Maharani Savoir Faire

Labelled the Wallis Simpson of India, not only for the fact of her royal suitor while married to another man and her love of fabulous jewellery the Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda was one of those rare breed of women who never ceased to amaze.

With a rather matter of fact statement she also put poor old Wallis in her place.


One of Sita Devi’s passions was for jewellery and the magnificent collection she amassed would leave everyone with open mouths. Even Wallis Simpson and had open mouth after the following little episode. The magnificent Star of the South diamond necklace seen below was one of the fabulous pieces she owned.

Back in 1953 the Maharani sold a pair of diamond and emerald anklets to Harry Winston, who subsequently re set the stones into a fabulous necklace. Wallis who as we know just loved jewels purchased said necklace and wore it to a 1957 New York ball at which the Maharani was present. Overhearing other guests were admiring the necklace, the Maharani was heard to exclaim that the jewels had looked just as nice on her feet. Wallis, rather humiliated or embarrassed returned the necklace to Harry Winston the next day.

Pooling Your Resources with Savoir Faire

As we head into Day 4 of the heat wave here in Toronto and the eastern US, I am pining away for a decent swimming pool here in Toronto to cool off in. Having been rather spoiled in Australia where every country town has a decent sized pool, I am longing for a dip with some savoir faire.

One of my favourite pools is Andrew Boy Charlton pool in Sydney. Perched on the edge of the harbour next to the business centre, where there was always a mass exodus at lunch times of gentlemen in their suits and ladies in their stilettos, down to the pool for a dip to cool off before returning to the office perfectly dressed and cool.

Another fabulous pool in Melbourne is the lap pool of the Adelphi Hotel. Overhanging the street by a metre or so, it is a surreal experience swimming here.

On a recent trip to Egypt the pool at the Grand Hyatt was a welcome relief after hot days of sightseeing. This time perched over the Nile; it was just wonderful to watch the sun set over Cairo of an evening, now being deliciously cool after sightseeing.

Here are some other pools that given half a chance I would be like to lounging around today with savoir faire!

Hotel Fullerton Singapore

Mykonos Grand

Oberoi Amarvilas Agra

Oberoi Rajvilas, India

Australian High Commision, Colombo

And for the ultimate in infinity pools, the new Marina Bay Sands in Saingapore!

Savoir Givenchy Pour Homme

I am glad they come in black! Even though I love the gold, the black is a trifle more practical!

Even More Savoir Faire with the Contessa!

“I want to be a living work of art” so proclaimed to the masses, Luisa Casati, and so she was! Like Rubinstein her contemporary she was represented by more artists than any other female of her time. However, there are two distinct differences between the Rubinstein portraits (see http://david-toms.blogspot.com/2009/08/helena-rubinstein-portraits.html) and those of Casati. Even though Rubinstein had commissioned some of the most well known artists of her time, the portraits are of a woman, who wanted to be remembered for what she wanted to be. That is, a beautiful, and elegant woman. Casati on the other hand wanted to be remembered for what she was, an exotic creature, ever changing and immortal.

Giovanni Boldini

Artists such as Augustus John, Giovanni Boldini, Kees Van Dongen, and Romaine Brooks immortalised her on canvas.

Augustus John 1919

Augustus John

Kees Von Dongen

De Blaas

Drian and Alberto Martini sketched away to their heart’s content, Man Ray, Cecil Beaton and Aldoph de Meyer clicked their camera shutters with gay abandon.

Alberto Martini 1906

Paget-Fredericks 1920

Man Ray

And not let’s forget the sculptures by Jacob Epstein and Giacomo Balla.

Settings ranged from the canals of Venice to the wild west of America, with Casati in some fantastic garb, a high priestess of the bizarre one minute a knight in shining armour the next.

Alberto Martini 1906

Kees Von Dongen 1921

Ignacio Zuloaga 1922

Alberto Martini

On last year’s trip to Italy, while wondering around the Modern art Museum in Rome I stumbled across the below portrait by Boldini. The wonderful thing about it is that it is sitting in a room all by itself, so that nothing can take anything away from it. I must have sat down for a full 20 minutes just taking it all in, even imagining at some stage that the fabled Marchesa’s own eyes had gazed on this likeness and that she had even touched it.

Giovanni Boldini

She still continues to inspire artists today. Alas poor Madame Rubinstein doesn’t. While we still have Rubinstein’s portraits for posterity, Casati is still being studied and evolving.

Savoir Haute!

The latest from Dior Haute Couture! You cannot underestimate the quality, workmanship and luxe factor of these fabulous offerings from Christian Dior, coutesy of John Galliano. Mere mortals like us can only dream of seeing one of these creations in a museum in the future let alone owning one!

So savoir faire devotees, dream away!

Savoir Faire to L'Amerique du Sud

Back in the golden age of crossing the Atlantic in the 1930’s it was a vast competition between the various Northern European countries to see who could out do each other on the North Atlantic Run. The French had the joie de vie and luxury of the Ile de France and the Normandie. The British had the reliability and sedateness of the Queen Mary. The Germans had the racing thoroughbreds, Bremen and Europa, The Italians had the dolce vita of the Rex and Dutch had the Nieuw Amsterdam, dubbed the ship of tomorrow.

Crossing the North Atlantic was a way of life for many; however the South Atlantic voyage from Marseilles to Buenos Aires had its own star. L’Atlantique! A forerunner to the fabled Normandie in concept, this liner had all the savoir faire of other French line ships, however has largely been forgotten due to an early demise. In my humbled opinion, I think she was decorated even better than the Normandie!

Although not an attractive ship from the outside, this gave no indication as to stunning interiors that greeted the passenger once inside. Her interior spaces were not intimate by any means. They were large, grand, luxurious spaces that indicated that you were travelling first class all the way.

These interiors were the culmination of Art Deco, refining the “ocean liner” style that was introduced on the “Ile de France” several years earlier for the North Atlantic. Modern wood panelling, marble and lacquered panels abounded.

On embarkation passengers were received in a fabulous lobby with stores (not like today’s tack duty free and souvenir stores) with purveyors offering the latest from a new Renault to perfume and flowers.

The first class restaurant featured the obligatory grand staircase where the haute monde travelling to Buenos Aires could descend into a cathedral like space decorated with monumental Dunard panels.

Other First and second class spaces were refined elegant spaces however on a monumental scale. For a liner whose exterior was less than attractive the interiors made up for this, making sure that you didn’t suffer for any lack of savoir faire on the South American run.

Little photographic record of the interiors of this fabulous liner exists. L'Atlantique made only nine round voyages. On 3 January 1933, sailing without for a refit, fires mysteriously broke out in several cabins at once. The crew bravely attempted to extinguish the fires, but the speed and intensity (as well as the rough seas) made it impossible, and soon the L'Atlantique was ablaze from stem to stern.