Maeght Fundation...

Under Miró's Arch, at Maeght Fundation, in St. Paul de Vence...

At the Hôtel de Talleyrand...

This June, in the mundane Paris that wishes to leave behind the Winter and see the city under better lights (those of Summer, of course) and meet with friends to talk about everything and nothing, you must attend one of the many gatherings taking place these days...

Precisely this week I had the honor of being invited by Bertrand du Vignaud, President of the WMF Europe, to their Diner held every year in June. The World Monument Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to restore the most important and incredible monuments on Earth and has chapters in more than a 100 cities. This is all possible thanks to the generosity of many donors... many many!

For example, WMF Europe, between 2010 and 2011, was able to restore the Kollegienkirche of Salzbourg, the facade of the Belvedere and the doors and balustrades of the Villa dei Vescovi, both in Prague, and the Roman Church of San Clement de Casauria, in Abruzzo, two years after the earthquake. And so many other projects are on the works... Fascinating!

WMF Europe has its headquarters in one of the most beautiful, historic and important palaces in Paris: the Hôtel de Talleyrand, which has a long, long history.

First it was known as Hôtel St. Florentin, because of Louis-Phelypeaux, Count of St. Florentin and future Duke of La Vrillière, who was Secretary of State to King Louis XV. The Hotel was finished by 1769 thanks to the work of the architect Chalgrin, When St. Florentin died, the Hotel went to the Duke Fitz Roy and later to de Duchess de Infantado. In 1812 it was finally bought by Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, a great politician of his time and a key piece of French History. He would live there until his death, in 1838. Around that time the Hôtel is bought by James de Rothschild, being the Rothschilds the only owners until 1950. 

It it with them that the building reaches its highest splendor. However, the years of war, its many horrors and the German occupation in Paris, pushes the family to sell it to the American Government, which will first use it as headquarters for the Marshall Plan and, later, as US Consulate in Paris. A restoration process is began shortly after, ending in 2007 and taking the Hôtel to its original blueprint.

Today it is rented by a Law Firm and the WMF Europe.

It was in its halls, with such Past and splendor, that the dinner was held... with a breathtaking view of the Place de la Concorde.

Of course all the donors of the WMF were there, mostly Americans, and the "tout" Paris: women in long dresses and men in smoking.

As I love History and its traditions, it was a privilege to me to be able to be in a place were so many important people in France spent their time...

Dinner to honor Archi Lanús...

Apart from Gardel, there are, and there's been, few Argentine so loved and respected here in France as Archibaldo Lanús.

Along the decade he spent in Paris, as Argentine Ambassador, Archi created strong bonds of friendship with an important part of the French society, and his invitations to the residence on Ave. Foch, be it to celebrate the 9th of July or to listen to a Tango ensemble, were all very cherished.

As no one he knew how to interest his French friends in Argentine culture and when he left, in 2005, there's been at least 30 farewell dinners... Never seen before!

Now, he returns every year, in June, and the French ladies call for themselves the right to offer him dinners and lunches months ahead.

This week was the turn of Francoise Gallimard, heir to the publishing house Gallimard, who gathered in her floor on Rue de Lille around 30 guests, among whom were the Princess María Pía de Savoia, Princess Alix Napoleón, the Bragance, Michel de Bourbon-Parme, Prince Amin Aga Khan, his Royal Highness Michel of France, Baroness Hottinguer... It felt like a dinner out of "The Recherche du Temps Perdu," by Marcel Proust, from 1911, not from 2011. It must have been quite hard for the host to arrange the sitting order respecting a certain protocol with so many aristocrats... I was lucky: in spite of being younger than other princesses, I was placed in Archi's table.

Archi brought a latin touch, hiring a band of musicians from Paraguay, who played such songs as "El Rey" and "Guantanamera."

As I left, they were inviting guests to dance to the rhythm of "Marina," a hit from the 60s...

PS: And now that we are pretending to be Proust, let me tell you that I wore an Oscar de la Renta black dress, with huge white sequins details on the skirt... Before you ask!!

Argentine Polo in Paris...

Under a grey and rainy sky, a Polo match was held this afternoon at the Marus Sanctus field, just outside of Paris.

The French have always been huge fans of watching and playing Polo. And, of course, the Argentine players, considered the best in the world, are well-received in this country to play and teach the secrets of such an elegant and elitist sport.

Today, Patrick Guerrand Hermès's team, La Palmeraie, faced La Bamba de Areco.

As special guests among the players were the Pieres brothers, Facundo and Gonzalo, both with a handicap of 10. Also Lucas Monteverde, Francisco Bensadón and Facundo Sola, with handicaps between 9 and 6.

The cup at stake honored Mathias Guerrand-Hermès, who died too young a little more than a year ago and a great Polo lover, as also his father Patrick.

Each of us could help with a contribution to benefit the Coronel Moldes Hospital in Córdoba.

Between the downpours and the rays of sun, which came out randomly, and with a crowd happy to see such Polo stars, the match was fantastic. As it was expected.

Once again, the bonds between Argentina and France proved to be stronger than ever...

My American Tournée...

Et voilá je suis ici... Here I'm, back in Europe, in front of my trustworthy PC, contemplating Paris' grey skies through the corner of my eyes... After so many visual stimulus in the US, it's relaxing and rather dull.

The truth is that New York in June, under a radiant sun and a pre-summer atmosphere, full of tourists, is better than ever.

And there's so much to do... For example, sales-shopping (40% off almost everywhere) and witnessing the twice-a-year show (in June and December) held at the shoes floor in Bergdorf, Saks or Barneys: hundreds of women fighting over their objects of desire, to see if they can get them a little less expensive.

And in a more interesting level, there's always the amazing exhibits at the local museums, so well-organized. Of course, my sister and I couldn't miss the chance to see the fabulous retrospective on Alexander McQueen at the Metropolitan Museum.

And it was worth it... "Savage Beauty," that the name of the exhibit, is a visual journey through unusual, creative and emotional concepts. A bit because McQueen died too young (killed himself at age 40), a bit because he's always been Fashion's naughty boy and a bit because he had an incredible talent... in less than fifteen years he knew how to leave a deep footprint in all those who, like me, love fashion.

The exhibit highlights all the obscure aspects of his personality... Wind, lights, noises... You feel as being transported into the romantic, melancholic and sad fantasy of an English boy...

And the gowns... The red silk cape, the black feathers dress, the lace, the leather sadomasochist bustiers... A different sexuality, weird and yet fascinating...

But enough... all of you passing through New York, don't miss the chance to see it and buy the catalog, specially edited for the occasion, with his face on the cover, which metamorphoses into a skull, depending on how you move the book...

Travelling...

My apologies for not writting...
I'm currently travelling through the US but I will soon return to Paris...
Till then, see you soon!