Wallflower Dispatches

Jodhpurs Nr. 71 by Janet Bouvier circa 1930s.

Janet Norton Lee Bouvier Auchincloss Morris (December 3, 1907 – July 22, 1989) was an American socialite.

She was the mother of former United States First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill.

She was born Janet Norton Lee, the daughter of James Thomas Lee and Margaret A. Merritt. Lee studied at Sweet Briar College and later at Vassar College, but did not graduate from either institution.

Her paternal grandfather, Dr. James Lee, was a superintendent of the New York City public school system, although Janet Bouvier preferred to tell people that he was a Maryland-born veteran of the United States Civil War. She had two sisters: Winifred Norton Lee (Mrs. Franklin d’Olier) and Marion Norton Lee (Mrs. John J. Ryan Jr.).

She married three times. Her first husband was John Vernou Bouvier III, also known as “Black Jack”, allegedly for his swarthy coloring. They were married on July 7, 1928 and had two daughters: Jacqueline Lee (1929-1994) and Caroline Lee (b. March 3, 1933). “Black Jack” Bouvier’s womanizing and drinking led to a separation in 1936, a brief reconciliation for a few months in 1937, and then a divorce in 1940.

Janet’s second husband was Hugh D. Auchincloss, Jr., an attorney and Standard Oil heir; she was his third wife. They were married on June 21, 1942 and had two children: Janet Jennings Auchincloss Rutherfurd, who briefly dated John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate, while she was a student at Miss Porter’s; and James Lee Auchincloss, born in 1947.

Her third marriage, after Auchincloss’ death, was to Bingham “Booch” Morris on October 25, 1979. Though they separated in 1981, the marriage lasted until her death eight years later, aged 81, from complications arising from Alzheimer’s disease, in Newport, Rhode Island.

It is important to be straight in this crooked world.

This maxim also applies to the lesser activities of life such as fielding marketing calls.

Unsolicited marketing calls.

Unsolicited marketing calls in French.

Unsolicited marketing calls in French while you are in the middle of something.

Unsolicited marketing calls in French placed from Algiers by a French speaking Arab. Who is trying to sell something to a German over a crackling line in the midday sun.

At first, these annoying interferences served as a measure of the level of our knowledge and application of every day French. Hesitantly mumbled – and plainly wrong – French vocabulary served as a starting point. (What is the French for the casual “I am in the middle of something” ?).

Then one day – progress! – when the rather perfect “Ça ne m’interesse pas” escaped my lips. Fluently, calmly and authoritatively.

The next step in the manifestation of our advancement the anticlimax of the familiar. The marketing call was taken, it was answered, the marketing person pushed, was pushed back, the call ended.

French marketing companies love to place their calls at lunchtime either when people are preparing or eating food. So one day my honest answer to the question if I had a need to replace my old windows was: “I am in the middle of eating.”

The reaction to this mundane piece of information was astounding. The marketing person retreated immediately, apologising profusely. Although I couldn’t see her, I swear she was walking out of the room backwards, bowing towards the phone that linked her call to my home.

The holy French practice of eating! Of course….

A few weeks ago, Piglet 2 was punished with detention at school. The school had ordered Wednesday afternoon after the official lessons finished. Since Piglet 2 finishes two hours early on Mondays, I suggested his detention be moved into that slot.

Last year, these requests were granted without much fuss as long as it was reasonable. This year, I had to justify myself over the phone to the officious person in charge.

Why did I want to change? Did I understand this was meant as a punishment? Did I not realise that this was not done for Piglet 2’s amusement? Wasn’t my request a bit useless? On and on it went (when French people make their point, they do not come up for air).

I had long accepted her refusal and said so calmly, when suddenly I heard myself say: “In any case, on Wednesday the canteen is closed and Piglet 2 won’t have had any lunch by the time he starts his detention.”

My innocent reflection on this minor organisational point stopped her in her tracks. “Of course,” she said as if she had just realised this painful fact herself for the first time. “You are right. In that case, I can move his detention to Tuesday afternoon instead.” Just like that.

Naturally it is very tempting to use the food argument at any given point, but it is hard to digest well on a crooked stomach.

Jodhpurs Nr. 70 by Lord Curzon in 1903.

George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, KG, GCSI, GCIE, PC (11 January 1859 – 20 March 1925), known as The Lord Curzon of Kedleston between 1898 and 1911. He was the Viceroy and Governor-General of India between 1899-1905.

The photograph shows him with his first wife, Mary Victoria Leiter, the daughter of Levi Ziegler Leiter, co-founder of the Chicago department store Field & Leiter (now Marshall Field).

She had a long and nearly fatal illness near the end of summer 1904, from which she never really recovered. She died in July 1906, aged 36.

Nothing is known about the tiger at their feet.

2012.

Enjoy your time with family and friends.

If you sail along the coast of the Côte d’Azur between Nice and St. Tropez, it becomes immediately clear why around 100 B.C.E., the Romans stopped off at what it now Fréjus.

After rolling hills, death-defying rocks and the never-ending skyline of the Alps in the distance, Fréjus is the first area where the Romans found a large wide flat opening that carries on for miles towards to foot of the Alps. Despite the marshy soil, it must have been relatively easy to land and commence the conquering of the north by foot.

