I THINK THE IDEA OF WOMEN NETWORKING AND SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER IS BECOMING STRONGER AND MORE AVAILABLE EVERYDAY.

THERE ARE WOMEN WE MEET IN OUR LIVES WHO INFLUENCE US AND ARE EXAMPLES OF WHAT ELEGANCE AND POWER CAN DO.
MY MOTHER WAS A TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE ON ME. SHE COULD DO EVERYTHING AND DID EVERY DAY OF HER LIFE. SHE MADE COSTUMES, COOKED ANY DISH FROM ANY COUNTRY, BUILT INTRICATE DOLL HOUSES, PAINTED WITH OILS AND DID EVERY ARTS AND CRAFT IDEA YOU COULD IMAGINE. SHE CROCHETED AND KNIT AND WAS INTO JUICING AND JACK LA LANE AND HER HOUSE WAS A MEETING PLACE FOR ALL SORTS OF FOLKS IN HER WORLD.

MY INSTRUCTOR AT FIT ANA ISHAKAWA WAS A FIERCE COMPETITOR AND TAUGHT HOW SKILL AND TALENT AND DESIRE ONLY WORK WITH DISCIPLINE. SHE WAS TOUGH AND MANY STUDENTS CRIED AND WERE FEARFUL BUT WHEN SHE COMPLIMENTED YOU IT WAS LIKE YOU WERE GIVEN THE CONFIDENCE THAT WHAT YOUR HAD WAS WORTH SOMETHING AND THE POWER IN THAT WAS UNBEATABLE.

ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO I MET BUNNY MELLON THROUGH MY FRIEND ROBERT ISABEL. HERE WAS THIS MAJESTIC WOMAN IN HER 90’S SMART AND ELEGANT WHO NOT ONLY CREATED THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY FLOWER GARDENS IN THE WORLD BUT REDEFINED BEAUTY AT ITS ULTIMATE WHEN IT IS NOT LOUD AND BOLD BUT SIMPLE AND NATURAL. I REMEMBER TAKING A BATH ON HER FARMS AND SITTING IN THE BUBBLES TO LOOK UP ON THE WALL TO SEE A PICASSO UNFRAMED PLACED STRATEGICALLY ON A PALE YELLOW WALL JUST THE PERFECT COLOR TO FRAME THE PAINTING. ON MY 60TH BIRTHDAY I ASKED HER TO TELL ME HOW I SHOULD APPROACH MY 60’S, AND WHAT WERE HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT THAT TIME. SHE SAID WELL MY DEAR NORMA, I WAS ASKED TO DESIGN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN AT VERSAILLES AFTER SOMEONE SAW THE GARDEN I DESIGNED FOR GIVENCHY. THEN SHE GAVE ME A DENIM DRESS SHE DESIGNED WITH GIVENCHY THAT SHE WORE WHILE SHE WAS GARDENING.

A VISIT TO HER FOR EASTER MEANT NO GIFTS UNLESS YOU MAKE IT YOUR SELF. WE ALL WENT OFF TO MAKE OUR GIFTS. AS I SAT IN A GAZEBO FILLED WITH BASKETS I DREW THEM FILLING EVERY INCH OF THE PAGE. AND I SAW ROBERT IN THE FIELDS PICKING WILD FLOWERS AND CREATING A GORGEOUS BOUQUET FOR BUNNY AND ONE FOR ME. BUNNY MADE CARDS FOR US AND WE HAD THE PERFECT LUNCH. YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND CHARM AND ELEGANCE AND STYLE UNTIL YOU WITNESS IT.

THE BEST NEWS IS THAT I KNOW WOMEN TODAY WHO ARE AMAZING .. THEY CAN DO IT ALL AND DO IT WELL. I WILL START HIGHLIGHTINH EACH OF THEM IN INTERVIEWS STARTING NEXT WEEK. I CANT WAIT TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU. THE NAME OF THE SECTION IS WOMEN YOU SHOULD KNOW.