France, May, 1939

One of the nice things about collecting old magazines is that I have a treasure trove of inspiration. One of the bad things about collecting old magazines is that I often forget which ones I own. Over the weekend, I found a May 1939 issue of the French magazine L'Illustration, an issue about which I had completely forgotten. The issue's theme was houses and design, and it contains photos of all kinds of wonderful Parisian apartments and country villas.

While reading the magazine, it dawned on me that this issue was published just a few months before Hitler's invasion of Poland, an event that ultimately embroiled Europe in World War II. That's not to say that in May, 1939, Europeans were ignorant of the troubling brewing around them; most were in fact aware of the Nazis' growing threat. But, I suppose that in the spirit of "business as usual" (or perhaps "sticking one's head in the sand"), European magazines continued to promote the high style fashion and interiors that were the rage in the 1930s.

The interiors seen here were done by Jansen, Ramsay, Eugène Printz, and a firm with which I'm not familiar, Porteneuve. I don't know if these photos show actual residential interiors or showroom vignettes. Still, I think it's interesting (and rather sad, too) to look at these interiors with the knowledge that Europe was about to change forever.

Image at top: Salon by Ramsay




Room by Jansen




Dining Room by Eugène Printz




Salon by Porteneuve





Bedroom by Eugène Printz




Jansen

A Good Old Fashioned Barn Dance

If you read the same publications that I do, then you know all about Derek Blasberg's recent Barn Dance Birthday Celebration. It sounds like it was quite a do. Will we now see a flurry of barn dances in its wake? I don't know. Hosts and hostesses will first need to scrounge up some barns.

I'm not sure when the heyday (make that hayday) of barn dances was, but House & Garden promoted them in their 1966 article, "How to make a 'big do' great". The featured party took place at a split level barn in Malvern, Pennsylvania. The guests, who included teenagers as well as adults, dined in the lower level of the barn, while dancing took place in the upper part. No word as to whether there was any square dancing or bobbing for apples.
















Donkey tassels from Sicily were hung from the rafters.








A papier-mâché rooster oversaw the festivities.






All photos from House & Garden, April 1966.

Wallis Blue Cocktail

I never thought that I would find myself drinking blue cocktails, much less admitting to drinking them. But I have been, and I'm coming clean about it. The drink is called the Wallis Blue, and it's actually quite good.

I can only assume that the Wallis Blue was named in honor of Wallis Simpson whose signature shade of blue was referred to as "Wallis Blue". I can't find any information as to when it was created nor who concocted it. The drink consists of gin, lime juice, and blue curaçao. When I mix my Wallis Blues, I use DeKuyper blue curaçao as the man at the package store told me it was the best. I wasn't about to question him; I just wanted to get out of the store as quickly as possible without anyone catching me with a blue liquor.

The drink is quite refreshing and has a nice orange flavor to it thanks to the blue curaçao. As you can see above, it's a vibrant shade of blue, one that looks quite nice when photographed against my "Trixie" wallpaper. (I couldn't resist photographing it with an assortment of Duchess of Windsor books. What can I say? I was bored.)

The other nice thing about that shade of blue is that it's perfect to serve for Fourth of July festivities. Your guests might question your choice of cocktail at first, but one sip will convince them that one shouldn't judge a cocktail by its color.

Happy Fourth of July!


Wallis Blue

1 1/2 oz. gin
1 oz. blue curaçao
Juice of 1 lime

Shake all the ingredients together with ice. Pour into cocktail glasses whose rims have been rubbed with lime pulp. And if you like a sweet touch, dip the rims in castor sugar.

*Recipe from Vogue Cocktails.

Sister Act

There are few portrait subjects more interesting than sisters. Thanks to their physical likeness and their close familial bond, sisters seem made for portraits. Almost all siblings are captured in photographs or paintings during their youth. My sister and I were photographed twice during our teenage years. In one photo, we are posed in our living room while wearing our party dresses. The other photo was taken outside and was far more casual. But the portrait for which my sister and I have yet to pose is the glamour shot of us as adults. Something tells me this portrait may never happen, either.

Take a look at the portrait above, a 1950 Cecil Beaton photograph that shows the Wyndham-Quin sisters. The photo is rather grand, but there is a historical precedent for it: the photograph is meant to emulate the famous John Singer Sargent portrait of the Wyndham sisters who were related to the Wyndham-Quin sisters above. In fact, Beaton took many photos of sisters, most notably his own sisters, Nancy and Baba.

Below, you'll see a sampling of some prominent sister acts. I didn't bother to include photos of the Cushing or Miller sisters because we're all familiar with those photos. But I have to say that my favorite of all of the portraits is that of Queen Elizabeth with the late Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. They were quite the regal vision in purple satin, don't you think?



"The Wyndham Sisters" by John Singer Sargent, 1899. Collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art.




