Savoir Feud

For all the glamour and savoir faire of the 1930’s, we are all aware of the rivalry and so called feud that existed between Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. Unfortunately it always seems to be the case that the less creative and more sedate one should come out on top. While The House of Chanel has been prominent and survives, the House of Schiaparelli ceased to exist, and rumours abound of a re-launch. Same can be said of the animosity that existed between cosmetic queens Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden. Mention Helena Rubinstein to the public and you are met with blank stares.

The rivalry between Schiaparelli, as I believe it to be is the difference between wealth and privilege and humble beginnings. It is also the collision of the avant garde and unobtrusive safe elegance.

But in 1934, Time magazine placed Chanel in the second division of fashion, whereas Schiaparelli was one of "a handful of houses now at or near the peak of their power as arbiters of the ultra-modern haute couture....Madder and more original than most of her contemporaries, Mme Schiaparelli is the one to whom the word "genius" is applied most often".

Poor old Coco whether she was insecure about her own success compared to Schiaparelli’s or just plain bitter, referred to Schiaparelli as 'that Italian artist who makes clothes', however Schiaparelli with even more venom referred to Chanel as “that milliner”. Moving in the same social circles didn’t help matters either as I am sure there were constant comparisons being shunted about from cocktail party to dinners.

Once while attending a soirée Chanel and Schiaparelli were persuaded to dance together, with Chanel attempting arson by ‘accidently” shunting Schiaparelli into a candle arrangement setting her frock on fire!

It seems that Chanel had the last laugh, (something I sure she is gloating over in her grave), however with rumours of a Schiaparelli re-launch abounding, maybe “that Italian artist’ will have the last one!

Some Thursday Savoir Faire!

Some gorgeous pieces from Vionnet in brushed brass for wrist and neck! These team perfectly with the Vionnet design aesthetic of simple yet incredibly elegant pieces. There is also a sleek sensuality about the pieces that when worn would elongate the wearers wrist and neck. Enjoy!

*Images from Jewels File

The Savoir Faire List of Savoir Faire

Blogging! I am a relative newcomer to the blogging world, and when I started was not aware of all the great people and blogs out there. I have made many new friends out there, and love it. Here are a few blogs that are my favourites. If you are not included, do not despair! Everyone on my blog list on Savoir Faire is a favourite!

One blogger that has been constant inspiration is TJB over at Stirred, Straight Up, With a Twist . Just remember it is always 1962 over at SSUWT, and TJB’s posts are so witty and full of savoir faire they never cease to put a smile on your face.

My friend Kelly here in Toronto is author and photographer of Bitter Endive. Kelly her boyfriend Simon and cat Omar, takes us on a culinary adventure showcasing all those recipes you wish you had time for. Be sure to look for Omar popping up in the most unexpected places!

Jill over at Stella’s Roar has the most eclectic taste in everything! A force to be reckoned with in her home state of Texas. All I can say is she has some serious mojo!

Another fellow Toronto blogger is Square With Flair. A very elegant blog oozing with savoir faire and oh so intelligently written.

For all things Architectural visit Architect Design hailing from Washington DC. Absolutely wonderful posts and photographs that will leave you planning your next reno inspired by the great buildings featured.

A new Blog I have found is Eddi Haskells Second Life. For a bit of pure escapism and sexy savoir faire visit Eddi. What Eddi does with his photographs is amazing! There is also a bit of nostalgia thrown in for good measure, and you know how much we all like nostalgia!

YSLguy at Let Them Eat Cupcakes celebrates the joie de vie of the French with wit and charm! I love his posts as they are so full of panache!

Also visit Belle over at BHB. She has the most exquisite taste in practically everything while bring you all the biz from Beverly Hills!

Tristan at Enchanted Revelries has such a fertile mind that it is a hard to catch up with everything in his posts, but wow! A bit of everything here!

Other notable blogs that are an eclectic mix of savoir faire, the interesting and the quirky are Night is Half Gone, Doing Hard Time in Shaker Heights and Suffering Fools Badly.

So Savoir Faires do yourselves a favour, visit and leave you calling card.

Couture Savoir Faire!

