08 October 2010

wait for me

 .





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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17 comments:

  1. 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?
    Have a great weekend!

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  2. This picture says it all... and she looks wonderful!
    Have a great weekend ; )

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  3. How beautiful she looks!

    And I love all the cards.

    Have a wonderful weekend. Here in Massachusetts, we are going to have perfect Autumn weather!

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  4. Nobody does Duchess better than Deborah Devonshire...and nobody dresses duchesses like Oscar de la Renta!

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  5. Who 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.

    Bruce 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.

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  6. 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.

    Barbara - I agree, Julieta-well said.She has seemed approachable and regal!

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  7. 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

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  8. Splendour! She looks fabulous!The wall of cards is very meaningful...

    Karena

    Art by Karena

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  9. Bruce, Karena-the cards a obviously very meaningful to her. I think we are less sentimental these days-pity.

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  10. The most beautiful of the Mitford sisters, and the only one that I've ever been half in love with ...

    She 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.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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??)

      Laura 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!!!

      Delete
  11. 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.

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    Replies
    1. I accept your invitation! Let's make it happen!!!

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  12. The Ancient- She managed them all very well and seemed to rise above.

    Laurent- 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.

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    Replies
    1. 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!!

      I love every day of my life! And I love every single blogpost you post!

      Penelope

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  13. I love Debo and I love the wall of cards. She looks effortlessly elegant xx

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    Replies
    1. BINGO! THE ONLY ELEGANCE IS "EFFORTLESS"!

      YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! BRAVO!

      Delete

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