“Today the Palace is your typical Parisian theater, restored with all the care due a classified monument. Nothing remains that hints of the processions of mystery and cortege of strangeness that once passed through its halls. When you’ve journeyed far away — very far — too far — it’s difficult, if not impossible to return.”
So writes Karl Largerfeld in the introduction to Philippe Morillon’s book, Une dernière danse (Edition 7L, Paris).
“His pictures,” he continues, “are stronger than the stories of the survivors — stories often too full of emotion and posthumous judgment. But it was really like this. I know. I was part of it!” This is certainly the most beautiful and legitimate book about Paris nightlife from the late ’60s to the early ’80s.
Here we present a few of Morillon’s pictures — a testament of an era which still resonates — along with our own chronicle of contemporary nightlife.
photography by PHILIPPE MORILLON and OLIVIER ZAHM
Sabisha and Jamie Del Moon performing at le Baron, Paris, January 2009.
Laetitia Crahay and Charlotte Casiraghi during fashion week, Paris, March 2009.
Leelee and Jean Sobieski at Adam Kimmel’s Men’s F/W 2009 presentation, Paris, January 2009.
Olivier Zahm with Natasha Poly, Lauren Santo Domingo, Lily Donaldson, Raquel Zimmerman and Milla Jovovich at the Alexander Wang dinner hosted by Colette at La Fidélité, Paris. Photo by Stéphane Feugèr
Alexander Wang and Lou Doillon at the Alexander Wang dinner hosted by Colette at La Fidelité, Paris, March 2009.
Lou Doillon, Paris, February 2009.
Adam Kimmel and Leelee Sobieski at Adam Kimmel’s Men’s F/W 2009 presentation, Paris, January 2009.
Z Berg at The Bowery Hotel, New York, June 2009.
Paz de la Huerta and Juliana Balestin at the Standard Hotel, New York, February 2009.
Camille Bidault Waddington at Terence Koh’s Studio, New York, February 2009.
Terence Koh’s cat, New York, February 2009.
Raquel Zimmerman at the Alexander Wang dinner hosted by Colette at La Fidelité, Paris, March 2009.
Lou Doillon, Vincent Darré and Victoire de Castellane at the Vitamin Water Pop-up bar at the Théâtre du Renard, Paris, March 2009.
Olivier Zahm and Paquita Paquin at Le Montana, Paris, May 2009.
Gilles Dufour and Olivier Zahm at Le Grand Véfour for the Stella McCartney dinner, Paris, January 2009.
Stella McCartney, Nan Goldin, and Joana Preiss at Le Grand Véfour for the Stella McCartney dinner, Paris, January 2009.
Alain Pacadis nodding off at the restaurant Bains-Douches, Paris, 1977. By Phillipe Morillon
Edwige at Club 7, rue Sainte-Anne, Paris, 1977. By Phillipe Morillon
Eva Herzigova at the Ritz Hotel for the Etam dinner, Paris, March 2009.
Milla Jovovich at Omen, New York, February 2009.
Milla Jovovich at the Alexander Wang dinner hosted by Colette at La Fidelité, Paris, March 2009.
The Rick Owens boutique in the Jardin du Palais Royal, Paris, March 2009.
Olivier Zahm and Raquel Zimmerman at the Alexander Wang dinner hosted by Colette at La Fidelité, Paris, March 2009.
Paris, March 2009.
Angel Cloutier at the Standard Hotel, New York, February 2009.
Terry Richardson and Kate Moss at Café de Flore, Paris, March 2009.
Luigi Murenu, Robert Ferrell, and George Cortina at Café de Flore, Paris, March 2009.
Jamie Hince and Olivier Zahm at Café de Flore, Paris, March 2009.
Kate Moss and Anna Dello Russo at the Another Fashion Book launch party at Chanel on rue Cambon, Paris, March 2009.
Terry Richardson’s teddy bears, New York.
Samuel François in front of Café de Flore, Paris, March 2009.
Camille Bidault Waddington at Purple Institute, Paris, March 2009.
Masha Orlov at Purple Institute, Paris, March 2009.
Kate Moss at Purple Institute, Paris, March 2009.
A girl at Lit Lounge, New York, June 2009.
Natacha Ramsay headed home, Paris, April 2009
Terence Koh at Richard Avedon’s former studio at 407 East 75th Street, New York, February 2009.
Emilie Kareh at The Bowery Hotel, New York, February 2009.
Andre Balazs and André at Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld’s after party at Indochine, New York, February 2009.
AA Bronson and Mark Jan Krayenhoff van de Leur at the Purple dinner, Soho House, New York, February 2009.
Peaches Geldof at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the amfAR dinner, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Paris, March 2009.
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld and Pamela Love at the Purple dinner, Soho House, New York, February 2009.
Milan, March 2009.
