Giving: tis the Season

I've asked some of my friends to offer up their picks for Giving this year. With a wide range of gifts, on their lists, I've a few of my own to offer.

Get personal. Choose a gift that reflects the person receiving it, or something that might peak their interest, or give a gift you'd like to receive (there you can never go wrong).  For the person who has everything—give small or give of your time (a true gift of the heart), or make a donation to their favorite Charity in their name.

With that here are some of my favorites to Give & Recieve.

This terrific CIRCA Incense Burner by Cinnamon Projects from AEDES.com here
To go with this two favorites of mine to burn during the season Astier de Vilatte MARIENBAD here and Estaban CEDRE here

I love fragrance in closets, chest of drawers, anywhere there are tight spaces that open to envelope us. This-something quite new to me by Frederic Malle. Rubber Incense here  Saint des Saints (one of my favorite scents). I love anything he creates—another favorite Carnal Flower. His candles are wonderful, magical, and long burning. —from AEDES again.

Another jewel of an incense burner is at Moda Operandi from the Cinnamon Projects again. here

Books? Of course in any shape or size. This set Great American Women Writers by Juniper Books here, at Moda Operandi is ideal for the bibliophile—young or old.

This is definitely a "1 for You, 1 for Me" fiction, The Walk to Elsie's~ Tony Duquette becomes Elsie de Wolfe s last great protégé. Based on a true story.

Mateo, jewelry that is the essence of simplicity and minimalism, yet harkening back to eras past.
—at Moda Operandi here 

Liz O'Brien offers the wonderful fashion photography of MARK SHAW. It would be hard not to find a dozen or more you'd love to have. Just 1, I think would set a collection in motion. LIZ O'BRIEN at 1st dibs. here

Dior Model Kouka Wears Hymenee Wedding Gown

Things I love time & again Magnifying Glasses, Paperweights, Scissors, Tape measurers. Often when I see a unique one I get several for giving.

The Paperweight from Bernard Masnier—to customize here

Everything is elegant and of keepsake sort

To the client that needs a real nudge, and a real Thank you, Three Panels by Raoul Dufy here. "La Danse" printed textile for Paul Poiret.

Paper. Oh I love paper. I received an art collector friend's collection and I've framed some things. Pinned others right onto the wall. His collection has inspired my own collection. A piece I'm selling Woodcut Design for a Kimono, on etsy here

Wallis Pillow from Thomas Jayne Studio here

The must have ultimate Name Dropper Pillow-I'd find it hard to give honestly—It's a Keeper! Designer Thomas Jayne, (I saw this on his IG feed) writes "The Wallis pillow is inspired by a design once used in the library of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's villa in the Bois-de-Bologne outside of Paris."

Princely

Rodarte Fall 2015

I love the use of a classic pattern, in this instance the Prince-ly Prince of Wales Check , and  variations thereof on houndstooth- in the Anorak. Easily done, and equally well done by Michael Kors (the quintessential American sportswear designer), in the Trench.

Michael Kors, Fall 2015

the ORIGINAL

Designed by his King Edward VII when he was Prince of Wales, as livery for his hunts at Abergeldie Castle on Scotland’s Deeside it was popularised by his grandson the Duke of Windsor when he was Prince of Wales. Its authentic colours are red-brown on a white ground with a slate grey overcheck.

the one time Prince, Carte de Visite of King Edward VII c.1902.

& his Princely Grandson,

 Edward, Prince of Wales

Prince & Consort

Finally, Both designers get high marks for beautiful evening wear with the Ease, coincidentally, and familiarly, of The Duchess of Windsor.

KORS 2015

Rodarte 2015

fashion pictures from style.com and vogue uk.

Bouché Portraits

The quick study for a portrait has always appealed, so too the captivating sketches of artist Rene Bouché. From his flowing lines, emerge apt portraits of stylish women that graced the pages of Vogue from the late 1930's until his death in 1963. He said "My style may be described as a kind of loving criticism." No sitter could have been disappointed in the results. In fact Bouché's chic portraits of society scions have been likened to the portraits of painters like Sargent, and Boldini.
It's easy to recognize his work-all the women are beautiful, coiffed, jeweled.
Do they look alike?
Yes-
but do they look uniquely themselves?
Yes-
that is Bouché.

 Mrs. John Drexel III

The Duchess of Windsor

(from the pages of Vogue, March 15,1954)

Rene Bouche here

Vertes Children

you didn't know?

 all the magical drawings of Vertes, and you hadn't seen his children?

baby Winston, age 1

 toddler Cocteau, age 2

 dreamer Schiap, age 7

the master in repose, Picasso, age 8

 & my favorite, playing dress up:

Edward and Wallis, age 11

dressing down?

Gypsy Rose Lee, age 4

Exhibited in 1951-Stanley Marcus bought the lot of Marcel Vertes' fanciful imaginings of famous personalities of the day for his Dallas store, Neiman Marcus.  the story of Marcus' purchase here

Bianchi's softly tinted walls awash in Vertes Flesh Pink

& her collection of Vertes

and for real Vertes, these alas, are just postcards Neiman Marcus produced- go see Penelope Bianchi's collection here and read her personal remembrances of growing up with Vertes-his paintings, that is. I always love to get comments from Penelope, her enthusiasm is infectious and she enriches us all at her own blog-linked just above.

Daphne 101

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Christie's is selling off 100 pieces of Daphne Guinness's frocks today- after looking at them online, I'm struck by the fact that many of them could be worn by any-one.
Of course according to notes, Guinness's tiny stature lends itself best to the fashionistas of Japan and China, but-the styling of many of her pieces any-one of Us could wear.
For the most part, the collection is steeped in the most Classic of designs.The garments -simply presented in the Christie's catalogue- edit for Us- relieve Us from the wearer.

Looking through the catalog-viewed online- it is easy to conjure, Josephine Bonaparte in dampened gowns of the Empire,

Josephine by Prud'hon.

Jackie Kennedy -just add a pillbox

or
La Windsor-with her severe silhouette.

 DIOR at l. Daphne Guinness's Purple, at r. Wallis Windsor's Purple Dior

It is only when Guinness herself slides into each piece-embodies IT- if you will-does it take on the Wild, the Exotic, the Ethereal.
If ever there was ever a doubt that Guinness is Living ART- this Sale-if you care to look- convinces.

Guinness channeling the powerful-charismatic, Admiral Viscount Lord Nelson

Proceeds from the auction will go to The Isabella Blow Foundation.

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