Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Why Don't You?




Don't you just want to get your mind off of our troubles? For a few moments, don't you want a little fun and frivolity? And who better to turn to for this than Diana Vreeland and her "Why Don't You?" columns for Harper's Bazaar. After all, this monthly column was written during the Great Depression to help readers escape the uncertainty and drudgery of the times . While some of the nuggets of wisdom (or perhaps they should be called flights of fancy?) are a bit outlandish, some are actually quite doable.

As DV once said, these suggestions "were all very tried and true ideas, mind you." If that's true, then why don't you...



Tie black tulle bows on your wrists?


Black tulle ribbon from Bags and Bows Online


Pick up in Florida the prettiest shells you can find and make them into a mirror frame of a baroque scroll design?



Shells from Seashells.com, Sanibel, FL

Have a yellow satin bed entirely quilted in butterflies?


I couldn't find a comparable photo, but aren't these butterfly garlands from Pearl River charming?


Serve individual Pfirsch Bowle which is a peeled peach in a chilled glass with ice-cold Moselle or Rhine wine poured in? Marvelous at tea time.


Weingut Gottelmann Riesling

Go to Dazian, the theatrical-material shop, and get fake leopard skin for your bathroom floor and fake beige fur for your slipper chair?


Faux leopard, still available at Dazian

Design monograms with circles around them for the pockets of your children's cardigans and the sleeves of their dressing-gowns?


Nicholas monogram from Leontine Linens

Cover a big cork bulletin board in bright pink felt, banded with bamboo, and pin with colored thumb-tacks all your various enthusiasms as your life varies from week to week?



Pink felt from Hancock Fabric Store and Bamboo custom made frame from Pictureframes.com.


21 comments:

  1. Love the monograms on the jammies!

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  2. Pigtown- I think that's a cute idea too!

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  3. Adore, adore this post. The spot where I get my hair cut has the book containing many (all?) of these bon mots. But not your charming pictures.

    http://www.amazon.ca/Why-Dont-You-Vreeland-Bazaar/dp/0789306271

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  4. I love DV! Her "why don't you's" were published in a book of the same name a few years back -it's a very fun read. Some of the suggestions are outrageous!

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  5. Patricia and Change- That's where I got these quips from! It's a great book. I should have mentioned that in the post!

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  6. This is a great post...clicking to all the links I'm inspired to be creative.

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  7. Thanks Capegirl! I chose the economical ones too :)

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  8. What a happy post, I love the pink felt, I am going to make one in purple for my studio.
    Have a great day

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  9. these are fantastic. love the tulle bows idea - so funny. and the photo of her - she exudes fabulousness

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  10. Thank you so much for sharing this tried and true way to deal with the mundane woes we are all facing!
    I'm wearing my black tulle bows as I write to you.
    xo xo

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  11. Brilliant post Jennifer! The pink felt board idea is so do-able. Love the pictures you used.

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  12. Glad you all like DV's suggestions. These are the ones that are doable. Some of her other ideas... a bit far-fetched but fun nonetheless!

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  13. Brilliant well timed post. Thank you. DV has always been one of my heroines.

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  14. I love this thread!

    The monogram suggestion works well for big boys, too. A friend of ours always has his shirt cuff monogramed (just one cuff). When he takes off his suit coat, there's a nice surprise waiting.

    It's truly the little things that count. They add up for a big impact.

    Thank you for posting this,

    Sheila

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  15. This is why you're my favorite blog. Thanks!

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  16. Thanks for the kind comment Lisa! I really appreciate it. DV is good for some inspiration, and a few laughs too!

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  17. Fabulous ideas! I bit of leapard never hurt and the bulletin board? Perfect for my daughter's bedroom redo!

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  18. oh so clever and adorable - love the pj's . . . you have a great sits

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