At Brimfield years ago
I 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 thought
French 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 incredulously
how 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
and she became kinda obsessed with Mary too.
She had plans to write her about the bracelet, to show 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 on
and 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 from
outside the window of that Chinese restaurant the week before.
I wanted to wave,
and
almost did,
but she was gone....
Mary McFadden
In her New York City dining room.
1972
Photo by Horst
Mary McFadden
View of her apartment.
1972
Photo by Sam Haskins
Mary McFadden
From a spread in Vogue
June 1972
Photos by Duane Michals
Mary McFadden
Vogue
August 1968
Photo by Sam Haskins
Mary McFadden
Vouge
August 1968
Photo by Sam Haskins
Mary McFadden with her daughter Justine
in their NYC apartment.
Photo by Horst
Mary McFadden
Photo Marcus Leatherdale
Mary McFadden
Wearing a gold leaf bracelet similar to Jessica's.
Photo by Stephen Sprouse
Mary McFadden in her NYC showroom.
Mary McFadden leading seven models
across a busy New York City street.
Vogue
September 1977
Photo by Oliviero Toscani
Mary McFadden's office
Mary McFadden's NYC apartment.
Architectural Digest
1999
Photo Michael Moran
Mary McFadden
Architectural Digest
1999
Photo Michael Moran
Mary McFadden's NYC apartment.
Architectural Digest
1999
Photo Michael Moran
Mary McFadden's NYC apartment.
Architectural Digest
1999
Photo Michael Moran
Mary McFadden's NYC apartment.
Architectural Digest
1999
Photo Michael Moran
Mary McFadden's Manhattan apartment.
Photo Pieter Estersohn
Mary McFadden
On the stairway of her New York apartment.
1972
Photo by Horst
Buy the book
There is also a new book out,
buy it
I just ordered it so look for
More Mary soon!
One more thing:
is a funny
People Magazine
article on her from 1989!
