An Afternoon at MAGGIE NORRIS Atelier

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

New Orleans born, Maggie Norris attended the School of the Delgado Museum of Art. She then moved to New York City to attend the Art Students League at Parsons School of Design.

Ralph Lauren recruited her as Creative Designer, and she quickly became Senior Design Director of the Women's Collection, where she oversaw all the Women's ready-to-wear and accessory collections and was in charge of seeking out inspiration for the overall direction of the line. Then, in 1998, she moved to Europe to work as Chief Designer for Mondi's Women's Collection.

2000 saw the return of Norris to the United States, where she founded Maggie Norris Couture in New York City. In 2003, she joined the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Maggie's designs are sewn, embroidered and beaded completely by hand. Clearly the kind of treasures heirlooms are made of. If not reserved to be passed down from mother to daughter, institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Fashion Institute of Technology would be deliriously happy to have them donated into their permanent collections

THE MEAT PUPPET Movie Premiere

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On January 17, at the Film Anthology Archives, the official New York City movie premiere for the new highly acclaimed psychological thriller/horror feature film The Meat Puppet  took place. 

Previously, The Meat Puppet screened a rough cut of the film at the 2012 5th Annual Downbeach Film Festival Atlantic City Cinefest in Atlantic City, NJ.

The film was nominated  for 8 coveted awards. It took home 5: Best NJ Feature Film, Best Horror Film, Best Actor Keith Collins, Best Supporting Actress Geri Reischl, and Best Director Joe Valenti. 

WORKS by Marc Newson - Book Signing

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

TASCHEN Books in SoHo was the place on November 10th, where the much acclaimed and awarded Marc Newson was at hand to sign the very limited editions of his oversized monograph Works

CANNON HERSEY Art Exhibit

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

November 10th was the date for the art opening The Rock Media Group arranged for Cannon Hersey at the sub-level gallery on 190 Mercer Street in NoHo, NYC.

REX RAY for B+N

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

The Launch of the collaboration between B+N Industries and artist Rex Ray was celebrated at the Eyebeam Gallery on December 6th. The venue was transformed into a showcase of this new line of products; featuring Infused Veneer Panels, carved relief Iconic Panels, and furniture pieces, complemented with Rex Ray designs. His mid-century modern aesthetic has become instantly recognizable internationally, and Rex's use of color, shape, and wood grain are the perfect addition to B+N’s current broad offering of product.

The gracious hosts of the event,
Brad and Sarah Somberg

PLEATS PLEASE by Issey Miyake - Book Launch

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

A special installation at the ISSEY MIYAKE Flagship Store in Tribeca was featured on November 28th, to celebrate the launching of Issey's new book PLEATS PLEASE, published by Taschen Books.

In it, the story of this line of clothing is explored through a vast array of texts and images, which trace the journey from inception, through material development, to public reception, and also reveals the creation of the original thread and the pleating process.

KEVIN McHUGH Art Exhibit

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

With an opening party on November 30th at The Out NYC Hotel, Artist Kevin McHugh unveiled his new Pucci-inspired sculpture collection of fish and shark sculptures adorned with Swarovski crystals.This new collection, a six sculpture assemblage, pays homage to McHugh’s other muse: the world of fashion. McHugh, along with Patricia Field and Danny Tenaglia, hosted

The collection debuted in New York City in an exhibition with the support of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and Avant Gallery. It remained on display at The Out NYC Hotel, located at 510 West 42nd Street, from November 30th to December 2nd and was open to the public, after which it went to be showcased at the Avant Gallery in Miami for an Art Basel presentation.

Kevin McHugh on the right with his publicist Coury Hay 

ICONS by Markus & Indrani - Book Launch

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

MARKUS + INDRANI, globally esteemed celebrity and fashion photography and director duo who have captured many of todayʼs most provocative pop culture legends, celebrated the international release of their first full photography book, ICONS, with a public art exhibition at Lincoln Centerʼs David Rubenstein Atrium on November 8th through the 13th.

The 30 piece exhibition included Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye West, David Bowie, Iman, Will Smith, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Eva Mendez, Kate Winslet and Daphne Guinness.

To kick off the weeklong affair, a VIP Red Carpet Cocktail Event was held on November 7th at Lincoln Centerʼs Alice Tully Hall.

Markus + Indrani

MY BEVERLY HILLS KITCHEN by Alex Hitz - Book Signing

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

TV Personality Chef, Restauranteur and Author Alex Hitz

The sparkling way of ending the New York 2012 party season Shoe Designer Vanessa Noel arranged for her friend Alex Hitz, could only be matched by the AVENUE Magazine event I attended 5 days earlier, and previously reported in this blog just before this article. Her beautiful boutique was packed to the rafters with the Celebrities, Glitterati and all manner of V.I.P's that make up her circle of friends. It was the kind of gathering that even I, when I was a Celebrity photographer back in the 80's and 90's, very seldom came across. Very impressive!

The motive for such a festive occasion, which took place on December 18th, was the signing of Alex's cook book My Beverly Hills kitchen, featuring "Classic Southern Cooking with a French Twist", launched on October of last year, and the book was selling like hot cakes.

Alex with Hostess of the event Vanessa Noel

AVENUE Magazine Honors Amanda Hearst

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

In order to celebrate Socialite and Model Amanda Hearst gracing the cover of the latest issue of AVENUE Magazine, last December 13th AVENUE Magazine got in cahoots with ladies undergarments boutique La Perla, in order to throw the kind of bash that made all the other Holiday parties to which I went pale by comparison. 

La Perla's CEO Suzy Biszants and the event's Honoree Amanda Hearst with Rachel Roy