From left: Georgina Chapman, Tina Craig, Keren Craig. All in Marchesa
When fashion's chicest best friends make an appearance in America's shopping capital; only the most stylish hostesses will do. Myrna Schlegel, Kari Schlegel, and Kimberly Schlegel Whitman hosted a brunch honoring the duo behind Marchesa-- Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig-- this weekend at Neiman Marcus North Park to kick off Fashion at the Park. The cream of the Dallas "ladies who lunch" crop showed up to sip champagne and dine while models draped in gorgeous gowns weaved about the tables. In attendance were Vivian Lombardi, Lori Jones, Anna Pettus, Libby Allred, Capera Ryan, Krystal Schlegel and yours truly. (Jump for photos and interview!)
From Left: Hosts Kari Schlegel, Krystal Schlegel, Kimbery Schlegel Whitman and Myrna Schlegel
It would not be far fetched for me to say that Chapman and Craig are their own best advertisements. With supermodel good looks and British charm, they had us at the first gown. In between trying on Marchesa dresses (taken right off the models' backs! I wish I could do this during fashion week in NYC.) and socializing with my friends; I managed to get the girls alone for an interview. Oh, and as you read this-- imagine their cute British accents with lots of giggling and laughing.
Tina: Where did you fly in from and where are you staying in Dallas?
Georgina: We flew in from New York yesterday!
Keren: And we're staying at the Mansion, really lovely actually.
Georgina: Yes, I had the best night's sleep!
Tina: And what do you travel with? What are the essentials?
Georgina: I brought my own feather pillow... because I hate foam pillows at hotels so this time I brought my own... so I had my little pillow, my book, my ear plugs for music, so I was happy, I had my whole set up!
Tina: What about you Keren?
Keren: I do have my own little ritual, too-- a small pillow, iPod, a cashmere wrap from India I got a long time ago.
Tina: I was at the Marchesa presentation in NYC last month and I loved the homage to Chinese film noir from Wong Kar Wei-- "In the Mood for Love". Do you always choose a culture to emulate and fashion the collection after?
Georgina: Sometimes we do but not always. This season felt like China but next season we'll go for a mood rather than a culture.
Keren: I think the influence mostly stems from our travels. We've both traveled so much and we want to capture the mood in textiles, the designs. So it depends really.
Tina: How do you collaborate on the collection? Who does what?Keren: Well Georgina does all the designing and I design the textiles. Like this dress you're wearing, the bow, the fabric.
Georgina: Yes, so let's say I want a tassle and a laser cut fabric... Keren designs the textiles for it. By the way, I love that you're interviewing us wearing a Marchesa dress, do you feel like moving about and swishing your fringes? (giggling)
Tina: Yes, I want to swish swish all day long! I love this dress, I might run off in it....
Tina: How did your partnership come about?
Georgina: You know, I'm not sure how it came about exactly-- we met at 17 and we were best friends at school... we always wanted to do a line and at one point we just said, let's do it.
Tina: Do you have any rituals or superstitions you do before a fashion show?
Keren: Work! That is our superstition and ritual!
Tina: How do you relax after the show?Georgina: We literally drink 8 espressos! Because we're so tired we just want to rest and go to bed really... and the espressos keep us going.
Tina: Where do you go to get these espressos and to chill?
Georgina and Keren: We love Mr. Chows!
Tina: Do you read your own reviews?
Georgina: We try not to... but you know, I do read them. It's hard not to! We'll read Style.com, WWD...
Keren: And just what comes up online but mostly we're like, we've done it-- leave it for tomorrow!
Tina: Who is your favorite bag designer?
Georgina: I'm really obsessed with my Chanel bags
Keren: At the moment I'm carrying an old YSL bag...
Tina: At age 10 you wanted to be a.....
Keren and Georgina: Designer!
Tina: Last thing you do before you go to bed?
Georgina: Brush my teeth
Keren: Hug my dog.....
Tina: And the first thing you do in the morning?
Georgina: Drink coffee!
Keren: yes, coffee!
Tina: Any plans to expand into evening bags?
Keren: We've got lots of plans! But you'll have to wait!
Tina: Okay, I will wait with bated breath! Thank you so much girls!
Georgina and Keren: Thank you!!!!
I snapped these photos from the Marchesa Spring '09 presentation at the Chelsea museum . The girls had no clue who I was at the time but they were friendly and accommodating and chatted up with all the guests.
I ran into the girls at the tent later in the day and they were in two more gorgeous gowns. It must be so fun to design beautiful clothes with your best friend-- it's like playing dress up except you make money at it-- how perfect! I wish they'd be my best friends so I can borrow Marchesa gowns from them each day. I'd wear the mink cuffed sheaths to pick up my son at school, sexy dresses on date night with my hubby, and short cocktail dresses to lunch with the girls. As Georgina and Keren told me, Marchesa is not merely for evenings or special occasions-- it's fun to dress up every day! Check out Marchesa at Neiman Marcus
You lucky girl! That's amazing. I loved reading your interview with them. I'm excited to see what they have in store. I'm getting giddy at the prospect of them designing bags. I loved their Spring'09 collection. I thought it was their best by far!
Absolutely their best, I had never owned a piece of Marchesa before but now plan to add their dresses regularly to my wardrobe!
Oh Tina, are you in Marchesa Spring 09?? That dress is divine!
THanks for the lovely interview. (:
HI vogue! Yes, I snatched that fringe-y dress right off the model! Thanks for reading darling! xoxo
Tina,
Are you wearing the delish Eva Longoria dress??!
xoxox, f.
Wow...what I would do to be in your shoes now!! These girls have been getting lots of press in the British Fashion pages, there dresses truely make you feel like fashion roaylty! The bow dress you wore I'm sure someone like Eva Longoria wore on the red carpet?! You never did post that GD/Eva story, Oh well!
Does the Tina Whirlwind ever slow down....your always on the go I don't know how you don't have giant bags under your eyes you always look so glam!
Georgian Chapman just looks stunning, its great to hear that they are so approachable! What does get me frustrated is that Bristish designers seem to have larger capusles in the US but also they are often at cheaper price points for the same items....if you ever meet them again I would love to know why this happens...it's also true of Alexander Mqueen, Smythsons...
Great work Tina and enjoy Fashion at the Park.
L.xo
P.S. The reservation you were helping me with do you know which date will be likely yet as I would like to book some broadway tickets...any tips on where to get great tickets at short notice? Thanks again for all your help you are very kind!
Love the dress, Tina! Their whole '09 collection is so beautiful:)
oh my goodness, Marchesa has been my favorite line, and they always reign on the red carpet. I remember Georgina Chapman's wedding of the century.... absolutely stunning.
I love love love them! The intricacy of the dresses is amazing. I love the draping, the workmanship... sigh.
I literally gasped when I scrolled down to some of the dresses! I must get that mink cuffed sheath, it looks so comfortable!
omg the dresses are breathtaking! love Marchesa! i love thatyou wore that dress to lunch!!!
Can you be more adorable? I think you look better in this dress than Eva Longoria did. She had too much make up on and looked like she was trying too hard. You look fresh, young and like you're having a good time with it. Which is how fashion should be.