And that's all.

From now on, you can follow us here and see us at the shop. 

Thank you for all of the love and support! 

X THE BANQUET

http://thebanquetnyc.blogspot.com

COUNCIL IS THE BANQUET!

For Immediate Release.

February, 2010.

COUNCIL boutique, celebrating its one year anniversary on February 14th, is changing its name to THE BANQUET.

Comprised of women's clothing designer Miranda Bennett and Jewelry Designer Pamela Johnston of Plume, the pair selected the name in part for the series of artist dinners that they plan to host, much in the tradition of the salons, inviting guest artists and friends to mingle over offerings of food, ideas, and camaraderie.

"We loved the celebratory tone of "the banquet", and the suggestion of a beautifully arranged and ceremonious coming together - in much the same way that a lavish feast comes together to honor and celebrate its guests. This past year has taught us how deep the channels of support in the design community are, and we want to pay tribute to that and inspire further participation."

THE BANQUET is a store and concept created by designers, serving the design and arts community, as well as a larger audience of patrons and connoisseurs. Much in the same way that COUNCIL represented the coming together of each partner's endeavors under one roof, THE BANQUET seeks to remain a platform for Johnston and Bennett's work, functioning as both a gathering place and design laboratory for new ideas and collaborations. The centerpieces of the store are Johnston's much loved editorial pieces and collection of fine jewelry and Bennett's women's collection that fuses the elegant simplicity of Grecian inspired draping with effortless daywear. In addition to the co-owner's lines, the pair will curate a house line of vintage clothing, furniture and curiosities called "THE BANQUET ARCHIVE". ARCHIVE gems are in the store now. THE BANQUET blog will continue documenting trend, art, music, film, and pop cultural inspiration as well as relaying announcements on openings, sales, and other store events (thebanquetnyc.blogspot.com).

The banquet had become the supreme rite. The cultural capital of the world, which set fashions in dress, the arts, and the pleasures of life, celebrated its vitality over a long table laden with food and wine. From The Banquet Years by Roger Shattuck

All Hail McQueen.

After hearing the news this morning, and despite the day of astonished conversations that followed, we still can't believe it. Lee Alexander McQueen, March 17th, 1969 to February 11th, 2010. He was talented, he was brilliant. His construction was rigorous, flawless, exquisite, and beautiful. His mind was complicated, sensitive, knowing, challenging, and sharply intelligent. Sometimes, though, the qualities that make us defy the commonplace, make us special and severe, are the very same that interfere with our own ability to sustain ourselves. The deeply ingrained sensitivity that made McQueen the creative genius that he was, was also responsible for making him succumb to his grief. As the shock wears off, we know that he will be sorely missed. We wish him peace and the hope that he is reunited with his beloveds.

XOXO COUNCIL

Projected.

More amazing from the ever expanding archive of incredible fashion films.

XOXO COUNCIL



Directed by Stephanie di Giusto

I remember when.

Ryan McGinley shooting Kate Moss for Stella McCartney, first for W in 2007, then for her F/W '09 campaign. Perfection.

X THE BANQUET

See the words.

With love on the brain, and an anniversary in our heart, this article hit the spot. From a lovely story called "A Valentine's Day Sampler" in the City Room blog of the New York Times today. See who wrote it, and what else, here.

xoxo COUNCIL

Take me away.

Another Take Away Show from La Blogoteque - this time the enchanting Yo La Tengo. We could not have described the endeavor any better than this: "They are the best of the best, they possess an almost fleeting mystery we’re not really sure we want to display."

The sweetness of this performance, filmed on a playground in Montmartre, will make your heart sing and swell. 

xoxo COUNCIL

The Gentlewoman.

We love this editorial shot by the lovely Zoe Ghertner for the super and fantastic Fantastic Man. Have a look why don't you.

xoxo COUNCIL

It's all happening.

The tents are going up! New York Fashion Week looms and as far as we are concerned, February 11th and the Fall collections cannot come soon enough. Let the countdown begin!

xoxo COUNCIL

Au Hasard Cydney.

While looking at our dear friend Cydney's most recent photo essay on Maine entitled idle/idyll, we were struck by this image,

Which in turn made us think of this one, taken from the beautiful and haunting Robert Bresson film Au Hasard Balthazar.

Which you shouldn't see on an empty heart. The rest of Cydney's photos will take you to the ocean and the woods and warmth, all of which are welcome in this dead center of winter.

xoxo COUNCIL

Special Delivery!

Thank you to our favorite flower girls, Ruth and Amanda, the lovely ladies of Quatre Coeur. They completely made our day yesterday when they hand delivered this gorgeous bouquet.

xoxo COUNCIL

P.S.
There is still time to order an amazing Valentine's Day package from them!

See the words.

"The dream of a ninety-five is a weight on the heart."

Just one Look.

(thank you to Merideth Namsoo for making us think of the ocean and horizon and the flatness of the earth and a crying sky and the vastness of simplicity.)

Street of Forgotten Men.

The Bowery in the days of yore.

xoxo COUNCIL

Girls on Film.

Louise Brooks (November 1906 - August 1985). A loner, a lady, a rebel, a haircut. After success and disillusionment, ruin and rebirth, from famed actress to the blacklist, courtesan to salesgirl, she stumbled into the warm glow of latter day recognition after long marinating in the pale light of popular neglect and obscurity. Deliverance took many shapes, and hers came not only in the renewed interest and critical acclaim for her formative acting work, but also in her burgeoning career as a writer (and a very witty one at that) in the middle of her life. Proof that it's never too late for a lady to begin again, again.

xoxo COUNCIL

P.S.

Ms.Brooks' required us to post more pictures than usual - the material was just too good...

