Hop over and check out it out!

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!

Check back for updates as Charlotte gears up for Kips Bay 2009.  In the meantime, you can order the DVD A Connoiseur’s Eye: Inside the 34th Annual Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Decorator Showhouse for a private tour of the 2006 showhouse!

Lee Anderson has been making clothes for Charlotte for years. “I love Lee’s classics and new ideas each season because they always work so well together.” Charlotte and Lee love collaborating and cooking up combinations for day and evening.

From Charlotte’s files, some sketches Lee has done for her – with Oscar and Daisy.

We caught up with Lee and asked her for some advice for the season.

“Never leave home without lipstick.”

“Always look your best, even when walking the dog. You never know who you will meet.”

“Memorize your AMEX card number — you never know where you’ll be and what you might need.”

“Great accessories makes the woman. Big sunglasses and a great hat (Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O and Peggy Gugenheim had their own).”

“A little fur goes a long way. Fur at the neck can be quite ‘flirtatious.’ And that’s a good thing and a fur vest is a great closet staple.”

“For the season a great dress that ‘shows a little leg’ or a beautiful evening skirt with a cashmere sweater or your favorite white shirt.”

Doesn’t it always come back to the classics?