At the Workshop

I heard about the so-called Lady Gaga Workshop at Barney's a little while back, but did not have any intention of stopping by.  But, I fooled myself because I had to pop in the store a few days ago, and I thought as I usually do that I should check it out in case I missed anything.  Such is my usual way of thinking- the sort that occupies my mind and time with such hectic activity when I could be well better off reading (or finishing) the Proust- of which I am now still along the Guermantes Way (or the third book, for those who do not know the chain of order)

Anyway, back to the meat dress daughter of Madonna- it was a full floor of in your face material stuff.  I am not quite sure what Gaga contributed to the "workshop" besides her name, but there were a lot of shoppers, gawkers and possibly curiosity seekers such as I, and there were so many objects to buy that any real (or even minor) Gaga fan would have felt they entered heaven or a wicked materialist plot to drain them of their hard earned money.  Even I thought of buying some things, and I have only about .1 percent interest in her (maybe even less, if I add it up properly).  Fortunately, my common sense prevailed and I left there empty handed- as if I needed a kit of press on nails, a pair of sunglasses which I would probably trip over everything with, and that easiest of purchases (a t-shirt), as well as a tube of lipstick and other things.

One fun bit, although not designed particularly well, was a limited edition of some of Roald Dahl's books which from the sticker insert inside I found to have been influential for Gaga. They were quite predictably Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (although I suspect it is more the film than the book), James and the Giant Peach (again, probably the film, which I also liked better than the book) and Matilda (which even in its hollywood version was fun to watch).

Now, if she had the courage or good sense to select Henry Sugar...