Deborah Vivien (née Mitford), Cavendish
Her Grace The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire
the occasion- her 90th birthday~born March 30,1920
photograph-Bruce Weber
place-Chatsworth.
dress-Oscar de la Renta.
art work-Birthday cards
current endeavor - Attic Sale
author of the new book WAIT FOR ME -her own story. just one of many published books:
Chatsworth: The House
The Estate: A View from Chatsworth
The Farmyard at Chatsworth
Treasures of Chatsworth: A Private View
The Garden at Chatsworth
Counting My Chickens and Other Home Thoughts
The Chatsworth Cookery Book
Round and About Chatsworth
Memories of Andrew Devonshire
In Tearing Haste: Letters Between Deborah Devonshire and Patrick Leigh Fermor, edited by Charlotte Mosley
Home to Roost . . . and Other Peckings
Bruce Weber photograph from VANITY FAIR-November 2010
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Love the wall of birthday cards! How come she can pull it up but if id id the same it would like like a hot mess?
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
This picture says it all... and she looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend ; )
How beautiful she looks!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love all the cards.
Have a wonderful weekend. Here in Massachusetts, we are going to have perfect Autumn weather!
Nobody does Duchess better than Deborah Devonshire...and nobody dresses duchesses like Oscar de la Renta!
ReplyDeleteWho says you have to wear gossamer sheer body clinging gowns to look like a GODDESS DIVINE. Balenciaga comes thru De La Renta so purely here.
ReplyDeleteBruce Weber has done it again, I thought my favorite image by Weber was of the Duchess feeding her chickens at Chatsworth while wearing vintage CASTILLO/LANVIN, but this is supremely ELEGANTE'.
WE should all hope to look so serene and Goddess like at 90.
David, it reminds me of my GranMa displaying all of her cards. I think Her appeal is that she connects with me on that level-Someone who appreciates a gesture as simple as a card- somewhat gone by the wayside, I think.
ReplyDeleteBarbara - I agree, Julieta-well said.She has seemed approachable and regal!
The Swan,The effect is perfect and that color too. Pure Elegance Yes! & if only I will say my friend Dorothy-who I've written about is gorgeous and -ahead of the Duchess. pgt
ReplyDeleteSplendour! She looks fabulous!The wall of cards is very meaningful...
ReplyDeleteKarena
Art by Karena
Bruce, Karena-the cards a obviously very meaningful to her. I think we are less sentimental these days-pity.
ReplyDeleteThe most beautiful of the Mitford sisters, and the only one that I've ever been half in love with ...
ReplyDeleteShe lets all these odd men -- Lucian, Oscar, Andrew -- put her in strange outfits and difficult circumstances, and some how she surmounts it all ...
(I don't care for the dress. It looks like early-middle-period Laura Ashley, done up by a curtainmaker.)
You must be looking at a different picture! It wasn't a "dress" (the blue silk taffeta "opera coat" by Oscar de la Renta in this picture??)
DeleteLaura Ashley (rest her soul; and I loved her stuff!!) would never have even "dreamt " that divine opera coat!
However, I must say; this woman would look elegant and beautiful in an enormous brown grocery bag!!
You just look at her face! And that is all you see!
So lovely!!!
I am fond of Weber's "A House is Not a Home" and would regard this portrait as a superb candidate for a new edition. The title, of course, is ironic. And we could all descend upon the family bookstore for the signing party.
ReplyDeleteI accept your invitation! Let's make it happen!!!
DeleteThe Ancient- She managed them all very well and seemed to rise above.
ReplyDeleteLaurent- the Weber book is collection worthy and Wait for Me-how poignant. Can I wait for it til Nov? I know your seller hosted the launch with the author. Now that would have been well worth the wait.
She did, indeed! I hope she is well these days! (I completely lose track of time!!) Yikes! I was just at Adam's Choate reunion; (the 50th) but it was 7 years ago??!! Lordy!!
DeleteI love every day of my life! And I love every single blogpost you post!
Penelope
I love Debo and I love the wall of cards. She looks effortlessly elegant xx
ReplyDeleteBINGO! THE ONLY ELEGANCE IS "EFFORTLESS"!
DeleteYOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! BRAVO!