Newsletter Archive

What a joy it is to continue on with Part II of my interview with Stewart Parvin, the brilliant royal couturier, who has garnered a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty The Queen! Manners that Matter: My newsletter, Mummy’s Monday Manners and Lessons for Lovely Living, is a tribute to my Mum and all that I learned from her!  Did your mother have a big influence on you? My mother and grandmother have both had a huge influence on me and my manners. Being able to chat politely about nothing in particular, knowing which knife and fork to use and how to use it, should never ever be underestimated!!!  Was your mother or father a stickler for manners, and if so, what stands out in particular?  I was having a socially distanced walk past Fortnum and Mason on Saturday with a dear friend, and we were discussing this very topic and

If you are familiar with Belgravia, London, chances are that you know of Mr. Stewart Parvin, the brilliant couturier behind some of the most titled people in the world, including Her Majesty The Queen of England. Stewart Parvin received his Royal Warrant in 2007, and has also earned an MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order, a British order of knighthood). Mr. Parvin’s window creations at his shop stopped me in my tracks, and enticed me to enter quicker than a wink! My daughter, Alexandra, and I were immediately ensconced! It is a classical couture haven. Chance would have it that while we were blissfully savouring his elegant collections, we had the honor of meeting Mr. Parvin. His charming demeanor and talents were palpable. It was most kind of Mr. Parvin to participate and share his insight into the world of Stewart Parvin. I could not bare to condense any part of

Mummy always said, “To get your house in order, host a party or invite house guests. It is amazing what one can get done with that incentive!” Being a designer, the month of November, in normal times, has garnered the reputation as “crunch month” in order to achieve miraculous design installations for clients. The deadline of Thanksgiving is the goal to spruce up their houses before family and friends arrive! The use of slipcovers, aka ‘loose covers’ in the UK, immediately comes to mind as a charming notion to spruce up a tired piece of upholstery, or to offer an attractive new garment for your furniture any time of year! A slipcover is a custom-made cover, which can be put on or taken off of a piece of upholstered furniture. It can be made with just about any fabric, yet most traditionally, they are made of cotton, chintz, linen, damask,

With the constant use of face masks in public, the art of smiling with your eyes has become perfected as our adapted manner of communicating without facial smiles being visible!  I think of a smile as a kind acknowledgment of someone’s presence. Now, my eyes have to perform double-time with a mask on! Another way to silently communicate, and quite effectively with or without masks, is the art of standing straight, aka the art of deportment. The way we carry ourselves relays grace with our poise and carriage. Did you listen to your Mum when she said, “Stand straight, pull your shoulders back!”? I have flashbacks of the movie, The Titanic, at teatime, where a mother gestured to her daughter to sit up straight and not touch the chair with her back. While we are not as formal as in that scenario, good posture is still considered a sign of

A pair of lovely wall brackets will enhance any wall… in any type of interior! In my Lessons for Lovely Living, decorative wall brackets seem like an appropriate topic to discuss at the beginning of November. I am steering away from our national election issues, and instead will focus on home sweet home! This time of year, quite fittingly, many wish to spruce up interior areas for the upcoming holidays, even during Covid times. Use your imagination, and join me in envisioning wall brackets as pretty drop-earrings that adorn a wall! Wall brackets are stands that support three-dimensional artwork such as porcelain pieces, sculptures, clocks, and even candlestick holders. They have graced interiors in Europe for centuries. A charming pair of 1760-80, gilded shell wall brackets from England even embellish the front parlor of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Wall brackets are my go-to for enhancing a wall space inside of

Please, Do Come In! As always, I am grateful for your subscribership to MMM!  Thank you for your thoughtful questions.  They serve to inspire me for new topics, like this one, which I received last week: “If you are hosting a bridal shower or the like, and someone says they’d like a tour of your house… what do you say?  It seems very rude, to me, to ask such a thing.  Am I wrong in thought??  I’d love YOUR thoughts on this.” While it may be considered impolite to pose such a question, it can also be interpreted as a compliment to the homeowner!  Keep in mind that your darling guests are not trying to offend you; quite the opposite.  You have created a beautiful and inviting house, and they only wish to see more, as odd as that might seem. But, if you choose not to take them on a tour,