The surrounding area is littered with the usual well-constructed and preserved buildings, Roman villas, viaducts, a theatre and an amphitheatre. When the ancient invaders arrived then, they built up first and truly cultivated its conquered territories. Perhaps nations, which are still a little obsessed with the conquering spirit, which appears to mostly involve destruction, should take note.

The first of the never-ending vineyards that start at the bottom of our village and produce 80% of all the rosé wines in France were first cultivated by the very same Romans 2000 years ago. Our village boasts a millstone in the hills, which was started by a band of Romans and then left because they moved on.

A few years ago, while building a square that now houses the new Fréjus tourist office, the builders came across the old Roman communal oven. It was “exhibited” behind a plastic glass wall while the work was going on. Today the square has completely covered it, but the architect has thoughtfully made reference to the town’s Roman roots through look of the houses around the square. Overall it creates a slightly nauseous feeling of a theme park gone wrong, but it’s there.

Impressive remains of the aqueduct which has its beginning in the mountain around Mons 26 km away, rises 34 meters and is classified as a historical monument, linger quietly throughout Fréjus. In places it looks as if it was built yesterday.

Further up near Mons, you can ride you bike inside a stretch of the waterway and if you look carefully, you can even see the marks of the tools the Roman workman used to hue out the stone. Even if you absolutely hate history, this is cool.

Fréjus’ jewel is however its Amphitheatre (not to be confused with a second Roman outdoor theatre on the other side of town) built in the first century. It could hold between 10.000 and 12.000 spectators.

Largely neglected, it had been left to ruin even though it was still being used for performances throughout the 20^th century. During the 1980, some attempts were made to restore it.

And in 2007 the plan was hatched to restore it for use in the 21^st century.

Hurrah!! Finally, the town was going to honour its heritage.

No.

Instead, a wild fight broke out both locally and in the French media as soon as the work started.

Because rather than approach the building sympathetically, a large crane and some concrete were delivered and have been poured into the site ever since. Today the site looks worse than the most modest social housing in the Var.

Oh, and by the way, if you want to change the colour of your shutters to a shade that does not conform to the official Provencal colours which look so great in photos and postcards and have been stipulated by the Town Hall, you have to ask permission.

Jodhpurs Nr. 69 - Still life with Jodhpurs

“A Noble Savage”’s raw ingredients for “The Explorer” installation.

Jodhpurs Nr. 68 by Arizona Muse for the editorial “Call In The Cavalry”, Vogue US November 2011.

Photographed by David Sims.

Jodhpurs by Ralph Lauren Blue Label, leather riding boots by Hermès, shirt Ralph Lauren

Audrey Hepburn epitomized European chic and elegance thanks to her close relationship with Parisian couturier Hubert de Givenchy. Perhaps less known are her strong ties to Rome.

Hepburn worked and lived in the eternal city between 1955 (filming “War and Peace” with her husband Mel Ferrer) to the 1970s. Here, her second son, Luca Dotti was born.

On the 50th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Rome International Film Festival, an exclusive exhibition organised in aid of UNICEF’s project to fight child malnutrition, in conjunction with the Club Amici di Audrey, celebrates Audrey Hepburn’s close links with Rome.

In line with other exhibitions of style icons such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and more recently, Princess Grace of Monaco (Grace Kelly), the exhibition features clothes and other personal items of Audrey Hepburn.

For those not able to travel to Italy in time to catch this exhibit live, there is the 200-page book of photos (informal, close ups and paparazzi shots) documenting her life in Rome: “Audrey a Roma” (Audrey in Rome).

For a view behind the scenes, there is the excellent tumblr published by the organisers of the exhibition which offers exclusive family photographs donated by Luca Dotti and Sean Ferrer, Hepburn’s sons.

To order the book, try www.librimondadori.it or wait for its www.amazon.com release in December.

With a bit of luck “Audrey a Roma” will be so successful it will travel to other cities (see Jackie and Grace above).

Audrey a Roma, Roma, Mueseo dell’Ara Pacis 26^th October – 4^th December 2011.

Jodhpurs Nr. 67 by Ali of A Noble Savage, featuring James Jean of The Mod Rockers in 1940s workwear for the installation “The Explorer”. The luggage is a collection of vintage Bottega Veneta, vintage Mark Cross, vintage T. Anthony and antique Goyard.

A picture of the individual pieces of Jean’s “Gentleman in Jodhpurs” ensemble can be found here.

A Noble Savage creates original marketing, advertising and branding concepts, styling and art direction services.

Ali’s Brooklyn studio “is a unique space doubling as a showroom for a constantly re-imagined collection of inspirational objects ranging from fashion to found art, furniture and books.

Using these objects as material for his installation art, Ali styles and photographs the collection on A Noble Savage Blog.”

The Fat Guy sits on a plane from Moscow to Paris. He is not in Business Class and it is hot and crowded.

He has thought about the last few days. Maybe he had learnt something. Maybe writing it down had somehow made it clearer.

He lived in bubble.

He had a beautiful wife, beautiful children. There was much love in his life.

He had homes around the world – more than enough money. How could he complain? It would be churlish and ungrateful to say that he was not happy.

But it was a bubble.

Outside the world was screaming.