Eve, A.D 2,000!

While researching another piece, we came across this amusing reel. Surprisingly or not, many of the predictions are not so far fetched. But where does a lady finds one of those electric headlights?

xoxo COUNCIL

Flower Girls.

This week, a pair of charming young ladies came in to the shop to introduce themselves, and now, we would like to introduce them to you. Their names are Amanda and Ruth and they have just begun a floral arranging company that they call Quatre Coeur. They pride themselves in using unusual elements (citrus! kumquats!) and vintage vases in addition to creating more traditional bouquets. For Valentine's Day, they have a cutie pie promotion offering chocolates, skivvies (our word, not theirs...), and of course, a stunning floral arrangement delivered right to your loved ones doorstep. They are accepting orders now, so take a look. We will be showing off some of their flower artistry at our anniversary party this Spring. We cannot wait to see what the girls come up with.

xoxo COUNCIL

Run-a-way.

Jean Paul may have just brought back the Urban Sombrero, which is good, because we were always fans.

xoxo COUNCIL

via NY Times

See the words.

"Everything that comes from your beautiful hand seems touched with magic that sings in my chest."

Take me away.

To kids with heart. We love this series of Take Away Shows by the people at La Blogotheque. You should really know more about this project. And, don't worry, we plan to continue posting our favorite performances in the coming weeks and months.

xoxo COUNCIL

P.S.
We hope you New York readers enjoyed the visions of Venice Beach in this performance by White Rabbits as much as we did.

Send this back, to January 19th.

Happy belated birthday to our heroine, Miss Dolly Parton. 

I wake up with new dreams every day. Dolly 

By Brakhage.

Have we told you yet that we are saving our pennies for a store projector? Maybe to play films like this, all day long, and all through the long, lonely nighttime hours when the store is shuttered. And movie nights, of course.

xoxo COUNCIL

Just one look.

(Thank you to Zoe Ghertner for making us think of contrast and pyramids and spatial relations and liquid silver and perspective and the preciousness of convergence.)

This just in!

A library of wonders has just arrived in the shop. This time around, we focused on antiquated travel guides, atlases and encyclopedias, as well as crafting manuals from the 1970's. Enjoy a tour of the Soviet Union and learn how to crochet a bikini, all in one visit.

xoxo COUNCIL Reading Room Staff

Charlotte loves Phyllis, too.

Charlotte Gainsbourg paying homage to Phyllis Nefler by way of one beautiful cape.

Photo by Jean-Baptiste Mondino for the NY Times. See the NY Times article on her new album here.

See the words.

“Your eyes,” she says, “look at some things through your heart.”

Just one look.

(thank you to Michel de Broin for making us think of the forest and trees and diamonds and prisms and surface and art and a fractured infinite.)

You Wildnerness Girls.

Don't ever forget Troop Beverly Hills.

xoxo COUNCIL

PS
We have a fab Phyllis Nefler cape in the shop right now. We hope you like black.

And PPS
Just in case you need reminding...

Tomorrow, tomorrow.

Excitedly we begin planning our Fall '10 collection shoot, and with it, a series of gorgeous still life photographs of Plume and Miranda Bennett pieces for the store. We'll show you soon, soon.

xoxo COUNCIL

by stephen shore

From Mahalia, with love.

Happy MLK day.

xoxo COUNCIL

Bon Anniversaire!

Happy birthday to us! One year ago today we softly and quietly opened our doors to the public before having our official opening on Valentine's day. It is such a milestone for us and we are so grateful to all of our wonderful friends, family and patrons who have made this experience all that it was and continues to be. And we are so excited for the year ahead! We plan to have an all out celebration this spring. We'll be sure to let you know when...

xoxo COUNCIL

via them

Science is Fiction.

via them

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via them

Jean Painlevé (November 1902 - July 1989)

Advocating the credo "science is fiction," Painlevé managed to scandalize both the scientific and the cinematographic world with a cinema designed to entertain as well as edify. He portrayed sea horses, vampire bats, skeleton shrimps, and fanworms as endowed with human traits — the erotic, the comical, and the savage. Painlevé single-handedly established a unique kind of cinema, the "scientific-poetic cinema". Wikipedia

A few years ago, maybe even five, we got to see Yo La Tengo perform an original score that they composed to accompany Painlevé's short aquatic films. If you haven't heard the results of their project then you ought to, and soon. 

The Criterion Collection released a collection of his work called Science is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painlevé - click here to see a clip or to order yourself a copy. 

And, right now, enjoy this visually stunning and very psychedelic short film The Liquid Crystals below.

xoxo COUNCIL

See Saw

We were sorry to hear about Jae Reatard's passing today at the tender age of 29. We are sure that a whole lot of people will miss him lots, including us.

xoxo COUNCIL

See Saw - Jay Reatard

Just one look.

via them

xoxo COUNCIL

Lucky couple one hundred.

via them

Our 100th post!

Thank you for being there.

xoxo COUNCIL

P.S.

Somewhere, a blanket of balloons descends gracefully from a ceiling.

Warm up.

xoxo COUNCIL

See the words.

"I want to say thank you for letting me create a physical representation of my hopes and dreams."

We couldn't have said it any better. See who did here.

xoxo COUNCIL

Super Eight.

Remembering our '09 collection film for Plume and Miranda Bennett has set the wheels to turning for our 2010 film project. All that we can say for now is: Super 8. And, it's sure to be something. Until we can debut it (or make it even), why not sooth your waiting heart with this?

xoxo COUNCIL

Encore.

Some pretty, proper images from the Au Revoir Simone show this Thursday, by photographer Gabi Porter.

xoxo COUNCIL