b4 C Z G-an American girl

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She was the glamorous Lucy Cochran called Sissy by her brother- she adopted the CZ from there (pronounced See Zee.)

 

She pursued the stage and was  a Broadway showgirl in the 1944 Ziegfeld Follies-following in her mother's well heeled foot steps. From there she would head to California to pursue Hollywood & from there- to Mexico where she posed nude for Diego Rivera.

photograph by George Platt Lynes for Vogue, August 1947

VERITAS by Diego Rivera hung in the bar of the Hotel Reforma in Mexico City.  "In Venum Veritas," a reclining nude was painted in 1945 & Lucy Douglas Cochrane was the model. ( painting image from here ) Rumor goes that when Lucy married Winston Frederick Churchill Guest -and became Mrs. - his family bought the picture from the bar.

She married in Havana at  best man Ernest Hemingway's home-Papa was a game hunting friend of  the groom. After the wedding---
a series of Best Dressed Lists, horses, WASPY good looks, friends like Cecil Beaton, Truman Capote &  the Duchess of Windsor. 

Once described by a journalist -"With her pale skin, blue eyes, ash-blonde hair and trim figure, she is cut from the same cool, silky cloth as Grace Kelly. It is a patrician beauty that is indigenous to socially registered enclaves like Palm Beach and Southampton, a sporty, outdoorsy look that eschews make-up, hairspray and anything trendy. She has an outspoken, coolly self-assured manner and a throaty, well-modulated voice with a trace of a British accent." She shopped in Paris at Mainbocher-the cut to perfection simplicity couturier & would show up at the fashion shows in her sportswear looks- turtlenecks & skirts. Where CZ went- many followed, but she was an original-she never seemed to notice. Her clothes covered -she never seemed impressed with it all.

In her younger years in Boston she had loved gardening-had her own on the grounds of the family home & as a woman  she wrote a book, First Garden in 1977. Now a collector's item-with illustrations by Beaton and the preface by Capote: "There, with her baskets and spades and clippers and wearing her funny boyish shoes, and with her sunborne sweat soaking her eyes, she is a part of the sky and the earth, possibly a not too significant part, but a part." Other books would follow. She considered the garden "her good and loyal friend." Much has been written about this star- but of note to this writer- she too was a good and loyal friend. What more is there?

 

"All the love and tender care you put into it will be returned." CZG

more CZ this summer-
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why don't you? ii & a Birthday

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 from yesterday's post- why don't you?, I received this comment- from the ever tuned in, turned on the HOUSE OF BEAUTY & CULTURE-

"all that is missing is Truman Capote circa 1977."

image from here by Arnold Newman 

TRUMAN sprawling 1977

Yes, Truman did have a thing for Victoriana- the furniture that is- 

So what about a Truman Victoriana Redux?

well-not to disturb any literary spirits-

& in that spirit-

Prints, Pattern-that Truman would approve of-all from QUADRILLE.

He decorated with damasks, Japanese obi textiles, quilts, florals, batiks- So yeah, He went for it all 

Here- Truman -as a younger Victorian.

photograph by Slim Aarons

So-why don't you?

photograph available from Wessel+O'Connor Fine Art

so tell me what you think?

why don't you?

& DO wish TRU a Happy Birthday- born September 30th 1924.  

Now playing for HOBAC- did you hear this in '77?

Capote's mean reds

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Truman Capote's novella, Breakfast at Tiffany's , was adapted by screenwriter George Axelrod for the movie version - Breakfast at Tiffany's. The many quotable quotes from this memorable book, and of course the movie are numerous. On any given day, for any mood- just Pick One.

Capote mastered the story, and perhaps-director Blake Edwards and star Audrey Hepburn immortalized it-But  somewhere within the jaunty movie, a more complex novel still stands the test of time. Huge fans of this movie-and I am one- should read the book, and if you have it is time to read it again.

 Capote

Capote's characters speak:

Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?

Paul Varjak: The mean reds. You mean like the blues?

