ELYSIAN Spring 2023 Fashion & Pet Issue by readelysian

ELYSIAN Women Inspiring Women

DISPLAY UNTIL JUNE 1, 2023

The Matter of the Wind A fashion showcase of AZZI & OSTA’s “La Matière du Vent” collection. BY SAMANTHA PAIGE

ELYSIAN

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VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 1 • THE PET & FASHION ISSUE / L’ÉDITION POUR ANIMAUX DE COMPAGNIE ET MODE • LE PRINTEMPS 2023

FEATURES

zsa zsa Zsa Zsa Gabor. BY KATE MCMULLEN

Paris

City of light & love & fashion. BY DAINA SAVAGE

Frida Kahlo

122

The two Fridas. BY HELEN ARDEN

Inspiring Women Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin page 124 Vikki Scott page 134 INTERVIEWED BY KAREN FLOYD

DEPARTMENTS

44 fashion

Pagerie: fashion is more than fur deep. BY SONIA HENRY

16 art&history The cat in art. BY HUNTER HOLLIDAY

architecture&interiors Livable sophistication. BY CHRISTY NIELSON

shopping

Porcelain cats & pups in pairs. BY SINDIE FITZGERALD-RANKIN

148 philanthropy A furever family. BY CAROLINE RYAN

178

health&wellness back story 192 The benefits of birdsong. BY MARCY DUBROFF

ELYSIAN celebrates the launch of its 2022/23 Winter issue at the NFLW’s annual conference in Charleston, SC.

on the cover

Singer, composer, designer, actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, photographed by Michael Paniccia.

The goal of Pagerie is to design innovative pet accessories that will stand the test of time. Imbued with artful craftsmanship, exquisite attention to detail, and conscious functionality. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY PAGERIE / PAGERIE.COM

E publisher

Karen Floyd c r e at o r - i n - c h i e f

Ryan Stalvey

production director

Rob Springer

d i g i ta l d i r e c t o r

Celia Wise Cooksey

comptroller

Anna Christian special projects director

Joey Iannetta

director of philanthropy

Kimberli Scott

d e s i g n a s s o c i at e

Amber Edwards

managing editor

Jason Spencer

director of web design

development

Elliot Derhay

special events director

Sarah Smith

editorial director

Rita Allison

c o m m u n i t y a f fa i r s

Ann Bible

d i r e c t o r o f d i g i ta l p r o d u c t i o n

Caleb Chilcutt

lead photographer

Michael Paniccia

post-production supervisor

Elise Rimmer

post-production editor

Ty Yachaina

d i g i ta l a d d i r e c t o r

Christiana Purves

s o c i a l m e d i a c o o r d i n at o r

Stephanie Duclos

e x e c u t i v e a s s i s ta n t

Tracie Bailey

contributing writers

Helen Arden, Marcy Dubroff, Sindie Fitzgerald-Rankin, Sonia Henry, Hunter Holliday, Kate McMullen, Christy Nielson, Samantha Paige, Caroline Ryan, Daina Savage copy editors

Nancy Brady, Monya Havekost, Diane High, Hadley Inabinet

c o o r d i n at i n g p r o d u c e r

Paula Fender

c i r c u l at i o n s p e c i a l i s t

Greg Wolfe

e-mail distribution

Mark Trombetta

contributing photographer

Dalton Rook Barber

Director of Philanthropy Kimberli Scott, Special Events Director Sarah Smith, and the ELYSIAN team have been working tirelessly for more than a year to realize Publisher Karen Floyd’s vision for the inaugural CatWalk FurBaby event during the 2023 New York Fashion Week. This unique event, which benefits animal rescues and charities across the country, will bring together top designers and models for an unforgettable experience – hands (and paws) down. For more on this ELYSIAN watershed event, please page 148.

media

ELYSIAN Magazine is published four times per year by Palladian Publications LLC., 113 W. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29306. For subscription information, call 864-342-6500. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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YOU CANNOT BUY LOVE…YOU CAN RESCUE IT...AND IT WILL SAVE YOU”

