Daily Front Row

2010 March 9

A Turkish Delight

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Seda Domaniç and Anna Dello Russo
SWAN View Gallery

(PARIS) How uneventful is the party calendar this week? Well, think about this: Fendi, Chanel, Dior, Vuitton, YSL and Givenchy all abstained from special events this time around in Paris--and suddenly, the launch of Vogue Turkey (no, it’s not a typo) became the hottest golden invite in town. And the bash delivered on many levels. The publication's editor in chief, Seda Domaniç, was planning the event at the Crillon for months, virtually every chicster from Istanbul made it for the bash, and every relevant designer in town was invited to join the newest international jewel in the Newhouse family mantle.

“This will be the first Vogue launched in a Muslim country,” explained Domaniç. “But Turkey, of course, is not fully a Muslim country--it’s a secular nation and I think our magazine will really showcase the diversity of our people. Top photographers from all countries will shoot for the magazine in Turkey and abroad to bring a brand new vision of Vogue.” To initiate the beautiful editor into the Condé club, Jonathan Newhouse invited nearly every top Condé fashion editor to the party, and everyone from Anna Wintour to Aliona Doletskaya to Carine Roitfeld to Linda Wells to Michael Roberts paid their Turkish respects.

“I’ve never seen so many Turks in Paris,” quipped Hussein Chalayan. “But we’re all eating foie gras!” Chalayan was joined by Roberto Cavalli, Matthew Williamson, Riccardo Tisci,  Erin Fetherston, Lars Nilsson, and Peter Dundas among many other designers in the room. “I finally got a little time to myself,” said Dundas. “It's nice though to relax and see friends’ shows. I happily caught Céline and Givenchy.” Lindsay Lohan made her obligatory two-minute cameo before calling for her car and searching for next big party (good luck with that!), while Karolina Kurkova and Trish Goff actually made some new acquaintances in the room.

Meanwhile, Jessica Stam held the honor of being the magazine’s first-ever cover girl. “That’s amazing, and it only really happens once with every title,” she said. “Now I have to flip through everything and learn some Turkish. And I actually do love the country. I’ve been there and fell in love with everything from the markets to the architecture.” The prospect of flying to Turkey got Gareth Pugh intrigued. “The thought of visiting the country sounds very enticing to my overworked body and brain right about now,” he quipped. “But Jefferson Hack promised to take me!”
VALENTINE UHOVSKI