Allure, Diana Vreeland Book Giveaway

I have a fabulous brand new copy of Diana Vreeland's book 'Allure'  to give away, it is a new edition of the book, which was first published in 1980.  It is jam packed with photographs which inspired Vreeland, along with her musings on why she finds the images alluring.  Photographers include, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon and Steichen to name but a few.

Vreeland was encouraged to write the book by her friend Jackie O and she worked with Christopher Hemphill on the book.  In the new edition there is a forward by Marc Jacobs, it is a truly fabulous book, which chronicles the twentieth century beautifully.  Christopher Hemphill  first suggested calling the book 'Beyond Fashion' which is apt because this book is certainly beyond fashion.

Diana Vreeland really needs no introduction she was a great arbiter of style, she was a fashion editor at Harpers Bazaar and then went onto to become editor in chief for Vogue, amongst her many discoveries were Lauren Bacall in the forties and Edie Sedgwick in the sixties, she advised Jackie Kennedy on fashion and style. The character of  Maggie Prescott in the 1957, Paramount musical 'Funny Face' was based on her.  She was without doubt the most influential fashion editor of the twentieth century and I like many others think she was exceptional.

Go here to see her in action.

 Lauren Bacall

 Edie Sedgwick

 Jackie Kennedy Onassis

 

 Maggie Prescott's Office in Funny Face

Diana Vreeland in her office, surrounded by the photographs pinned to the wall which inspired her.

Diana at work styling the model Bijou in 1942

Diana in her legendary apartment

To win this book you must either be a follower or become one or leave me a comment telling me what you find alluring.  This give-away is worldwide, I wish I had more copies to give away but there is only one.  I will be drawing the winner next Wednesday, Bonne Chance!

Horrible Weather And A Lovely Gift

Last week the weather in South West France was abysmal, the temperature plummeted to 2 degrees Celsius and on Tuesday it snowed!

 I kid you not, snow in May!

I had to bring house plants back inside, to protect them from frost damage they had been expecting a lovely warm summer basking outside in the sun.  The first guests of the season who arrived last Monday did not see the mountains until Thursday and they asked us; "is the weather always like this in May"?  I had to reassure them, it was not and in fact the weather the previous week had been glorious with lot's of sunshine and temperatures soaring to 25 degrees Celsius.

At this time of year, normally we would be working in the garden or having nice days out.  There was nothing else to do but stay indoors and wonder when the unrelenting rain, clouds and cold would go away.

On Thursday I was cheered by a lovely parcel.

Crusoe checks it out

It was a lovely blog give away prize from the wonderful Jeanne over at Collage Of Life.  Thank you so much Jeanne, I love it, I will be taking it with me on all my travels, and who knows it may feature on photographs in future posts, it could become a bit like the garden gnome from the movie Amelie.