Home > US Events & Beyond > Fall Events in New York City > The Windows & Monégasque Cuisine at Saks

To celebrate the fashion legacy of one of the world's most beautiful and stylish women, the Consulate General of Monaco in New York and Saks Fifth Avenue partnered with Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Rucci, Zac Posen, and Vera Wang to create one-of-a-kind gowns inspired by Princess Grace. The creations were displayed in the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue in New York from October 19-26 and were auctioned at Casino Couture on October 24 which raised more than $250,000 for the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.

Maguy Maccario Doyle, Consul General of Monaco, presented Saks with a selection of dresses for their consideration - and gave just two “stipulations”: the designers should be American (or American-based) and have a certain je ne sais quoi connecting them with Grace, Princess of Monaco...

It was Michael Fink, Vice President and Fashion Director (Women’s) at Saks Fifth Avenue and project coordinator who paired the designers with the inspirational outfits.

"From the initial selection of dresses from her movies and official life, we looked for dynamic and memorable gowns. We wanted to celebrate her grace and style with American designers we felt had a connection not only in their own personal design, but who could translate that to a celebration of her clothing.
Each designer was given a different gown to use as inspiration and to interpret in their own style using their own choice of color, fabric, embroidery or other elements. It was important that we didn’t recreate the old gowns but interpret for a modern woman in a modern world. I relied upon my instinct to pair the inspirational gowns with the designer, they just received the photo of the dress; they didn’t have a choice!"

 

THE DESIGNERS AND THEIR CREATIONS

OSCAR DE LA RENTA
"True to her name, Grace Kelly was the essence of feminine style and elegance. Her beauty and poise largely shaped the fashions of her time and continue to influence designers today. My crystal embroidered tulle gown was inspired by the talented actress, the sophisticated Princess, and most importantly — the caring and compassionate woman that was Grace Kelly."
Description: Anthracite embroidered smoke illusion gown with pink tulle underlay and pink satin bow detail.
Details: Features a cap-sleeve bodice embroidered with a mix of embellishments including crystals, beads, sequins; a pale pink satin self-tying “belt” with back bow.
		Inspired by: Ball gown by Helen Rose from the 1956 film High Society.
CAROLINA HERRERA
"Grace Kelly was a great beauty whose classical American elegance put her in a class by herself. As an actress, she was fire and ice; an unbeatable combination."
Description: Black taffeta short sleeved wrap top. Ivory organza skirt with intricate handkerchief detail.
Details: The short sleeves have a “frayed” texture with black buttons and an unusual back feature is a V-shaped cutout from the nape; skirt is full with layers of organza.
		Inspired by: Edith Head's black and white ensemble from Rear Window.
RALPH LAUREN
“I think Grace Kelly represented a classic, patrician American style for the world. She was really America’s true princess, not just in fact, but in look. I always loved the way she looked in her wedding dress – the high neck, the lace – she looked so regal.”
Description: Bleu de France single silk georgette evening gown.
Details: Featuring a satin pleated bodice with sweetheart neckline; double wrap sash at waist and “scalloped” edging.
		Inspired by: Ice blue dress by Edith Head from the movie To Catch a Thief.
RALPH RUCCI
“Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco had the most quiet, bewitching style. She was able to take a couturier’s vision and re-interpret it as her own. She did this with the power of two elements rare in this world today: poise and grace. We need to learn from this.”
Description: Dramatic and tiered in silk taffeta, the “Red Taffeta Goya Gown.” This design takes shape from a French original by Madame Grès worn in one of the most regal of all her official portraits – this one done in 1977 by Ricardo Macaron.
Details: A striking rich red gown in 100 per cent paper silk taffeta featuring tiers with “pulled” fringe. Off-the-shoulder but with straps and voluminous sleeves; oversized keyhole décolletage: front of skirt has a slit to mid-thigh (at left) and back has an elongated train.
		Inspired by: Red velvet dress by Madame Grès.
ZAC POSEN
"With style and grace is how she lived her life. She is just as influential presently as she was in her most famous fashion moment on screen in Hitchcock's 1955 Rear Window. She remains an icon of femininity to this day and will always be America's princess."
Description: Satin halter neck dusty azure blue gown in signature Zac Posen silhouette.
Details: The bodice features a radiating flat pleat with a central panel, Empire waist with open back. Produced in Zac Posen’s Tribeca atelier.
		Inspired by: Aquamarine column dress by Edith Head from the 1955 Oscars.
VERA WANG
“Princess Grace Kelly influenced fashion by being naughty, but aristocratic, beautiful yet playful, sexy, but dignified.”
Description: Mink-colored silk jersey goddess; draped, one-shoulder gown with antique crystal “corsage”.
Details: Ball gown draping and low cut at back; single shoulder features embellishment of coordinating antique crystals.
		Inspired by: 1970 original design by Christian Dior.
Photos of original creations © 2007 Consulate General of Monaco/S. Vreeland; Others, from top: Courtesy of The Kobal Collection © MGM/The Kobal Collection/E. Carpenter, © Paramount/The Kobal Collection/B. Fraker, © Paramount/The Kobal Collection/B. Fraker; Courtesy of the Princely Palace of Monaco; © Warner Bros./The Kobal Collection; Courtesy of the Princely Palace of Monaco.

MONEGASQUE CUISINE

From Monday, October 22 to Friday, October 26, renowned chef de cuisine Sylvain Etiévant of the Hôtel de Paris’ Le Grill collaborated with Saks Executive Chef Jean-Louis Dumonet and the F&B team of Saks Fifth Avenue NY Store to present signature Monégasque lunch menus at Saks cafés on the 2nd, 5th and 8th floors.

ESTEE LAUDER, INC.

Estée Lauder celebrates Princess Grace of Monaco... Inspired by the beautiful shade of lipstick Princess Grace wore on her wedding day to Prince Rainier on April 18, 1956, and as a tribute to the friendship she and Mrs. Estée Lauder shared during their lifetimes, Estée Lauder has designed a special shade of its new Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Princess Grace Coral. Estée Lauder Inc, a Crown Sponsor of this year’s Princess Grace Awards Gala, is a proud co-sponsor of the Grace, Princess of Monaco exhibition at Sotheby’s.

Princess Grace Coral is available for a limited time only exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship New York City store, as well as online through www.saks.com and www.esteelauder.com.

Suggested retail price for Princess Grace Coral is $19.50.
(Click here for more information...)