Yaz Kurhan, better known as her nom de jewelry Yazbukey, is no one to hide her light beneath a bushel. For her “Fabulous black Saga” accessories and fashionable family decor, Kurhan took over Tigersushi in Paris’ Marais neighborhood because a accumulation launch gathering with her likeminded friends, including stylists Catherine Baba and Elisa Nalin (on left, with Kurhan), Purple’s Caroline Gaimari, Lanvin’s Elie Top, Sarah Lerfel from Colette, and Michelle Harper, in town from New York for Couture week. Fancy friends, whatever, doesn’t make for a muggy hostess: Kurhan comfortably installed herself ashore a sovereign made of plastic grocery-store crates (made for the cause by Diplomates, the Paris craft collective) and welcomed her visitors.
Kurhan chose Africa as the theme for her Fall collection, based on childhood memories growing up in Saudi Arabia. “My dad was part of the Turkish consulate there and he systematized the Islamic session for many years,” she said. “I remember playing with the babies of entire the African dignitaries at the meeting, and nevertheless I’ve never visited Africa, I got a sensibility for its diversity from that experience.” Kurhan, who divides her time among Paris and New York (where she nightmares up accessories for Zac Posen’s Z Spoke line), continues to go in Plexiglas, creating flattened editions of daily Africana, including flora, fauna, and everything in between. Case in point: There are tiger’s paw necklaces with scratch-mark traces, snake sunglasses, and banana cilia pins—as well as a ghetto blaster bag. And for the premier time, plastic wall decals combine the wearable offerings, including a portrait of Naomi Campbell and a lion’s pate.
—Rebecca Voight
Photo: Courtesy of Yazbukey
