JEAN PAUL GAULTIER – Haute Couture Autumn 2013

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER – Paris

 

CHRISTIAN DIOR – Haute Couture Autumn 2013

CHRISTIAN DIOR  – Paris

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, please tell me you’ve been scouring the pages of style.com waiting for the Christian Dior’s Fall 2013 Couture show! The wait was definitely worth it as I am absolutely loving the collection! The sleek bold colors pop with hints of patterns making this collection an absolute dream for any Dior Diva! The collection is chic and sophisticated all while maintaining that sexy flirtatious feel every woman desires from their couture splurge. Check out the images below to see my favorite looks from the collection and be sure to post below and let me know your faves!

 

xoxo,

Susanna

 

To see more from the Christian Dior check out style.com : http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2013CTR-CDIOR

 

God Hermes

Hermes, the herald of the Olympian gods, is the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia, daughter of Atlas and one of the Pleiades. Hermes is the god of shepherds, land travel, merchants, weights and measures, oratory, literature, athletics and thieves, and known for his cunning and shrewdness. Most importantly, he is the messenger of the gods. Besides that he was also a minor patron of poetry. He was worshiped throughout Greece — especially in Arcadia — and festivals in his honor were called Hermoea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to legend, Hermes was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Zeus had impregnated Maia at the dead of night while all other gods slept. When dawn broke amazingly he was born. Maia wrapped him in swaddling bands, then resting herself, fell fast asleep. Hermes, however, squirmed free and ran off to Thessaly. This is whereApollo, his brother, grazed his cattle. Hermes stole a number of the herd and drove them back to Greece. He hid them in a small grotto near to the city of Pylos and covered their tracks. Before returning to the cave he caught a tortoise, killed it and removed its entrails. Using the intestines from a cow stolen from Apollo and the hollow tortoise shell, he made the first lyre. When he reached the cave he wrapped himself back into the swaddling bands.

When Apollo realized he had been

robbed he protested to Maia that it had been Hermes who had taken his cattle. Maia looked to Hermes and said it could not be, as he is still wrapped in swaddling bands. Zeus the all powerful intervened saying he had been watching and Hermes should return the cattle to Apollo. As the argument went on, Hermes began to play his lyre. The sweet music enchanted Apollo, and he offered Hermes to keep the cattle in exchange for the lyre. Apollo later became the grand master of the instrument, and it also became one of his symbols. Later while Hermes watched over his herd he invented the pipes known as a syrinx (pan-pipes), which he made from reeds. Hermes was also credited with inventing the flute. Apollo, also desired this instrument, so Hermes bartered with Apollo and received his golden wand which Hermes later used as his heralds staff. (In other versions Zeus gave Hermes his heralds staff).

Being the herald (messenger of the gods), it was his duty to guide the souls of the dead down to the underworld, which is known as a psychopomp. He was also closely connected with bringing dreams to mortals. Hermes is usually depicted with a broad-brimmed hat or a winged cap, winged sandals and the heralds staff (kerykeion in Greek, or Caduceus in Latin). It was often shown as a shaft with two white ribbons, although later they were represented by serpents intertwined in a figure of eight shape, and the shaft often had wings attached. The clothes he donned were usually that of a traveler, or that of a workman or shepherd. Other symbols of Hermes are the cock, tortoise and purse or pouch.

Originally Hermes was a phallic god, being attached to fertility and good fortune, and also a patron of roads and boundaries. His name coming from herma, the plural being hermaiherm was a square or rectangular pillar in either stone or bronze, with the head of Hermes (usually with a beard), which adorned the top of the pillar, and male genitals near to the base of the pillar. These were used for road and boundary markers. Also in Athens they stood outside houses to help fend off evil. In Athens of 415 BCE, shortly before the Athenian fleet set sail against Syracuse (during the Peloponnesian War), all the herms throughout Athens were defaced. This was attributed to people who were against the war. Their intentions were to cast bad omens on the expedition, by seeking to offend the god of travel. (This has never been proved as the true reason for the mutilation of the herms.)

The offspring of Hermes are believed to be Pan, Abderus and Hermaphroditus. Hermes as with the other gods had numerous affairs with goddesses, nymphs and mortals. In some legends even sheep and goats. Pan, the half man half goat, is believed to be the son of Hermes and Dryope, the daughter of king Dryops. Pan terrified his mother when he was born, so much so that she fled in horror at the sight of her new born son. Hermes took Pan to Mount Olympus were the gods reveled in his laughter and his appearance and became the patron of fields, woods, shepherds and flocks. Abderus, a companion of the hero Heracles, is also thought to be a son of Hermes, he was devoured by the Mares of Diomedes, after Heracles had left him in charge of the ferocious beasts. Hermaphroditus (also known as Aphroditus) was conceived after the union of Hermes and Aphrodite. He was born on Mount Ida but he was raised by the Naiads (nymphs of freshwater). He was a androgynous (having the characteristics of both sexes) deity, depicted as either a handsome young man but with female breasts, or as Aphrodite with male genitals.

