s (1862–1918) idyllic depictions in the landscape genre will feature significant paintings made while the artist was on his Sommerfrische (summer holiday) in the Austrian countryside. “Klimt Landscapes” will present highlights from Neue Galerie New York’s holdings, such as Park at Kammer Castle (1909) and Forester’s House in Weissenbach II (Garden) (1914), alongside important loans from museums and private collections in Europe and the United States, including works from the Harvard Art Museums, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Wien Museum. For the last twenty years of his career, Klimt devoted considerable energy to painting landscapes during his summer vacations on the Attersee in the Salzkammergut region of Austria, known for its tranquil lakes. Created purely for his own pleasure, these bucolic scenes became among his most sought-after pictures and were highly coveted by collectors. Most were made in a square format—a reflection of his fascination with photography.”

Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys at the Brooklyn Museum will be on view until July 7, 2024. It features artists Gordon Parks, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lorna Simpson, Kehinde Wiley, Nina Chanel Abney, and more. These names loom large in the past and present of art—as do many others in the collection of musical and cultural icons Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys. Expansive in their collecting habits, the Deans, both born and raised in New York, champion a philosophy of “artists supporting artists.” The first major exhibition of the Dean Collection, Giants showcases a focused selection from the couple’s world-class holdings.  

If you missed seeing the Sargent exhibition in Boston, you can now see Sargent and Fashion at the Tate Britain from 22 February to 7 July 2024.

“Sargent used fashion as a powerful tool to express identity and personality. He regularly chose the outfits of his collaborators or manipulated their clothing. This innovative use of costume was central to his artwork – for example, tugging a heavy coat tighter around a man to emphasize his figure or letting a dress strap sensuously slip from a woman’s shoulder. It was these daring sartorial choices that allowed him to express his vision as an artist.”

“Almost 60 of Sargent’s paintings will be on display, including major portraits that rarely travel. Several period garments will also be showcased alongside the portraits they were worn in. The show examines how this remarkable painter used fashion to create portraits of the time, which still captivate today.”

The Rendez-Vous with French Cinema festival from Film at Lincoln Center from 29 February to 10 March 2024 is a great time to see new French films that have not yet been released in the US. I have tickets to see Auction (Le tableau volé), Just the Two of Us (L’amour et les forêts) starring Virginie Efira and Melvil Poupaud, and The Book of Solutions (Le livre des solutions) starring Pierre Niney but there are so many other great films to see.

I’ve posted about the French film The Taste of Things multiple times but I just want to remind you that it’s finally in theaters. I saw it during the New York Film Festival and it’s absolutely sublime. To me, the film starring Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel, is all about love; love of food, love of cooking, romantic love, love of friends, and love of life. Please see it if it is playing in your area.

A lighthearted and screwball-comedy French film that you can now rent or buy online is The Crime is Mine directed by François Ozon and starring Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Rebecca Marder, Isabelle Huppert, Fabrice Luchini, Dany Boon, and André Dussollier. It centers on Madeleine Verdier, a young actress, who is accused of murdering a famous producer. After being acquitted with help from her lawyer roommate, she begins her new life of fame and success, until the truth comes out.

The first three episodes of The New Look debuted on AppleTV this week and I have to say that so far I am not that impressed but I’m hoping it gets better. It’s been marketed as a fashion series but so far, I’ve only seen one dress. It tells the story of French fashion designers Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, among other designers, as they navigate life in Nazi occupied Paris and includes the story of Catherine Dior who was a member of the French resistance. I think that Bristish actor Ben Mendelsohn was terribly miscast as Christian Dior and looks nothing like the legendary designer. Luckily, French actress Juliette Binoche is brilliant as Coco Chanel and steals the show but the first three episodes felt very cliché. It will be interesting to see if it gets any better once the war ends and they get back to designing clothes. It’s also a bit disappointing that it’s all in English.

It you want a better fashion series suggestion, it’s worth paying for a VPN to watch Cristobal Balenciaga airing on Disney+ UK right now. I binged the entire series the weekend it premiered and was blown away by the acting, sets, and fashion. It’s also all in Spanish, French, and English which helps create a realistic portrayal of the life of Spanish fashion designer working in haute couture in Paris. Actor Alberto San Juan doesn’t just play Cristobal Balenciaga, he channels him. It’s one of the best series I’ve seen in a long time. It’s not airing on Disney in the US yet but I will keep you posted when I hear of a date;

Gil Schafer of Schafer Buccellato Architects is one of the most talented architects in New York and also one of the nicest. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of his new book Home at Last: Enduring Design for the New American House that will be released on February 27, 2024 and you are definitely going to want to pre-order it immediately. It opens with a wonderful personal essay and includes seven projects but the main reason you will want to get this book are the 42 pages devoted to the house he designed for Moda Operandi co-founder Lauren Santo Domingo and her family on Long Island. It’s a full look including the interior design by Virgina Tupker and landscape design by Miranda Brooks that you will be referencing for years to come.

I keep telling myself that I’m not allowed to buy anymore books until I read the stack I already have but now I really want to get The Thefts of the Mona Lisa: The Complete Story of the World’s Most Famous Artwork that was just released earlier this month. I love a good art theft and recovery story and I’m sure this one won’t disappoint.

I really love the custom Julia B bed linens but after being home so much for the past three years, they were looking like they need a little rest. No pun intended. So, I ordered these highly recommended 400 Thread Count Premium Supima Cotton No Iron Sateen Bed Sheet Set and loved them so much, I immediately ordered a second set so I could rotate between them. I prefer ivory sheets since they coordinate better with my headboard fabric and decor but they have a range of colors. They happen to be on sale right now if you finally want to give them a try. There’s also a matching 400 Thread Count Premium Supima Cotton No Iron Sateen Duvet Bed Cover made of Supima cotton that is also on sale.

I saw this Dior Capture Totale Hyalushot: Wrinkle Corrector with Hyaluronic Acid featured in French Vogue and decided to give it a try. I do feel like I see it working but I didn’t realize that you are supposed to use it with the Capture Totale Le Sérum Anti-Aging Serum. I’ll have to try them together to see if that makes a bigger difference.

Wishing you a lovely long holiday weekend!

XOXO,

HC