He may have been known as the enfant terrible of French fashion, but Jean Paul Gaultier was the darling of the hour Wednesday at a luncheon in Deedie and Rusty Rose‘s Pump House. And JPG wasn’t even there!
The gathering featured some of Dallas’ finest art and fashion aficionados. Women, who have frequented the best dressed lists as well as major underwriters for art, arrived to learn about upcoming retrospective, “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk” at the Dallas Museum of Art (November 13, 2011-February 12, 2012).
While some might questioned why the luncheon was not held at the DMA, others were quick to point out that Gaultier has always, always been known for breaking from the norm. So
having lovely ladies lunching in a retired pump house was oh-so appropriate with its see-through floors and mammoth cast-iron machinery.
And, remember, this pump house has found a second life since its purchase by the Roses, whose main house is next door. The aged pump house is now a showplace for their parties and art showings.
With a mountain of baguettes stacked high on the table and towering models in gray wigs mingling in the crowd, guests rose to the occasion wearing their finest frocks. A couple (hostess Deedie and Emily Summers) went for the Gaultier-trademark French navy-and-white-striped mariner tops. Oops, so did the waiters. Not to worry. No one confused Deedie and Emily for wait staff.
Joyce Goss in a popsicle orange Michael Kors and Louboutin heels admitted that she couldn’t “wait for spring.”. . Erin Mathews followed the French feel of the day in a Chanel skirt and jacket plus a J. Mendel blouse. . . Barbara Daseke opted for a “Gaultier suit from years ago.” According to Gaultier staffers it was one of the master’s favorites and they hoped that she would wear in November when JPG was in town for the opening of the exhibition.
But all the stand-up chatting came to an end promptly at 12:26 when Deedie started clanging the dinner triangle and the gals knew she meant business. No need for a second clanging with this crew.
Dining on tables covered with white butcher paper, the guests didn’t have to fumble around with placemats and such. Nope, the place settings were artistically drawn on the paper with for-real blue-and-white napkins. So much easier to clean up later.
But there was nothing faux about the meal. The Food Company opened with a salad duo of celeriac remoulade and roasted beets, then followed it with the entree — crepes (of course) with chicken, spring mushrooms and fava beans. To leave a sweet taste for the occasion, dessert was coffee ice cream with chocolate sauce, candied almonds and chocolate lace cookies. Ah, it was both yummy and just enough because these folks keep their figures in check.
However, it wasn’t a gals-only gathering. Brian Bolke was there resting up for the Gaultier trunk show at his Forty Five Ten on Thursday and Friday (10% of the sales from the trunk show will go to the DMA’s exhibition). It was also announced that Brian will be underwriting the November 9th luncheon with JPG in attendance.
Also on hand was Musée Des Beaux-Arts de Montréal’s Thierry-Maxime Loriot, who is curating the show. Ever charming and seated between Brooke Hortenstine and Nancy Halbreich in Oscar de la Renta, the former Burberry model (his first assignment was with Kate Moss) later shared stories with the entire group and plans for the five-themes of the show that will run in Montreal (June 17 to October 2, 2011) just prior to the Dallas show. BTW, Dallas is one of only two cities that will host the exhibition, but you already knew that, didn’t you?