NYC’s #1 dandy, Patrick McDonald and Michèle Lamy resplendent in monkey fur
Dear Shaded Viewers,
The other night I attended a press preview cocktail for vintage fashion site Byronesque.com in the creepy, ramshackle chambers of The Abandoned Space of the James A. Farley Post Office on 8th Avenue. Michèle Lamy and her sinister glamour flew in from Paris to host the event.
The first of series of “offline” events, the old rooms of the post office are hosting the vintage fashions and various installations put on by Byronesque.com. Byronesque is the first combined editorial and e-commerce website that treats vintage fashion with the same progressive creativity as contemporary fashion magazines and boutiques.
“Our editorial pays intellectual homage to the lives and minds of the most important people in fashion history, whose work inspires us to challenge fashion and popular culture mediocrity. And our vintage is curated from the best vintage stores and private showrooms in the world. The clothes and accessories we sell have their own history, and their scars are their own unique stories.”
Patrick struck a pose before we marched down this eerie hallway haunted by the ghosts of bitter mailmen who spent their last days delivering 50-pound issues of September Vogue to selfish fashion people.
The exhibit of vintage fashion was a wonderful surprise, indeed.
Patrick and I had fun playing “name that designer.” Here’s a wonderful Alaia.
Even though Patrick was better at the guessing game, I clocked this Comme Des Garçon immediately.
Such a divinely amusing Jean Paul Gaultier piece.
Alexander McQueen
Op-art Gaultier
Claude Montana
Issey Miyake. Love the coattails.
Can’t remember this one!
Vintage punk jacket, don’t think it’s designer.
The video installation featured various fashion luminaries pontificating on this and that. I was told that Diane was one of them and we waited and waited to see her, but I guess we missed it.
My pal Joseph Quartana spun an amazing set with bass explosions that caused the plaster from the old, decrepit ceiling to rain down into my martini.
Speaking of, the bar staff mixed me some delicious martinis made with Absolut Elyx Vodka which is some kind of “artisanal” concoction but I have to say, it was wonderfully smooth and delicous. The garnish of a pickle-stuffed olive was perfect. And the canapes were quite toothsome: crab cakes, tuna tartare, beef empanadas and something (figs?) wrapped in bacon (of course.) Yum!
Joseph’s photo of the cocktail lounge/showroom. More vintage clothes were on display and for sale.
Byronesque creative director Justin Westover and CEO/editor-in-chief Gill Linton with Patrick.
Patrick and Chrome Hearts owner Richard Stark
Patrick and I took a 19th-century mail wagon back to the East Village. It brought back memories of our childhood!
After a gossipy dinner at 7A, we paid homage to Joe Strummer.
Thanks for reading.
Love,
Glenn Belverio
