Graceful Sailing

I don't know if I am going to look as chic as Grace Kelly on my cruise but I sure am going to try!  On April 4, 1956, Grace along with 50 members of her family, friends and bridesmaids, 84 pieces of luggage, and her poodle boarded the SS Constitution on route to France and her new life as a princess. She was seen off by thousands including hundreds of members of the press.  The trip across the Atlantic took eight days and she passed the time playing charades, shuffleboard and walking her dogs on deck. When they arrived in Monaco, the ship had to anchor just outside of the harbor and Prince Rainier's yacht the “Avante II” was sent out to the ship to bring Grace ashore.  The rest as they say, is history.  But more importantly, does anyone have a poodle I can borrow? 

 

A Graceful Holiday

While we're feeling nostalgic, I figured I might as well post this photo of Princess Grace and her family.  I love the old fashioned Christmas tree too.  Happy Holidays!

Welcome back Mark Cross

I don't think there is a woman anywhere who doesn't remember that scene in Rear Window when Grace Kelly comes over with her Mark Cross overnight bag.  It was one of the most iconic examples of product placement ever seen and that was 1954.  The leather goods company which was founded 165 years ago was closed in 1997 after the Sara Lee Corporation couldn't find a buyer for the company.  One of my lovely readers alerted me this morning that the chic company is back in business and she knows this because her son is one of the designers! 

Jeffries:"This is a suitcase?"

Lisa: "Well, a Mark Cross overnight case anyway. Compact but ample enough."

The new Mark Cross bags will be available in December at Saks Fifth Avenue.  I'd start looking for a peignoir set to fill it with now!

Remembering Princess Grace

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco and there are quite a few things going on to remember the life and legacy of this style icon.

First, Sotheby's in New York will exhibit Grace, Princess of Monaco: A Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Grace Kelly. This exhibition will feature dresses, jewelry, photographs, letters, video and other unique items, most of which have never been seen outside of Monaco. These items span the extraordinary life of Grace Kelly, from Hollywood star and style icon to Princess of Monaco as a wife, mother and humanitarian. The exhibition will be accompanied by a commemorative catalogue, published by the Consulate General of Monaco. The proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit The Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which is dedicated to identifying and assisting emerging talent in theatre, dance and film.
On October 25th, at the annual Princess Grace Awards gala in New York, Sotheby's will auction off two outfits worn by Grace Kelly to benefit her foundation. One of the dresses is the Helen Rose ball gown worn by Grace Kelly in 1956 musical comedy High Society, seen above and below.

The other dress is a Givenchy-designed sleeveless dress with matching fringed bolero jacket that she wore on an official 1961 visit with Prince Rainier to a White House lunch with President and Mrs. Kennedy.

From October 21 - 26, six gowns of historic note worn by Grace Kelly/Princess Grace of Monaco will serve as inspiration to some of America's best known fashion designers (Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Zac Posen, Ralph Rucci, and Vera Wang) as they create one-of-a-kind haute couture to celebrate the classic style of the American-born Princess in the 25th year since her passing. The designs will be exhibited at Saks Fifth Avenue's New York City flagship store during October's A Celebration of Grace and each will be auctioned with final bidding at the Casino Couture event at Sotheby's on October 24.

There are also two new books out to commemorate 25th anniversary of Grace Kelly's death including Grace Kelly: A Life in Pictures and The Grace Kelly Years: Princess of Monaco. They would make a nice gift for the holidays for any chic and stylish friend or for yourself to remember the style icon who had an Hermes bag named after her. Now that's chic!