The City, The Sandwich & The Style Icon
Exploring the spirit of Diana Vreeland through her correspondence, as captured in Memos by Rizzoli
I am writing to you from the beautiful streets of New York’s West Village—so far, my favourite area of the city. It is such a blessing to be able to enjoy a city like New York without the typical sense of urgency any tourist experiences. Taking it slow, trying to blend in with locals, pizza-eating and people-watching.
While sitting here on 10th Street, I’m slowly realising that I’ve just fulfilled one of my biggest childhood dreams—and for some reason, it feels like just the beginning. Don’t take me too seriously, though; this might just be the food euphoria I’m still experiencing after trying Mama’s Too Chicken alla Vodka sandwich just around the corner.
And while I’m working on a little article rounding up the best vintage shops I’ve had the pleasure of visiting in the city over the past few weeks, I thought I’d take a break from the NYC commentary to share a thought I had about the city itself.
What makes New York so full of personality and style? I kept asking myself what it is that makes this place so special. And I came to the conclusion that it isn’t just about what people are wearing—it’s the boldness, the character, the energy of its people.
And someone who embodied that spirit long before I even knew what New Yorkers were like? Diana Vreeland. Sharp, straight to the point, kind—but stoic when needed.
A true New Yorker, I’d say.
So, what better moment to celebrate such an icon?
Diana Vreeland wasn’t originally from New York City, she was born in Paris in 1903 and moved to New York as a teenager. But she became a New York City icon because the city was the backdrop and the stage for her incredible career and influence.
She was the legendary fashion editor and tastemaker at Harper’s Bazaar for over 25 years, and later became editor-in-chief of Vogue USA from 1963 to 1971. Known for her bold vision and eccentric flair, she helped shape modern fashion journalism with her imaginative spreads and unapologetic statements.
After Vogue, she transformed the Costume Institute at the Met into a major cultural institution, curating some of its most iconic exhibitions ever staged. The Met Gala, as we know it, was her idea.
What I love about Diana Vreeland’s character was her witty personality—but in order to give you a less common portrait, I had to include some extracts from one of my favourite coffee table books. Memos, which collects all her correspondence from the Vogue years: emails, letters, notes: everything the editor-in-chief of the biggest fashion magazine in the world had to deal with while in charge.
Some of her replies are hilarious, others touching, and some completely over the top. Below are a few of my favourite quotes, so you can grasp even better what she was made of, and why I think she’s such an icon.
Enjoy!