September 17, 2010
Name, Age, Location
Kate, 25, Boston
My cliff-note autobiography…
I was born and raised a New Yorker, growing up in the suburbs of NYC, but left my roots to move up to Boston for college. The funny thing is, I never intended to stay, in fact – I was never that excited to come at all. But now, approaching my 7th year of living in Boston, I’m still here. I fell in love with the charm and character of Boston — it’s a neo-traditional city, through and through. I’m a market research professional by day, a blogger by night, and DIY-addict by weekend.
Five things that make my heart flutter…
high-waisted pencil skirts and Mad Men-esque dresses; finding buried treasures at flea markets and tag sales; a well organized drawer/closet/shelf (bonus heart-fluttering if things are color-coded); playing hostess – arranging a cheese platter, crafting decorations and mixing cocktails are among my specialty skills; and the satisfaction of creating something from scratch.
My dream dinner party…
would take place under a big old oak tree with lots of sparkly strung lights and candles in mason jars. I’ve always preferred the cocktail party to a dinner party, because it means I can be mobile and mingling — so I’d make sure trays of delicious hors d’oeuvres and champagne cocktails were being passed around the event by sharply dressed waiters to keep my friends full and happy. The hostess has to be well dressed, so I’d probably pick up a party dress from Oscar de la Renta and pair it with some Kate Spade heels (think Carrie Bradshaw’s pink dress when she dances in McDonalds). And for when my feet get tired from running around in heels? I’ll set up some blankets on the lawn and we’ll kick off our shoes to watch an old romantic black and white movie projected on a hanging sheet.
In ten years I will be…
sitting behind a desk in a gorgeously designed office of a company run by me! I’d love to be my own boss some day and hope that by ten years from now, I’ve found a way to make that happen. And success isn’t anything unless you have someone to share it with, so hopefully a family of my own is also in the cards someday.
I am neo-traditional because…
I believe a home-cooked meal can fix just about anything; because I never leave the house without pearl earrings; because I call home every day; because I know my way around a needle and thread; because I’ll take the character and history of chipped paint and worn wood over stainless steel and granite any day, and because I always say please and thank you. (That reminds me! Thank you Katie, for asking me to participate!)
Thank YOU for participating, darling Kate! Perhaps we can meet in Boston someday for champagne cocktails! xx
August 27, 2010
Name, Age, Location
Ashlyn Lovejoy (traveling in Africa, above), 23, New York, NY
My cliff-note autobiography…
I was born swimming in the waters and skiing in the mountains of New York and Colorado with my two older brothers and two younger sisters. High school was fine, but college was amazing. There, I met the loves of my life: my girlfriends! Boys may come and go (and one may even stick around for the long haul, though I have yet to find him), but there’s no one to gossip, share every little secret, and drink margaritas with like your best girlfriends. Now, I work for the contemporary furniture and design company West Elm in Brooklyn, maintain my blog Plan The Day (www.plan-the-day.com), and freelance for designers.
Five things that make my heart flutter…
leopard print in any form, horses, Scrabble, the Adirondacks, and the perfect pair of blue jeans. And my cat Malcolm. And my four month-old nephew Stone.
My dream dinner party…
While there are so many famous people dead and alive, like the comedian Gilda Radnor or the novelist John Irving, that I could imagine sitting around my dining table, there is no one else in the world with whom I would rather spend my time than my closest friends and family. Everyone would be crammed around my small table with chairs, maybe even a stool or two, brought in from other rooms in order to seat them all. The meal would be simple, a delicious pasta bolognese perhaps, and the wine would flow. The focus of the meal would be each other; and the neighbors would have to bang on the door and ask us to keep it to a dull roar.
In ten years I will be…
living in a cozy home in my hometown outside of New York City, married to a wonderful man with a child or two running amok. By then, I will have marked off more than half of my dream destinations on my travel list and I will be planning on sharing more worldly adventures to China, Tanzania, Peru, and more with my children. I will stay at home with my munchkins in their younger years, baking cookies and creating pasta art, then freelance for designer friends and participate in charity work once they’re in school.
