Printemps hosts Perelman Performing Arts Center announcement of DVF as next Icon of Culture
Having only been in lower Manhattan for under four months, Printemps New York is proving its good neighbor status and dedication to the Financial District.
The French retailer opened its doors for an event to kick off the buzz for this fall's annual Perelman Performing Arts Center, aka PAC NYC's Icon of Culture Gala. Hosted by PAC chair and former Big Apple hizzoner Michael R. Bloomberg; supermodel, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Karlie Kloss; and Printemps Americas CEO, Thierry Prevost, the cocktail announced iconic fashion legend and Légion d'Honneur recipient Diane Von Furstenberg as the 2025 PAC NYC Icon of Culture at the upcoming October black-tie event to benefit the newly opened arts center. The event marks the second Icons of Culture fundraising gala.
The kickoff event was held in the new French store—designed by French architect Laura Gonzales that defies the department store moniker— in its famous Red Room shoe salon and adjacent bar, one of five food and beverage locales in the store.
While Von Furstenberg was out of town and unable to attend, DVF Studio's CEO, Graziano de Boni, and his wife, Valerie, and VP of philanthropy, Luisella Meloni, showed up in support of the pioneer female fashion designer. Von Furstenberg is being honored not only for her contributions to the city but her 50-year impact on fashion and her role as a mentor and advocate for girls and women around the world.
Speaking to a crowd which included Fern Mallis, Derek Blasberg, Drena De Niro, Samantha and Caleigh Perelman, and Born This Way Foundation president and co-founder Cynthia Germanotta, and Lady Gaga's mother.
Bloomberg called von Furstenberg "a towering figure in the arts and culture here in New York," adding, "She's one of the most influential names in fashion, an industry at the heart of our city's economy. She's been a tireless advocate for the industry and a generous philanthropist with her leadership on public projects like the High Line and the Statue of Liberty Museum. She's deeply committed to our city, and her support and investment have helped build a bright future here."
Following his remarks, a visibly pregnant Karlie Kloss, a longtime collaborator and friend of von Furstenberg, spoke about her relationship with the designer.
"I first met Diane when I was 15 years old in New York, and I remember being enamored with her elegance, her confidence, and her style. Diane has been one of my fiercest champions and greatest teachers throughout my career. I've learned so much from her, but especially to be unapologetically myself. She has shown us all what a purposeful life looks like, and I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award," said Kloss.
Thierry Prevost, CEO of Printemps Americas, emphasized the brand's commitment to the downtown neighborhood: "Printemps is proud to contribute to the renewal of Lower Manhattan, a neighborhood whose vitality owes much to the vision and leadership of Mike Bloomberg. We're equally honored to host PAC at Printemps New York ahead of their October Icons of Culture Gala. This year, they have named Diane von Furstenberg - an icon of fashion and culture, and a woman whose bold spirit and lasting influence personify the values we stand for - as the 2025 award recipient."
Provost reiterated the sentiment of Printemps's chairman Jean-Marc Bellaiche, who spoke to FashionNetwork.com at the store's March opening about the area that "boasts Casa Cipriani, a performing arts center, fashion brands like Altuzarra and the cool crowd over at WSA, another architectural gem, the Beekman Hotel, good schools, green spaces, and Jean Georges Tin Building."
At the time, Bellaiche doubled down on his conviction of the area.
"We are convinced that this is a neighborhood of tomorrow. It's up and coming. It's more and more residential. The people and businesses that were here are different than 15 years ago. Now, it's not just bankers; it's fashion, it's tech, it's media, and it's all here. It's a vibrant community that is becoming more attractive for any New Yorker," he said.
The 108th mayor of New York City was the connector for the event and spearheaded bringing the creatives together. Bloomberg's dedication to the area began when his term started in January of 2002, as the city was still reeling from the 9/11 attacks.
