This intensely beautiful and famous woman has passed away

Some women have it hanging on their butts to become famous. Diana Vreeland once said in response to the question: ‘How does one become Diana Vreeland?’ that you ‘just had to be born in Paris’, then the rest would follow naturally.

New York serves as a great alternative for socialites whose lives seemed written in the stars. Lee Radziwill (born: Bouvier) was born there 85 years ago and died there this weekend after a rich and colorful life. Filled with husbands (three), princes (one of her husbands was one, the Polish businessman and prince Stanislaw Radziwill), directors (also one of her three lovers, Herbert Ross, whom she was married to from 1988 to 2001) and many designer friends, beautifully furnished homes in America and England, many famous friends (she was often found near The Rolling Stones or they near her, I want to be clear on that, and of course she was famous for her unparalleled taste, style, and beauty and the fact that she was the sister of Jackie Kennedy.

What strikes me, by the way, consulting Wikipedia as is customary when writing an obituary, is that it is written that a marriage has not been successful if it has ended. Isn't that peculiar? During the time you were together, it must have been wonderful? And is every marriage that, for God knows what reasons, does last then indeed successful? In working life, paths can also diverge and what you have built together, like in this case son Anthony and daughter Anna Christina, can lead to beautiful things.

Anyway, a side note. What Lee Radziwill will mainly be remembered for is her exquisite taste and style, both in her outfits (three cheers for the elegance, class, and daring) and in the interiors of all her homes. Together with Italian interior designer Renzo Mongiardino, she immersed herself in her townhouse in London and her townhouse Turville Grange. And there she was sipping a strawberry margarita with Giorgio Armani and The Rolling Stones. At least, that's what I imagine. Unfortunately, that story is not told by Wikipedia.