named him Kansas. My first and deepest animal love. He was THE rescue that changed our lives forever. When my only sister Kathy lost her battle to cancer, my husband Gordon gave me a gift of healing. She was a beautiful black lab named Moxie. She was both feisty and gentle, all wrapped in a shiny black fur coat, which she wore with pride…. She lived her entire life with us, sleeping next to my bed every night. When she “crossed the rainbow bridge,” my vet called to see how I was doing and if I thought about a new dog to fill the hole she left in our home. From deep inside, a thought entered my mind, and I asked him to be on the lookout for a different type of dog . . . one that needed a forever family, was “down on its luck . . . but was . . . well, special.” I still do not know what prompted me to say that and it was so inconsequential at the time that I did not think anything further about the conversation. One day, many months later, my assistant said that Dr. King was on the phone, and he had found “my dog.” I picked up the phone and he explained a large mixed breed had been found surviving off garbage. A lady had unceremoniously left him at his office, and the microchip implanted in his neck, led them to a home in Kansas, which was how Kansas came to be named. Later we learned that Kansas’s original owner had passed away while serving in the military overseas. Apparently, Kansas reminded the family of their loss, and it was “too much” to take him back. In my heart, I believe Kansas traveled the distance from Kansas to South Carolina looking for her . . . “What does he look like?” I asked the vet. He sighed and explained that Kansas had been dipped for fleas and shaved because his hair was so matted, there was no alternative. He was recovering from heart worms but felt sure he would survive the treatment, if I was willing to invest in a series of injections. Dr. King also knew I had a special needs adult brother who is frequently with us, so it went without saying that the dog would have to be gentle and kind. It was close to Christmas and my brother was coming to stay for the holidays so we decided Kansas would be his present. I wanted to meet Kansas before the “big day” when my brother would receive the finest gift of our lives. Suffice to say, from afar he was not impressive . . . old, gawky, straggly, and bone thin. Yet he was noble, sitting erect, with the gentlest demeanor and the wisest brown eyes I have ever seen. I fell in love instantly. The day arrived for Casey, my brother’s visit. As we sat in the Smith Animal Clinic waiting room, an entourage from my office flanked Casey. We bought a bright red bow and a red collar for Kansas, implying he was Casey’s Christmas gift. The door opened to an eerie silence. Somehow, Kansas knew instinctively that Casey needed him . . . we all needed him eventually. Without any hesitation he walked directly to my brother and laid his head in his lap. Casey’s head was tilted downward but we saw tear droplets hitting Kansas’s shaved head . . . bouncing upward, one by one. I looked up and while our vet’s eyes were moist… tears were running down the faces of every person in the room. It is a memory we will share forever. Over time, as we cared and loved him; he grew into the most beautiful creature. For years he ran with me to work and would sit quietly on his couch as clients came and left, throughout the day. Many a Christmas card had our Kansas as the office mascot. And it was not uncommon for random people to stop by the office to give him treats. But with every first chapter of the “book called life,” there is a final chapter. Kansas lived until his poor body could go no further. Ridden with arthritis and kidneys failing, our beloved vet said, “it was time.” It was heart wrenching to watch this beautiful, noble, being struggle and suffer so. On January 29th Dr. King came to our home. My dearest friend sat with me, as I held Kansas’s large, beautiful head in my lap, just as Casey had done years before. Our vet gave him two injections until he slept his way into heaven. It was peaceful and dignified. I walked the vet to the front door and hugged him, thanking him for bringing such an incredible being into our lives. I returned to the sitting room and watched as Becky continued to stroke Kansas’s beautiful honey locks. I said, “Becky, honey he is gone…he can’t feel you petting him.” Tear streaked her cheeks, as she looked up at me “I know, Karen” she said, “but I can still feel him.” Kansas stories could fill the pages of this magazine. He taught us unconditional love, and yes, how to die with grace, while also leaving a legacy of love. There are unending stories about pets like our Kansas, and it is my hope that through these pages you might be inspired to rescue an animal. They can change your life forever and teach you infinite lessons of love, loyalty, and hope . . . if you are only willing to risk falling in love, it will in turn save you. This issue is dedicated to all animals seeking forever homes. ELYSIAN will continue the quest with leaders like Cathy Bissell, whose vision remains, “Until every pet has a home.” Thank you for sharing the journey. With love,

Karen Floyd Publisher

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Sinking Not Sinking #3 Original Digital C Print, under Acrylic Glass 41 inches x 33.6 inches By Isabelle Menin

764 MIAMI CIRCLE, SUITE 132 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30324 (404) 352-8775 / www.pryorfineart.com

My Wife’s Lovers by Austrian artist Carl Kahler depicting forty-two of American millionaire Kate Birdsall Johnson’s Turkish Angora cats.

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art&history

The CAT in art BY HUNTER HOLLIDAY

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IF MAN COULD BE CROSSED WITH THE CAT, IT WOULD IMPROVE MAN, BUT IT WOULD DETERIORATE THE CAT.”