As Haute Couture week comes to a close in Paris for this season I am contemplating what it used to be like. This is before we had the over the top shows, crowds of press and the innumerable cat fights as to who was invited and sitting in the front row. Shows have become a circus for a few (about 17) official members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture who put on huge money losing extravaganzas that rely on perfumes and accessories to boost them up. Now don’t get me wrong I love couture and the clothes are wonderful from an artistic point of few.

Back in the 1920’s and1930’s when there were over one hundred official members; you would think that showings were even more of a circus than what they are now. Not so. Collections were shown to a small very select group of clients and buyers before the press were even allowed to glimpse a button. They were shown in elegant salons that reflected the designer’s design aesthetic. For example the below from Poiret was more than likely decorated by Martine his design school.

The below “Salon de Présentation” from Vionnet is just stunning. I think this is the perfect room for Vionnet’s exquisite creations. Called the “Temple of Fashion", this was a collaboration of architect Ferdinand Chanut, decorator George de Feure and crystal sculptor Lalique. I love the chairs and the murals on the walls. The room is full of natural light and I imagine at night would take on an ethereal glow with the indirect lighting.

To attend a couture showing in these rooms was true savoir faire, sure beating clutching an invitation amongst the crowds and finding a seat!

Bastille Savoir Faire

With it being Bastille Day tomorrow lets celebrate the French! Because without the French there would be no SAVOIR FAIRE!

There is a lot to be said for Liberté, égalité, fraternité as without it where would we be?


Ok, so I am not sure how much savoir faire is associated with the below functions, however they do seem like kind of fun!

And finally due to Liberté I think celebrating with the below young man/men could bring us closer to a bit of fraternité!

*Above Eddi Haskell

Savoir Faire for Your Car

The first 30 years of the 20th century saw the automobile evolve from crude, clumsy designs to long lean, ever so stylish racing greyhounds of the late 1920’s and 1930’s

Car mascots or hood ornaments are in reality a thing of the past. Regulated to a few luxury brands, such as Bentley, Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Mercedes Benz, they are rare nowadays, and do not convey the luxe factor that they once did. They also conveyed speed and glamour in the jazz age taking their inspiration from the art deco or classical motifs abounding at the time.

One’s Rolls or Hispano-Suiza always had a mascot and if you did not like the one provided by the company you could always add your own.

Some of the most beautiful come from Lalique that master glass maker extraordinaire. The designs encompassed everything from gods and goddesses, to animals and stylised comets. One could pick from the Lalique catalogue and have it mounted on your bonnet. This was also a way of adding your own stamp on said Hispano, for a bit of cachet. Often the Lalique Mascots once mounted had a small light attached underneath so that they were illuminated at night. It must have been something so see perched at the end of the long bonnets at the time this fabulous piece of illuminated glass at night.

Highly sought after by collectors now, these speak of a bygone era full of savoir faire!

Yachting Faire!

Back in the day when millionaires had yachts that were worthy of being called yachts, an invitation to cruise the Mediterranean on one was snapped up without a second thought. Nowadays the mega yachts are just examples technological excess, to see who can build the biggest and the fastest with the most amount of boy toys installed.

The yacht by which all others were judged back in the 50’s and the 60’s was the “Christina”, Onassis’ mega yacht named after his daughter. Onassis a man who had as about as much savoir faire as a mollusc on a hot rock, outdid himself when it came to the “Christina”!

One of the chicest places to be in the 50’s and 60’s thanks to Tina, Onassis’ first wife, a week cruising the Mediterranean was pure heaven, albeit with a bit of intrigue and drama.

Winston Churchill was a regular, Liz Taylor made several appearances, Maria Callas first started her affair with main man himself, and Jacquie O also laid the seeds for her future marriage on the yacht.

By today’s standard’s she is small and outdated, however her salons were hung with priceless works of art, and her dining room decorated with panels painted by Vertes. The aft main deck had an outdoor pool with a mosaic floor that rose at the push of a button to form a dance floor and the barstools in the bar were upholstered in very soft, fine leather made from the foreskin of a minke whale.

His first wife, shipping heiress Tina Livanos, said, “The yacht is his real passion. He is like a housewife fussing over it, constantly looking to see that everything is impeccable.” Impeccable indeed—a crew member once explained, “You could smash up a $20,000 speedboat into pieces and not a word would be said, but spit on the Christina’s deck, and you were out of a job.

Now available for hire at around $45,000 per day, you too can indulge. Just don’t forget to invite me!