 Mel Ferrer, Audrey Hepburn, Truman Capote

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?
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Devastating Beauty XV

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 Marella Agnelli

photographed by Richard Avedon

of Marella Agnelli-Truman Capote said  

"One first thinks: My God, what a beauty she is and Him.*"

photograph by Clifford Coffin

Vogue profiled Roman society figures, including Mrs. Edward Behn and Donna Marella Caracciolo di Castegneto, both in Gabriellesport, in the March 1, 1949, issue (from style.com)

View of Agnelli's NYC apartment with portrait of young
Donna Maria Beatrice Olga Alberta Caracciolo (later de Meyer)

Recently on a post at the Aesthete's Lament, the Aesthete confirmed the link between these two Devastating Beauties. Both Beauties are descended from the Neapolitan Caracciolo family- exactly the connections-I can not say.

Jacques-Emile Blanche

Portrait Of Donna Olga Caracciolo Dei Duchi Di Castelluccio

Portrait of Baroness Olga de Meyer

photographed by her husband Baron de Meyer

* Capote refers Gianni Agnelli- MA's late husband
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if this table could talk

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Photograph of Truman Capote and Andy Warhol
Amongst Brigid Berlin's porcelain collection

elle decor Dec/Jan 2000 photographed by Fernando Bengoechea

Porter Hovey's Polaroids Illustrate Her Summer Book List

Porter Hovey is long on images- short on words. In fact, the only words she uses are to give Title to her photographs.

Her blog- Porter Hovey Polaroid Project is unique- not alone in using few words- but certainly in her medium, her images and her defined sense of style.

Her polaroids are finely edited-Each of the images reflects one of her recurring themes or is overwhelmingly evocative of something bigger than-

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As I read her book list, the choices were stylish, serious and well chosen. It dawned on me from looking at her photographs that she had photographed the perfect images ot illustrate her book choices.

Both Her books and Her photographs say Style and Self Knowledge-

and that is a gift -to her audience.

What Books are on your Summer reading list?

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Is there one book you honestly don’t expect to get to? Why?

-->Factory Made has been on my summer reading list for the past three summers. It's taking awhile - mainly because there's so much in there. It puts countless aspects of modern culture - from art, to fashion to film - into context. It's astonishing when you start cataloging who passed in and out of Warhol's scene.

What does your nightstand look like?

I have one on either side of the bed; they're fairly symmetrical. Art deco crystal lamps, 1920s fashion prints, photos of my Grandma Vi, a John Derian beetle plate strewn with jewelry and a few photo books, including Instant Light: Tarkovsky Polaroids.

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What is you all time Favorite Book for its sense of place?

-->What is your Security Blanket Book?

-->What is your favorite Genre? Why?

19th Century Russian Literature - I took so many classes in this genre during college that I have quite a great collection built up. These are the kind of books you have to re-read and will view differently every time to you do. -->What about Books you are reading for a second or third time? Why? Any disappointments on second reading?

I recently started Gatsby again and am seeing the entangling relationships very differently this time around.

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What is the seminal book in your field or your passion that you would recommend to young would be(s) of the same?

Looking at Photographs by John Szarkowsk

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Latest Obsession Author, Designer, Photographer?

Thomas Maier's work for Bottega Venetta amazes me and I love what Gaultier has done at Hermes. But both are so expensive it's enough to make you cry.

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Book Covers can be art-Do you have a favorite?

The music world should look to bookcovers for inspiration.Books beat cds hands down. Megan Wilson's covers for Random House are really great. My favorite of hers is Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote.

But really my all time favorites are Osa Johnson's giraffe and zebra print covers for Four Years Living in Paradise and I Married Adventure, respectively.

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I have PHAIDON's THE 20TH CENTURY ART BOOK - A 4" x 6"-packed 500 pages of images from artists A-Z. This for a Reader to add to his library. Do you have a book you return to time and time again for Inspiration? All polaroid photographs are by Porter Hovey. Ms. Hovey has an "official work site" to this "instant gratification" blog.( HERE)