Although not native to Japan, musk cats (jakoneko), or civets, served as an auspicious motif associated with longevity. They were a favorite painting subject of artists affiliated with the Kano school, on whose models this work by Uto Gyoshi was likely based. • Opposite: Magdaleine Pinceloup de la Grange, 1747, by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau.

— MARK TWAIN, AKA SAMUEL CLEMENS

nyone who has ever known and loved a cat understands the allure of their independent personality, subtle displays of affection, inquisitive nature, and graceful constitution. Cats are intriguing, so it is no wonder they have captivated the attention of artists for many millennia. From ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Chinese calligraphy to Renaissance expressions, revolutionary cubism, and modern pop art, cats have been muses for the ages for all manner of artists and art forms. Throughout history, the representation of cats in art has been as mercurial as the furry felines themselves. Over the years, cats have been seen as everything from godlike to demonic and ultimately as beloved domesticated companions. No matter the depiction, cats remain a favored subject for artists around the world. Quite likely the earliest portrayals of cats in art come at the hands of the Egyptians, who portrayed cats in myriad forms. In Egypt, cats were painted on tomb walls, carved out of stone, and molded from clay. Thanks to their agility and hunting prowess, Egyptian cats were considered so sacred that gods and goddesses, such as Bastet the goddess of protection with the head of a cat and a slender female human body, were depicted in their likeness. Cats were so venerated in Egyptian culture that when they died felines were even mummified and placed in special cemeteries so they could pass into the afterlife. Anyone who killed one of these sacred animals would be sentenced to death. Asian cultures also have a long love affair with cats, which have been kept as pets in China for thousands of years. For Chinese royalty, cats were regarded as noble, and for commoners, they were kept for the practical reason of pest control. Images of cats in Chinese art most often revolve around their role as cherished pets who love to hunt, frolic with their human friends and cuddle up for a cat nap. Of all the rulers in China, Emperor Huizong—the eighth emperor of the Northern

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The Fall Of Man, by Dutch painter, Hendrick Goltzius, 1616. Goltzius presents the seduction based on mutual romantic attraction. Eve, with her back to the viewer, has already taken the first bite of the apple. She turns with a knowing gaze. The cat, representing the unjust judge, solemnly reminds viewers not to enjoy what they should condemn, lest they too cause more harm than good. EVERETT COLLECTION INC / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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Song Dynasty—seemed to love cats the most. Known to enjoy art more than politics, Huizong is believed to have created multiple paintings of cats himself. Due in large part to their elegant, yet soft silhouettes, cats have remained popular subjects for Chinese calligraphers and painters. In Japan, the first cats likely came from China thousands of years ago where they were used as mousers on ships. Cats are considered auspicious in Japan, and it is fair to say that the Japanese culture has embraced cats in a big way with cat cafes, cat shrines, and even a cat island. Of course, there is also plenty of cat art in Japan, particularly on the woodblock prints called Ukiyo-e, which translates to “pictures of the floating world,” which were a popular art form from the 17th and 19th centuries. Utagawa Kuniyoshi was one of the last great masters of the art form, and although his pieces spanned a wide array of subjects from landscapes to legendary battles, his feline fixation was reflected in his notable series of humorous and satirical depictions of cats—many of which are personified as people.

surprising number of famous artists have been inspired by their pussycats, including Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci who once said, “The smallest feline is a masterpiece of nature.” Da Vinci made hundreds of sketches of cats, including one of a cat curled up with the Virgin Mary. In another penand-ink study sheet, da Vinci illustrates his skill by drawing more than 20 cats in a variety of poses—from sleeping to stalking to fighting. Pablo Picasso, arguably the most seminal artist and painter of the 20th century, was famously enamored with cats. Some of his paintings, such as Woman and Cat, depict cats living harmoniously with their humans. Others, however, including Cat Seizing a Bird, capture the dark side of their nature with a ferocious-looking fanged feline ripping apart a lifeless bird—an allusion to the war years. Swiss-born Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen was one of the great illustrators and printmakers of

Pets vie for the attention of a young girl in The Rivals by C. Burton Barber. Below: Cats In A Bicycle Race In Hyde Park, 1896, by Louis Wain. SCIENCE HISTORY IMAGES / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A LOVER OF CATS TO BANISH THESE ALERT, GENTLE, AND DISCRIMINATING FRIENDS, WHO GIVE US JUST ENOUGH OF THEIR REGARD AND COMPLAISANCE TO MAKE US HUNGER FOR MORE.” —AGNES REPPLIER,

