Since its inception 10 years ago, the Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF) has made an impact with its films and special events. On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, they continued their tradition of excellence with an advance screening of the documentary, Gaby, The Woman Behind Maison Chloé, deftly combining film and fashion at the luxury boutique store, Richards on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut. The event was part of GIFF’s Jewish Film Series and was generously underwritten by Richards and The Eve & Simon Colin Family Foundation.
Wendy Stapleton
The iconic Richards luxury boutique on Greenwich Avenue with its sumptuous soaring ceiling and dramatic sweeping marble staircase is the embodiment of timeless elegance and fashion. Purveyors of such luxury designer brands as Adam Lippes, Brioni, Brunello Cucinelli, Canali, Caroline Ellen, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Chloé, Georgio Armani, Jimmy Choo, Kiton, Manolo Blahnik, Tom Ford, Valentino, Zegna, and many more, the store was the perfect location to celebrate an evening of film and fashion beginning with an elegant cocktail reception.
Ginger Stickel
After opening remarks by Scott Mitchell, third generation Mitchell family who own Richards, Wendy Stapleton, Chairman of the Board and Greenwich International Film Festival Founder, and Ginger Stickel, Executive Director, Greenwich International Film Festival, patrons had the opportunity to experience an advance screening of the film, sitting among the most luxurious fashion brands that created a perfect ambience.
The documentary film, Gaby, The Woman Behind Maison Chloé about Gaby Aghion (1921-2014), the founder of the House of Chloé, directed by Isabelle Cottenceau and produced by La Famiglia for France Télévisions is an insightful film that captures the visionary woman behind the iconic brand, the House of Chloé.
Born Gabrielle Hanoka on March 3, 1921, in Alexandra, Egypt, she married Raymond Aghion at the age of nineteen and the couple moved to Paris, France in 1945 after the war. In 1952 she founded the House of Chloé with the intention of being fashion forward. Although wealthy herself, she felt that many of her friends did not have the means to dress well and went into fashion to make it more accessible. This vision made her a pioneer of prét-á-porter (ready-to-wear, off the rack), making it possible to combine luxury with ready-to-wear. She “liberated women from the formal fashion of the era by pioneering luxury ready-to-wear. A true visionary, Gaby believed that women should dare to be themselves.”
The vision behind the designs included using a picot hem which leant the clothing total fluidity of movement. She was an innovator who took her fashion shows to the cafés of Paris where the clothes were seen in natural settings rather than in sedate salon settings. She wanted to create an attitude through her clothes, and even photographed the models in the Paris Metro. When she brought on Karl Lagerfeld early in his career as a designer it was considered a bold move for a Jewish woman in post-war France to hire a German designer, but their pairing worked well. Gaby Aghion ran the House of Chloé until it was sold in 1985. Chloé is a testament to her creative fashion forward sense that was a driving force behind the brand she created and ran for 33 years. Her legacy is that the brand retains its stronghold in the luxury market.
Scott Mitchell & Panel – Gaby, The Woman Behind Maison Chloé
After the film screening, there was an interesting panel discussion about the film, fashion trends past and present, and about Gaby Aghion and the House of Chloé, which remains a strong brand in the luxury marketplace.
If you love fashion and the history behind the “houses,” we highly recommend seeing Gaby, The Woman Behind Maison Chloé.
Ginger Stickel, Rebecca Colin, Wendy Stapleton – GIFF 2024
As always, remember when it comes to fashion, it is not only about what you wear, but also how you wear it! Know your own style and have a fashionable season!
The Fashionable Panelists
Adam Lippes, fashion designer
Connie Ann Harris, former publisher of InStyle and Glamour
Janet Maslin, Moderator, The New York Times Book Critic
Caroline Ellen, jewelry designer
Valerie Steele, The Museum at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC)
David Loranger, Sacred Heart University’s fashion marketing & merchandising program
55 Old Field Point Road
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
United States
Email: volunteer@greenwichfilm.org
Website: www.greenwichfilm.org
The Greenwich International Film Festival holds exciting events year-round in Greenwich, Connecticut as well as virtual events.
To learn more about the Greenwich International Film Festival and its upcoming events, please visit the website: www.greenwichfilm.org or their social media: Facebook: @greenwichfilm, Instagram: @greenwichfilm.
359 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
United States
Telephone: +1-203-622-0551
Website: www.richards.mitchellstores.com
If you plan to be in Greenwich, Connecticut, a stop at Richards on luxurious Greenwich Avenue is a must for an unparalleled luxury shopping experience.
Richards Store Hours: Monday through Friday from 10:00 am until 5:30 pm, and Saturday from 9:00 am until 5:30 pm. On Sunday, the store is open by appointment only.
To learn more about Richards, the luxury brands they carry, trunk shows, and upcoming events, please visit their website: www.richards.mitchellstores.com or their social media: Facebook: @Richards, Instagram: @RichardsStores
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