At Brimfield years agoI spotted a huge chunky gold leaf cuff sparkling on a table in the early morning light. I immediately reached for it because it had such a modern form.At first I thought it might be African,but the gold leaf threw that off, so I then thoughtFrench Art Deco,but it didn't seem that old, so I was stumped until I looked inside and saw the signature"MARY MCFADDEN"stamped in the metal.Who the hell was Mary McFadden?Well, the first person I asked said incredulouslyhow could I not know who Mary McFadden was,so I decided to find out!So, if you don't know either, you should find out too.These pictures are from the book"Mary McFadden: The High Priestess of High Fashion, A Life in Haute Couture,Décor, and Design".That title ain't no joke,and either is Mary.So, back to our story....When I got home I gave the bracelet as a gift to Jessicaand she became kinda obsessed with Mary too.She had plans to write her about the bracelet, to show herher jewelry designs, to try to meet her.Then one day we were in San Francisco,and let's say Jessica has the bracelet on, and at a table in the window of a very fancy Chinese restaurant,we see who we swear is Mary McFadden.We stood outside staring in trying to decide what to do.I tried to get Jessica to go in, but she was too shy and not positive it was her, and me, forget about it. That would be like asking me to sky dive, not ever gonna happen. So we moved onand over beers talked about if it really was her, what were the chances, and if it was actually her, how we blew it, and dammit we should have just gone in and showed her the bracelet.Then we forgot about it....About a week later, as we were headed to the airport,to fly back home to NYC,I looked out the window of our taxi and saw this exotic and elegant woman in a beautiful long Mercedes with a driver.It WAS her! We caught eyes, and I swear she remembered us fromoutside the window of that Chinese restaurant the week before.I wanted to wave, and almost did, but she was gone.... Mary McFaddenIn her New York City dining room.1972Photo by HorstMary McFaddenView of her apartment.1972Photo by Sam HaskinsMary McFaddenFrom a spread in VogueJune 1972Photos by Duane MichalsMary McFaddenVogueAugust 1968Photo by Sam HaskinsMary McFaddenVougeAugust 1968Photo by Sam HaskinsMary McFadden with her daughter Justinein their NYC apartment.Photo by HorstMary McFaddenPhoto Marcus LeatherdaleMary McFaddenWearing a gold leaf bracelet similar to Jessica's.Photo by Stephen SprouseMary McFadden in her NYC showroom.Mary McFadden leading seven models across a busy New York City street.VogueSeptember 1977Photo by Oliviero ToscaniMary McFadden's officeMary McFadden's NYC apartment.Architectural Digest1999Photo Michael MoranMary McFaddenArchitectural Digest1999Photo Michael MoranMary McFadden's NYC apartment.Architectural Digest1999Photo Michael MoranMary McFadden's NYC apartment.Architectural Digest1999Photo Michael MoranMary McFadden's NYC apartment.Architectural Digest1999Photo Michael MoranMary McFadden's Manhattan apartment.Photo Pieter EstersohnMary McFaddenOn the stairway of her New York apartment.1972Photo by Horst
Buy the bookHERE
There is also a new book out,buy itHEREI just ordered it so look forMore Mary soon!
One more thing:
HEREis a funnyPeople Magazinearticle on her from 1989!