Monday, August 01, 2016

The World of Jerry Zipkin


Walker of walkers.  Social moth.  Humpty Dumpty.  If you read W back in the Eighties, you will likely remember these now-classic zingers that the magazine's editor and publisher, John Fairchild, frequently hurled at Jerome "Jerry" Zipkin, one of Nouvelle Society's more memorable figures.  Perhaps best known for his friendships with Nancy Reagan and Betsy Bloomingdale, the often acid-tongued Zipkin seemed to frequent all of the Eighties' most fashionable spots, including Le Cirque, Mortimer's, and the Reagan White House.  It seems like only yesterday that I, a young teenager in Atlanta, anxiously awaited the latest issues of W in hopes of finding out what Zipkin, Nan Kempner, Pat Buckley, Georgette Mosbacher, and Manhattan's other leading socialites had been up to, where they had been, and which ones had made W's infamous "In and Out" list.

Although Zipkin died in 1995, his name continues to crop up in articles about Eighties' society.  For years now, I've been searching for photos of Zipkin's Park Avenue apartment, where he resided his entire life.  (His real-estate-developer father built the building.)  And thanks to my good friend from Macon, Carey, I now have the 1987 issue of House & Garden that features two rooms of his apartment: his sitting room and bedroom.  To say that he packed a lot of stuff into these two rooms is putting it lightly.  But instead of finding the dizzying array of objects and art a turn-off, I'm taken with these rooms because of their personality.  Zipkin was an enthusiastic collector, and his myriad collections and interests- Meissen leopards, shells, snakes, and needlepoint- were on full-display.

So what explained his popularity as a walker?  According to everything I've read, he was cultured and attentive, though quick to give his lady friends unsolicited advice on their clothes and their appearances.  But he was supposedly discreet, too, something which gained him his friends' trust.  According to his New York Times obituary, written by the great Enid Nemy, Zipkin chalked up his popularity among females to the simple fact that he was a man.  "A woman cannot have a best woman friend.  A best woman friend will do her in."


The red sitting room was massed with objects, mementos, and art.




The bedroom's yellow walls were a zesty counterpoint to the adjacent sitting room's red palette.  Even his bedside table was laden with objects.  Dusting and tidying up must have been a nightmare for his poor maid.


All photos from House & Garden, October 1987, Eric Boman photographer.

12 comments:

  1. He was definitely of an era. He was ubiquitous in the society pages, and at least was not a walker for hire. He was like Truman Capote was to Babe Paley, et al. but without the stab in the back, nor, one must acknowledge, the talent.

    Interesting to see the images, but why do I get the feeling that I am seeing pictures of an expensive antiques and gift shop in Lilliput?

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    1. Truman Capote referred to Zipkin as "the man with a face shaped like a bidet".

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    2. Nasty, but funny - very Capote.

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  2. All that "stuff," and he's still dead. What good did it all do him? Quatorze is on to something........

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    1. I believe he received tremendous pleasure from all that "stuff". That is the good it did for him!! He is still dead; but he had a hell of a time.....and he loved having all that "stuff" around him!

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  3. Predictably; I adore this apartment. Everything has a story. I can just tell. He was a personality and a collector. I find it all very, very chic. Not my individual taste; better yet, very representative of him. And he lived there his whole life.
    I get the antiques store description; but, "Lilliput"? I don't get that part!

    I adore your posts on past decorating...ADORE!! I wouldn't change anything about this apartment if I were decorating for him today. Maybe he did it himself; I would love to know!!! I bet there was some fab woman who influenced or helped.

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  4. Way too much stuff. xo Mary

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  5. I forgot to say.....this apartment in genius in my view, on many levels......sorry....one of the beauties is the many levels....all sorts of treasures are under other treasures........I will study these pics for the rest of my days........total genius.....just in my book!!!

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  6. pps. "Maids",(I have always called them "houskeepers") in those good old days; actually loved working for people who had interesting objects. I met many in New York.....and even in California....who educated themselves with beautiful things....stayed with families their whole lives...and treasured the treasures they were taking care of. They treasured the things they were dusting......I bet anything Jerome Zipkin had a housekeeper like that. She loved it all as much as he. Probably worked for him her entire life. Just a hunch. Those were different days.
    (the housekeeper could have been a he! Did not mean to be sexist!) I just have a hunch that it was not difficult....the housekeeper loved the stuff.....a bunch of interesting, fascinating treasures!

    I met Mr. Zipkin once.....with Mrs. Bloomingdale at the Carlyle.....he was actually charming....to me and my group. About 15 minutes later......he became anything but....he was a mercurial....and interesting character. He could be rude and crude. As well as charming.
    Another character from the 80's!!! There is much to learn! Thank you so much!!!
    Great post! So much to learn from the past!!!

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  7. Alexis Purr12:16 PM

    The whole thing is a tasteless Seventies carry-over. Zebra skin just reeks of the decade that style forgot; and that bed looks like it is covered in skunk pelt. Let's not even talk anout the garish colour combinations throughout...

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  8. Anonymous8:36 PM

    I ripped em out, and saved these pages in the late 90's...LOVE seeing them again! You never stop surprising, and always take us somewhere unexpected. Thank for sharing the "chic".

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  9. Anonymous6:16 PM

    Typical very stylish male boudoir !
    Remembered me of a Dutch friend who had an apartment just like it . Stuffed with precious antiques and other lifelong treasures . Only difference , the walls were also covered with framed pictures of Swedish movie icon Zarah Leander .

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