AMERICAN ESSAYIST

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Merchant’s Wife at Tea” by the Russian artist, Boris Mikhaylovich Kustodiev, 1918. PHOTOGRAPHY BY IANDAGNALL COMPUTING / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

the late 19th and early 20th centuries and a major contributor to fin-de-siècle drawings that appeared on posters and in murals and books. Steinlen had great affection for cats, which he portrayed in sculptures, paintings, and drawings. His most famous cat image is a poster he commissioned for a Montmartre-district cabaret—thought to be the first in France—called Le Chat Noir, “The Black Cat.” Born in Amsterdam and descended from a family of painters, Henriëtte Ronner-Knip was best known for her Romantic-style paintings of pets in domestic settings, primarily cats and dogs. Her most famous works, including Cat at Play, feature cuddly and playful cats in soft, warm colors and feathery brushstrokes that charmingly evoke the curiosity and liveliness of the humble housecat. One of the greatest cat paintings ever made, Carl Kahler’s My Wife’s Lovers, is an oil on canvas “meowsterpiece” that was commissioned by San Francisco millionaire Kate Birdsall Johnson to immortalize her clowder of precious pussies (and now you know the term for a group of cats!). There are 42 of these beloved Persian and Angora kitties showcased in the larger-than-life canvas. A gorgeous white Angora is the focal feline of French painter Jean-Jacques Bachelier’s White Angora Cat Chasing a Butterfly, one of his many works featuring cats, dogs, and even bunnies. The painting has a dark background that draws you in and allows the elegant details of the graceful white cat—with its fluffy fur and paw poised to capture the butterfly—to pop off the canvas. Even modern-day artists are captivated by cats, which continue to show up in all sorts of genres. Just consider the popularity of internet sensations like the utterly memeable Grumpy Cat or Zarathustra the Cat, whose cheeky artistowner launched the Fat Cat Art Project which superimposes Zarathustra into famous works like the Mona Lisa. It is clear that cats are purr-fect subjects for artists who will continue to create art with catitude.■

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Black Cat and Tomato Plant,1931, by Takahashi Hiroaki. Opposite: Picasso’s Cat Catching A Bird. The cat is said to represent Picasso. One eye is open to the exterior world, the other closed for insight. The cat is pregnant, as pregnancy is commonly used in poetry and art for a mind conceiving ideas.

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White Angora Cat Chasing a Butterfly, 1761, by Jean-Jacques Bacheliercirca.

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IMAGES COURTESY OF LINDA EYLES / LINDAEYLESDESIGN.COM

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architecture&interiors

Livable Sophistication BY CHRISTY NIELSON

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or nearly 25 years, Houston-based interior designer Linda Eyles has been creating sophisticated, beautiful and timeless spaces for affluent clientele. Guided by the core belief that each home should be a unique reflection of her clients’ tastes and sensibilities, Eyles tailors her designs— ranging from classic to contemporary— to each project. “Overall, I would say our look is minimal. It’s graceful. It is respectful of the emotion a client wants to bring to the home. But we’re also doing it in a very elegant way,” Eyles describes. “We like for every project to be different. I don’t want anyone to walk into a space and say, this is a Linda Eyles Design space. My goal is to have them walk in and say this is beautiful. This makes me feel a certain way. That’s the goal.” The five-person firm that bears Eyles’s name has a collaborative approach to its process. “Our whole schtick is to really work with the client,” she explains. “I’m very much inspired by my clients and what they bring to the table, but I also realize that our clients come to us for something that we bring to the process.” Over the years the firm’s collaboration with clients has gotten better and better. “You definitely want to push people to grow their ideas about what they thought they wanted. It’s about that client relationship and also the openness of the client to new ideas and to trying things. That’s what’s most exciting.” Having developed a reputation for marrying the elegant with the practical to create opulent spaces that are highly livable, Eyles has doubled down on her business in the last 12 years, taking it to the next level. “It’s been this really amazing journey for me as I’m taking the reins of my life in a whole new way. I’m meeting interesting people and doing much more creative work that feels so inspiring. I’ve learned so much about myself, and it’s just been super exciting!” Reimagining her profession at this stage has been a pleasant surprise that has helped boost Eyles’s

Linda Eyles is an avid traveler and draws inspiration from the places she visits, infusing a global sensibility into her work. “Every time you travel, you see something new and you experience something new. You feel a textile, you see a color, and it’s maybe a combination you’ve never seen before. It’s wonderful to bring that inspiration back to our clients.” IMAGES COURTESY OF LINDA EYLES / LINDAEYLESDESIGN.COM

