by Jeremy Allen, Vogue
As any Hebrew school student worth her (kosher) salt will tell you, the Passover holiday is all about celebrating freedom: specifically, salvation from slavery in Biblical Egypt. Independence, however, takes many forms, and freedom of expression was the catchphrase when asking nine creatives in the realms of fashion, food, and fine art to conjure up their own unique seder plate, the centerpiece of the festive meal. Traditionally, the ceremonial platter gives shape to such salient themes as captivity, redemption, and renewal in the form of bitter herbs, parsley, and even a hard-boiled egg. In the hands of our auteurs, everything from the dish itself to the objects upon it is up for interpretation: From Jonathan Adler's plucky pop colors to Pamela Love's hand-painted emblems, the age-old symbols spring to life -- and stylishly, too. For the chic classicist, chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has even served up his own cosmopolitan updates to the centuries-old menu. And don't forget dessert: Hannah Bronfman hasn't, courtesy of her John Derian for Astier de Villatte frog serving tray (a nod to the least disagreeable of the 10 plagues recounted during the ceremony). It's perfectly sized for a smattering of coconut macaroons, but then again, who needs a confection when the table setting itself is eye candy? L'chaim!
Passover Fashion: Custom Seder Plates
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