Insights • Inspirations • Destinations • Design

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Diana Vreeland: Pink, Red & Tangerine Dreams


"There's only one very good life, and that's the life you want, and you make it yourself". 
Diana Vreeland

Before Anna Wintour, before Grace Coddington, even before Anna Piaggi (who sadly passed away 2 days ago), there was another extraordinarily creative and ever-so-slightly eccentric talent who put her own exclamation mark on the fashion world. She died 23 years ago this month, but her name still invokes respect among the fashion cognoscenti. She was Diana Vreeland.


The great photographer Richard Avedon once said of DV: "She was and remains the only genius fashion editor". I would argue that Grace Coddington is up there as well, but yes, Diana Vreeland commands her own spot on the dais. She began her career as a columnist and a fashion editor for Harper's Bazaar, and rose through the sartorial ranks to eventually land the top job: editor-in-chief of US Vogue, which she ran from 1963 until 1971. Her influence was legendary. She even advised Jackie Kennedy on her wardrobe during the Presidential campaign. She was also close to Coco Chanel and perhaps fired off more witty bon mots than the latter did. When the Vreelands moved to a new apartment, which was decorated by Billy Baldwin in bold, blood red, their parties became legendary and included the likes of C.Z. Guest Cole Porter and of course Cecil Beaton, who would never miss a DV soiree. In 1957, Paramount decided to make a musical, Funny Face, featuring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire, which has since become a cinema classic. They based the magazine editor character of Maggie Prescott on Diana Vreeland.


Her biography, D.V. which she wrote in her later years, remains one of the wittiest, funniest, most interesting memoirs I've ever read – although I'm not sure how much is embellished and how much is truth? I suspect more of it is truth than creativity. Diana Vreeland always did lead an extraordinary life.

Next month, the life of Miss Diana will be again highlighted in a new documentary, Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel. It's the first feature-length documentary on her life and work. The documentary features taped recordings of Diana Vreeland, as well as interviews with Ali McGraw, Anjelica Huston, Manolo Blahnik, David Bailey, Diana von Furstenberg and various Vreeland family members. It's released in cinemas on September 21, although check for Australian dates. The official trailer is here: here. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP3wsNdANhM)

And here, in tribute to DV, is a little post on her favourite shades: red, hot pink and tangerine. (Even her nurse as a child was called 'Pink'.) DV, we still miss you.


Fashion journalist Anna Piaggi, who sadly passed away 2 days ago. One of the greats.


A glimpse of Blair Waldorf in an Oscar de la Renta frock, who, like Diana, has never been shy of colour.


The uplifting interior of Ann Lewis, recently featured in Australian Vogue Living online's files.



Two photographs by architectural photographer Robert Polidori. I've just discovered Mr Polidori. His images of Versailles are astonishing. And his Cuba photographs are even more beautiful. Diana would have loved him too, I think. She liked photographers who think outside the lines.


The now-famous red-and-pink room by designer Miles Redd, whose name is as memorable as his interiors.


Not sure of the source of this stunning library, but I just adore it. The citrus sofa, orange cushions and pink print are all unexpected, and utterly gorgeous.


A wall of my study. Not quite as glamorous as the tangerine and citrus room above! But hopefully mine will look as well stocked as the above space one day.


Memories from Angelina in Paris, 2011. (I bought this just so I could photograph it. I loved the colours so much I couldn't bare to take a bite.)


A pink door, photographed on the same trip to Paris. Only in Paris!


Not sure of the source of this moodboard. {Please contact me if you know and I'll credit immediately.} Look at the polka-dot pink and tangerine parcels. What a great little gift to give to guests when they leave.


Manuel Canovas' beautiful 'Bengale' fabric, via Faux Fuchsia. Doesn't this remind you of India? Diana would have loved this print. She was a fan of India's bold shades.


A favourite cover from Conde Nast Traveller magazine. The dress is by Bottega Veneta.


A gorgeous frock from Tigi New York. I may be heading to the Bahamas this New Year's Eve for work. This would be the perfect thing for the Junkanoo parade and fireworks over the beach. Look at the pink underslip. So lovely. (I'd never heard of Tigi until I saw this dress. Must get out more!)


A clip from Sambag's SS12 Collection. Love the quirky hat as much as the dress. It reminds me of a lovely old vintage bathing cap.


A corner of our cluttered spare room: hot pink-and-tangerine taffeta curtains, pink beach umbrella, tangerine ottoman and pink fabric leftovers. I love the reflections of the trims here on a sunny day.


One of my favourite stores in the Canal St Martin part of Paris. The colours in this store are so bold, it's as if a couple of paint tins exploded. But it's so fabulous, you can't help but smile when you walk in.


And at the other end of the aesthetic spectrum (less funky; more sophisticated) is the Hotel Pantheon in Paris, one of my favourite places to stay. (Tip: Ask for the pink-and-red rooms that overlook the Pantheon. They're quintessentially Parisian, and some of the prettiest in Paris.)


And lastly, some peonies from the streetmarket in the Bastille part of Paris. You can't go to Paris without buying a tiny bouquet of hot pink flowers...