Mrs. Stavros Niarchos and Mrs. Aristotle Onassis, the Livanos sisters. Photograph by Henry Clarke, 1957.




Mrs. John F. Kennedy and Mrs. Michael T. Canfield, also known as the Bouvier sisters, captured in a 1955 photograph by Horst.





The Princess of Wales (later Queen Alexandra) and her sister Dagmar (later Marie Feodorovna, wife of Alexander III of Russia), two daughters of Danish king Christian IX. Photograph circa 1873.




"The Linley Sisters" by Thomas Gainsborough, 1772. Collection of Dulwich Picture Gallery, London.




A portrait of Nancy and Baba Beaton by Cecil Beaton, c. 1925.





Also by Beaton is this photograph of two Bright Young Things, twins Zita and Teresa Jungman.




A portrait of sisters Thelma Furness and Gloria Vanderbilt.




Model sisters Suzy Parker and Dorian Leigh.




A Norman Parkinson photo of Queen Elizabeth with the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, 1980.

Alex Hitz and His Beverly Hills Kitchen

One of the upcoming Fall book releases about which I am most excited is Alex Hitz's My Beverly Hills Kitchen: Classic Southern Cooking with a French Twist. Alex, a native Atlantan whose main residence is now in Beverly Hills, is known far and wide for his dapper, classic, and elegant style of entertaining. An inveterate party giver, Alex frequently hosts buffet suppers and seated dinners for guests hailing from far and wide, just one of the reasons why Hitz's reputation has spread beyond this country's borders. And it's for this reason that I contacted him in hopes of learning more about his book and his style of entertaining. Alex was kind enough to chat with me by phone and explain to me exactly what goes on in that Beverly Hills kitchen of his.

One of the accolades that I've heard from those who have attended his dinners is that the food is always delicious. Actually, delicious is a word that may not cut it. Perhaps divinely decadent or soul-satisfyingly good is a more apt description. What makes Hitz's food unique is that his Southern roots are always evident in his menus. Hitz grew up in Atlanta eating classic Southern dishes mixed with fine French cooking thanks to his late mother, also a noted hostess. It was this early exposure to good food both at home and during trips abroad that educated Hitz's palate and taught him that French and Southern food is "a winning combination." But good food alone does not define gracious entertaining. Hitz learned how to throw a party by watching his mother and step-father (the late, prominent symphony and chorale conductor Robert Shaw) host their Saturday luncheons with guests who included Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copeland, Leontyne Price, and Bobby Short. Frankly, I can't think of a better entertaining education than this.

But going back to the food. Alex's background includes training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris as well as owning a popular Atlanta restaurant. All of this inspired him to try his hand at reinventing Southern food, giving it "a heritage that may never have been." Alex notes that Southern food has long been stigmatized thanks to the use of inferior ingredients. He set out to create updated Southern dishes that use fresh ingredients (though Alex notes that he isn't afraid to use canned tomatoes) and that eliminate the shortcuts that became such a part of Southern cooking, most notably the use of premade products like Old Bay, Mrs. Dash, Jiffy Mix, and Accent. Alex's style of cooking pays attention to strict standards and adherence to detail, something that is a hallmark of classic French cuisine.

Alex frequently serves his Southern food with a French twist at most of his parties, something that has helped to define his style of entertaining as "relaxed elegance." Few people set a more beautiful buffet or dining table than Alex, tables that are frequently set with Francis I sterling flatware (passed down from his late mother), beautiful sterling serving pieces and candelabra, classic linen, and traditional china. But in order to create a sense of balance, Alex will then serve something casual like Chicken Pot Pie, Fried Chicken, Stewed Tomatoes, and Caramel Cake. It's this mix of high and low that allows the party to feel both special and comfortable at the same time.

Below, you can see a few photos of a dinner that Alex recently hosted for some visiting English royalty. The table is set quite beautifully, and at first glance one might think that the menu would have been formal too. However, that was not the case. The first course was Pecan Crusted Salmon with Sauce Gribiche, the main course included Chicken Pot Pie and Spinach Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette, and dessert was Peggy's Apricot Mousse, a recipe garnered from Alex's cousin Peggy Foreman. And you know what? The visiting English royalty and everyone else loved every bite of it!

Take a look below for a few photos from the dinner. You'll also find a recipe for Alex's Tortilla Soup, one that does not appear in his upcoming book.

(My Beverly Hills Kitchen: Classic Southern Cooking with a French Twist will be available for sale starting in October. For more information on Alex, click here.)



Alex's china is Royal Crown Derby, pattern no. 383, Kings Pattern. The flatware is Francis I.



The candelabra are Faberge, made for the court of Alexander III, c. 1890. The tapers were purchased at an ecclesiastical supply house.


