©Carla Coulson
And not just any contessa but…La Contessa! I am referring to the wonderful Elizabeth Kirkpatrick who just happens to be turning 55 today.
Isn’t she beautiful? Yes, inside and out, you will see…
I remember having a discussion – ok, let’s call it an argument – with Remi just after I had started blogging about whether these people that I was in contact with could ever actually be “real” friends. He thought certainly not and yet I was hopeful. Because, from the very beginning, I found or was found by so many fascinating people who seemed to me to be utterly genuine in their hearts.
Elizabeth was that way, immediately. She was both literally generous in all of the thoughtful gifts that she would send both Remi and I (including a pair of the shoes glimpsed in the photo above in my size because she knew how much I coveted them) but also overwhelmingly so in her spirit.
She inspires me to no end – from her gorgeous wedding in Italy to her love of a little pig named Banksy. Because she is true. In our cookie-cutter world, she knows who she is and why she is, plus it just comes naturally for her to do good when she can. I think that she said to me once something along the lines of, “Well, why wouldn’t you if you could?” That is my Contessa.
I will give you an example. There are many but here is one. Elizabeth knew that I was going through a hard time this past winter. We had been under an enormous amount of stress for so long and I just was struggling. To talk to her on the phone is always a treat – it is impossible not to be cheered by her sing-song of a voice – and I should have known that the wheels would turn after having hung up with her. For you see, she had a plan. She had already met an amazing woman, Ellie from Have Some Decorum a while back and knew that her birthday was coming up. She was worried that Ellie would not have friends from the States near her for her birthday and suggested that I go up (as by this time I was an ardent reader and so were many of you here as well). I explained that we just couldn’t afford for me to make the trip at the moment. Well, two weeks later, I opened up a card from Elizabeth only to find the cash (!) for the train ticket! I went and now consider Ellie a friend. I am very, very aware that La Contessa did this as much if not more for me than for Ellie! It worked.
One of my definitions of friendship is that I know that I could count on said person when the chips are down to be there for me. Even though we have never met in person, Elizabeth most certainly fills the bill and then some.
©Drew Wright
With her handsome husband Giampiero, they make the most out of the everyday – as you can see in this perfect portrait by photographer Drew Wright. There is no saving of “the good china” or the “fancy clothes” – I remember our bonding a long time ago because she had a magazine photographer coming over and she was wondering if she should wear her purple velvet caftan or not. She did and looked stunning! In 2013, she flew her boys to Paris in order to have the ultimate photo shoot by the fantastic Carla Coulson – one based on the iconic photographs of The Duchess of Devonshire – save that in this case, they brought the chickens into the Tuileries Garden (see first photo)!
If Elizabeth is the ONLY person that has written a guest post here, it is for a reason. I wanted for her to share a bit of her enthusiasm for life with you all, in all it’s glorious abundance.
Thank you for being you, friend.
Happy Birthday!
With much Love,
Heather
PS. To discover more of her world – or to just pop over and send some well-wishes, please go to http://thevintagecontessa.net/
You captured her perfectly when you described people who are "utterly genuine in their heart"!
That is La Contessa completely. A gem indeed….and thank you for your beautiful tribute!! I was honored and so so lucky to be there with her friends. She is a gem beyond compare!!!
I was AT the BIRTHDAY PARTY! YIKES! The Contessa; the ITALIAN HUSBAND….SO DIVINE YOU CANNOT BELIEVE IT!; Sandra Sallin…….and her divine husband BOB!!! SHEESH!!!! And the darling woman who has worked for every single one of my favorite magazines!!! Delightful!!!!
I could have fainted! And the FOOD!!! Giampietro ordered God only knows what!?!
Platters of beautiful food arrived……..platter after platter….and then dessert after dessert!
ASTONISHING!!!!!!
And perfectly fitting for a "CONTESSA"!
She has made her house in Orinda…..a "CASTLE" with the most amazing "garden"; and made her dreams come true with her "prince"!
She is a perfect example of making your own dreams come true!!
Her birthday party was a "peak experience" for me! I adore Sandy and Bob!
My favorite question was from Bob Sallin (a world famous director and producer unbeknownst to me);
He sat next to me…and said…"How do you know Sandy?"
I said…"Blogs… the internet. I have never met her until today…..but, I really KNOW her very well!!!
and I did! I loved seeing her beautiful smiling face; and recognizing her…and we are friends…..real friends..even though we had never met! Astonishing I know!!!
And then my old friend….pre-internet…came to say hello! the gorgeous Susan Seidell………friend for years…having lunch with her daughter and granddaughter! (funny; everyone thought she was Lynn von Kersting)!!! Anyhow; it was a wonderful day….Beyond fabulous….
and thank you Contessa; and your fabulous Italian husband…and your wonderful friends!
BRAVAMISSIMO!!!
I am a full 13 years older than "La Contessa" and so privileged to be at her birthday party!!! (YOWZERS!!!!) And she is fantastic and "a member of Advanced Style"!!) She is my idol!!!!
Penelope
What a completely GLORIOUS post to a GLORIOUS DAME! I was the luckiest duck to be able to BE THERE!! At the Ivy with Elizabeth and Giampiero and Sandra Sallin and her divine husband…..Bob….OMIGOD! What an embarrassment of riches! and the darling woman from all the magazines!
Brilliant birthday!! Giampiero ordered the most amazing spread of food I have ever seen in the US!!!
How fabulous! I love the way she worked her magic to reach across the miles and give you a gift!
She has a genuine verve for life and it's infectious…
thank you for sharing this heartfelt post Heather!
Oops…a little late with this post but would like to wish the glamorously gorgeous La Contessa a happy birthday! Beautiful words and photos of your wonderful friend Heather!
Heather, such a beautiful blog you gift us with. Thank you, of course. You are most definitely appreciated.
And, LA CONTESSA (sorry, I couldn't help myself)? What an amazing and, in one word, FABULOUS (there I go again) woman. I want to be Elizabeth when I grow up. Wait . . . I'm already older than the gorgeous Contessa, so I'll have to re-think that.
Happy Birthday to La Contessa, one fabulous DAME in the best sense of the word.
Best,
Jerrine
She is an amazing woman!! Her heart is huge. I'm crazy about her!!
As YOU all could have IMAGINED I was SO touched by this POST!I read it on my phone to my husband yesterday morning……….and got all choked up!What a way to START my BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES!!!!!!!
I reminded him that I still NEED to go to FRANCE and teach you to DRIVE!!This may have sealed THE DEAL!!
XOXO
BUILDING UP………Getting READY!Supporting ADVANCED STYLE ARI SETH and his GREAND work!
GO GET THE NAIL POLISH!!!!!!!!!!
Then send me a photo!!!!
XX