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IMAGE COURTESY OF LINDA EYLES / LINDAEYLESDESIGN.COM

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confidence as a woman and a designer. “I think there was kind of an epiphany that my work is not about looking at pretty things, it’s really about creating an atmosphere. It’s pretty powerful working with clients to create that atmosphere—to really get something right for them. It’s not just a job; it feels larger. Realizing that it is about how people feel when they’re living in their house and how important that is—that’s what I realized I needed to focus on.” When Eyles truly embraced the business side of her career, creativity flourished. “It was almost as if once I realized that had to be a focus, then I didn’t have to worry as much about the creativity. I was able to be freer.” Eyles’s experience is one to which many women can relate. “For me, it was about learning to appreciate myself and saying that my job is as important as any other thing that’s going on in my life. That was hard for me to do, and I think it’s hard for a lot of women to do. We’re givers, and maybe we don’t always give back to ourselves.” Eyles is an avid traveler and draws inspiration from the places she visits, infusing a global sensibility into her work. “Every time you travel, you see something new and you experience something new. You feel a textile, you see a color, and it’s maybe a combination you’ve never seen before. It’s wonderful to bring that inspiration back to our clients. It’s great to have that new kick that gets you a foothold for a new project.” Recently, Eyles traveled to Rome where she was captivated by the rich colors and patterns of the floors in particular. “Generally, I like a cleaner look overall, but to see all of the beautiful mosaic floors—the colors and the richness and the depth—that was incredibly inspiring. I love bringing those layers back into my work.” She is hoping to go to Japan next year for the “trip of a lifetime.”

Art

is hugely important to the interior environment, and Eyles works with clients to build their collection or to incorporate into the design the art they have already curated. “It’s so important to buy artwork to support artists because they are always telling stories and speaking in a language that helps us grow. I love to support female artists, but there are plenty of people that I’m excited

Linda is guided by the core belief that each home should be a unique reflection of her clients’ tastes and sensibilities; she tailors her designs—ranging from classic to contemporary—to each project. IMAGES COURTESY OF LINDA EYLES / LINDAEYLESDESIGN.COM

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IMAGE COURTESY OF LINDA EYLES / LINDAEYLESDESIGN.COM

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about.” Eyles is a big fan of textural work, and some of her favorite artists right now include encaustic artist Mary Long, textile artist Vanessa Barragão, sculptor Zemer Peled, and paper artist Matthew Shlian. During her recent trip to Rome, Eyles met Isabella Ducrot, a 91-year-old artist who works in vintage textiles and didn’t start creating until she was in her 50s. “I was so inspired by Isabella’s story, and her work is charming!” Eyles’s “pet” project is dog rescue. “I am dog obsessed,” she admits. She and her husband have three rescue dogs: a three-legged chocolate lab named Sherman, another chocolate named Blitz, and Tasha, a German shepherd, Rottweiler and Doberman mix who is the “glue” of the pack. “I love having rescues. They all have their own little special needs, and so I’m always thinking about the pups!” Eyles and her husband are big supporters of the SPCA and other organizations that help animals in need. “I hope people will consider rescuing. There are so many pets out there that are so worthwhile. It brings so much joy having taken an animal off the street. It’s so much more than just buying a pet.” When designing spaces for people with pets, Eyles takes into account considerations like the size of the pet, the color of its fur and its favorite places to be in the home when selecting rugs, furnishings and fabrics. “I have a client who saw an article that we were featured in where my dogs were photographed with me. She said she felt that I would understand how to make her house look great and accommodate her pet because I’m dog crazy, too. It’s become a really big part of my business.” ■ Editor’s note: To learn more about Linda Eyles Design, go to www.lindaeylesdesign.com.

When designing spaces for people with pets, Eyles takes into account considerations like the size of the pet, the color of its fur and its favorite places to be in the home when selecting rugs, furnishings and fabrics. IMAGES COURTESY OF LINDA EYLES / LINDAEYLESDESIGN.COM

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IMAGE COURTESY OF LINDA EYLES / LINDAEYLESDESIGN.COM

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FASHION IS MORE THAN FUR DEEP