23 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. Just heart-warming, as I sit here still working on house plans on a freezing evening in Melbourne. Such joy, such happiness in these colour combinations.

    I didn't know about the Funny Face character - just goes to show you learn something new everyday, as my grandmother used to say!

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    1. They make me happy too Glamour Drops. Which is why I've covered my study in them. They're surprisingly uplifting. x

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  3. Janelle

    Admire your great sense of colour! Adore the orange, pink, red combinations, they're to die for! - And your guest room curtains! Our DIL has asked for my favourite colour, but I don't have only one and they change all the time. But just not beige. Colour has such an impact on our sense of well-being and emotions, it can make us feel brighter and happpier and puts a zing into the day. But sometimes we need something calmer and fresh, like your blue green combinations in an earlier post. For me all-beige and neutrals in a house are kind of boring and perhaps also rather depressing. They can often indicate caution and timidity and holding back, not living life to its fullest potential. Though I've seen pictures of Colette Dinnigan's all white-cream home and can understand her explanation that she needs the calmness of white after working with colour all day.

    Diana Vreeland's words are so true. Sad to hear about Anna Piaggi's death. Do you know how old she was? Best wishes, Pamela

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    1. I think Anna was in her eighties Pamela? I know she was older than I thought. She'd had a good life. Karl Lagerfeld's always had good things to say about her, which means she must have been a character.

      Thanks for your comment. I heard a good tip one day - if you're not sure what your favourite colours are, just look at the clothes in your wardrobe. Ours is full of navy suits and orange-and-pink dresses, so it's no wonder our house has followed the same pattern. I know people love beige (and all-white interiors can look fresh) but colour is SO uplifting! I had black and white interiors because I worked in magazines and was saturated with colour all day. but now I'm away from that industry I seem to need colour!

      Look forward to hearing what you do with your house. I'm sure it will be beautiful.

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    2. Nope. Even looking in the wardrobe doesn't help. They're all colour arranged but there are the groups of oranges, pinks, reds (love them all - including clarets and orange reds and maroons) but also greens, aquas and turquoise and teal, violets and purple, browns (and some beige!) whites and blacks. I have at least four orange handbags, several pinks and reds, greens, camels as well as the usual brown, black etc. And boxes and boxes of my scarf collection. In the days when I worked, they could always find me at conferences because of the bright colours I usually wore. My colleagues (especially the men) loved the colours. Even if the suit was black, I would wear a coloured scarf, maybe cerise or shocking pink. My natural hair colour was kind of strawberry blonde streaked with blonde so all these colours seemed to work. And I still love them even now with all the grey threads. Think I'm a frustrated painter. Only no talent. Best wishes, Pamela

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  4. I think these are possibly my favourite colours and the mood board is just simply beautiful. Vogue has never been quite as good since DV's days her influence was felt around the globe!!!

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    1. I think they're my favourite too Jules, especially for summer.
      And yes, completely agree with you. I wish Vogue would go back to the beautiful vintage-style covers again. French Vogue does, now and then. xx

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  5. Geez you are good, very good.....this is my favourite post of the week. Call me crazy but even more than hot pink & tangerine I love hot pink & limey/citrus. One day in another life with another house I'll have the guts to use it. I'll tell MOTH JMac made me do it.
    Millie xx

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    1. Hot pink and lime are gorgeous Millie! The combination is very Key West - a place I love! Also very Bahamas - another great place for colour. xx

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  6. pink and orange are heavenly

    I had pink and orange curtains as a child- thank you for your lovely birthday wishes xxx

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  7. Oh you spoil us! What a beautiful collection of images. Like you, I adore that library.

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    1. Isn't it lovely? Wish we had the money to build floor-to-ceiling bookshelves like that. And that sofa is so sweet. Our dogs would ruin it in a day though...xx

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  8. I hadn't heard that Anna Piaggi had died. Ann Lewis an unique Australian also loved an artist who could think outside the lines.

    Lauren Hutton said when she first saw Diana Vreeland she looked like a raptor and she could tell Ms V was a big cheese!

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    1. Didn't she discover Lauren Hutton? Or was it Lauren Bacall? I was only re-reading her memoir the other day. She does look like a raptor.

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    2. Dont know about Bacall but above story def. Hutton.

      I keep coming back to that yellow sofa with the little orange cushions. Dont know why I have a thing about sofas. Did you get your curtains (really gorgeous they are too) made in Melbourne?

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  9. Looking at these vibrant colors makes me so happy! Have a wonderful weekend.
    xo
    Sharon

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    1. They seem to have hit a chord with lots of people. So glad you like them too. xx

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  10. Think Pink also from Funny Face. Is that hot pink sofa in top pic yours?

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  11. No smr, and I forgot to credit the image. I have the source somewhere, so will go and find it in my archives. It's beautiful. I'd love one like that. (And the Hermes box on top!)

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  12. Oh I upholstered a chair in the Bengale fabric three weeks, ago, I just love it, even though it stands out like a really sore thumb in my beige house.

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  13. Such delicious eye candy, Janelle. I am *so* not a pink lover. But you've almost turned me! J x

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