LA FIORENTINA -- SUMMER OF 1972

It was the summer of 1972 at La Fiorentina, a villa in the French Riviera that Eleanor Lambert and Gerald Van der Kemp, talked about the idea of a fundraiser to restore the King’s bedroom at the Palace of Versailles.  Extensive restoration had recently been completed on the Royal Opera House at Versailles overseen by Van der Kemp who was the palace’s curator.  He thought it might be a good idea to raise funds for the bedroom by showing off the Opera House.  Eleanor agreed...

Since the mid 1930s, Eleanor Lambert had been patiently thinking about how she might put American fashion on an equal footing with Europe, especially the French.  This wasn’t exactly an easy task, especially when – as a fashion publicist – she eventually came to represent designers from Italy, France, England and America.  

After four decades of promoting American fashion all over the world Miss Lambert understood that the timing was finally right to showcase American fashion onstage in France – against the French and the location…  the Palace of Versailles... came right to her on a silver platter while she was relaxing on vacation at La Fiorentina!

In his book BILLY BALDWIN DECORATES A BOOK OF PRACTICAL DECORATING IDEAS, Baldwin describes La Fiorentina, as a “villa for active Americans.”

The Villa was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Harding Lawrence who hired Baldwin to decorate the house when they purchased it.   He described the couple as “two quick, bright, fast-living Americans."  He claimed that when they saw the enchanting villa, they knew they were destined to own it.  They told Baldwin that they wanted "lots of linen and cottons, big puffy sofas and chairs, and good lights to read by."  They also added: "but let us remember that we bought the house because of what it is.  Let's not revolutionize it"   

These pictures were taken shortly before Miss Lambert and Mr. Van der Kemp had their meeting.  It would take more than a year to plan what would come to be known as The Versailles Exhibition.  Miss Lambert billed it as a Franco-American collaboration for the Versailles Restoration Fund, but it has come to be known as one of the greatest moments in fashion history.  Vogue called it "the fashion show to end all fashion shows!"

                       

all photos by Horst.  

from the book Billy Baldwin Decorates A Book of Practical Decorating Ideas, 1972