Known for his swiftness and athleticism, Hermes was given credit for inventing foot-racing and boxing. At Olympia a statue of him stood at the entrance to the stadium and his statues where in every gymnasium throughout Greece. Apart from herms, Hermes was a popular subject for artists. Both painted pottery and statuary show him in various forms, but the most fashionable depicted him as a good-looking young man, with an athletic body, and winged sandals and his heralds staff.

More facts about Hermes (well facts according to the myths and the legends, but I believe them – I believe everything the ancient Greeks believed):

See below the recent birthday (May 25th)  gift I received from my two beautiful nephews George and Angelo. Thank you kids! I love you!

Family of Hermes

Parents: Hermes was the son of Zeus, the King of the Gods, and the mountain Nymph Maea, who was a daughter of the Titan Atlas. Hermes was born inside a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, southern Greece.
Famous Children: Hermaphroditus and the Satyr Pan.

Hermes, the God’s Messenger and Conductor of Souls

Hermes was wearing wings on his sandals and therefore was the speediest of all Greek gods. Because of his speed, Hermes received the role of the messenger and conductor of souls to the Underworld. Hermes was the only Olympian god who was authorized to visit Heaven, Earth and also the Underworld and enjoyed this way popularity among all the Greek gods and spirits.

Hermes, the God of the Thieves

It is well known that Ancient Greeks endowed their gods with human weaknesses. Hermes, for instance, felt an irresistible impulse of stealing ever since his infancy and quickly developed as the god of the cheaters and the thieves.

Hermes’ special Relation to Zeus

Hermes was a messenger of all gods, but mostly he was known for performing duties for his father Zeus with great pleasure. Zeus appreciated Hermes’ wits highly and always asked for Hermes’ assistance throughout his decisions, especially when it came to cheating on his wife Hera.

Appearance of Hermes

Hermes was a young man, wearing traveling clothes, a flat hat known as “petasus” and winged sandals on his feet. Oftentimes he was also considered to have wings attached to his shoulders and hat.
Hermes usually held a winged staff with snakes wrapped around it in his hands in order to gain access everywhere. This staff helped Hermes to charm the gods or to wake up those who were tamed by the god of sleep.

Symbols of Hermes

The caduceus (his staff), the purse (or leather pouch), the winged sandals, the ram and the petasus (his hat).

Dripping in Daphne

With the recent weather shifting from sun dress hot to rain jacket down poor, everyone in the showroom has been discussing ways to stay busy indoors while still enjoying the outdoor elements. The MoMA of course has our answer! The Rain Room exhibit created by Random International located at the MoMA PS1, allows viewers to control the rain themselves by simply walking around the room.  Perfect for a scorching hot day in the New York sun! This new exhibit got us thinking, how else can we incorporate this months unexpected downpours into our summer wardrobe? Continue below to see how these recent rainy days are inspiring us to incorporate rain boots with my newest collection Daphne. Don’t be left out to dry this summer! Stay dripping in green-gold chains and gems!

xoxo,

Susanna

Follow this link to view a short video on the Rain Room http://youtu.be/EkvazIZx-F0

To view more of my collection or to purchase the pieces displayed in todays blog please view my website http://www.susannagalanis.com/main_collection.asp or call  212.759.9142 to set up an appointment in the showroom.

A necklace from my Daphne Collection.

A necklace form my Daphne Colleciton.

Love Goes Green

My new collection was inspired from the ancient Grecian story of the God Apollo’s love for the nymph Daphne (For more information on the story follow this link:https://susannagalanis1.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/apollo-and-daphne/). With pieces made of green-gold and accentuated with green detailing, my new pieces are sure to brighten your summer style. Continue below to see how were seeing green this summer and to discover ways you can work this cool jewel tone into your wardrobe during these hot summer months.

 

xoxo,

Susanna

For information on how to purchase my pieces please visit my website http://www.susannagalanis.com/main_collection.asp or call 212.759.9142 to set up an appointment at the showroom.

A necklace from my Daphne Collection.

A necklace form my Daphne Colleciton.

POSTCARD – Beyonce

LUCKY GIRL!

Back in the day, eight years ago, when I first started designing jewelry, one of the very first celebrities to wear my designs was the beautiful Beyonce.  Love at first sight! Lovely, lovely and beyond…

How lucky for me!

Pictured below wearing my “Long Story” signature necklace  at the Marc Jacobs Fashion show (2005) in NYC.

