I am a longtime admirer of Diana Vreeland. Though not a "classic beauty", she had fantastic style and a great sense of humor, which is way more valuable in my eyes than a pretty face or a perfect body (though I'd take all of the above, please).
Vreeland's Harper's Bazaar column, Why Don't You? , was a collection of fun tips and suggestions for her stylish readers. While her ideas were not always realistic they were , and remain, most definitely creative, humorous and inspiring in their oh so high end way.
I adore reading her tips (some faves below) so I'm going to try my hand at a few of my own. Keep your eyes peeled for my Why Don't You? post every Wednesday...
Just a few of D.V.'s classic suggestions:
...wear violet velvet mittens with everything?
...bring back from Central Europe a huge white baroque porcelain stove to stand in your front hall?
...have an elk-hide trunk for the back of your car? Hermès of Paris will make this.
...have your cigarettes stamped with a personal insignia?
...paint a map of the world on all four walls of your boys’ nursery so they won’t grow up with a provincial point of view?
…wear, like the Duchess of Kent, three enormous diamond stars arranged in your hair in front?
If you haven't read D.V., her "facticious" autobiography, you must do so immediately. It remains one of my all time favorite books as it captures the essence of her wit, personality and imagination. Buy it on Amazon RIGHT NOW! You'll also want to pick up Diana Vreeland by Eleanor Dwight to learn more about Vreeland and to see her flamboyant life in pictures.