I am neo-traditional because…
I enjoy walking up and down each chilly aisle of the grocery store, carefully testing the ripeness of and selecting each food; because I was a Classical Studies major with a focus on Latin and a French minor; because I am passionate about proper grammar and spelling; because I keep a diary and send hand-written letters and notes; and because I spend my free time reading, imagining the interior of my future home (understated feminine elegance with masculine flairs and whimsical touches), and needle-pointing.
Thank you Ashlyn! I hope we’ll get to meet someday soon! xx katie
June 25, 2010
Name, Age, Location
Emily Davis, 24, Houston, Texas
[Above, from left: Emily, her brother Parker, her sister Kamille, her mother Kate...such a darling bunch!]
My cliff-note autobiography…
Recent transplant to Texas…Oklahoma girl at heart. Grateful for where life has taken me thus far and grateful for my small town upbringing. Work at a non-profit that advocates for abused and neglected children and LOVE going to work every morning trying to better the world we live in. Married to a wonderful man who is truly my best friend.
Things that make my heart flutter…
True love, a great book, crisp white wine, anything Kate Spade, sunsets, songs that bring back fond memories and all of life’s celebrations. And fresh flowers. And diamonds.
My dream dinner party…
Who: All my family and closest friends, obviously. Throw in William Shakespeare, Lady Gaga (why not), Steve Jobs, Elizabeth Gilbert, Ellen DeGeneres, and Carrie Bradshaw (not Sarah Jessica Parker- the real Carrie!)
Where: An amazing villa in the Italian countryside. On a patio overlooking a wine vineyard.
When: The most perfect cool, midsummer evening at sunset.
What: We would spend the evening sharing great stories and our hopes and dreams for the world while dining on pasta, bread, cheese and wine.
And, calories wouldn’t count.
In ten years I will be…
Back in Tulsa, living the most adorable cottage style house, renovating, decorating and running my own fine wine and cheese store. Oh and in my spare time I would like to be travelling the world, making a difference, and tickling the feet of my two (okay, maybe 3) adorable children. All while waking up every day and smiling at my wonderful husband and the life we have created.
I am neo-traditional because…
I truly believe that the best lessons we can learn come from those who came before us (thanks Momma!) I know there is no better way to say “thank you” or “I love you” than a handwritten note on gorgeous stationery and I live my life with the idea that it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.
[Below, Emily and her husband on their wedding day]
Thank you Emily! I’m so touched you’re a fan of my little blog! I hope we have the opportunity to meet someday! xx Katie
June 4, 2010
Name, Age, Location
Frances M. Fontaine, 24, New York, New York
My cliff-note autobiography…
I grew up on a small farm in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Born the second of four to a nurse mom and boat designing dad, I had an atypical youth that involved lots of joy and laughter and a void of cable tv. Both of my parents were definitely neo-traditionalists of their own generation (or maybe just hippies) and we spent lots of time sailing, ice pond skating, cooking, and tending to the animals. They both encouraged all of us to take care of the earth and people around us, to look for the good in all things, and most importantly, to laugh! It was truly ideal. Though life on the farm was full of simple pleasures, I always dreamt of the big city. I ended up spending a summer and spring semester in Paris, where I was exposed to the most beautiful stationery, food, flowers, fashion, and people. Craving to extend that life of urban glamour, I moved to New York shortly after graduation from Boston College. After dabbling in publishing and events, I recently began working at a small interior design firm in Chelsea and do a bit of my own freelance work on the side. In my spare time I tend to our little french bulldog, Yoda, love to bake, go for walks, and rummage for vintage treasures.