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BY SONIA HENRY

fashion

Pagerie’s founder, Mandy Madden Kelley, with beloved Frenchie, Hector. Kelley says that she founded the ultra-luxury fashion house for pets because “our pets and daily practices (toward them) deserved better.” With that, the inspiration, design, and detail of Pagerie products come from worshiping the beauty, form, and shape of our most loyal companions.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY PAGERIE / PAGERIE.COM

has been said that happiness begins with a wet nose and ends with a wagging tail. Our furry friends ask for little in return for their singular devotion, so perhaps we should return their love and the happiness they bring to our lives with a little pampering. That is exactly the mindset of Pagerie, “the world’s first luxury fashion house for pets,” which believes that instead of another chew toy, we should indulge our four-legged friends with oneof-a-kind accessories. Indeed, Pagerie is a unique experience for both owners and pets who want to experience the finer things in life. A peek at the items offered by the Los Angeles-based company might offer pet owners the perfect option for spoiling man’s (and woman’s) best friends. Pagerie’s leashes, harnesses, and collars are all hand-crafted from vegetabletanned leather and REACH-certified marine-grade stainless steel. These creations are designed to treat your pet to accessories that are worthy of the important and singular role they play in your life. Pagerie’s founder, Mandy Madden Kelley, says that she founded Pagerie because “our pets and daily practices (toward them) deserved better.” The inspiration, design, and detail of Pagerie products come from worshiping the beauty, form, and shape of our most loyal companions. “Being in this industry for a while and having the opportunity to attend many important events, such as New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, and Paris Fashion Week, I saw a huge gap in the market,” says Kelley. “Everyone brought their loyal, furry companions along with them to every important event, yet no pet product on the market worshipped the canine form: how they fit or look. I was determined to create the perfect marriage of form and function, plus style and fit for these beloved creatures.” Kelley wants to reinvent how we see our dogs and wants their accessories to be on par with the ones that we splurge on for ourselves—think Birkin bags and Hermès bracelets. She describes the persona of the typical Pagerie customer as someone who has a vast appreciation for detail and innovative products that will last a lifetime. “They value quality in the products that they purchase, have an eye for small details, and their canine is their four-legged companion.” Kelley believes that when you buy a product from Pagerie, you are purchasing an accessory that will be worn, loved, and admired daily. “You are treating your dog like you’d treat your best friend because they simply are your best friend.”

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ndeed, when you hold a Pagerie creation in your hand, you cannot help but feel as if you are holding a piece of art, made by a human in a very slow, thoughtful, and detailed manner. “Quality costs more,” says Kelley, “but it can last a lifetime. When my team and I developed the designs for Pagerie, we created them to be timeless, high-quality pieces that would never go out of style or need to be disposed of or replaced.” Kelley also believes that our pets have a unique role in our lives, and thus deserve unique items to acknowledge that. “I’ve always said that dogs are our modern-day horses,” she says. “Back in the day, we would ride our horses to war, hide in shelters with them and share life experiences with them. As society continued evolving and miniaturizing everything, we also began accessorizing our pets. However, I’ve personally always viewed pets as our strong warriors and protectors, who stick by our side through the toughest moments in our lives. They are loyal, loving, and overall, an extension of us. For this reason, they should be celebrated and appreciated with the most utter care. For me, one way of doing so was designing elegant accessories made from the finest materials that would accentuate their beautiful bodies; from their chest to their shoulders and their legs. Just like humans, our pets should be wearing their accessories; their accessories should not be wearing them. Pagerie objects should be their armor.” Indeed, the Pagerie website makes it clear that its products are designed to give pets the royal treatment without stinting on caliber. All of its products are thoughtfully created overseas in the same factories as some of the most sought-after fashion houses in the world. Pagerie’s products are also made using materials to prevent irritation and promote durability. And each of Pagerie’s collections is curated to cater to a wide range of animals, while also uniquely designed to be one of a kind.

2020, Pagerie launched the Sahara Collection as its debut collection and it still holds some of the company’s most popular designs to date. The collection includes The Dórro Collar, The Babbi Harness, The Tascher Leash, and The Pochette and they each come in three different colorways. Pagerie’s next collection was the Les Arcs, which it promoted using larger dogs, but actually created its designs to cater to smaller pets (including cats) and humans as well—such as the stunning Línque collar. This collection also introduced more color into the Pagerie website with its gorgeous forest and saffron shades. The company’s recently launched Noma collection, designed for “dainty pets,” is all about laid-back lightness and grace. These pieces are literal works of art, from the hand-braided Rava leash that takes 12 hours to create, to the contrasting stitching and easy-to-open clasp on the

• hiver 2022/23 • l’édition pensée et leadership • readelysian.com

And the goal of treating your best friend to the finer things in life is a nod to a slower and more intentional way of life, according to Kelley. “So many aspects of fashion are lost and marginalized when companies obsess about how quickly they turn over trends and put something on the market. When we started Pagerie, our goal wasn’t to do anything fast. Everything we do takes time. Each one of our pieces is hand-made by artisans across the world and no two pieces are exactly the same because of that,” she says.

