*Behind the Scenes Pix from Bergdorf Goodman Holiday Windows* November 2012

Ron Salva is the creative genius that styles all of the mannequins in the Bergdorf windows. All of them. Pulls the fashion. Does all of the hair, make up, and accessorizing. I love Ron's style immensely and am grateful to be exposed to all of the high fashion combined with his aesthetic. One day I will do an entire article as a mini retrospective of his work. It will be called "Ron's Girls."

It's hard to not be tempted when surrounded by the hottest mannequins on earth.
Daniel was Ron's trusted assistant this season, he rocked it!

                                     Window director David Hoey: the ultimate magician.

*Van Cleef and Arpels Holiday Décor* November 2012

For the past three years creative director Douglas Little has designed the Van Cleaf and Arpels holiday windows and interior décor. This year he booked me and one of my favorite co-workers on the planet Jessie Flynn to encrust a phoenix statue in mother of pearl for the main floor of the iconic luxury jewelry store. This was one of my favorite projects of the season, because meticulous detail work with tiny sparkly things is one of my life's callings. The phoenix sculpture was fabricated by the ultra talented artist George Sellers and one of his assistants started the shell work in Dallas. Jessie and I brought it home :)

Jessie Flynn is an amazing inter-disciplinary artist hailing from Scotland/ Northern England. Her specialties include painting, mosaicing, mask making, and is currently producing props for the highly acclaimed theatre show Sleep No More.

Jessie Flynn painting Van Cleef and Arpels Holiday windows 2011

The first day Jessie and I ever worked together we ended up dressed as stiletto-clad maids covered in hot wax assisting Douglas in a Bergdorf Goodman Fashion Week window. The fates smiled upon us.Since then we have worked together as production artists on television, glamorous special events and unique high-end fashion windows. We are like old war buddies, with a high threshold for pain and extremely long hours. We love what we do. This holiday production season we were both working around the clock, running back and forth between Bergdorf Goodman holiday production and Van Cleef and Arpels.

                                                                         TADA!!!

 

 

The completion of the Van Cleef holiday windows and decor was celebrated with a fabulous launch party. I was too busy drinking champagne and having a ball with my cohorts to take many photos, but luckily the paparazzi was there.­ Photos available on Patrick Mcmullan.com

*Bergdorf Goodman 111 Anniversary Gala* October 2012

In October Bergdorf Goodman celebrated their 111 Anniversary with a lavish gala at the Plaza Hotel that was attended by the glitterati of the fashion world. Creative director Douglas Little was brought on board to design the stage décor for the gala and he hired me to work on this event as his assistant. We have both worked with Bergdorf Goodman for a number of years, so we are well-versed in their aesthetic. It was a great match! I went to planning meetings, helped with pulling props, coordinated shipments, and managed the freelance team all the while doing production, install, and strike. I do love multi-tasking! Many of the props used were from the Bergdorf anniversary windows and from previous years installations. The older props were brought out to the studio where they were given custom BG purple paint jobs by the lead painter Danny Balgley and other members of the talented freelance team. When the transformation was complete, the stage set was a conglomeration of a mad tea party and a birthday celebration designed in the spirit of Bergdorf's iconic windows.

                         Gorgeous specialty props painted by Danny Balgley and his assistant Emily
  

      
                  Watching the decor go up around the party room at the Plaza was pretty epic.

                                              

 

       Production & Installation by Sarah Sparkles and crew. Stage design by Douglas Little.

                                        Remember the anniversary cakes? There baaaack! :)

                                                      And a fabulous time was had by all!
                                                             Happy anniversary BG!