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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 5 November 2019
Zac Posen, red carpet favorite, shuts down fashion label

By JOCELYN NOVECK Posen also designed Prin-
Associated Press cess Eugenie's filmy, blush-
NEW YORK (AP) — Designer toned wedding reception
Zac Posen is shutting down gown for her 2018 nuptials.
his namesake label. And in 2015, Michelle
Posen has been a red car- Obama wore a shiny silver-
pet favorite for close to gray belted Posen dress
two decades, known for to the White House Corre-
glamorous, body-hugging spondents' Association Din-
gowns, often with long ner.
trains or big, flamboyant Posen was raised in New
ruffles, for stars like Katie York, where at 16 he at-
Holmes and Rihanna. tended Parson's School of
An announcement from Design and then the Cen-
the label's owners, House of tral Saint Martins University
Z and Z Spoke, noted late in London.
Friday that the company In 2004, he was awarded
could no longer continue The Perry Ellis Award for Wo-
operations. It had been in menswear by the CFDA, or
a sale process. Council of Fashion Design-
Posen, 39, was considered ers of America.
a wunderkind of New York Posen has also served as a
fashion when he launched judge on TV's "Project Run-
his label in 2001. way." And in 2017, he was
He also serves as creative the subject of a documen-
director for the Brooks tary , "House of Z," which
Brothers women's collec- explored some of the ups
tion. and downs he had already
"The management team experienced in his career.
... worked extremely hard "I want people to follow
to navigate the increas- their creative passion," he
ingly challenging fashion In this Feb. 16, 2015, file photo, designer Zac Posen and model Naomi Campbell greet the crowd told The Associated Press in
and retail landscape," he after his Fall 2015 collection is modeled during Fashion Week, in New York. an interview at the time. "I
said in a statement Friday. Associated Press believe that creativity is an
"We are disappointed that way. I remain incredibly sequined skirt for Oprah inspired dress was made important human experi-
these efforts have not been proud of what we created Winfrey at the Oscars in with fiber optics, and it lit up ence and element, in the
successful and deeply sad- and hopeful for the future." 2011, and a fitted pink satin in the dark. same way as sleeping, eat-
dened that the journey of Among Posen's many gown for Rihanna at the Katie Holmes was a fre- ing, having sex. I also want
nearly 20 years has come prominent designs was Diamond Ball in 2014. quent client, and his swirl- people to realize what it
to an end. I am grateful a mermaid-like gown for He swathed actress Claire ing purple, one-shouldered takes to build anything,
to the team who lent their Gwyneth Paltrow at the Danes in pastel blue organ- gown for her at this year's that there's sacrifice, there's
incomparable talent and Oscars in 2007, an off-the- za at the 2016 Met Gala, Met Gala included cutting- struggle, and it's important
commitment along the shoulder gown with brightly with a twist: her Cinderella- edge 3D-printed elements. to be resilient."q

'Curious Toys' has deliciously creepy setting

By OLINE H. COGDILL thin, inquisitive 14-year-old young girl about 12 years with cameos of real people
Associated Press boy. But Pin is a girl whose old get on the Hell Gate. including Charlie Chaplin,
"Curious Toys," Little, Brown disguise allows her the free- At the end, only the man Wallace Beery and assort-
and Co., by Elizabeth Hand dom to roam Chicago and returns — without the girl ed actresses whose identi-
An amusement park with its keeps her safe from those whom Pin recognizes from ties are only revealed at
odd corners, dark mysteri- who prey on young girls. the movie studio. Teaming the end. The movie studio
ous rides, nefarious-looking Pin knows that few people up with "dingbatty" Henry Essanay helped launch the
characters and garish light- would hire her if they knew Darger, who also spies on careers of many silent era
ing makes for a deliciously she is a girl, and that she Hell Gate, Pin sets out to stars before eventually be-
creepy setting for "Curious and her mother, a fortune- find the killer. ing absorbed by Warner
Toys," Elizabeth Hand's at- teller at the park, scrape by "Curious Toys" delves into Bros. Henry Darger was a
mospheric historical novel on pennies living in the fall- the various characters' real outsider artist and writ-
set in 1915 Chicago. ing-down shack near the psyches showing how they er. "Curious Toys" echoes
Despite all that, Riverview park. Pin's fascination with are affected by the early the atrocities of H.H. Hol-
Amusement Park also is a the movie studio gives her 20th century, poverty and mes during the 1893 Expo-
kind of refuge for many an education in costumes, despair. For many of these sition as chronicled in "The
Chicago residents who find This cover image released by cameras and editing. Her characters, their future is as Devil in the White City," and
a bit of relief from the daily Little, Brown and Co. shows knowledge of the amuse- bleak as their present with several characters refer-
reality of poverty, tene- "Curious Toys," a novel by ment park lets her slip in no escape or options. But ence those murders. While
ments and gangs that rove Elizabeth Hand. and out without being Pin's enterprising nature, "Curious Toys" doesn't quite
their neighborhoods. Associated Press seen and she sometimes intelligence and innate cu- measure up to Erik Larson's
Pin Maffucci easily moves rands, delivering drugs and gets on a ride — the dark riosity may be salvation for award-winning nonfiction,
through the amusement picking up spare change and scary Hell Gate being her and her fragile, drug- Hand's gripping plot mines
park and the Essanay as payment. For many of a favorite. But one day she addicted mother. The au- the era's vagaries with
movie studio, running er- these customers, Pin is just a sees an older man and a thor peppers "Curious Toys" aplomb.q