2008
Les Jardins de Van Cleef and Arpels
Posted by twinkletoes in General, Shoes on the Street, This week in shoesYou know guys, I really try to sneak my camera in with me at every event that I work. I am toiling for YOU! I am shifty and spy-like as I take pictures for you guys. Hard at work, night and day, I am here for you!
So this is my way of saying that I did not get as many pictures of the Van Cleef and Arpels “Les Jardins” collection showing that took place recently at the Plaza Hotel in New York. I did get a few, and I will try to convey just how beautiful it all was. (Side note here: are you all familiar with Eloise, the little girl in the story books who lives at the Plaza? If you are, I would like you to know that there is a portrait of her hanging in the hotel. I think that is very cool).
First of all, for the uninitiated (and by that I mean unable to afford $50,000 bracelets), Van Cleef and Arpels is a classic French jewelry brand that has been in business since 1906. They make many of the bejeweled baubles that the stars wear to the Oscars and other such red carpet affairs. In the jewelry world, they represent class, elegance, and luxury. Few jewelry brands can afford the kind of show that they held for their latest collection, which is entitled Les Jardins (translation: “the gardens”)
Twelve models and four Parisian performers strolled around a silvery, candlelit garden that was created, petal by petal, by the Van Cleef staff. The ballroom at the Plaza was carpeted in emerald-green grass. Orange and lemon trees stood overhead and at least 20 kinds of flowers seemed to grow out of the ground itself. The scent of the flowers filled the air. Were it not for the ceiling, rightly strung with twinkling lights, the Plaza ballroom could easily have been a real garden.
Sadly, I do not have photos of the garden that Van Cleef built, but I do have photos of the 4 Parisian performers (and their footwear) that were brought in to perform at the show. Two were opera singers and two were dancers. All were lovely and charming and beautiful ,of course.
Each performer represented a type of garden.
Kristina Jovanovic and her dainty ballet shoes represent Le Jardin Francaise (the French Garden). If you want an art history lesson, you will notice that the pattern on her gown is representative of the way the hedges at Versailles were trimmed. Thissharp symmetry and control in landscape architecture was beloved by the Sun King, Louis XVI. Every element in the French garden should look as if it is under strict human control. Beauty is found in order and control. The theme of designed beauty is also visible in the necklace she wore in the show, the aptly titled “Necklace of Versailles.” Click to learn more about French Gardens.
Karine Godefroy represents the Jardin Romantique Anglais. This is a much softer garden. Unlike the French Garden, it is intended to look natural and pretty. It often has low shrubberies and plenty of roses. She sang beautifully! That tiny girl has amazing lungs. Click to learn more about English Gardens.

Deborah Torres wore jewelry that represented the Jardin d’Extreme Orient (Garden of the Orient). Her costume and hair clearly suggest classic themes from Asia. The jewelry she wore brought to mind traditional Chinese Serenity Gardens which typically involve water and stones. They are meant to be calming, places for reflection and meditation. In the earrings, the diamonds and emeralds represent the leaves and trunk of a maple tree and the large opal in the ring represents to water in a still pool. She wore some cute trendy wedge heels too. Click to learn more about Chinese Gardens.
The last performer, with whom I didn’t get a chance to speak, represents the Jardiin Italien de la Renaissance (Italian Renaissance Garden). You can see from her gown that the Greek and Roman influence is very strong here. These gardens were places where people could lounge, be outside, see beautiful flowers, and eat delicious fruits. They were for luxuriating in the bright colors and looking at the urns, fountains, mosais and other architectual motifs that were plentiful. Click to learn more about Roman Gardens.































Piperlime
Recent Comments