One of Truman Capote's Swans

When something is good you do not tire of seeing it again and again. So I read the Sunday New York Times today with extra pleasure.

Nicky Haslam wrote a wonderful piece about his dear friend Lee Radziwill in T Magazine (The Sunday New York Times glam supplement). And the pictures of her Paris apartment were shown again.

"While she has long captivated the public as one of Truman Capote’s swans, the sister of Jackie Kennedy and a European princess, with romantic liaisons from Peter Beard to Aristotle Onassis, not one of those labels begins to capture the true woman. The inimitable Radziwill — direct, free spirited and true to her own ideals — offers a rare, personal glimpse into her remarkable world." 
Nicky Haslam on Lee Radziwill in The New York Times

Also from the article by Nicky Haslam:

“Oo—h. You’re here already!” The voice, lively, with its unmistakable husky drop, comes in to the living room. I turn from the balcony that looks out onto the Avenue Montaigne.
“Oo—h” — again, that low last note — “how did you get here so quickly?”

You can hear that voice in a bonus video interview with Lee Radziwill done by Sofia Coppola and Deborah Needleman.

Enjoy the images by François Halard and styled by Carolina Irving. the article, and the video.

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The Modern Victorian

Coming from the heyday of the 1960's and 1970's, the era I call The Modern Victorian, I see a tremendous influence currently steering today's design choices. Back then there was an exuberance and fearlessness, where color and layering and mixing furnishings was done without much angst. Most people decorated on their own, but even the professional decorators of the times embraced a certain joie d'vivre that matched the times that were "a-changing".

The 1970's - Look at this Mommy and son! Love the pattern and the mirror looks like my big girl glasses!

Much like the Victorians one hundred years before, the Modern Victorians mixed patterns and collections of possesions with a certain abandon. Many pieces of hundred year old Victorian furniture appeared alongside of plastic blow-up furniture and art work by a new artists like Andy Warhol. Victorian furniture was cheap then (as it is now having fallen out of fashion to the newer mid century modern "antiques"). Old granny pieces got a face lift with a bright coat of paint on the frame, and a reupholster with some groovy fabric.

Designers and home decorators today have embraced the Modern Victorian look once again. One of the best is Emily Henderson, who deftly shows the inner workings of her free wheeling stylist's mind on her HGTV show "Secrets From A Stylist".

Emily Henderson is a Modern Victorian

Emily loves things from the 1970's and tirelessly shops the flea markets and vintage shops for pieces to mix in and layer with modern furnishings. The effect always reflects the client and their taste and quirks, and the rooms are never boring, and often pretty and inviting.

Modern Victorian Truman Capote at home in the 1970's

Having come of age in the golden era of The Modern Victorians, my touchstones were people like Gloria Vanderbilt, Truman Capote, Lee Radizwill, Bonnie Cashin, and places like the 1970's furniture department at Bloomingdales, The Factory, and swinging London.

Modern Victorian Gloria Vanderbilt at home in the 1970's - Do you think she and Truman discussed quilt patterns?

Another view of the Modern Victorian living room of Gloria Vanderbilt

Bonnie Cashin's studio back in the heyday of the Modern Victorian

Modern Victorian Bonnie Cashin loved making Graffiti walls

Modern Victorian Lee Radziwill - circa 1970's

Lee Radziwill circa 2009 as seen in Elle Decor

A Mod Vic straight from the pages of the new book Undecorate

Hello. My name is Valorie Hart and I am a Modern Victorian - I recently covered a wall with fabric HERE

I have these sweet mannequin heads bookmarked, and they make me think of the the heyday of the Modern Victorian.  You can buy them HERE.

Couldn't you see these in your Mod Vic home now?

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