NYC : MEET BYRON LARS, MODEL CALL @ THE MET, BARBIE ON THE CATWALK, VALENTINO's OPULENCE

SIMONE BUTTERFLY TAKES ON NEW YORK!

In preparation of the 5th Annual Capital Catwalk Salon Event scheduled for June 5, 2009, we packed up our cotton candy pink suitcase and hopped the BOLT BUS for what turned out to be the most stylicious action packed FashionWeekend we've had in months.

Friday 5/15/09:

We met prominent NY designer, Byron Lars whose fashion career spans over 20 years.

On Friday, June 5, 2009 (7pm to 9pm) we will present Lars with the 2009 International Style Maven Award at the Capital Catwalk Salon Event - (Tickets are on sale right now, darling!)






Fun Facts about my new friend BYRON LARS:
Fashion Designer. Freelance Sketcher and Pattern Maker

1991 Showed first collection
1993 En Vogue fashion collection designer
1990-1998 Ran Byron Lars Shirt Tales
1997 Designed fashions for BARBIE
2000 Launched Green-T label
2001 Launched Beauty Mark label, 2001

Byron is not only a genius, but he is a genuine, affable and generous. An Oakland, CA native, he currently lives in NYC. His apparel is featured at DC boutique Everard's Clothing located at

West End Store: 1120 20th Street NW / Washington, DC 20036
Georgetown Store: 1802 Wisconsin Ave, NW /Washington, DC 20007

Saturday, 5/16/09
We called our favorite NY gypsy silver town car driver Sam and....

9:30 am Simone Visits the MET: Model as Muse Exhibit



Surrounded by stunning photography by Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, we glided through the 5 rooms lined with vintage VOGUE, ELLE, HARPER's BAZAAR magazines and mannequins dolled up in vintage Dior and Charles James, etc.

The exhibit traced the history of fashion models from the European days of Haute Couture and Praline, a house model selected not for her photographic looks but her exquisite poise and carriage to the New Look models who expressed movement despite the boned bodices and crinolined skirts of the day by bending from the hip, making swan like jesters with their necks and arms rather than posing with stiffened waists through the status conscious lady like looks of the 1950's and the overt ssensuality and highly individualized looks of the 1960's. Covering the Body Politic of the 1980's when apparel which long loss her rigid underpinnings now highlighted a youthful body; the grunge of the 1990's and Gautier's modern day fantasy fairy tale opulence, the presentation was lush, extravagant and informative. BRAVO!

Highlights for us include:

Marisa Berenson (Mariessa's name sake) who appeared on the scene in 1966


Donyale Luna (first black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 1964) featured wearing an aluminum dress from Qui estes-vous Polly Maggoo, a short moving picture that represents the first time I've ever seen Donyale outside of a magazine. Priceless.


Beverly Johnson first black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue (1974) who was discovered while attending law classes. Inspirational.

Reference to the epochal Battle of Versailles where the top American designers presented in Paris against the French designers. America WON. See our interview of Bethann Hardision a Battle of Versailles model (www.simoneswashington.blogspot.com) for more information on this fab event.


11:00 Simone Gets BARBIElicious at Dylan's Candy Bar


What's a birthday party without presents?
We decided to visit Dylan's Candy Bar to sample the newest BARBIE confection created especially by Dylan to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Barbie. Want to taste test for yourself? Attend the Capital Catwalk as a VIP guest and satisfy your sweet tooth...fashionably.

1:15 pm Simone Is Mesmorized by Flick: Valentino: The Last Emperor


We lucked up and found a theater in NYC still playing the documentary on Valentino. Sitting in the middle chair of the 20th row, we along with 3 other couples spent 1 hour and 50 minutes being drizzled with a steady stream of Valentino Red opulence. Darling it was really quite exquisite.

Favorite quote: "I love beauty, it's not my fault." -Valentino