C'est Inspiré is simply that - what is inspiring. Where the words end, images continue to speak. Seeing all that is around us, we seek some aspect of something that is life enhancing... something that you would like to be reminded of - to revisit. Something to capture and bring into your world, not leave behind... . That is why I take a camera everywhere; have spent countless hours organizing images in scrapbooks and pouring over them later to revisit the place, the people, the memory.
So, C'est Inspiré may be a single photo - or it may be 50, it may mean one thing to me, another to you - the meaning isn't important. Did it inspire? Did it make you smile? Did it bring back a pleasant memory? One or all of the above will do.
During a brief period of his life, the legendary art historian Bernard Berenson kept diaries where he wrote about how to see - and what he saw. These diaries were published under the title The Passionate Sightseer and edited by Raymund Mortimer.
Anyone, anywhere, anytime can be a passionate sightseer - just look.
In Albert's illustrated thank you note to Charlotte: "My legs are too short! But I'm wearing them anyway - love you for them - A."
One of our favorite stories is the tale of Zarafa, a sweet & gentle giraffe who was captured in Africa, sailed across the Mediterranean, and walked on foot from the South of France to Paris, where she was given to King Charles X as a diplomatic gesture from the viceroy of Egypt. She elicited crowds of onlookers along the way, and she still draws new fans who hear her incredible story…
Just after Charlotte finished reading Zarafa: A Giraffe’s True Story, she happened to be at a dinner party – and what better dinner conversation than this captivating (and jet-setting) creature? Albert Hadley happened to be at her table, and the next day Charlotte sent him his own copy of the book. Thus began the giraffe exchange! Albert thanked her – first with an antique giraffe statue – to which Charlotte replied with a pair of his very own giraffe socks! And in return she received a wonderful self-portrait of Albert wearing them!!
Clockwise from top left: Charlotte's giraffe statue from Albert; "Zarafa" by Charlotte for Brunschwig & Fils, cover of Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story; needlepoint picture framed in Charlotte's office.
This year, the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Showhouse will be honoring Albert Hadley…and we thought we’d start our showhouse series with this great story about how he, too, fell for Zarafa!
In Albert's illustrated thank you note to Charlotte: "My legs are too short! But I'm wearing them anyway - love you for them - A."
One of our favorite stories is the tale of Zarafa, a sweet & gentle giraffe who was captured in Africa, sailed across the Mediterranean, and walked on foot from the South of France to Paris, where she was given to King Charles X as a diplomatic gesture from the viceroy of Egypt. She elicited crowds of onlookers along the way, and she still draws new fans who hear her incredible story…
Just after Charlotte finished reading Zarafa: A Giraffe’s True Story, she happened to be at a dinner party – and what better dinner conversation than this captivating (and jet-setting) creature? Albert Hadley happened to be at her table, and the next day Charlotte sent him his own copy of the book. Thus began the giraffe exchange! Albert thanked her – first with an antique giraffe statue – to which Charlotte replied with a pair of his very own giraffe socks! And in return she received a wonderful self-portrait of Albert wearing them!!
Clockwise from top left: Charlotte's giraffe statue from Albert; "Zarafa" by Charlotte for Brunschwig & Fils, cover of Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story; needlepoint picture framed in Charlotte's office.
This year, the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Showhouse will be honoring Albert Hadley…and we thought we’d start our showhouse series with this great story about how he, too, fell for Zarafa!
As a life-long lover of the arts, I was thrilled when Charlotte offered her staff tickets to attend the New York opening of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, which took place last night at the Joyce Theater in Chelsea.
Raised to enjoy the arts, I even danced for several years as a child and teenager. Now, as an adult living in New York City, I am exposed to so many stellar performances that I cannot help but see through a critical eye. Having said that, the ASFB performance was totally refreshing. The choreography was youthful, and the precision of the dancers was inspiring. (Twyla Tharp may have to put on her rollerskates if she wants to keep up with this talented crew!) The four pieces were fast-paced and well-punctuated, rounding out an evening of visual pleasure.
The tone was set with “Petal,” a piece by Helen Pickett, which was choreographed to an intense, foreboding and energetic piano score by Philip Glass. The set was an innovative light-box design, which eliminated the distraction of dancers rushing in and out of the wings. The movement onstage seemed closer and more focused. Katie Dehler and Seth DelGrasso shined, not only due to their sinuous, sculpted limbs, but because their obvious joy came through in their movements. Seth in particular was brilliantly expressive in his interpretation of the choreography and the story he was telling to the audience.
Another highlight was “Slingerland Pas de Deux,” danced by Sam Chittenden and Katherine Eberle. Unlike the bright, full-spectrum daylight of “Petal,” this piece was dimly lit, against a black stage, with a classical score. In this shadowy, emotional setting, the two dancers were extremely well-matched (which was self-evident in the roar of applause). The innovative costumes looked like they had been cut from crumpled brown paper, like dolls twirling in a make-believe world. After all, isn’t that why we attend these performances? To be led away from mundane everyday life, away from what is expected, into a fantasy?
Thanks to Charlotte for “dragging us” to something cultural!
In this very historical year, we thought we’d share a few patriotic & inspiring ideas during Black History Month!
We recommend checking out this great documentary on The Bicycle Corps: America’s Black Army on Wheels, which follows an army battalion from Montana on its 1,900-mile bicycyle ride from Missoula, Montana, to St. Louis in 1897 – the army was testing a theory that using bikes would be more efficient than horses. Charlotte’s great uncle, Lieutenant James Moss, was the unit’s commander, and the documentary features his detailed documentation of the trip, along with photos, newspaper articles, and stories of the battalion – including First Sergeant Mingo Sanders, who motivates & inspires the enlisted men.
Lt. Moss also wrote The Flag of the United State and Our Flag and Its Message, inspiring histories of the U.S. flag. He explains the symbolism of the stars, stripes, and colors in the flag…you can read Our Flag and Its Message in its entirety with this link: online at Google reader!
For more ideas & stories during Black History Month, History.com has some amazing features on The Harlem Renaissance, Martin Luther King Jr., President Obama’s journey to the White House, and tons of facts and timelines.
Fashion Week in New York City is in full swing in the tents at Bryant Park and in showrooms around the city! Take a peak at some of the websites below to see what the best and the brightest from Seventh Avenue have in store for us for this fall. It’s never too early to do some long range wardrobe planning. Charlotte always looks forward to Ralph Rucci’s Show and the deliveries that follow…
Okay – think a little – but dreaming often achieves greater things. This CD, “Dreams,” went to a group of friends with sleep masks for snoozing & a journal to record the brilliant ideas that come to them in the middle of the night – or on a plane – or wherever their catnapping takes place! The mix is nostalgic & relaxing, and at the same time inspiring & exhilarating. After all, if you don’t have dreams, you don’t have much!
I do some of mine in this hammock, among other places....where do you daydream?
From one of our staff members, Matthew Kowles:
