Royal Wedding in England...

So finally, William and Kate got married.

I missed no detail and watched the three-hour live broadcast on Antenne 2. Through my HD (high definition) TV, I could see many flaws: too heavy make-ups (Victoria Beckham's, for example), wrinkles and dark circles (even those of the bride, but totally understandable due to the stress and pressure)...

But Catherine, with her Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen's gown, looked radiant and the dress fitted her to perfection, with her thin waist. The lace sleeves reminded me of those of Grace Kelly's wedding dress, when she became Princess of Monaco. I wasn't very convinced by her loose hair and found the veil maybe too close to her head, but other than that, she was a beautiful bride!

Very elegant was the Queen with her yellow ensemble (she's forced to wear very defined hues so that she can easily be identified in the crowd, in case of emergency...), and super chic was Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. I loved her beige coat and hat. David Beckham was really handsome, although I would have avoided that hair-do which looked too much like a gel ad. How mean I am today!

Anyway, I cried myself out. It's automatic... I cry in every wedding, even those of people I don't know. But in this case it was extremely moving to think that more than 2 billion people were following the live broadcast, 10.000 journalists have been sent to cover the event... the eyes of the world set on London.

And I believe no one felt disappointed... Everything was perfect: the music, the procession, the organization and the love of the English people to their Monarchy.

Patricia in the States...

Twitteando from Paris...

Rainy and fresh afternoon, back in Paris...

Wonderful article on the Royal Wedding (Do I need to say which?) by Stephane Bern, great French journalist, in yesterday's Le Figaro. Stephane Bern is already in London and will be the special correspondent of many French media.

There are already some 50% off sales in Galeries Lafayette... So soon?

In France it is used to give away lilies of the Valley on May 1st, for good luck. All of Paris is full of these scented and delicious flowers... I've already received mine...

Back home...

After a week traveling around USA and stopping a couple of days in New York, here I am, in front of my computer, watching the Parc Monceau through my open windows and smelling the scent of the first mock oranges to blossom (premature, I must say... they usually appear around May 12th-15th).

As I spent time in the US, I've realized most Americans wished they were somewhere else, based on the amount of articles, magazine covers and special TV broadcasts... In fact, they all want to be in London to witness first hand Catherine's and William's wedding.

I do not remember such a huge and popular frenzy on, what we could call, a "mundane" event.

I even saw in the airport a magazine called "Kate"! And she isn't even a princess yet!

Most TV channels announce live broadcasts for Friday 29th, starting at 4 am in  NYC and at 1 am in Los Angeles... Many won't go to bed to see the Bride and Groom. All top American journalists are to travel to London, from Diane Sawyer to... Barbara Walters!

My friend Roberto Funes Ugarte is already on the plane to London, as a special correspondent for C5N.

I read a piece in the New York Times which said that many tailors (mostly from Corea, China and India) will be ready to copy all the details of the yet mysterious wedding dress. A few days after the ceremony, these copies will be ready, at low prices, around the world, for all those women dying to feel like Kate... to feel like princesses, at least for a day.

All eyes will be also on the 1900 guests that from 8 am (local time) will arrive to Westminster Abbey... Among them, Elton John and his husband David, the Beckhams, Guy Ritchie and many Lords and Ladies. I heard today that the dress code for the event allows women accompanied by men using uniform to wear long dresses. Weird, considering the time of the ceremony. For all others, knee-lenght skirts are mandatory... better if a little under the knee than over. 

Married women should wear hats, single women can go for a feather or flower arrangement.

Of course, no white, nor beige, nor black.

Apart from the wedding frenzy, I found New York ok... Lots of tourists and the usual lines outside Abercrombie & Fitch and also outside Hollister, both on 5th Avenue.

In Paris there's also some madness over the Royal Wedding, specially to find out who will be designing the wedding gown. Many bet on Sarah Burton, from Alexander McQueen. Others believe that Kate herself designed her dress... We'll have to wait till Friday, at 10 am, or even later, to satisfy our legitimate curiosity...

Gala at the Musée d' Orsay...

I want to let you know that yesterday I had the pleasure and honor of being invited to a Gala at the Musée d' Orsay to celebrate the inauguration of Manet's mega exhibition.

(Before you ask, I wore a blue dress and bolero jacket from Oscar de la Renta, which I borrowed from my sister, Rosella, because mine, due to a mistake from the boutique, did not reach me in time. You might wonder why I wanted to dress myself like that no matter what... I don't know... I wanted to do so for Manet...)

Moving on to more important things, let me tell you that before dinner we had the privilege of visiting privately the entire exhibition, one of the most beautiful ones I've seen in the past years. I love Manet. Since my days as a History of the Arts student, his work has always produced on me an incredible feeling of pleasure and admiration. This is why I did not hesitate to accept the invitation to the Gala sent by the Societé des Amis du Musée d' Orsay. The President of the Societé is the Count Edouard de Ribes, a great Art lover, full of friends. More than 300 people joined him yesterday... the "tout Paris."