Five things that make my heart flutter…
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Rilke, La Meme Histoire by Feist, The Kiss from The Last of the Mohicans soundtrack, Coming home from work to my boyfriend and Yoda, striking the match to light a Diptyque
My dream dinner party…
It would have to take place in my most treasured location- Le Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, on the great lawn. Since this is a dream and nothing has to be practical, the long rectangular tables would be covered in Pierre Frey velvet linen in Bartolo Ivory- my all time favorite fabric. Napkins would be a burnt orange linen. For flowers, heaping lilacs in giant, marble urns. Guest list would include my closest friends and family from every chapter of my life. It would be sunset and the park would be closed..if guests had children there would be mini tables set up around the fountains, also covered in burlap, but the centerpieces would be silver mint julep cups filled with tight bunches of peonies. The children would be running about … guiding their petits bateaux in the pool of the fountain and plucking flowers from the ground. We would eat filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus…topped with Laduree macaroons and vanilla ice cream for dessert and of course, plenty of malbec for all!
In ten years I will be…
fingers crossed, living in a Brooklyn brownstone with a small yard and a few babies, running a successful design firm out of a storefront.
I am neo-traditional because…
I love to cook from scratch, paint my own walls, and sew my own curtains. But more importantly, I really value people who maintain their elegance and grace in a rapidly evolving professional and cultural landscape. Marking occasions with a cake baked from scratch, sending hand written notes to those we love, and showing up in a world where there is every distraction set neo-traditionalists apart from the rest. In the end, for me it is about giving time, minding your manners and making things better. As Diana Vreeland once said – “The only real elegance comes from the mind, if you’ve got that, the rest really comes from it”. Thanks to Katie for acknowledging the importance of holding on to these special traits, and for creating such a special community of kind souls! [Below, the handsome Yoda in Frances' super chic New York apartment!]
Thank you darling Frances! Can’t wait to finally meet you and Yoda next time I’m in Manhattan! You’re such a kindred spirit! XX Katie
May 14, 2010
Name, Age, Location
Brooke Ely Danielson, 24, New York City
(Pictured above with her mother, Barbara)
My cliff-note autobiography…
Life thus far has treated me well! I grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia on a farm with horses, pigs, and cows. Being the middle of five children kept things lively. Eventually I was off to New York to study Fashion Design at Parsons and intern for Vogue magazine (an experience I will forever cherish). I live to travel and have made stops around the globe including Greece, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Russia… Everyday I wake up with a smile and remember how precious life is. We must embrace it!
Things that make my heart flutter…
Miles Aldridge photographs, vintage books, Van Morrison (specifically Ballerina), Corfu Greece (my heaven on earth), Ander Zorn’s pencil sketches, Vogue, pink peonies in turquoise vases, Coco Chanel (she sparked my love of fashion at the age of seven. I will never forget my first encounter with Chanel—Grandmother, thank you).
My dream dinner party…
My dream dinner party is in a garden at night in upstate New York. The food is all organic as we dine on local produce. The menu includes fresh mint mojitos, garden salad with fresh tomatoes, quinoa salad and salmon, and for dessert, vegan cupcakes (whilst sipping Reisling!). The table would be long barn tables with vintage floral table cloths complete with turquoise vases filled with multi-colored peonies. My guests would include Katie (soon-to-be) Armour, Princess Diana, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Pappy O’Daniel, Yves Saint Laurent, and the woman who taught me to love life, my grandmother, Frances Anderson (she married her college sweet heart at age 73 after having been separated during the war). We would dine by candle light and take tequila shots until last man down!
In ten years I will be…
Running my own clothing line, happily married, playing with my children! I hope to be splitting my time between the city and the country—-gardening, swimming, and teaching my little ones the important lessons my parents taught me. I would also love the opportunity to travel the world doing philanthropic work. My ideal day in ten years would include gardening, cooking, and painting with my children. We’d end the evening with dinner in the garden, sitting by a fire—-laughter until we tumble into bed! Did I mention I will be drinking an fantastic bottle of Silver Oak while all this goes on?
I am neo-traditional because…
I love to sew, read, and have great zest for life. My first crush was Cary Grant! I am from the school of thought that you take one day at a time. Do something you love, no regrets.
Thank you Miss Brooke! Can’t wait to see where life takes you—somewhere fabulous, no doubt! xx Katie
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