Sumptuous: Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s

Writer/Director Matthew Miele, husband to WNBC anchor Sara Gore and new father to a baby boy,
admitted he’s something of a classicist when it comes to New York. He’s a
devoted follower of the AMC series Mad Men and thinks of post-World War
II era up to the mid ‘60s as New York at its most creative. To him, Bergdorf’s represents New York at its best and brings back
memories of Truman Capote writing Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Leonard
Bernstein composing West Side Story… READ MORE Steve Ramos Upcoming Movies.com

If you are a follower of Tinsel & Tine you know nothing makes me happier (aside from cake) than the glamor, elegance and sumptuousness of a time gone by (See Great Gatsby post). So this documentary Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s was on my list of must sees! And… new blogging milestone – it was the first time I was sent a screener to review the film!!!

Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorfs, opening in Philly May 24th, is really a documentary love letter to the 111 year-old fashion institution. Where as famed designer Isaac Mizrahi put it – “If you’re not at “that place”, there’s no future for those clothes”. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, as is typical of Mizrahi’s flair; however, clearly from watching the film, aspiring fashion designers consider having their line available at Bergdorf Goodman as being the pinnacle of their success, it means they’ve arrived. It’s a glorious benchmark in their fashion careers! And established, elite designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Louboutin & Thom Browne still speak about the store as if it were a god requiring homage and sacrifice, no virgins, just your most fabulous spring line!

In 1894 it wasn’t actually a department store or even a small boutique, it was a Ladies Tailor and Furrier called Bergdorf & Voight. But by 1935 it had grown to represent high fashion, and became the behemoth store at 57th & 5 that we all know and love today. (formerly the 130 room Vanderbilt Mansion). Edwin Goodman bought into the business in 1901 as an apprentice. By the time the department store opened, he was at the helm, Bergdorf having retired. Goodman never changed the name of the business, understandably; yet it’s odd that although the Goodman family owned and operated the store (even living in the upper floors) until 1972, the store always gets called simply Bergdorfs.

Linda Fargo so much nicer than Anna W.

I’ve only visited the store during the exhilarating Fashion’s Night Out, which has been put on hiatus for 2013. But what I wouldn’t give to be truly be a member of this – as Bergdorf’s celebrated Fashion Director Linda Fargo puts it – “exclusive club for women”.

Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s isn’t as scintillating and tension filled as the Anna Wintour driven flick The September Issue. This movie is more archival, with great interviews, including Cher and Joan Rivers, footage of Babs (Funny Girl days) playfully singing “Second Hand Rose” dancing comically around the store and interesting stories, like Jackie O’s most famous Halston hat and John Lennon’s fur buying extravaganza. All interspersed with the blood, sweat and tears, or rather beads, sparkle and toil of window designer David Hoey, as he works with his team to produce another breathtaking holiday shopping theatrical window experience!

LAMB Score 3 outta 5

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