Editorial du Jour

Suzie Bird

by Chloe Crespi for Harper's Bazaar Spain September 2010

Editorial du Jour

Ashley Smith 

by John Akehurst for Harper's Bazaar UK September 2010

I need!

Harper's Bazaar

October 1955 Issue

Cover: Bazaar’s new beauty issue features Dovima as  Richard Avedon's 'portrait of a lady pondering her next move'.

I'm in serious need of this issue, 338 pages of "heaven", plus Diana Vreeland (you know my obsession with her!) was the fashion editor!

You can own this treasure for $145 + shipping 

Buy at Ebay

Editor-in-chief: Carmel Snow

Art Director: Alexey Brodovitch

Fashion Editor: Diana Vreeland

The Divine Mrs. V

Diana Vreeland

the epitome of a jolie laide 

Diana Vreeland was the twentieth century’s greatest arbiter of style and elegance. As fashion editor at Harpers Bazaar for twenty-five years, Editor in Chief of Vogue and creator and ambassador of fantastic exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, Diana, with her passion for living, her legendary wit and charm energized the world of style and fashion for over fifty years. Not bad for a woman who had no intention of actually working for a living, ("work? What an interesting idea.")

Diana Vreeland can be described as a wellborn social butterfly that dabbled in the world of fashion, exercising her unique ability to give the fantasy starved American woman whatever it was she wanted to see. Not born into wealth, just socially well connected, Diana was groomed by her mother to be like the women who graced the covers of the fashion magazines she came to manage. 

Born in Paris, the daughter of a Scottish farmer and an American mother, she was raised in a “between the wars” European world. “My parents spent their days having a good time,” Diana has been heard to say, “They never contributed a bloody thing and they and all their friends lived the life of Riley”.

Education for Diana and her younger sister was somewhat erratic. Rather than have Diana fail at an academically minded school, her mother sent her to various ballet schools, the first being the Michael Fokine ballet school, the only school run by an Imperial Master from Russia. “I went to dancing school and I didn’t give a damn about anything else. All I’ve ever cared about since, is movement, rhythm, being in touch and discipline. What Fokine taught. And it’s stood me in good stead all my life—it’s forever. When I discovered dancing, I learned to dream.”

 Diana Vreeland did not actually begin her formal career until sometime in her mid thirties. She was wife to an unwealthy but socially accepted handsome American banker, Reed Vreeland, and mother of two sons. Her early days were spent as part of a milieu that effortlessly blended society and artist in a whirl of activity. She was a friend to Coco Chanel, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Daisy Fellowes and Christian Bernard.

Most of these days were spent in designer showrooms being fitted for everything from clothing to hats and gloves.

When Reed moved the family to New York Diana continued living the way she always had until Caramel Snow, the then editor of Harpers Bazaar magazine, approached her. Snow had the uncanny ability to sniff out virgin talent and wanted Diana as Fashion Editor suggesting that she would be paid for what she was already doing.

Diana accepted the position and soon began changing the way fashion was reported to the public. Instead of simply reporting the styles and trends of fashion, Diana began to create, to motivate and popularize, certain objects, attitudes and ideas. She did this with her legendary observations, comments, wit and humour, keeping the American public, especially women, always wanting more. “The bikini is the most important invention since the atom bomb”, was one statement. “Never fear being vulgar, just boring”, was another.

Diana Vreeland had the unique ability to always think “outside the box”. Even the décor of her apartment on Park Avenue was an original. Friends with Billy Baldwin, the famous New York decorator who actually worked with her on the project, Diana said that she wanted her apartment to look like a garden in Hell. Actually it did not look like a garden in hell but it was completely decorated in lacquer reds with scarlet coloured floral wall coverings, memorabilia and books. In the center of her living room was a bright red sofa piled high with an impressive collection of cushions.

In terms of her personal style, Diana loved simple elegant clothing with splashy accessories. Exotic jewelry, hats and wonderful shoes were among her favorite fashion items. “I’d like to have on the most luxurious cashmere sweater; the most luxurious satin pants, very beautiful stockings, very beautiful shoes—marvelous shoes—and whatever would be suitable around the neck.” 

Diana Vreeland was a visionary in the world of style, elegance and fashion. “People who eat white bread have no dreams.” She was known to say. “Without emotion, there is no beauty” and “What sells is hope”. The stories she told and the tales she spun were nothing less than memorable and she is still quoted today. The American public hung on to every word and on one occasion a brave journalist asked her, “Mrs. Vreeland, is that fact or fiction?” After a small pause she replied, “It’s faction”. 

Biography Source: www.canadianinteriordesign.com

Summer Hottest Dresses

Hilary Rhoda

Harper's Bazaar UK July 2010

Happy hour anyone?

When I grow up I want to be a watch collector...

Glitter in the Air

Cheryl Cole 

for Harper's Bazaar UK June 2010

When I see these photos the first thing that comes to my mind is the song "Glitter in the Air" by Pink.

Here's the video for you to enjoy the photos while listening to this soothing song

Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Close your eyes and trust it, just trust it
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face
And said I just don't care?

It's only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn
The thunder before lightning, the breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?

Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
Your whole life waiting on the ring to prove you're not alone
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?

It's only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table, the walk before the run
The breath before the kiss and the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee, calling me sugar
You called me sugar

Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself
Will it ever get better than tonight? Tonight

Click here to watch her amazing performance at the Grammy's