Postcard – Classical ideal

 

 

CLASSICAL IDEAL- Ancient Athens, Classical Greece, Hellenistic Greece and  Ancient Rome

 

Classical Ideal – Classical and Hellenistic, and Roman worlds

The Classical ideal of ancient Athens, pertains to the standard of excellence proposed by the cultures of ancient Greece, and Rome, beginning in the Golden Age of Greece. The ancient Greeks aspired to perfection in both body and mind, and sought a synthesis of the two poles of passion and reason. Through athletic behavior, they were able to exercise the value of perfection of body. Through philosophy, government, poetry, drama, law, logic, history, mathematics and architecture, they were able to express their desire for perfection of the mind. Through artistic portrayal of the human form they tried to achieve a synthesis of passion and reason.

The philosophy of Greek art of the Golden Age was that of moderation in all things, as represented by ‘The Winged Victory’. In sculpture, the characteristic form was

___________    SUSANNA GALANIS Jewelry Collection _______________________

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the male nude, which later inspired Michelangelo’s Statue of David of the Renaissance. During the peak of the Classical Greek civilization, the idealized figures of Greek art and architecture exemplified order and harmony. In architecture, the most famous building was the Parthenon. To the ancient Greeks, monuments were to be treated as large sculptures. They were thus built around the same rules of symmetry and ideal proportion. Public rites took place in front of a temple, where sculpture told the story of the temple’s deity. The religion of the Classical period of Greek and Roman history was polytheistic. The gods and mythical figures of the civilization were the subjects of homage in the arts, including drawing, sculpture, and architecture. The signature city of the Greek classical era was Athens. The main contributions of the Golden Age of ancient Athens were democracy, individualism and reason. The ideals and values were transmitted from Greece to Rome, and were later revived by many cultures of Europe.

The ideals of order and solemnity repeated themselves in the art and architecture of the ancient Romans, in the European Renaissance era and in the era of Neoclassicism in 17th and early 18th century Europe.

My day with the Gods

 

 

 

My favorite Gods of New York City.

Its Sunday in the magnificent New York City. A beautiful, sunny day. Yet, I feel so blue.

“It’s normal” I say to myself. “We just had a tremendous and very cruel hurricane storm, Sandie, and the catastrophe it brought to this beautiful place is devastating —  the pain and suffering of the people is unbearable to watch. How can I feel any better?”

I knew immediately what to do. Go to the Met [Metropolitan Museum of Art.] My favorite place in the entire world. This is where I visit the Gods, the Goddesses, the nymphs, the warriors and the heroes and I draw strength and energy from the divine — my divine ancestors.

It was an unusually brilliant and sunny early afternoon. As soon as I run up the stairs, a beautiful flock of birds with wings flickering up  in the sun  light greeted me. The sun rays were so defined and  intense against the  background of the museum. It felt like a divine sign, an omen, a blessing.  “What is this supposed to mean?” I said to myself.  “It’s definitely something good.” But, I always feel good when I go to the museum. This is why I go there when I have the blues. It is my divine cathedral, my temple, a holy place.

Well, this incredible feeling skyrocketed as soon as I saw Zeus, Hercules, Apollo, Alexander, Dionysos, Artemis, Athena and Aphrodite! They were all there. I cannot describe the feeling. “I am not surprised at all that these great Gods decided to make New York City their home,” I thought to my self giggling.

While I stood in front of the huge column right at the center of the Grecian and Roman Galleries, I felt compelled to touch it! “Can I touch this?” I said to the guard. “Why?” he answered. “I just want to connect with its energy” I said. “OK. I will turn around pretending that I didn’t see you.” He said. Wow!!! it felt like electricity running through my left arm. I had shivers. A stand with a mask featuring my glorious Macedonian ancestor Alexander The Great, and a favorite of all of my favorite Gods, was to the left.  His father Zeus [according to the myths and the legends] was a few steps besides him. The atmosphere was magical. I felt like one of the dancing meneads…in a trance…worshiping drunken Dionysos that was further down the hall. Oh…just a reminder… I promised you in the past that I will write about  Queen Olympias of Macedon [Alexander’s divine mother]…well, wait a see how she was worshiping God Dionysos…coming next.

At the fountain, further down, I tossed a coin making a wish about my beautiful city NYC. May the Gods always protect you and may you continue to prosper and excel and be the City of Lights for eternity! May you always be favored by the divine Gods!

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POSTCARD Olympic Spirit

POSTCARD Happy Birthday Alexander the Great

On this day in history, July 20,356 BC in ancient Pella Macedonia, Alexander the Great was born to King Phillip and Queen Olympias of Macedonia. One of my favorite ancestors! Happy Birthday Alexander the Great! Thank you for all the light you have brought into this world.