A FASHIONABLE HOLIDAY NEW YORK STYLE (c) By Polly Guerin

Fashion aficionados need go no further than stylish New York venues to view historical designer shows, hear the fashion experts reveal the legendary stories and plan next year’s celebrations. Only in New York, my friends, only in New York. Here’s the scoop!!!

BALENCIAGA: SPANISH MASTER
Spanish-born Spanish couturier Cristobal Balenciaga’s daring innovations influenced by royal costumes , regional dress, and the Spanish flair for flamenco dance line up for review on a mannequin exhibit at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute, through February 19, 2011, at 540Park Ave. Pictured left: Balenciaga's sculpture-like evening ensmble. Curated by Hamish Bowles, Vogue’s European editor at large, many of the pieces have their inspiration from historical royal costumes, Spanish Art and the church while another gallery exhibits the more exuberant side of Spain that inspired Balenciaga, regional design and costumes of the bullfight. Tickets $15. 212.628.0420. www.queensofiaspanishinstitute.org.
THE FASHION INSITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Join Hamish Bowles, curator of the exhibition Balenciaga, Spanish Master for an illustrated lecture about the impact on legendary designer Cristobal Balenciaga of Spain’s cultural and religious history, regional costumes, rich dance traditions, and its great artists, as well as the power and the splendor of the bullfight. Dec. 2, 6-8 pm. Reservations required. Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, 27th St.& 7th Ave.212.217.5970. www.fitnyc.edu.
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN TRIBUTE
New Year Fashion is retrospective. Next spring the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will stage a comprehensive show celebrating Alexander McQueen’s work over two decades. Andrew Bolton, who is spearheading the exhibit said, “McQueen had such a singular voice and he was a remarkable technician.” Themes will reflect the designer’s fascination with Romantic Gothic, Romantic Exoticism and The Savage Mind. A Cabinet of Curiosities will feature many of the designer’s outlandish innovations. Opens May 4, 2011. www.metmuesum.org.
LEONARDO’S LAST SUPPER
Be among the first to see the American premiere of visionary artist and filmmaker Peter Greenaway’s multimedia interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper at the Park Avenue Armory, 67th St. Visitors are immersed in a series of audio-visual environments, starting with a full-scale replica of the dome of Milan’s Refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie to Greenaway’s meticulously detailed facsimile of The Last Supper, and finally to an ebullient celebration of the Venetian Wedding at Cana by Paolo Veronese. $15 general admission, $12 Members, Students,Seniors. Opens Dec. 3 through Jan. 6, 2011.Tickets are required for all programs. www.armoryonpark.org or call 212.933.5812

Ta Ta darlings!!! Balenciaga leads my fashion scoops this week and I’m also off to hear Hamish Bowles at FIT. Please join me. Fan mail always welcome pollytalk@verizon.net. Go to www.pollytalk.com and scroll over to the left hand column list of Polly’s Blogs; just click the one of your choice and Voila!! The link takes you there. Enjoy!!!