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hat is the spark that ignites or
hatsustains is the spark ignites or sustains creativethat genius? creative genius? For the fashion designer Halston,
is now streaming Forwhose the story fashion designer Halston, on Netflix starring Ewan McGregor the title role, whose story is now in streaming on Netflix he needed to be surrounded by luminous sensual to be starring Ewan McGregor in the title role, he needed orchids. by luminous sensual orchids. surrounded In fact, when fundswere were tight tight during during his In fact, when funds hisearly earlydays, days, his his assistant tells him to cut down on orchids savemoney assistant tells him to cut down on orchids to to save money for the firm. He dismissively replied, that no, for the firm. He dismissively replied, that no, that would that would be impossible. Why? Because the orchids be impossible. Why? Because the orchids were “part of were “part of my process.” my process.” As he was honing the minimalist style that would
As he was honing the minimalist stylecentered that would make him world-famous, the orchids him. make himPlus, world-famous, the orchids centered him. their lack of scent didn’t distract him from Plus, theircreating lack ofhisscent didn’tdesigns distract himcashmere from creating innovative using and his innovative designs using cashmere Ultrasuede Ultrasuede that had the design worldand panting in awe that hadofthe world panting in awe of his every move. hisdesign every move.
NETFLIX SERIES SHOWS HOW HALSTON POPULARIZED ORCHIDS
NETFLIX SERIES SHOWS HOW HALSTON POPULARIZED ORCHIDS By Jill Brooke
By Jill Brooke
“Orchids were allall over bothat athome homeand and “Orchids were overhis hisplace, place, both in in the office,” says Halston biographer Steven Gaines, the office,” says Halston biographer Steven Gaines,whose book the book Netflix “Back then, orchids whose theseries Netflixreferenced. series referenced. “Back then, orchids really expensive andplentiful. not plentiful. were reallywere expensive and not OnlyOnly the rich theafford rich could afford them.” could them.” As Cut the reported, Cut reported, Halston would spend over As the Halston would spend over $100,000 $100,000 a year for prized these rare prized flowers. a year for these rare flowers. The flair he used to put them in pots all over his The flair inspired he used atotrend put them in potstoday all over his many residences that exists as so residences inspired a trend that exists today as so on contemporary homes have large orchids scattered many contemporary homes have large orchids hallway consoles and living room cocktail tables. scattered on hallway consoles and living room cocktail tables.
Halston would get his prized flowers from floral designer Renny Reynolds, of Renny & Reed in New York City and Halston would get his prized flowers from floral Palm Beach. Reynolds told Vogue that the designer had designer Renny Reynolds, of Renny & Reed in New a “burgundy GaePalm Aluenti table that hetold would pile up with York City and Beach. Reynolds Vogue that white phalaenopsis orchids.” the designer had a “burgundy Gae Aluenti table that he would pile up with white phalaenopsis orchids.”
Interior decorator Jeffrey Bilhuber added that Halston made orchids “seem not Bilhuber a rarityadded but athat necessity. Interior decorator Jeffrey Halston They looked justorchids amazing – sensuous without romantic, made “seem not a rarity but abeing necessity. andThey florallooked without flowery.” justbeing amazing – sensuous without being romantic, and floral without being flowery.”
“He also always had votives all over,” recalls Gaines. “He also always had votives all overboard.” over,” recalls Gaines. “Like much about him, he went “Like much about him, he went overboard.”
Director Mark Minahan was attracted to the Halston Director Markthe Minahan was attracted the Halston story because designer, born RoytoHalston Frowick, story because the designer, born Roy Halston Frowick, He “taught people how to brand and market themselves. people how to brand and market themselves. was“taught the first celebrity designer in America.” He was the first celebrity designer in America.”
Photograpy: Top and bottom: Netflix; floral arrangement Renny & Reed
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Metropolitan Magazine | 25AMagazine.com
The Netflix series shows how Halston leveraged his The invented Netflix series Halston fashion leveraged single, nameshows into ahow worldwide empire his single, invented name into a worldwide fashion that’s synonymous with luxury, sex, status and fame, empire that’s synonymous with luxury, sex, status and literally defining the era he lived in – 1970’s and ‘80’s fame, literally defining the era he lived in – 1970’s and New York — until a hostile takeover forces him to battle ‘80’s New York — until a hostile takeover forces him to for control of his most precious asset – the name Halston battle for control of his most precious asset – the name itself. In fact, heInstarted creating Jackie Jackie Kennedy’s Halston itself. fact, heout started out creating famous pillbox hat and then transitioned to women’s Kennedy’s famous pillbox hat and then transitioned clothing and started a ready-to-wear line. to women’s clothing and started a ready-to-wear line. May 2021
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