"When Elsie de Wolfe invented the vocation of interior decorator in 1905, she informed her friends and potential clients of the fact by sending out cards engraved with her name and address, and a discreet announcement of her service". This is not 1905, consider this my calling card.
Last weekend I attended a very small dramatic affair, "After the Garden: Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney". A drag of a cabaret show held at Miss Pixies.
Jeffrey Johnson, artistic director of Ganymede Arts, plays Edith Beale beautifully. He was able to emulate the very distinctively blue-blooded cadence of little Edie in an almost too eerie way. I laughed, I drank, I laughed some more, and for a moment or two I sat quietly thoughtful. If you're in the DC area I highly recommend a trip to Miss Pixies for entertainment, libation, and procurement of fantastically original pieces second only to the originality of the Edith Beale doppelganger.
Seasonally, I like to have some point of inspiration for my costumes. This Spring the style of Robert Redford, both in films and not, will help to encourage my wardrobe. I'm MAD about his look! I physically am probably the most opposite of Robert Redford that a person can be, but that's not going to stop me from trying to emulate his sartorial panache!
I received some fantastic books for Christmas 2008, thank you Alex,one of which is H & G's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration from 1953. One of the chapters that I especially love is entitled Color is a Magic Wand. The chapter features work from some of America's very best decorators. The most interesting section of this chapter, in my opinion, is a two page spread documenting Van Day Truex's evolving apartment over a seven year span.
Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds? Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues? Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling? Paul Varjak: Sure. Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!
Unlike Holly, whenever I get a case of the "mean reds" I don't "jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's", I stay in my bed and watch Breakfast at Tiffany's. And, for the days when even the movie won't cure me of the mean reds I've contemplated some of these: Holly's tub sofa is perfect for laying about and listening to Henry Mancini records. Max McMurdo of Reestore offers a swanky remake: A fantastic pink party dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy. I don't think that I could ever be depressed with this lovely frock. Unfortunately, it was auctioned off at Christie's for nearly $200,000. This mask could help me sleep away the mean reds...and too many glasses of scotch. This copy is available for only $34.00 - Patricia FieldThese faux Ray-Ban tortoise shell sunglasses would help to shield the harsh reality that daylight brings - $14.95 ecrater.com. It would also help me tremendously if my little Italian Greyhound, and long time huckelberry friend, Louie, would wear this as he cuddles with me. Although, I think that he'd rather hump the model than wear that Givenchy knock off. And now, strictly for my own personal viewing pleasure, some lovely photos of Holly and Paul. Yes, at times I can be quite girly -I'm okay with that.
.jpg)
Posts