The Tascher Leash is an elegant multi-tasker of a lead that can be adjusted to three different lengths (perfect whether training your dog to walk beside you or allowing extra leeway). It comes accessorized with a matching doggie bag pouch. The Colombo Harness is a breathable harness for every day, yet the style is far from everyday. Welcomed air ventilation is thanks to the distinctive ‘peek-a-boo’ cut-out on the back. Perfect for playful dogs. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY PAGERIE / PAGERIE.COM

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY PAGERIE / PAGERIE.COM

The Babbi Harness takes its inspiration from a saddle. It is meticulously made and designed to be supremely comfortable, with an attachable quilt padding for a welcome layer of warmth on chilly mornings. Opposite: Because of the adjustable buckles, The Dórro Collar ensures the perfect fit from the very first wear. Thereafter, take the collar off or put it on with just a twist of the turnlock. Et voilà, you are both up and off.

Clyde collar, and the stunning Petite Harness. These items are designed to accessorize your pet in a way that reflects care and taste. Finally, just so your dog doesn’t outshine you on your daily walks, Pagerie also offers accessories for the two-legged members of the family, including a zippered dog bag pochette where you can neatly tuck away your waste bags, and the stunning Margot, designed to create noise frequencies at a capacity that only our dogs can attest to; a classic, yet chic training tool. Kelley’s creations are symbolic of the way she approaches life. “I pride myself in how I care for and present those I love,” she says. “There were times that I wanted my beloved dogs to share my style— and to look their best. However, no available accessories were suited to such de rigueur occasions. They were too rugged, infantine, or tawdry. Pagerie was founded because dogs and daily practices deserved better —and that in itself is a reflection of me.” Kelley, who is primarily known as a beauty and self-care expert, also believes that her experience in that arena informs the Pagerie brand. “When I decided to immerse myself in the beauty and fashion industry, everyone told me how hard it was and that I was too late to the game,” she recalls. “However, being as determined as I was, I learned everything I could, and I wore every single hat within this business. Little did I know that this journey was preparing me for something even bigger than I could have ever imagined. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to attend some of the most important events around the world, with some of the most talented and hard-working entrepreneurs and creatives in our industry. This allows me to get a glimpse into how other brands run their businesses so that I can analyze Pagerie from different perspectives and have an idea of what’s relevant. I am constantly learning, evolving, and growing my brand with purpose and intention.” ■ Editor’s note: All of Pagerie’s accessories are available on its website (pagerie.com).

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The doggie pouch on the The Tascher Leash is made from the same luxury grain leather as the leash; this features a durable exposed zipper inspired by the classic bucket bag. The Colombo Harness is fashioned from an unreservedly high grade French leather, with every stitch precisely judged to add reinforcement. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY PAGERIE / PAGERIE.COM

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shopping

1. Antique Pair of 19th Century English White Staffordshire Spaniel Figurines. $750 chairish.com. 2. Staffordshire Figurines (Boy/ Girl) Children with Spaniels. $3,800 ebay.com 3. RARE 7.5 Staffordshire Hound & Hare Figure Group Spill Vase, Circa 1840. $1,800 ebay.com 4. Three Antique Pairs of 19th Century Staffordshire Canine Figurines. $5,100 heritageauctions.com 5. Very Rare Antique Pair of Staffordshire Cat Figurines. $3,400 ebay.com

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ceramic cats & Pups in pairs

BY SINDIE FITZGERALD-RANKIN

taffordshire pottery was mass-produced in England’s West Midlands from 1720 to 1920 as an alternative to pricier Wedgewood. Made of earthenware and sold in pairs, dogs were modeled after Poodles, Dalmatians, Greyhounds, Pugs, Collies—and most popular, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, the breed called “the Comforter” by its namesake, King Charles I of England. Queen Victoria’s constant childhood companion, Dash, inspired “fireplace dogs,” a status-symbol that guarded the mantlepieces of Victorian bourgeois homes.Three to 12-inches tall, white with rust, copper luster, or black patches, “Disraeli Spaniels” had curls and rare “Jackson” or “Jackfield” Staffordshire dogs were all-black. Dogs and cats adorn spill vases, ring holders, jars and Staffordshire figurines. ■

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by Kate McMullen

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Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hungarian-American socialite and actress, emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1941. Becoming a sought-after actress with “European flair and style,” she was considered to have a personality that “exuded charm and grace.” ADOC-PHOTOS / CONTRIBUTOR / GETTY IMAGES

