re: pearls

"I am extremely disappointed to see that we have used practically no pearls at all in the past few issues. In fact, many necklines could have been helped by pearls worn inside the dress that show inside the cutaway sides and back of most ordinary dresses on top...

I speak of this very often -- and as soon as I stop speaking the pearls disappear.

Nothing gives the luxury of pearls. Please keep this in mind."

-Diana Vreeland in a December 9, 1966 memo

mary mcdonald + diana vreeland

I love a good window display, particualry when it brings together two of my favorite personalities: interior designer Mary McDonald + former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. Ms. McDonald created this scene - an interpretation of Vreeland's famous New York salon - for last year's Legends of La Cienega weekend in West Hollywood. I so wish I could have seen in in person! I'm loving her quirky questionnaire anwers (and my, what nice handwriting she has). Happy Thursday, lovies :) 

did you know...

Over the weekend while browsing through the New York Times’ digital archives (yes, this is the kind of thing that I do in my freetime…), I discovered this lovely snippet about one of America’s favorite idioms, “I die!” Widely (re-)popularized by Rachel Zoe, the Times suggests that the phrase originated from the late Diana Vreeland. Which makes me like it so much more. If you'd like, you can read the entire article, published on December 29, 1975, here. It's simply to die!

the eye has to travel

This Fall, I will most certainly be picking up a copy of The Eye Has to Travel by Lisa Immordino Vreeland (who happens to be married to the legendary editor’s grandson). The book, due in stores on October 1, promises fresh new content about DV - I simply cawn’t wait! The author is also set to release the first DV documentary of the same name, which reportedly features interviews with Diane Von Furstenberg, Oscar de la Renta and Ali McGraw (who briefly worked as Vreeland’s assistant at Bazaar). Both book and film are sure to be, as Diana would say, DEEH-VINE!

an imaginary conversation with DV

When I discovered 10 Magazine a few months ago, I nearly had a heart attack. Never had I seen another print magazine that celebrated the likes of Diana Vreeland and Fleur Cowles! Above is my favorite piece from the magazine’s Winter 2010 issue - an imaginary bbm conversation between one of their staff writers and DV. How fabulous. I just had to scan it so that my readers could take a peek :)