Paris Fashion Week provided the excuse to party and party we did. On October 1, Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue, hosted a fundraising event for Obama.
The Obama Victory Fund was good at keeping secrets. When 150 donors paid from $2,500 to $10,000 each to attend a cocktail and dinner party, we were told that Anna Wintour was hosting and Scarlett Johansson would be there. Plus, the organizers promised, a few surprise stars who had been attending the Paris Fashion Week would drop by during the evening. We were not disappointed.
Mick Jagger, Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West, Stella McCartney and Lee Radziwill mingled with us as we drank champagne and dined on scallop filled hors d'oeuvres.
Scarlett, who was wearing a cream silk dress with sheer sleeves, laughed and told me she earned her trip to Paris. The Democrats had sent her to the Midwest in the winter and the East Coast during the summer.
Mick Jagger was good humored about the fans who crowded around him. Even though he's British and can't vote, he said, "Anything for Obama." When a guest told him that her young son had a band, Mick replied, "Tell him to keep practicing."
A person close to the campaign reported an amusing incident. As Mick was entering the courtyard, J.Lo, who was wearing a bright, short, cherry red dress, was departing. They chatted for a couple of moments and then as he walked towards the front door, a major female donor of a certain age was also leaving. Surprised and flabbergasted at seeing Mick Jagger standing in front of her, she struggled for something appropriate to say and instead gasped, "Ah, f**k me." Mick smiled and without missing a beat replied, "Yeah, baby." Then he sauntered into the party as she stood trying to grasp what had just happened.
Kanye West wore black, red and yellow shoes. Great design. Kim Kardashian, whom he has been dating, was nowhere around.
Anna Wintour, who said she flies to Paris at least 10 times a year, wore the dark cap-sleeved dress that she was photographed in the next day at the Yves Saint Laurent show. Instead of being surrounded by Obama supporters, she was sitting in the first row next to Valerie Tierweiler, The first lady of France.
In Paris, you seldom know what is behind the heavy lacquered doors that line the streets. In this instance, they guarded the former home of Kenzo Takada, the fashion designer. Located near the Bastille, the four level teak lined home framed the Grand Salon where the guests chatted as others sat in the Oriental garden.
Some wandered up to the mezzanine which had been Kenzo's atelier. For photos of his former home, checkout the youtube videos.
My only disappointment? Scarlett didn't bring her old beau Sean Penn.