Mrs. Vreeland, the renowned fashion editor, greeted me in her office as she indulged in her daily lunch of Dewar’s White Label Scotch and a finger sandwich from Poll’s on Lexington Avenue. Her sharp eye seemed to approve of my presence as she instructed me to take a seat.
With a yellow legal pad and a sharpened pencil in hand, Mrs. Vreeland inquired about my name, to which I replied, “André.” She proceeded to write in her grandiose longhand, labeling me as “The Helper.”
She wasted no time in assigning me the task of assisting her day and night until the completion of the show. As we ventured out into the gallery, I marveled at the array of accessories she possessed, each one meticulously chosen to complement her ensemble. This attention to detail reminded me of my grandmother, who instilled in me a love for fine things like gloves and shoes.
Reflecting on my mother’s penchant for collecting gloves, I recalled a trip to Paris where I purchased vintage Dior gloves for her. It was in a pair of these gloves that I laid her to rest, along with a church fan featuring Martin Luther King Jr., her favorite snuff, and extra handkerchiefs. The memory of her funeral, with the hymn “No Tears in Heaven” playing, remains etched in my mind.
I took pride in burying her with the appropriate accessories, knowing that she would enter Heaven adorned in those Christian Dior gloves. It was a fitting tribute to a woman who valued the finer things in life, just like Mrs. Vreeland and her impeccable sense of style.
As I reminisced about my mother and grandmother, I couldn’t help but appreciate the significance of accessories in telling a story and honoring a legacy. Mrs. Vreeland’s meticulous attention to detail and penchant for accessories served as a reminder of the importance of embracing the finer things in life. And as I embarked on this new journey with her, I knew that I was in for a whirlwind of glamour and elegance that only someone like Mrs. Vreeland could provide.