Just by itself the Musée d'Orsay is unique... But to stand in front of the "Olympia," one of the most disturbing nudes in the History of the Art, or to feel part of "Le dejeuner sur l'herbe," is almost like being in Paradise! Or to witness Manet's particular use of black, the suit in "L'Amazon" or Berthe Morisot's dresses... all that has always caught my attention. The biography of this artist is as exceptional as his entire work. The exhibit will be open till July 5th.

After touring the museum (which I did twice to miss no detail), we were invited to a cocktail in the main hall (which used to be a train station and still has the marvelous antique clock, always à l'heure...) and then we were guided to the first floor, where the sumptuous dinner was held, under a ceiling of frescoes and dorés. Thanks to the kindness of the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, we were served an exceptional Mouton Rothschild 1999...

Among the most elegant women, of course, the Countess Jacqueline de Ribes, Madame Schwartzmann (with an Oscar de la Renta) and Coco Brandolini, in Prada and Louboutin, but not on her feet... by her arm! Because Christian was her partner... I went to greet him and he had amazing patent leather shoes... designed by himself, of course!

What I carry in my bag...

As you've been asking so much, Carla Mitrani came to my house, before I left for Paris, to take some pictures of what I carry in my bag...

So here they are. But, first I need to clear out some things: as I change my bag everyday, I have a small L. Vuitton purse where I carry everything I need and transfer it from bag to bag.
The green wallet is the one I use for my cards, IDs and money in Europe. The orange one is for South America. One key holder belongs to my house in Paris, the other one to my house in Buenos Aires.
The red "pochette" is a gift from my friend Myriam, as it is the silver pill box with the shape of an Hermès Birkin.
The powder foundation is one of the many in my Estée Lauder collection. I change it from time to time.
I carry a Chanel mini gloss and a Guerlain fard. Also a toothbrush and a small toothpaste. And even a small sewing kit, as those given to guests at hotels... Everything is hidden in the red pochette.
And that's all...

Parc Monceau in Spring...

Concert at the Teatro Colón...

Since its opening, on May 25th 2010, I've been willing to go to the newly renovated Teatro Colón. My last time there was on May 2003 and I cried with Puccini's "Tosca."

Today, after so many years, I entered again the glorious Colón...

Thanks to an invitation from French Ambassador in Argentina, Mr. Jean-Pierre Asvazadourian, and Buenos Aires' Minister of Culture, Mr. Hernán Lombardi, I enjoyed an exclusive performance of French pianist Bertrand Chamayou, a 30-year-old talent that is considered a huge promise by the French. Since 2006 he is touring the world masterly performing music by Franz Listz, Félix Mendelsshon, Camille Saint-Saens... as he did exactly tonight. In an hour-and-a-half-long concert, just him, with his piano on the majestic stage, he delighted us all with his huge talent.

And what can I possibly say about the Colón?

I adore theaters, their halls, their red velvets and dorés, that mystery that surrounds them... I always feel the presence of a ghost moving around, just as in the Opera. And tonight I was not deceived. The Colón still remains as splendid as ever...

A special note for the Tandem PARIS-BUENOS AIRES, which is to bring us many more amazing performances and exhibitions.

Bertrand Chamayou

Patricia in jeans...

Laurencio Adot's Runway show...

And so I'm back, after a few days of mandatory rest, due to my travels, and a virus that almost destroyed my PC. 

In today's warm and scented afternoon, I went to the Sheraton Hotel to see one of the many runway shows presented at the BAAM (Buenos Aires Alta Moda). For more than 20 years now, Héctor Vidal Rivas, famous stylist and Costume Designer, together with his sons, has been working to promote Argentine fashion and designers, and with this in mind, he created BAAM.

Today I went to Laurencio Adot's show who, not only is a dear friend of mine, but also a talented designer, always willing to learn and improve himself in each of his collections.

The one he presented today did not let us down. Many cocktail dresses and black gowns, some with details and others totally embroidered with sequins. Other "tableaux" in greys, greens or goldens. Glitters, feathers, high heels. A very feminine and sexy woman. All models carried the same hair-do: untidy buns that looked really great. 

A special note for MT's jewelry, specially the earrings, which were long and charming.

The show ended with wedding dresses, always a strong point in Laurencio's collections. And there were designs to suit every bride... from lace catsuits, very 70s, to short suits and the classic long ones every bride dreams of. 

Among the models, some famous ones as Carolina Simeone, Ingrid Grudke and Julieta Prandi.

Many actresses that use Adot supported him in the front rows.