Tuesday, July 10th, 2007

WASP Style

Posted by Becky | View all posts by Becky
5 Comments » | Published in Design Books, Design Press  |  5 Comments

Last week I was poking around Bungalow, Terra Cottage, and The Saavy Snoot in Atlanta and I finally picked up Celebrating WASP Style: A Privileged Life by Susanna Salk. As someone who lived and breathed The Official Preppy Handbook as a kid and who still picks it up for some giggles from time to time, I get a huge kick out of this book. I did realize I was laughing at myself somewhat when I flipped to the following page and realized I was wearing the skirt version of these pants:

The photographs in this book are fabulous. One can see the influence this style had on many of today’s style mavens like Kate Spade and Jonathan Adler:

Gloria Vanderbilt and family (I guess that makes one of those kids Anderson Cooper) in their NYC home in the 1970s. The pink gingham reminds me of Jonathan Adler:

I can see Hope and W. Clifford Klenk feeling right at home in Kate Spade’s Hampton’s house:

..or this Adler living room:

Or how about good old Tru?:

This little corner of Adler’s would fit right into the room pictured above:

Babe Paley’s Lounge Chairs are pretty fab. Look! These WASPS actually have a hat rack full of hats!  I can see the Paleys totally digging these chairs at Adler’s Parker Palm Springs:

Here are the WASPS at the pool:

I can totally see the same group chilling on Kate’s brightly cushioned Hamptons patio:

all photos of Waspy homes from A Privileged Life

all photos of Jonathan Adler designs from jonathanadler.com

all Kate Spade Hampton’s House pictures from Oprah.com

About Becky

Hi, I'm Becky. I live in Atlanta. Besides acting as the "Editorial Director" here on Hatch, you can find me spewing lots of design opinions and tips over at Houzz. Make me happy -- leave a comment!

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Filed under Design Books, Design Press  |  5 Comments

Responses

1. Stratos says:
   

   July 11th, 2007 at 2:25 am (#)

   Great post Becky! Love the pics! Babe Paley and C.Z. Guest are style icons!

2. Becky says:
   

   July 11th, 2007 at 6:50 am (#)

   Oh, in terms of style icons, I’m sorry I didn’t get a picture of kate and a picture of Lilly P. in there (besides those whale pants). I think my favorite style icon might have to be Talitha Getty. Although who can ignore Jackie and Audrey? There are also great pictures in there of The Royal Tannenbaums and Annie Hall. It’s so hard to pick!

   Becky

3. Kristiina says:
   

   July 12th, 2007 at 5:30 am (#)

   Loved the pants. In the late 70′s my cousin in Finland showed me an American mail-order catalog full of those whale pants. We could not even imagine that there are actually people who wear them in public. I love the Adler designed girl’s room. It is so dreamy, colors and patterns are great. It is a real little girl’s room without being too adult like and serious.

4. Becky says:
   

   July 12th, 2007 at 10:20 am (#)

   Hi Kristiina! I currently have those pants in blue w/ pink whales, and a skirt! Lilly has some of the most wacked-out bright prints I’ve ever seen, they totally crack me up and I can’t get enough of them!

   Becky

5. Hatch: The Design Public® Blog » Blog Archive » WASP Style III - Pirate Meets Prep? says:
   

   July 19th, 2007 at 1:20 pm (#)

   [...] Up, When WASP Style Falls ApartWASP StyleTour Governor’s Island and Hear ProposalsGreen Roofs – Low, High, and No MaintenanceLive Earth [...]

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