honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 3, 2006

Peek inside the magic closet of a style diva

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Dean Christopher was a blur of activity at last year's World Festival, producing the party for Fendi with the theme "La Dolce Vita: Garden of Delights." This year's theme: "Studio Fendi."

Karin Kovalsky

spacer spacer

HEY, FASHIONISTAS!

Ala Moana Center celebrates its World Festival with makeovers, exhibitions and exclusive fashions through Sunday.

spacer spacer

TO THE READER

Advertiser writer Paula Rath mingles with fashionistas, artists and makeup mavens every day and gleans insider information.With this style profile of Dean Christopher, we're launching an occasional series that will give readers an insider's view of stylish and creative Islanders. What does a style diva have in the closet? Where does an artist get inspiration and store those paint brushes and canvases? What are the secrets of a celebrity makeup artist?

spacer spacer

Sapphire and diamond necklace on display at Harry Winston.

spacer spacer

DEAN CHRISTOPHER

Profession: Image and event designer

Age: In the fashion world, everybody is ageless.

Neighborhoods: Gramercy Park in New York City and Manoa

How would you describe your personal style? Casual, edgy luxury.

What inspires my look: My state of mind, which varies significantly at any given moment on any given day. Sometimes it's more about comfort, other times it all about being chic and edgy.

I cannot live without: Jeans, crisp shirts, well-tailored jackets, interesting eyeglasses and unique accessories.

I never leave home without: Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve and mint-flavored ChapStick.

All about accessories: Lots of Chanel — both current and vintage; also fashion-forward totes.

My favorite designers are: Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, because of his ability to reinvent a handful of historical references into full-scale, witty, luxurious collections; Hedi Slemane for his unique perspective on how men can dress; Etro for their fit and bold use of print and color.

I collect: Joseph Debach shoes; Chanel jewelry, camellias and belts; Chrome Hearts eyewear.

My favorite places to shop are: Jeffrey's and Bergdorf Goodman in New York; Collette in Paris; Maxfield's in Los Angeles.

My best-ever bargain was: A pair of Gucci pants that are entirely covered in embroidery; I paid $500 for what was full retail of $10,000.

My favorite indulgences: Driving fancy cars.

The chore I hate most: Expense reports.

spacer spacer

Bare Escentuals founder Leslie Blodgett will be at Sephora between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. today.

spacer spacer

WHAT IS GARDE ROBE?

Based in New York, it offers online organization of wardrobes. Here's a sneak peak of Dean Christopher's:

spacer spacer

Although Dean Christopher is unquestionably a style diva, known in Honolulu, Paris and New York for his chic, edgy approach to fashion, if you were to look in his Manoa closet you would see shorts, T-shirts and rubber slippers. In his New York closet, it's jeans, sweaters and boots. That's because Christopher has another closet where his real wardrobe resides. Welcome to the online closet of a fashion jet-setter.

Christopher subscribes to Garde Robe, a service which maintains his personal online wardrobe catalogue. It's storage for the jet-setting fashionista who simply cannot live without his YSL leather blazer when traveling to Bhutan or has to have his Gucci silk suit for a photo shoot in Morocco.

"Garde Robe is a brilliant service," Christopher explained from his Gramercy Park penthouse in New York. (Appropriately, he described himself as "sitting among endless garment bags, because I'm doing a season wardrobe change-out.") He explained that the staff at Garde Robe, which is based in New York City, comes to your home and helps "objectively identify wardrobe pieces that you may not wear on a regular basis, or just make sense storing, for example, seasonal clothes. The wardrobe pieces are stuffed with acid-free tissue, hung and individually bagged in canvas garment bags or boxes. They are stored in a climate-controlled warehouse. When you want to wear something, you sign on, request the items desired" and have them sent to wherever you are — or wherever you're going.

When he's in New York, it takes Christopher about two hours to receive his requested garments. It takes just two or three days for his wardrobe to catch up with him in Paris. He loves the convenience as well as the expert service. "Once I wear it, they handle the dry cleaning and any alterations or recommendations for special care. They even offer a consignment service where if you tire of something, they'll sell it for you."

For some trips, Christopher said, he doesn't even pack — he simply orders everything online from Garde Robe. It arrives in pristine condition, hung on a bar in a garment box.

What would we see in his online closet? Gucci, Jean Paul Gaultier, YSL, Jil Sander, Chanel and Armani. However, he seldom pays full price. As a respected style consultant to such couture houses as Chanel, Fendi and Dior, he is a fashion insider, so he often qualifies for coveted discounts.

Christopher is home in Manoa this week to work with Fendi and Dior. He will design the parties for these companies for the World Festival at Ala Moana Center. He reports that the Ala Moana Fendi store will be transformed into "Studio Fendi: Paparazzi Fashion Frenzy," a theme inspired by the fashion photo shoot scenes from the movie "The Eyes of Laura Mars" and "the essence of Studio 54."


• • •


WORLD FESTIVAL

All of these Ala Moana Center events are free and open to the public:

  • Harry Winston features an exhibition of rare timepieces and jewels today through Sunday. Among the women's timepieces: "The Lace," with 1,035 diamonds totaling 23.6 carats and "The Semira Twirl," a timepiece that looks more like a diamond bracelet, with 276 diamonds totaling 12.36 carats.

  • See how the iconic Hermes scarf is made as Hermes hosts a scarf-printing demonstration at 2 p.m. today and at 2, 4 and 7 p.m. tomorrow. A craftsperson from Paris will print an exclusive design created for the Ala Moana store.

  • Louis Vuitton is hosting a "special order" event through Sunday. A master craftsman and sketch artist from the Paris workshop will assist clients in creating their made-to-order design. There also will be unique pieces on view from the Museum of Heritage in Asnieres, France.

  • Neiman Marcus will present Frederic Fekkai celebrity stylist Kasai, from the Beverly Hills salon, from noon to 7 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. Appointments required: 948-7390.

  • Meet Leslie Blodgett, founder of Bare Escentuals makeup, at Sephora and schedule an appointment with her makeup team between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. today.
    Appointments are a must: 944-9797.

  • Dior will host national celebrity makeup artist Thuy Pham, who will conduct "Backstage" makeovers from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today by appointment only: 943-6900.

    • • •

    WHAT IS GARDE ROBE?
    Based in New York, it offers online organization of wardrobes. Here’s a sneak peak of Dean Christopher’s:
     section cover photo
    Gauze button-up shirt with velvet floral applique motif.
     section cover photo
    Jil Sander woven paper sweater.
     section cover photo
    Black Gucci pants, fully embroidered.
     section cover photo
    Jil Sander three-button, single-breasted suit.
     section cover photo
    Studio 0001 by Ferre collarless, pleated, cropped zip-up jacket.
     section cover photo
    Armani asymmetrical wrap sweater.
     section cover photo
    Yves Saint Laurent gold acrylicacetate pants.
     section cover photo
    Red leather Hogan lace-up sneakers.
     section cover photo
    Melon and light-blue canvas Chanel sneakers with red laces.
     section cover photo
    Black carry-all leather bag.

    Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.