Jared Leto and a friend at the Purple dinner, Soho House, New York, February 2009.
Kate Moss and Karl Lagerfeld, Paris, March 2009.
Josephine de la Baume and Giambattista Valli at Mischa Barton’s birthday dinner at Caviar Kaspia, Paris, April 2009.
Michael Stipe and Terence Koh at the Proenza Schouler party at The Pyramid, New York, February 2009.
Lily Cole at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the amfAR dinner, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Sharon Stone and Sidney Toledano at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the amfAR dinner, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Olivier Zahm and a police officer, New York, February 2009.
Dan Colen at The Bowery Hotel, New York, February 2009.
André and Mario Sorrenti, New York, February 2009.
Kate Moss, Olivier Zahm, and Milla Jovovich at the Another Fashion Book launch party at Chanel on rue Cambon, Paris, March 2009.
Paul Sevigny and Jennifer Eymère at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the Vogue amfAR party, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Jean-Yves Le Fur, Patrick Demarchelier, and André at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the amfAR dinner, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Elie Top, Olivier Zahm, and Vincent Darré in front of Le Montana, Paris, July 2009.
Juergen Teller and Raquel Zimmermann at the Vivienne Westwood dinner, Paris, March 2009.
The staircase at Chanel on Rue Cambon, Paris, May 2009.
Sophie Willing, Milan, March 2009.
Natacha Ramsay at the Hotel Normandy, Deauville, May 2009.
Olivier Zahm in Coco Chanel’s apartment, Paris, May 2009.
Vincent Darré decorations at Le Montana, Paris, May 2009.
Natacha Ramsay at the Hotel Normandy, Deauville, May 2009.
Natacha Ramsay at the Hotel Normandy, Deauville, May 2009.
The garden at the Hotel des Mimosas, Juan-les-Pins, May 2009.
Olivier Zahm and Catherine Deneuve at the Yves Saint Laurent dinner at Caviar Kaspia, Paris, March 2009.
Marion Cotillard and Olivier Zahm at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the amfAR dinner, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Frida Giannini backstage at the Gucci show, Milan, March 2009.
Arielle Dombasle and Terry Richardson at Café de Flore, Paris, March 2009.
Serge Gainsbourg and Catherine Deneuve at Privilège, Paris, 1980. By Phillipe Morillon
he end of the night at The Palace, Paris, 1978. By Phillipe Morillon
Eva Ionesco in the bathroom at The Palace, Paris, 1978. By Phillipe Morillon
Lara Stone and Olivier Zahm at Le Grand Véfour for the Stella McCartney dinner, Paris, January 2009.
Isabelle McNally, New York, June 2009.
Nicolas serving drinks at Le Montana, Paris, April 2009.
Marc Jacobs, Ali Mahdavi, and Kate Moss at Marc Jacobs’ apartment, Paris, April 2009.
Marc Jacobs’ garden, Paris, April 2009.
Charlotte Chesnais at Le Montana, Paris, April 2009.
Woman legs, Cannes, May 2009.
Liz Goldwyn and Joana Preiss at le Baron, Paris, February 2009.
Charlotte Kemp and Sean Lennon, Paris, May 2009.
Malcolm McLaren and Francesca Parise at Le Montana Paris, April 2009.
Charlotte Kemp at the Hotel Meurice, Paris, April 2009.
Karl Lagerfeld at studio 7L, Paris, April 2009.
Olivier Zahm at Le Montana, Paris, April 2009.
Jean-Yves Le Fur’s old Citroën DS, Paris, April 2009.
Olivier Zahm and Beth Ditto dancing at the Fendi party with the Gossip, Paris, March 2009.
At the Hotel Costes, Paris, April 2009.
Anna Piaggi at the Roberto Cavalli show, Milan, March 2009.
Olivier Zahm and Chiara Mastroianni at Le Montana, Paris, April 2009.
A Liberty building, Milan, March 2009.
Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak holding their art direction prizes, Salle Wagram, Paris, April 2009.
Olympia Le-Tan at Le Montana after the Leonard Cohen concert, Paris, July 2009.
Olivier Zahm, Waris Ahluwalia, and Stefano Pilati at the Mercer Hotel, New York, June 2009.
Olivier Zahm and Baptiste Giacobini at the Boucheron party, Paris, July 2009.
Bernard-Henri Lévy’s staircase, Paris, June 2009.
Bernard-Henri Lévy’s staircase, Paris, June 2009.
Marc Newson and Karl Lagerfeld at the Boucheron party, Paris, July 2009.
Chloë Sevigny and Olivier Zahm at Sway, New York, June 2009.
Mitra Farahmand, New York, June 2009.
Le Palace, Paris, June 2009.
Lauren Bastide in her courtyard, Paris, June 2009.
Kai Kühne, New York, February 2009.
Dash Snow in his apartment, New York, June 2009.