The then-mayor and his administration were determined to bring the area back together and make it bigger and better, developing the typically work-only area into a 24-hour neighborhood with housing, parks, and new businesses. Part of the plan was the arts.
The idea came to fruition with the help of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, who made the first central pledge, and Ronald Perelman, for which it was named. PAC NYC brings vibrant dancers, musicians, artists, filmmakers, and other creators from across New York City for performances and exhibitions.
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France 24
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- France 24
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Local France
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To egregiously butcher William Goldman's classic line - 'There are no French admin loopholes, Highness, anyone who says differently is selling something'. France's complex admin means that foreign residents and future arrivals are often left looking for shortcuts, easy options and loopholes - an entirely understandable reaction when you consider the bureaucratic pain that France enjoys inflicting on its inhabitants. It's also a famously high tax country, which means that plenty of people are on the lookout for, shall we say, more forgiving tax arrangements. This one is perhaps less understandable - especially if it comes in the next breath after raptures of delight over France's excellent public services - but it's always going to be human nature to try. The thing is - there really are very few genuine loopholes when it comes to French residency and taxes, especially when it comes to non-EU nationals who come within the visa/residency card system. Advertisement Sure, you might think you've found a loophole - but these almost always end up causing you more problems down the line, especially if your goal is to make France your home. When it comes to people who just want to be here for a couple of years there is a little more wriggle room - but for those who intend to stay in France and will therefore eventually be seeking long-term residency and perhaps even citizenship, trying to exploit a loophole is almost always going to cause you further administrative pain in the future. In my experience the people who genuinely set out to cheat the French system are few and far between - a much more common scenario is people who have simply been given bad advice about a shortcut or loophole that they could take advantage of. At The Local we often get emails from readers who are experiencing problems with French systems - and the people stuck in the worst tangles are almost always those who have at one point been given bad advice. 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Because France is a popular destination to move to, attracting all groups from retirees to young families, students to workers, a whole industry has grown up around giving advice on navigating the French immigration and tax system. Advertisement There's an entire sector of 'relocation experts', 'hand-holders' or 'concierge services' which specialise in helping foreigners to move to France. Many of these services are great and offer sound advice and insight based on experience with French systems. The good ones should also explain future ramifications of your decisions. However, some give wildly differing advice and it's not always easy to know who is right and who to trust. There's no doubt some of these services can be very helpful when it comes to finding a place to live and setting up services like utilities - I used one when I first moved and they were worth every centime in helping to navigate the notoriously tricky Paris rental market. 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To make matters worse, they barely did any work for us. "It turned out that there are dozens of fellow expats in the same position." Advertisement So what can people do? The standard advice is to talk to a lawyer for anything related to residency, and an accountant for tax advice. But even here there are caveats - first you need to ensure that your expert is qualified and registered in both France and your home country, and that they specialise in advising expats/immigrants. Second is that you need to speak to both - a lawyer will undoubtedly give you good advice about visas, but will that leave you with tax problems? The lawyer might not flag that up, because its not their area of expertise, but that doesn't mean there won't be problems. And vice versa, your accountant's advice might be perfectly sound when it comes to tax but it might screw up your residency. 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What will your plans mean for your tax status? Will your chosen path make it difficult for you to get French citizenship one day? The French residency card and tax systems are designed to be used by individuals; beware of anyone suggesting that you will need a lawyer or accountant for every renewal/annual tax declaration - they're either just trawling for business or they're setting up a residency or tax status so complicated that you'll be forced to pay for professional advice for every dealing with French admin. And above all, remember the old saying - "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". If there truly were a quick and easy shortcut to long-term French residency with no taxes, then everyone would be using it - we're not handing over a third of our monthly income and spending hours in a queue at the préfecture because we find this a fun hobby. It's because we have learned the greater truths - French admin always wins; there are no loopholes; liberté, égalité, bureaucratié . You can find more information on all things residency and tax related in our Moving to France section. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below
Local France
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