McDermott & McGough are pleased to announce Mean To Me, their first foray into scripted, motion picture filmmaking. The film, written and directed by Peter McGough, stars actor Linus Roache and British supermodel Agyness Deyn in her acting debut. The thirteen minute art film, sponsored by Guerlain and Mikimoto, will be shown at Galerie Jerome de Noirmont in Paris from June 2nd through July 3rd and later screened at the Centre Pompidou during their film festival series from 24th - 26th September 2010.
The period piece chronicles the end of an affair in 1930s Manhattan, as a glamorous courtesan (Deyn) discovers that her aristocratic British lover, Walter (Roache), intends to marry a wealthy heiress in order to "stay afloat" in the depths of the Depression. As the story develops, it is clear that her past is linked to a subordinate social class, while Walter maintains an emotionally abusive and patrician sensibility. At once vulnerable and despairing, the mistress is unravelled not by heartbreak, but by the terror of returning to a life burdened by destitution.
In an effort to augment the highly stylized 1930s era, designer Zac Posen further developed the piece’s period sensibilities by selecting gowns from his archive. Mikimoto cultured pearls helped to reflect the psychological denouement of the woman, which transitions from traditional white pearls to luminescent black pearls as the character’s emotional state becomes more unhinged.
“A film noir drenched in period glamour…” – Darrell Hartman, Style.com “Agyness Deyn is the next Faye Dunaway!” – George Wayne, Vanity Fair “With its masterful attention to detail, the film, like McGough’s works of art, authentically transports you... you are ensconced in the 1930s, inhabiting that world.” – Jeffrey Podolsky, Wall Street Journal “A visually sumptuous film noir.” – Jean Nathan, New York Times T Magazine “Aesthetically speaking Mean to Me is a studiously detailed, thirteen minute love letter to the Deco Era.” –Lesley Blume, Huffington Post
For one week only and in conjunction with the Bond Street Culture and Heritage Week Mikimoto will be exhibiting Marilyn Monroe’s Mikimoto pearl necklace in its original oval, leather, velvet-lined box.
In 1954 Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio travelled to Japan for their honeymoon, where Joe DiMaggio presented Marilyn with an Akoya pearl necklace. Marilyn often wore the necklace, even years after her divorce from DiMaggio, saying it reminded her of “happier times”. A few years later, Marilyn gave the pearl necklace to Paula Strasberg, a close friend and the wife of her acting coach, Lee Strasberg. Upon Marilyn’s death in 1962, Paula Strasberg gave the pearls to her daughter, Susan Strasberg, saying, “Marilyn would have wanted you to have them.” The Mikimoto pearl necklace was one of the only pieces of fine jewellery Marilyn owned; most of her jewellery was costume.
Mikimoto is the world-renowned Japanese empire founded by Kokichi Mikimoto in 1893. The legendary Mr. Mikimoto, “The Pearl King”, was the first to develop a technique for the cultivation of pearls. Today, almost all pearls sold worldwide are cultured pearls. The family-run business remains the world leader in superior-quality Akoya and South Sea cultured pearls and the company is internationally respected for its product design, crafting techniques and strict quality control.
The Bond Street Culture and Heritage Week runs from June 7th -13th 2010.
The legendary Mr. Mikimoto, “The Pearl King”, was the first to develop a technique for the cultivation of pearls. Today, almost all pearls sold worldwide are cultured pearls, cultivated by the same technique that Kokichi Mikimoto invented.
New Classic Akoya pearl drop earrings. From £1,250.00
The Mikimoto on-line store has a selection of gifts and classic cultured pearl jewellery which is available at the click of a button.
Prices start from £60 and all purchases are boxed and gift wrapped.
Due to the popularity of larger pearls Mikimoto has launched a new site dedicated to the South Sea Cultured Pearl. The site details the Black South Sea Cultured Pearl and the South Sea White and Golden Cultured Pearl.
