Grace is Good

It was reported by WWD last week that Vogue Creative Director Grace Coddington is hard at work on her autobiography.  She will be helped with this task by former Men's Vogue editor in chief Jay Fielden.  “We’re just starting, and I think it’s going to be a really fun project,” she told WWD, adding: “I’m hoping it’s going to be very rich in fashion history. It’s more than just about me.”  Before she was an editor, Coddington was a model who was shot by some legendary lensmen including Lord Snowdon and Helmet Newton.  I'm sure there are some good stories from those years as well as her time at both British and American Vogue.  It was The September Issue that introduced us to this amazing woman who I like to think of as the moral compass of the movie and I can't wait to read about her inspiring life in her own words. 

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The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire

I should have mentioned in my last post about the Chatsworth House attic sale that my follow up would be about Deborah Mitford, The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.  Without her guidance, Chatsworth House would not have become one of the finest English manor homes.  She was instrumental in its restoration and created the Chatsworth Farm Shop and other products to keep the home running. 

She also happens to the last living member of the famous Mitford family and even more famous Mitford sisters.  It would take me a week to list all their husbands and adventures so I will refer you to The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family and The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters for further reading.  The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire has also written many books on Chatworth House and this November her book, Wait for Me!: Memoirs will be released.  Her sister Nancy Mitford's book Wigs on the Green is also being re-released tomorrow! 

After her husband died and her son assumed the title of Duke of Devonshire, she assumed the title of the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.  She is still very involved at Chatsworth and her famous chickens but a few years ago moved from Chatsworth House and into the Old Vickarage, a smaller cottage on the property.  These photos from Simon Upton appeared along side the article in a May 2007 article in W magazine.  Unfortunately, the article is not available online but I just saw that the September 2010 issue of The World of Interiors will feature an article about her leaving Chatsworth.  The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire is now 90 years old but I somehow don't see her slowing down any time soon!

The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire

The pink of the living room reminds me of Hamish Bowles apartment.

Her famous Elvis memorabilia sits on the mantel.

The wall colors look straight out of Farrow & Ball.

I hope The World of Interiors article has more photos of her lovely new home.

Photos by Simon Upton

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Chic Reads

I have been trying to ignore the feeling that I might be coming down with something in the hope that it would go away but no such luck.  Since I am a little under the weather, I thought I would ask you to do more of the work today. 

Tory Burch recently posted a fun feature on her blog entitled Tastemaker's Summer Reading List which I loved. Each tastemaker gave an example of the "Book I'm Reading Now", "Book that Changed My Life", and "Book I Give as a Gift." I loved reading their responses and I hope she doesn't mind if I borrow her idea today! I'll start it off and then I want to hear your answers!  Those of you who only read my posts in an email or reader will have to come back to the blog and check out what everyone is reading and giving! 

Book I'm Reading Now: I always feel like I'm reading nine books at once but Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris is the one currently sitting on my nightstand.

Book that Changed My Life: Beverly Cleary and Judy Bloom changed my life growing up but the two books that really changed my life were The Catcher in The Rye and The Secret History by Donna Tart. 

Book I Give as a Gift: I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks is what I'm giving to my fashion friends. 

Now it's your turn! 


N.B. I found the image of the bookshelves on I Suwannee but there was no designer credited.  If anyone knows who designed this room, please let me know!  Thanks!

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Follow Your Star

One of my readers asked if Bunny Mellon ever wrote a gardening book.  While she hasn't, I can recommend the book The Surprising Life of Constance Spry.  Ms. Spry (1886-1960) was a floral designer and business woman at a time when most women weren't working outside the home.  She also wrote books not just on flower arranging but also cooking, gardening and entertaining.  I'm beginning to think she was the original Martha Stewart.  Her big claim to fame came from designing the flowers for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor whose home in France she also filled with her artful arrangements.  Constance Spry created masterpieces of not just fancy flowers like roses but weeds and even kale.  I love a good story about a gutsy woman who blazes a new trail.  My favorite quote of hers sums things up best, "I want to shout out, "Do what you please, follow your star: be original if you want to be and don't if you don't want to be.  Just to be natural and gay and lighthearted and pretty and simple and overflowing and general and boroque, and learn and learn and learn. Open your minds to every form of beauty."  Amen sister!

A mass of lilacs, 1951

Constance Spry and her needlework

Constance Spry arrangement

Constance Spry and a reporter, 1951

June Morning, 1951

Her students at work.

Arrangement of fennel and orange lilies, 1951

More students arranging flowers

White arrangements in the white living room of Syrie Maugham

Rose felecite et perpetue, 1951

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor in front of a Constance Spry arrangement. 

Wedding flowers for Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott to the Duke of Gloucester, 1935

Wedding flowers for Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott to the Duke of Gloucester, 1935

There is also a rose named after Constance Spry which were planted along the 100 yard fence outside of Pixar Studios by Steve Jobs.  I think Ms. Spry would definitely approve! 

Photos from the Design Museum and Google

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Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris

There is nothing I love more than wandering around a book store searching for a story that is as compelling as its cover and Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris is one of my new favorite finds. Some of the Parisians are famous such as Marie Antoinette and Charles de Gaulle while others could be better described as infamous but all the stories center around the most important character, the city itself. The architecture and monuments and newly created Haussmann streets have a profound effect on all the Parisians profiled including Proust and Zola. Definitely pick it up! C'est magnifique!

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Chic Read: Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.

If you've ever read Truman Capote's original book Breakfast at Tiffany's, then you know that the movie version takes some artistic liberties with the story. Sam Wasson has written a new book entitled Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. that delves into how the producers turned a story that was supposedly unadaptable into every girl's favorite film. It's full of interesting tidbits such as how Truman Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly and how the song Moon River almost didn't make the final cut. The title of the book refers to the time of day that they shot the iconic opening scene. Audrey Hepburn supposedly didn't want to eat the Danish either. Lucky for all of us that it all turned out perfectly in the end and if you want to hear how, definitely buy this book!

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