2018 RED CARPET EDITION
A Letter From Luxury Attaché
H
appy New Year and welcome to the Red Carpet Issue of Communiqué, a look into some of the designers and creative talents that make magic on the red carpet, as well as some of this winter’s most exciting nationwide events.
As awards season picks up pace, Luxury Attaché is hard at work to bring you the very best access to a variety of exciting experiences. Whether it’s fourth row orchestra seats to the Grammys or tickets to one of Hollywood’s Oscar after-parties, we are dedicated to providing you with the unparalleled service that you’ve come to expect from the leading luxury lifestyle service. We hope you enjoy this winter edition of Communiqué, and, as always, thank you for being a valued client of Luxury Attaché.
Skie Ocasio
SVP | Hospitality & Business Development Luxury Attaché
ATTACHÉ INTERVIEW
AT TAC H É INTERVIEW
Ken Kaufman A Chat With One Half Of Design Duo KaufmanFranco IMAGE COURTESY OF TIFFANY PINERO STYLE
A
.. .. t last year’s Academy Awards,
the annual celebration of all things Hollywood, all eyes were fixed, not on the legendary Oscar statuette, but another figure in gold: actress Jessica Biel. Draped in a stunning head-to-toe sequined creation by designers Ken Kaufman and Isaac Franco, Biel all but stole the show on the red carpet. The fashion duo’s steady climb to one of Tinsel Town’s most sought-after design teams has been a well-earned, although perhaps unintentional, trajectory. The two began their eponymous company, KaufmanFranco, in 2003, first as a consultancy collaborating with different companies, before deciding to create their own label. The urban, body-conscious clothing line has always focused heavily on sportswear, although their evening wear is what has garnered the most attention among Hollywood’s elite.
designs, although minimal in embellishment, are deceptively intricate and stunningly crafted works of art. Although the pair have been lauded by top stylists and celebrities for years, Kaufman says, “We always stayed under the radar. Access to us has always been a little hard to get to,” adding, “We don’t claim to be for everybody or dress everybody. We have a nice celebrity following.” ‘Nice’ is an understatement. KaufmanFranco’s list of notable clientele reads as a who’s who of Hollywood royalty—Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey, and Jennifer Hudson, to name but a few. Of their celebrity devotees, Kaufman says, “That following came so organically, and it’s
“When you Google us,” Kaufman said, “a lot of red carpet comes up, but we’re actually everything: we’re sportswear; we’re leather jackets; we’re puffers.” “What is amazing about this brand is it looks different on everyone,” Kaufman said. “Our things are minimal but have the wow factor.” With a focus on fabric and cut, their IMAGE COURTESY OF KAUFMANFRANCO
ATTACHÉ INTERVIEW
so not our focus even, but people perceive it as our focus.” Today, the pair is most often associated with another mega pop music star. “Several years ago, we were fortunate enough to have a stylist by the name of Joseph Cassell call us and ask if we would dress this country western singer,” Kaufman explained, adding, “Little did we know, years later, that singer would turn out to be THE Taylor Swift.” Of Swift, Kaufman exclaims, “We’re huge fans!” The country-pop crossover artist has been seen sporting KaufmanFranco’s designs at the Grammy Awards, as well as in her music videos and concerts.
Kaufman and Franco, graduates of FIT and Parsons School of Design respectively, each bring a unique perspective to their work. “Isaac and I bring two very different things to the table,” Kaufman explains, “but when you combine our ideas, it becomes exponentially more exciting.” Unlike other clothing lines, KaufmanFranco’s business is not seasonal or collection-driven. The type of clothing they do at any given time depends on the particular project, whether it be a partnership that is sportswear-driven, or their direct-to-consumer business, which focuses heavily on evening wear. “We’re breaking a lot of stereotypes,” Kaufman says. “We’re not working within seasons; we’re not working within categories; we’re not working within price points. If there’s a need, we fill it, which makes the brand more relevant because we can adapt and evolve.” And evolve is exactly what they’re doing. Next on the horizon is a collaboration with a graffiti artist who also mixes music. Collaboration, Kaufman says, is at the heart of his success with Franco, and what pushes him creatively. “We’re challenged by everything,” Kaufman says. “We love everything. We love the uniform business. We love stage performance.” “They’re different hats; they’re different animals. But that’s what excites me.”
