Grande Dame

Yesterday I was in a foggy mood… Was a bit achey in my joints from having 2 pints of beer the previous day. Note to self – do not drink beer! I needed a mood elevator, so I scanned the documentary section on itunes, and was pleased to find that the Diana Vreeland Doc – The Eye Has To Travel – was available to view for only $3.99 (£2.50). So I nestled in for a treat and was not disappointed. Built around interviews she had with author George Plimpton for her autobiography, the doc illustrated her need for constant, over the top fantasy. She lived, breathed, and existed on fantasy like normal people need oxygen and water. She revolutionised fashion & in particular fashion editorials, from clinical boring conventional spreads, to dramatic over the top beyond your wildest dreams looks! Not being a conventional beauty herself, she sought out women with strange looks and told the photographers to take their oddest features and exaggerate them. Barbara Streisand’s nose, Lauren Hutton’s teeth, Marisa Berenson’s long neck, Penelope Tree’s weird face… She made being weird cool! And also started the careers of many stars dating all the way back to Lauren Hutton! Diana made fashion art. She was art! Diana spoke in poetry. She was a woman of infinite one liners! She told her sons growing up “Always aim to be the very top of the class or the very bottom, but never in the middle”, or “I would rather be dead than boring”. She was a known story teller & exaggerator! But one would have had to be to create the wonderful stories she did with clothing. After her ousting as editor from Vogue in 1971. She was asked by The Metropolitan Museum of Art to curate their costume dept. But in true Diana style, not only did she curate fabulous, fantasy filled shows, she created magic and made the museum come alive! There were lines around the block for all of her shows and The Mets Costume Institute was born! One of the most poignant pieces of the film for me was when speaking on a costume show she said “It’s more important to me that the 8 year old girl from Harlem comes in and gets it, if she doesn’t get it, I’m doing something wrong.” I could go on & on… It was a pleasure to see, hear, & learn. A very inspiring view indeed! Click pic or here to watch!! oxo gd