Page 29 - ARUBA TODAY

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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 1 June 2018

Death and glitter: Gucci hosts France show in Roman ruins

By THOMAS ADAMSON Aside from the clothes, Gu-
Associated Press cci's show was for a good
ARLES, France (AP) — cause.
Death and the ancient It aimed to support the lo-
world mingled in the smoky cal Provencal culture and
air Gucci's 2019 cruise fash- traditions and was put on in
ion show, where celeb- collaboration with the city
rity guests in the southern of Arles.
French city of Arles were One of the invited guests
transported through time was 23-year-old Nais Les-
and space to an eerie Ro- bos, the reigning Queen of
man cemetery. Arles — an ambassador-like
Singer Elton John, rapper role to promote the endan-
A$AP Rocky and actresses gered Provencal language
Salma Hayek and Saoirse and traditions around
Ronan were among the France and the world.
spectators at the Italian Lesbos said Michele at-
powerhouse's itinerant an- tended her crowning cere-
nual spectacle on Wednes- mony and was committed
day night. Gucci designer to what's been seen as a
Alessandro Michele chose buoyant moment for Arles.
The Alyscamps, the ruins of Architect Frank Gehry is
a Roman necropolis, as his among designers behind
stage. Models wear creations for Gucci's Cruise 2019 fashion collection at the ancient site of the creation of a new con-
The location perfectly Alyscamps in Arles, southern France, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. temporary art center on a
paid homage to both the Associated Press renovated industrial com-
house's Italian roots and its Guests gasped as the show ghoulish — Victorian gowns twinned gothic elements plex a stone's throw from
French parent-company, opened with coordinated fluttered past with hang- with saleable street wear. the Gucci venue.
Kering, during a year in bursts of fire and a line of ing crucifix pendants. Ethe- Floral prints on satin ap- Elton John ensured the
which Gucci is celebrating flames that ignited all the real models wore hair rib- peared alongside staple fashion show ended on a
all things French and an- way down the center of bons, thick velvet dresses plaid skirts, leggings with se- note that was more glam-
nounced it would skip Mi- the 100-meter-long runway. and weighty embroidered quins and tights in leopard orous than earnest.
lan Fashion Week to show "Conceptually, I've never capes, sometimes holding print. For some fun, fluores- The 71-year-old legend
in Paris in the fall. been in anything like this large bouquets of white cent platforms, sleeveless took the piano before a
Michele took full advan- for a fashion show," A$AP flowers. denim jackets and bond- floodlit stone edifice and
tage of the dramatic back- Rocky said, marveling from One black cape had age pants added a Glam joked that the featured
drop of stone ruins and the front row. "France has guests literally on the edge rock vibe. performer was "supposed
tombs during the night- always had that predomi- of their seats as it brushed The Pan logo from famous to be Lana Del Rey, but she
time presentation. Clouds nance in architecture. And treacherously close to the Los Angeles celebrity haunt couldn't come."
of smoke blew around I'm here to absorb it all." runway flames. the Chateau Marmont Ho- He played the night out
church-style candles and Michele painstakingly cap- But many of the 114 looks tel also featured on sev- with "Your Song" and other
mirrored seating as haunt- tured the sense of history in weren't quite that spooky. eral looks that are almost that kept spooked revelers
ing choral music by Monte- the clothes. Michele served up his sig- guaranteed to fly off the going into the wee hours
verdi further set the scene. High-collared — almost nature Gucci styles that shelves. Thursday.q

Neil Portnow to leave post as Grammys

CEO in 2019

By MESFIN FEKADU won awards during the live on that promise," Portnow
Associated Press telecast. said in a statement.
NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Port- Portnow later said his words The academy said Portnow
now will step down as presi- were taken out of context made the announcement
dent and CEO of The Re- and he now understands at the company's semi-
cording Academy and the the pain his "poor choice annual Board of Trustees
Grammy Awards next year. of words" has caused. The meeting last week. Over
The organization an- remarks were criticized by the next year he will con-
nounced Thursday that Pink, Sheryl Crow, Katy Per- tinue to work on a transition
Portnow chose not to "seek ry, India.Arie and others. plan with the organization.
an extension on his current "When I had the honor of Before leading the acad-
contract," which ends next being selected to lead this emy, Portnow served on
year. great organization in 2002, the organization's Board of In this Jan. 28, 2018 file photo, Neil Portnow arrives at the 60th
He has led the academy I vowed that on my watch, Trustees. annual Grammy Awards in New York.
since 2002. for the first time in our history, His 16-year run, the lon- Associated Press
Portnow was criticized at we would have a thought- gest for a president at the and acts from the jazz, rock Eminem and Mariah Carey
the Grammys this year ful, well-planned, and col- academy, has been met and country music worlds, are among the acts who
when he said women need legial transition. With a little with some criticism. For and continually dismissing were on track to win top
to "step up" when asked more than a year remain- years the music community rap and R&B musicians, awards like album of the
about the lack of female ing on my current contract, felt that the Grammys were though those genres heav- year at the Grammys, but
winners backstage. Only I've decided that this is an out of date, giving out ily dominate pop music. constantly walked away
two female performers appropriate time to deliver awards to older musicians Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, without the big wins.q