IMAGE COURTESY OF CELEBMAFIA
IMAGE COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
ATTACHÉ INTERVIEW
An Interview with Jeweler Russell Zelenetz IMAGE COURTESY OF FORTUNE
H
oollywood has long had a love affair with jewelry. Marilyn Monroe famously sang that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” and Elizabeth Taylor even penned a memoir about her life through the stories of her jewels. Indeed, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets can all tell a tale, and no one knows that better than Russell Zelenetz, co-owner of Stephen Russell, a vintage jeweler located on New York City’s famed Madison Avenue. Zelenetz, along with business partner Stephen Feuerman, opened Stephen Russell’s doors in 1984 and has established one of the most important collections of vintage jewelry in the world.
Having studied art history and jewelry design at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, Zelenetz has developed a discerning eye while amassing a collection of period jewelry from iconic houses like Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and Boucheron. High-profile celebrity clients, from Kate Hudson to Debra Messing to Nicole Kidman, flock to Stephen Russell’s wellcurated collection, which has graced the red carpets of such prestigious events as the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys. Zelenetz says the process of outfitting a celebrity for the red carpet can often begin several months in advance. Teams of designers, stylists, and jewelers all collaborate to ensure their clients are looking their best on awards night. This process often begins with the clothing design, but sometimes, Zelenetz says, the process works in reverse. “So when someone’s set on wearing a particular piece, they will adapt the clothing to the jewelry,” says Zelenetz. Zelenetz says that although Hollywood has had a major impact on the popularity and demand for vintage jewelry, the challenges it presents for a dealer are increasing. “It’s a constant challenge that is getting more difficult each year because it’s a fixed resource,” Zelenetz says. Zelenetz and Feuerman source their jewelry from across the globe. “We’ve been doing this for a long time,” explained Zelenetz. “We have connections all over the world. The other day I bought a pair of earrings from someone in
IMAGE COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
South America,” adding, “We buy in Paris all the time.” The most highly favored pieces among Stephen Russell’s extensive collection are the Art Deco designs of the 1920s and ‘30s. While the origin of many of the jeweler’s pieces is often unknown, one can imagine the decadent history of these popular Jazz Age gems. When the provenance of a piece of jewelry is known, the price can dramatically increase, as evidenced by the
2011 auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry. The landmark auction fetched over $115 million for the late actress’ famed collection. At this year’s 75th annual Golden Globe Awards, Hollywood’s finest showcased more than $20 million in watches and jewelry. Marilyn Monroe knew what she was singing about. Stephen Russell Jewelry 970 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10021 stephenrussell.com
IMAGE COURTESY OF VANITY FAIR
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National Events Calendar
JANUARY 15 - 28 AUSTRALIAN OPEN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA JANUARY 18 - 28 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PARK CITY, UTAH JANUARY 25 - 28 WINTER X-GAMES ASPEN, COLORADO JANUARY 21 THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS LOS ANGELES JANUARY 28 THE GRAMMYS NEW YORK CITY IMAGE COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
COMMUNIQUÉ | WINTER 2018
IMAGE COURTESY OF JOÃO SILAS
National Events Calendar FEBRUARY 4 SUPER BOWL LII MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA FEBRUARY 7 AMFAR GALA NEW YORK CITY FEBRUARY 9 - 25 WINTER OLYMPICS XXIII PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA FEBRUARY 13 MARDI GRAS NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA FEBRUARY 8 - 16 NEW YORK FASHION WEEK NEW YORK CITY FEBRUARY 12 - 13 142ND WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW NEW YORK CITY FEBRUARY 18 DAYTONA 500 DAYTONA, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 21 - 25 SOBE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
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COMMUNIQUÉ | WINTER 2018
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National Events Calendar MARCH 4 ACADEMY AWARDS LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA MARCH 8 - 11 ARMORY SHOW NEW YORK CITY MARCH 9 - 18 MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL MIAMI, FLORIDA MARCH 9 - 18 SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST AUSTIN, TEXAS MARCH 13 - APRIL 2 MARCH MADNESS NCAA BASKETBALL NATIONAL MARCH 19 - APRIL 1 MIAMI OPEN MIAMI, FLORIDA MARCH 20 - 25 WINTER MUSIC WEEK MIAMI, FLORIDA MARCH 30 - APRIL 8 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW NEW YORK CITY
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COMMUNIQUÉ | WINTER 2018
to place a request, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ATTACHé. EVENT ACCESS IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.
COMMUNIQUÉ 2018 WINTER SVP SKIE OCASIO Design/Production BRACKETT BILODEAU Editorial GREG BACCARINI Contributor ASHLEY COHEN Special Thanks KEN KAUFMAN RUSSELL ZELENETZ
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2018 RED CARPET EDITION
COVER IMAGES COURTESY OF DENYS NEVOZHAI