The Power Of Style ~ Diana Vreeland
….watchDiana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel.
Today was her birthday.
I watched it over the weekend. It chronicles her 50 years in fashion and her reign at both Harpers Bazaar and Vogue.
An influential figure in American fashion during the 20th century, Diana Vreeland was born Diana Dalziel on July 29, 1903, in Paris, France. The daughter of wealthy parents, she spent her early years in France before moving to New York as a teenager.
She began her career as a columnist for Harper’s Bazaar in 1936. Her column “Why Don’t You…?” was famous for offering outlandish fashion and lifestyle tips for the times.
Moving up the editorial ladder, Vreeland became the magazine’s fashion editor, a post she held until the early 1960s. At Harper’s Bazaar, she established herself as one of the country’s leading arbiters of style.
In 1962, Diana Vreeland joined the staff of Vogue, as editor in chief. At Vogue, she continued to be a powerful force in the fashion world.
While she left Vogue in 1971, Diana Vreeland did not leave the fashion world. She worked as a consultant for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, putting together fashion exhibitions. Vreeland died on August 22, 1989.
I was mesmerized by her style and inspired by her confidence. Raised by a mother who called her an ugly duckling, she went on to become the arbiter of all that was stylish and chic during her 50 years in the fashion industry. An amazing, strong woman.
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Here’s a few of her Why Don’t You? quotes:
Here’s a few of her Why Don’t You? quotes:
“The only real elegance is in the mind; if you’ve got that, the rest really comes from it.”
“It’s not about the dress you wear, but it’s about the life you lead in the dress.”
“I loathe narcissism, but I approve of vanity.”
“You don’t have to be born beautiful to be wildly attractive.”
And my favorite
“There’s only one very good life and that’s the life you know you want and you make it yourself.”
― Diana Vreeland
That sums up A Well Styled Life for me.
A wonderful post with great quotes. I love the picture of her with her hand out, like the mannequins ~ great photography.
Carmen
oooh i love this, putting it in my netflix queue now (i really should have watched it already as we just published Vreeland’s book The Eye Has to Travel!) I’m reading Grace Coddington’s memoir right now and Diana Vreeland has just entered the picture. So fascinating.
I watched it the over week it’s fabulous isn’t it? Inspirational lady…oh, so stylish!
Have a lovely day.
So inspiring! Thanks for sharing all these fabulous photos and quotes. I will watch the video!
I love that last quote. I’ll have to watch the video – thank you!
I have always thought of her as the epitome of La Belle Laide or Jolie Laide. Even the most conventionally pretty woman would wish to have half her style and elegance!
WONDERFUL words to live by her quote…………..I”M working on just that!
Thank you for the suggestion…her life sounds incredible. I will see if I can get the video through Netflix.
A class act indeed! What an amazing woman especially given the time period. I must watch this! Wonderful tribute:)
I would highly recommend the book “Shocked” by Patricia Volt. The book is about Vreeland’s influence on the author, who read her biography as a young girl and Patricia’s relationship with her fashionable mother, who wore Vreeland’s clothes and perfume, in particular the perfume “Shocking”, hence the name of the book. It’s a fabulous read on how Vreeland affected both mother and daughter, and her importance in fashion. It also contains a lot of information about Vreeland’s life, family and career. A good summer read.
Wonderful suggestion Michelle. I’ve heard great reviews. I’ll get it.
What a wonderful post my dear… full of such inspiration… and wise, wise quotes! I just popped over to netflix and made it my top pick… I can’t wait to watch this! Thank for sharing!!
She was quite the character!! A lot of fun.
Wonderful post. She was an extraordinary women. I love the quotes at the end!
LOVE her, loved the film, loved her writing and style, and the play DV was excellent. My grandmother was the biggest DV fan and made me a fan too. DV didn’t know that her great friend Jackie Kennedy was responsible for the creation of her new post at The Met, and that Jackie augmented the salary personally as the institution couldn’t afford more.
Another great New Yorker with the same incredible work ethic and that just love is Gloria Vanderbilt. Had the great pleasure of meeting her. What a completely adorable, brilliant, beautiful, gracious woman. Both endured many losses…and both so brave.
Wonderful post
That’s marvelous! I did not know that about Jackie but it does not surprise me. She was such a class act all the way. I haven’t read anything on Gloria Vanderbilt, sounds like a great next book to read. Thanks for the suggestion!
I watched the video and loved it. What an inspiring lady.
Inspiring and original. No one like her then or now.
OH I am off to find this on Netflix or appletv, Jennifer – it looks wonderful! I always thought she was quite amazing – I so admire the folks who march to their own drums!!!!thanks for the heads up!
and yes, the last quote is my favourite as well!
Wonderful film and great post to inspire everyone to watch. There is a companion book too (actually it came first) also called “The Eye Has to Travel”. You might like to check it out.
I’ve just requested it at the library! The film was so fun to actually watch her mannerisms and hear her voice.
Love this post! So many wonderful pictures and quotes. She is still an inspiration.
Her gusto and confidence still inspire me!
She has such great style.
The Eye Must Travel sounds like one to add to my list.
Great quotes…
Some of her quotes are hilarious. I may start a segment called Why Don’t You? Just for fun.
Excellent tribute post! I will watch this!
Inspiring! I really must make time to watch this — have it bookmarked!