Dash Snow in his apartment, New York, June 2009.
Francelle’s new Scott Campbell tattoo “La vie éternelle”, New York, June 2009.
Angela and Caroline Gaimari at the after party for Rene Ricard’s opening at Cynthia Rowley and Bill Powers’ townhouse in the West Village, New York, June 2009.
Benjamin Cho playing records at Sway, New York, June 2009.
Natacha Ramsay, Paris, June 2009.
Lizzi Bougatsos and Olivier Zahm, New York, June 2009.
Françoise Sagan, rue d’Alésia, Paris, 1977. By Phillipe Morillon
Philippe Morillon at Jacques Parnel’s house, rue La Fontaine, Paris, 1975. By Phillipe Morillon
Roland Barthes and Henri Seydoux at The Palace, Paris, 1978. By Phillipe Morillon
Peter Beard at Le Montana, Paris, July 2009.
Olivier Zahm and Milla Jovovich at the Alexander Wang dinner hosted by Colette at La Fidelité, Paris, March 2009.
Bill Powers in his pool, New York, June 2009.
Thomas Lenthal and Victoire de Castellane at Olympia Le-Tan’s apartment for André’s birthday dinner, Paris, July 2009.
Paris, July 2009.
Carine Roitfeld, Cecilia Dean, and Francisco Costa at the Calvin Klein dinner at Apicius, Paris, July 2009.
Gregory Bernard and Aurel Schmidt at Olympia Le-Tan’s apartment for Andre’s birthday dinner, Paris, July 2009.
Uffie at the Vitamin Water Pop-up bar at the Théâtre du Renard, Paris, March 2009.
Thandie Newton and Francisco Costa at the Calvin Klein dinner at Apicius, Paris, July 2009.
Derek Blasberg and Dasha Zhukova at the Calvin Klein dinner at Apicius, Paris, July 2009.
Pierre Le-Tan and André at Olympia Le-Tan’s apartment for André’s birthday dinner, Paris, July 2009.
Loulou de la Falaise at the Calvin Klein dinner at Apicius, Paris, July 2009.
At les Salons Dior for the Dior Couture show, Paris, June 2009.
Eugenie Niarchos and Tatiana Santo Domingo at the Calvin Klein dinner at Apicius, Paris, July 2009.
Paris, July 2009.
Olympia Scarry at the Calvin Klein dinner at Apicius, Paris, July 2009.
Janine Loo in her apartment, Paris, July 2009.
Jessica Alba, Milla Jovovich and Eva Mendes, backstage at the Miu Miu show, Paris, March 2009.
Stefano Pilati and Chloë Sevingy at the Mercer Hotel, New York, June 2009.
Jen Eymère and Juergen Teller at le Baron, Paris, March 2009.
Olivier Zahm and Pamela Anderson at the Vivienne Westwood dinner, Paris, March 2009.
Olympia Le-Tan backstage at le Baron, Paris, March 2009.
Andreas Kronthaler and Pamela Anderson at the Vivienne Westwood dinner, Paris, March 2009.
Leaving the Hotel Martinez by boat, Cannes, May 2009.
Frédéric Beigbeder wearing Olivier Zahm’s leather jacket and glasses at Le Montana, Paris, April 2009.
Olivier Zahm and Rinko Kikuchi at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the amfAR dinner, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Ali Mahdavi and Dita Von Teese at Le Montana, Paris, March 2009.
Angela Lindvall backstage after the Gossip performance at the Fendi party, Paris, March 2009.
An S&M harness, Paris, February 2009.
Anna Mouglalis the Chanel table at the amfAR dinner at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc, Cap d’Antibes, January 2009.
Cecile Cassel and John Nollet at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the amfAR dinner, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Legs at Le Montana, Paris, May 2009.
Gaspar Noé at Le Montana, Paris, May 2009.
Marion Cotillard, Cecile Cassel and Joana Preiss at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the amfAR dinner, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Claudia Schiffer at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc for the amfAR dinner, Cap d’Antibes, May 2009.
Aurel Schmidt at Purple Institute, Paris, June 2009.
Djemila, boulevard de Sébastopol, Paris, 1977. By Phillipe Morillon
Pascal Gregory (with safety-pin), boulevard de Sébastopol, Paris, 1979. By Phillipe Morillon
[Table of contents]
Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere Pre-Collection
by Hanna Liden
by Olivier Zahm
by Olivier Zahm
by Olivier Zahm
by Sabine Heller
by Massimo Torrigiani
by Olivier Zahm
by Olivier Zahm
by Katja Rahwles
by Bruce Labruce
by Malerie Marder
by Stefano Pilati
by Hanna Liden
by Marlene Marino
by David Sherry
by Ryan McGinley
by Raymond J. Dumas
by Olivier Zahm
by Olivier Zahm
by Olivier Zahm
by Olivier Zahm