Movie Review – Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's
Austin will be graced with one of the most fashionable documentaries, Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s. The 90-minute film features interviews with the most stylish icons, while telling the history of New York’s iconic Bergdorf Goodman empire. The show is open to the public on Friday, May 24 at the Regal Arbor Cinema on Great Hills.
On Tuesday, a select crowd including 10 lucky Fashionably Austin ticket winners, got to see a screening of the movie. Taylor Ellison, the CW Star, hosted the event and gave away Nieman Marcus swag bags to the lucky few raffle winners. Austin designer, Sarah McLaughlin Reed with Sarah Eileen, Jessica with Faith by Jessica and Ross Bennett did a pre-show mix and mingle with the movie guests.
“I have so many ideas in my head right now!” “I want to go to NYC right NOW!” smiled Austin designer Valeri Abrego.
Everyone oohed and ahhed over seeing their favorite actresses, editors, stylists and designers tell personal stories of being picked up by the store, being styled in the store and – of course – checking out the bold and beautiful holiday season window displays.
“I want the windows to almost be perceived as hallucinations,” David Hoey, Bergdorf’s window dresser, said in the film.
A great deal of Scatter My Ashes focused on the months of hard work that go into creating the mesmerizing scenes that 1.5 million people see each week in Bergdorf’s windows. The craftsmanship, props, gowns and life-size images are the perfect exterior for the just-as-fascinating inside.
“Everyone wants to be in Bergdorf Goodman,” Time Magazine raved. “It’s like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.”
And indeed, Rachel Zoe talked of how it’s everyone’s dream to be sold there, to shop there…Diane Von Furstenberg tsaid it’s just one of those things that you fantasize about…and Isaac Mizrahi joked there is no future for clothes if they’re not sold in Bergdorf Goodman! Linda Fargo, Fashion Director, takes a major role in the film and takes us to real-life buying meetings deciding what lines she wants to place in the store and why she decides to pass on others.
The main reason that viewers have packed into theaters across the nation to watch this flick and the reason that so many people – besides just fashionistas – stare up at the 5th Avenue store so intently is because of its elitism.
The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf, was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, was passed onto his son, Andrew Goodman, and is now owned by the Neiman Marcus Group.
It started as a simple store, though, with the family of tailors living above it, and they never could have dreamed that it would grow into this modern powerhouse, an only-seen-in-New York pinnacle.
Over time, the silver screen has shown us Doris Day shopping there, Natalie Wood robbing it, Carrie Bradshaw drooling inside and – let’s not forget – Barbara Streisand singing and dancing there.
“It’s such a part of New York,” Joan Rivers states in the movie. “It’s just the epitome of the city.”
So whether you’re a true fashionista, an Olsen twin-lover (yes, they’re in it!), a lover of the arts (the MET, the windows, the precision) or just a dreamer, Fashionably Austin gives this documentary a fashionable two-thumbs up and a must-see recommentation. The 90-minute history lesson about this iconic retailer, and seeing some of the most beautiful clothes on screen, is worth the price of the ticket! Enjoy!!
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