Inspired by Sofia Coppola’s excellent mini-doc of Lee Radziwill for The New York Times, I decided to revisit some old favorite “Lee” images in my archive. While I was doing some additional research to round out an homage to her, I discovered something even more pressing – pictures of her houses from the last few decades. She had many houses, from many phases of her life, during the administration of many husbands, throughout a handful of countries...
I’ve always been a fan of Bridget Riley’s paintings, but I love these photos of her standing in front of her work even more. The contrast of her simple yet chic black and white clothes against the black and white patterns in her work, the organic shape of her body against the strict, graphic nature of the designs on the canvases, and the combination of different pieces shown together at opposing angles all add a softer element that makes her work more human and relatable to me...
Would you wear a bowtie? I’m not sure if I would. I am definitely a girl who loves a bow, but I think I am more of a bow-in-my-hair type of girl. I LOVE a black git was more of the soft pussycat-bow-on-a-blouse look. Never say never, but so far the urge to wear an actual bow tie hasn’t come to me.
Despite my own resistance, I love seeing other girls in bow ties. I notice that many girls who venture out in one make a regular habit of it...
I’m in the midst of decorating my office – a modest, but charming stone garden shed with a slate tile roof. Inside there is a wood burning stove and just enough room for a beautiful mid century rosewood desk that was a moving-to-England present from my husband, a credenza and a two-seater sofa. I’m going to hang all my old Hugo Guinness show announcements from John Derian on the walls, and I’ll cover one whole wall with tear sheets, photos and other bits and pieces of creative fuel...
I continue to obsess over the pictures of Paul and Linda McCartney and their family living on a farm in Scotland in the 70’s. How could I not? Looking over them again recently got me thinking about Fair Isle sweaters. For most of my life they were a symbol of classic New England prep school style – something that for much of my life was too close to home to be able to appreciate. Sure I had a literal stage where I myself wore Fair Isle sweaters while weaving Mexican rope bracelets and listening to the Grateful Dead, but when I moved on there was no going back...
I’ve been wanting to do a post on Nancy Reagan for some time, and as we are now in the season for wearing red, it seems like a good moment to do so. I love Nancy Reagan’s style. To me it’s very Marc Jacobs – happy, American, not overtly sexy, decorative, sweet and chic. And don’t let her dated hairstyle put you off – it’s not about the hair. It’s about a pussycat bow, a floral print, a covered chest, a ruffle, a Chanel-inspired Adolfo jacket, and of course, the color red...
While I’m sitting here in fur-lined boots, clutching hot tea to keep my hands warm, I’m fantasizing about when the weather will be warm enough again to get some Dr. Scholl’s and wear them like Jean Shrimpton (below). I prefer them with the natural wood sole, and I think I’ll get two pairs – one with red leather (gives me happy memories of my childhood) and one in black leather (makes them look a bit more modern)...
This quote hangs in my office. I read it every day. For me it expresses the very definition and value of inspiration. I guess I could argue that nothing inspires me more than inspiration. Sometimes I gather so much inspiration – images, photos, tear sheets, books, notes – that it overwhelms me, making me feel disorganised, unfocused and like I’ll never have enough time in my life to put it all to use. But I can’t resist it – if I see something that moves me I want to remember it, archive it, file it away for when I need it...
You may feel that you never have to see another picture of Lauren Bacall in your life, but I for one never get tired of looking at her. Most actresses of her generation were dressed by costume designers and film studios in a glamorous yet cliché “movie star” kind of way, and her on set and promotional photographs convey that. But I am most interested in her more candid, personal photos, especially the ones with her children...
