THE SANDPIPER, 1965

Elizabeth Taylor with Elizabeth Duquette painting, The Sandpiper

I've always enjoyed this Vincente Minnelli film, from 1965, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.  I totally relate to the character Ms. Taylor played- a rebel on the beach with a paint brush- living there in a shack with her young son... and, interestingly, the painting she is shown with (above) is by the beautiful wife of the late Tony Duquette, Elizabeth "Beegle" Duquette.



Elizabeth Duquette

Here, you can see what an elegant woman Mrs. Duquette was- and so talented, just like her wildly creative husband.  They were at the pinnacle of Southern California society- and he was discovered by the iconic and famous decorator, Elsie de Wolfe, who lived in Beverly Hills in the winter...
I read with interest that the Duquettes loved to serve Mexican food at their fabulous dinner parties.  Imagine the fun they must have had!

Elizabeth Duquette

 Just look at this amazing painting by Elizabeth Duquette- a tour de force of mystical and mysterious magic- allegorical, and totally fabulous... I so admire her and her work, just as I admire my dear friend, Judith Auclair, and her amazing work with shelled objects- known as coquillage- their talent knows no limits, then and now.

Mirror, Judith Auclair, Maison Auclair

Judith Auclair is also an elegant, talented woman- and a wonderful friend of many years.  Her taste level is through the roof- and she loves, like I do, to fantasize about schemes and decorative palettes, fabrics, furniture, gardens and architecture-  and for many years she has sold her shelled creations here by the seashore- and has her work included in prominent homes including the Jeffery Smith designed house here with interiors by David Anthony Easton of New York.  She is a dynamo, and, like Francis Elkins, prefers to be near the sea, the coast- and always surrounded by great beauty.

Vanderbilt Beach, Naples, Florida

This past Easter Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending a casual but fun dinner on the beach- adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton- and took this snap shot, as the sun was setting.  While the sun was sinking into the horizon ever so slowly- our friend Norbert sang a most beautiful aria, in Italian of course- which was very beautiful and very soul enriching.  And I thought of dear Judith, Elizabeth, Beegle, and the beauty of our world.  DF ***** 
 

Fantasy in Decoration VIII

Andy Warhol

Zinnia

Damien Hirst

Christie's

Amethyst

Yves Saint Laurent

YSL

Andy Warhol

Ikat

Andre' Boulle Table Detail

Zinnia

Coromandel Screen Walls

Lesage, Paris

Liz

Tissus Manuel Canovas, Paris

Kaleidoscope image

Amethyst

Kaleidoscope image

Amethyst Bowl

YSL

What fun to make a new mood board~ for my current inspirations and muses~ I'm watching "Roman Holiday" while dreaming of all of the above fabulous images...here's a quote from ultra chic all-time icon of all actresses, Audrey H~

I also enjoy "Fashion Police" with Joan Rivers~

Put on some lipstick and enjoy the day!

DF

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Jewelry As Inspiration and Symbolism

I often meet beautiful women (and men) here in sunny Naples, who are well dressed, well traveled, and well accessorized.  For men, it's mostly about the watch, for ladies, there is more expression.  Even if you don't own a second or third home - you can still be chic and elegant! Go on the sites Kenneth Jay Lane or Amanda Jaron.

Elizabeth Taylor comes to mind at the opposite extreme of collecting.  Her collection sold last year at  Christies for over $115 million, and Kim Kardashian was a big buyer at that sale.  Here, the late ET is shown wearing the fabulous Krupp diamond, which Richard bought for $385,000 in 1968 at the old Parke-Bernet (now called Sotheby's).  Imagine what that translates to in todays currency!   I had a customer when I worked at Bergdorfs, who later became a friend, the Baroness - and she had a similar HUGE yellow diamond that just mesmerized me.  Her hands were so white (she wore gloves) and her nails were the most brilliant of scarlet!  It was really something.  She also wore hats with veils.

One of the fun things about working at BG was that we got to eat all the caviar the day it "expired" We loved it. We also got to eat all of the Maison Au Chocolat truffles as well, as we would not sell them if they were one day past the date.  The seventh floor is the best if you must work in retail.  Once, some customer dropped a Cartier bracelet on the floor, they lost it, and we gave it to the Lost and Found Department.  There are people in NYC who charge hundreds of thousands a month at Bergdorf Goodman.  But I digress!  Above, Liz wears the 1960's Bulgari "Grand Duchess Vladimir Suite", a parure of emeralds and diamonds.  Tice was in Paris and had a large emerald carved with his (Alexander) family crest, and mounted in yellow gold, as a masculine and aristocratic ring.  One of the Robert Metzger clients I was assigned to always wore emeralds and diamonds, and we would go to all the antique shops in her Mercedes limousine.  My friend Mary, also a client of mine, gave me a stunning set of Mario Villa cufflinks, which are huge faux emeralds, carved with warrior heads, and set into rough looking Roman gold.  Mario V is another affordable source of chic bijoux for men and women.

Princess Caroline of Monaco owns some Mario Villa pieces.  This "Mars Brooch" by Mario V is ultra chic, and not as costly as it might appear to be.  Mario comes from Nicaragua, and lives and works in fabulous New Orleans, Louisiana.  He also makes furniture, (save for another post) and has become very successful due to talent and hard work.  I'm excited that we are getting a new jeweler in our Mercato, Mark Loren Designs, stay tuned for more on ML.  One of our other Naples shopping venues, called Waterside, has FOURTEEN jewelry stores!

This gorgeous sapphire brooch, by JAR of Paris, sold for $230,500 at Christies.  As beautiful as it is, and it is, my friend, Amanda Jaron (shown above) could make something for you that would be just as special, but not cost what a new Bentley might.  Amanda is so talented, and her studio is located across from the aforementioned Waterside Shops, here in Naples.  Ah...I still vividly recall the time I was helping George with his Tiffany Table Setting, at 57th and Fifth, NYC, when I got to ride up in the lift with none other than Paloma Picasso, the iconic French designer.  I think of her often, her lips were made up like a work of art, so rich against her very pale blanc de chine face!  You see, all of my life, my father has worked in the jewelry business, and we were often in Beverly Hills on business.  It's a good life, and we all benefited greatly.  Thank goodness for deBeers!   DF XXOO