The Duchesses and Dior

"When Dior invented the New Look in 1947, my mother-in-law, 'Moucher' Devonshire and her friend, the Duchess of Rutland, who were in Paris for a less frivolous reason, wanted to see the collection.  They arrived at Avenue Montaigne in their tweed overcoats, which had done years of war service, and ditto shoes.  They weren't allowed in. Of humble nature, the two duchesses were disappointed but not at all surprised.   They sat on a bench eating their sandwiches to pass the time till they could decently return to the embassy where they were staying."

From Debo, the Duchess of Devonshire's book, Counting My Chickens

Quote of the Day #12: Miuccia Prada

"I'm interested in jewels.  I only like antique jewelry because I like the stories attached to them.  It's the life of the people that interests me.  Also they are beautiful.  Flowers and jewels are part of a woman's history.  I like to look at these jewels and wonder if the woman was happy.  For instance, I have  a brooch which features a boat in the sea and on top there is a little gold rose and over this a spider.  And I wonder who gave it to the woman?  Was she a lucky woman?  What does it mean?"  

Miuccia Prada

Isn't that an interesting quote from Miuccia Prada?  It is exactly the way I feel about buying vintage and the only thing that I would add is that flowers and jewels and clothes are part of each woman's history.

Quote of the Day #11

"Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes." 
Henry David Thoreau

and I am excited to announce that this quote has special meaning to RARE vintage...   coming soon!!!

Quote of the Day #10

"There was something that made Billy's rooms special.  Many were never photographed.  The clients wouldn't allow it.  So here were these beautiful rooms, a reflection of their owner's tastes, personality and wardrobe - all things Billy carefully considered - and nowhere do they survive except in the memory of the people fortunate enough to have seen them."

Bill Blass on Billy Baldwin

Quote of the Day #9

"Why don't you order Schiaparelli's cellophane belt with your name and telephone number on it?"

Diana Vreeland

Quote of the Day #8

"I'm the ultimate optimist.  It's part of my great WASPy background. And I'm a Taurus, so I'm a fighter. I just keep on."

Halston

Quote of the Day #7

"My mother was pregnant with one of my brothers and she tried to get the saleswoman to give a substantial discount because of her bulky figure , which would prevent her from using this dress later on.  As they flatly refused, my Mother, as bold as brass, saw Balenciaga walking along the corridor, blocked his way and asked him to knock down the price of a dress as she was expecting.  Balenciaga looked at her over his glasses and said, 'Why should I have to give you a discount on a dress because you are expecting?  I'm not the one to blame.'  My mother found this remark really funny, and from then on they were close friends until Cristobal died."

Sonsoles Diez de Riviera on her mother the Marquesa de Llanzol

Quote of the Day #4: Bardot and Mrs.Vreeland

"Her lips made Mick Jagger's lips possible."
Diana Vreeland on Brigitte Bardot in the book Allure

Quote of the Day #3: Coco Chanel

"I'm enchanted by small boutiques, haberdashers, second-hand boutiques, middlemen, clothes dealers.  I love antique shops that look like those in Dickens or Balzac's Peau de Chagrin."  Coco Chanel

Quote of the Day #1: Madame Bovary

"Here the air was warm and fragrant: the scent of flowers and fine linen mingled with the odor of cooked meats and truffles.  Candle flames cast long gleams on rounded silver dish-covers; the clouded facets of the red glass shone palely: there was a row of bouquets all down the table; and on the wide-bordered plates the napkins stood like bishop's mitres, each with an oval shaped roll between its folds.  Red lobster claws protruded from platters;oversized fruit was piled on moss in openwork baskets; quail are served in their plumage; steam rose from open dishes..."  

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert.  1856.