Alex likes to use sterling beakers as water glasses. The beautiful arrangement of pink, orange, and gold flowers was created by David Jones.

Tortilla Soup

yield 4 ½ quarts

2 tsp olive oil
1 large onion diced
5 cloves minced garlic
1 medium jalapeno pepper diced, seedless
2 lbs shredded cooked chicken breasts (all white)
4 cups frozen corn
1 tsp dried oregano
1 cup fresh cilantro
2 tsp cumin
1/8 cup very strong coffee
4 tbs chopped green onions
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp chili powder
3/4 cup dry white wine
2 quarts rich chicken stock
28 oz canned diced tomatoes, drained
1 tbs tomato paste
16 oz canned all natural low sodium tomato sauce

sauté onion, garlic, pepper in oil until soft, approximately two minutes. Add all other ingredients except chicken and simmer for 20 minutes. Reduce by one quarter. Add chicken.

After 3-4 minutes, remove chicken and vegetables.

In another pan make a roux out of
4 tbs flour and
2 tbs PLUS 2 TSP butter
cook thoroughly, but not much, and add to liquid then return chicken and vegetables to liquid
Garnish with fried tortilla strips, avocado, mild shredded cheddar, and green onions

Country in the City

I'm still trying to complete my collection of Architectural Digest books. Just recently, I bought Architectural Digest American Interiors, published in 1978. I have to say that it's not one of my favorite AD books, but there are some profiled interiors that still look charming today.

Take, for example, this Upper East Side home of designer Thomas Morrow III. What's unique about the home is that it is an 1835 farm house that was built on the former Carnegie estate. (Because it was listed as a New York City historical landmark, I'm assuming that it's still there. If you know, please tell me.) According to the book, the house still had its original paint and 18th c. wallpaper when Morrow bought it sometime in the mid-20th century. Morrow said that the house had been neglected for years before he purchased it, although its structure was sound and its floors were in remarkable condition. While Albert Hadley helped Morrow to make a few architectural changes, it was Morrow who was chiefly responsible for the design of the interiors.

What's notable is that in addition to being an interior designer, Morrow was also an artist and a textile and wallcovering designer whose firm, Hannett-Morrow, was based in the house. You can see many of the firm's textiles in the photos below. What I find most interesting is that the adjoining living rooms look like a very elegant and glamorous New York apartment (one with overtones of Albert Hadley and Billy Baldwin,) and yet the other rooms like the master bedroom, the dining room, and the conservatory look like something straight out of a quaint country cottage. It's kind of an anomaly, and a most striking one at that.




There were two adjacent living rooms, each being 15 by 20 foot. The two photos above show one of the living rooms...







...while these photos show the other living area.






The Library. The artwork above the mantel was done by Morrow as well as a few friends.





A guest bedroom looks like something straight out of a French country house.





The master bedroom was like a sophisticated, stylized version of a country bedroom.





The rustic dining room.





The conservatory.







All photos from Architectural Digest American Interiors, Richard Champion photographer.

Hankie Panky

A bit off topic, but do people still carry handkerchiefs? I was thinking about this matter the other day while organizing my drawers where my handkerchiefs are stored.

It used to be said that a lady always carries a handkerchief in her handbag. If that's true, then some days I'm a lady, and some days I'm not. My mother always carries one in her bag, and I believe that my sister does as well. Me? I try to always have one with me, but sometimes I forget.

I own around six or seven handkerchiefs, most of which are Porthault. (You can see them at the top of the post.) Trust me, when you're pricing a set of Porthault sheets or table linen, the handkerchiefs seem to be downright bargains. That's why I always seem to buy one every time I visit their store. And even if they don't always get a lot of use, handkerchiefs are very handy to have. You never know when a speck of dirt might get in your eye or a crying jag might ensue.




These Porthault linens in the late Sybil Connolly's closet look more like cocktail napkins or boudoir shams, but imagine if they were Porthault handkerchiefs. That would really be something.






I just knew that I could find photos of handkerchiefs in the Duke and Duchess of Windsor auction catalogue. It's no surprise that both of them owned many handkerchiefs, although most people owned many handkerchiefs back in that era. (Speaking of the Duchess of Windsor, there will be a lecture about her given by Rene Silvin this Thursday at ADAC. It looks very interesting; click here for more information.)




Grooms should always carry handkerchiefs on their wedding days, while many brides tuck handkerchiefs away somewhere in their dresses.



A small Gothic cabinet makes a good place in which to store handkerchiefs.



A handkerchief that commemorated the coronation of King George VI was framed and used as a tea tray.

Photo at top by Jennifer Boles for The Peak of Chic. Connolly photo from In an Irish House; Wedding photo from Tiffany Wedding; Gothic cabinet and tea tray photo from Elegant Linens by Chippy Irvine.