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sa Zsa, dahling. Her childhood nickname and it says it all. Effortless yet extravagant, old-world yet modern, both extremes all at once. Actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor titled her third published book One Life-time is Not Enough. Considering the sheer number of experiences she packed into her long life, it’s clear that she had it right, at least for herself. A brief article is hardly enough to gloss over the heights her celebrity climbed from the time she emerged as a competitive beauty in the Miss Hungary Pageant of 1933 to her death in 2016, just shy of 100 years old. In the years between, Zsa Zsa Gabor starred in over 60 films and as many television programs, often playing herself, married 8 men (9 if you count her one-day marriage at sea), and in her 60-odd years in Hollywood collected an incalculable number of stories. An influencer before Instagram, she was perhaps one of the first celebrities who was famous for being famous, paving the way for the likes of Paris Hilton (whose grandfather she once married) and Kim Kardashian. Gabor modernized a long tradition of diamonds-and-furs celebrity and feminine power. She had the fun everyone wished they were having, behaving exactly how she wanted without batting an eyelash. Her aura was one of coquettish delight, the kind of woman who (famously) never told you her age, who could sweep you up before you realized it, who was surrounded by such wealth, and such joy in it, that she was impossible to ignore. Zsa Zsa was born Sarí Gábor in 1917 in Budapest to affluent parents. Her father, Vilmos, was a soldier, and her mother, Jolie Gabor, was an heiress of the Tilleman family jewelry business, though some sources claim her family’s fortune came from owning brothels. Even before she became known for her extravagant lifestyle, Gabor lived a life of relative luxury. All three Gabor sisters attended Madame Subilia’s School for Young Ladies in Lausanne, Switzerland, where on top of the Hungarian and German they spoke at home, they learned English and French. They emerged, beautiful and accomplished, onto the social scene in the 1930s. If there is a gene that predicts celebrity, the Gabor family had it. Her sisters, eldest Madga and youngest Eva, would also grow up to become socialites in the United States. Gabor’s earliest appearance in the spotlight after the famed Miss Hungary pageant was her stage debut in 1934. At 17, Zsa Zsa had already begun establishing the character she would portray her whole life. On the boards of the Theatre van den Wien in Vienna, Zsa Zsa played the “soubrette” role in the operetta The Singing Dream, an archetype for just the sort of girl she seemed to set out to be: a flirt, a gossip, a mischievous feminine presence who pulls focus every moment she stands on stage. She was cast

Gabor from the 1954 drama Beauty and the Bullfighter, where dashing matador Ricardo (Daniel Gélin) resists getting back into action after a fellow bullfighter is killed in the ring, even if it means losing his fickle actress mistress. SMITH ARCHIVE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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in the role by famous tenor Richard Tauber. It became clear as opening night drew closer that Zsa Zsa’s looks and, to put it in today’s terms, her vibe, were all she brought to the performance. Tauber told her that her singing, dancing, and acting were not cutting it and that instead of learning, all she had to do was point her pretty face at the crowd. It would be advice that shaped her career. Gerold Frank, who co-wrote Gabor’s 1960 autobiography Zsa Zsa Gabor: My Story, described her as “a woman from the court of Louis XV who has somehow managed to live in the 20th century . . . She says she wants to be all the Pompadours and Du Barrys of history rolled into one.” This energy, one of exuberant opulence, became Zsa Zsa’s guiding star, the attitude that made her vibe so unavoidably charming. Gabor fled Europe surrounded by the growing tensions that eventually led to the Nazi occupation of her childhood home in 1941. She had already married her first husband, Burhan Belge, whom she left behind in Turkey. She joined her sister Eva in Los Angeles where she lived with her husband and was working to begin her film career. (Eva would go on to star in Green Acres as Lisa Douglas.) Zsa Zsa emerged in the glitz of 1940s Hollywood already the life of the party, sporting her flawless blonde hair and her charming Hungarian accent—“Zeeze are my vorking diamonds, dahlink!” She made early headlines claiming to have “danced with Hitler, twice.” She might have been seen rejecting Frank Sinatra’s advances in a pink ruched gown, or shamelessly flirting with the man who would become her next husband, hotel mogul Conrad Hilton. This was 1942, and at the time Hilton was 55, 30 years her senior. Her time with Hilton was perhaps the one that most challenged and changed Zsa Zsa Gabor. The five-year marriage was shadowed by the horrors of World War II, a dark time made particularly dark for Zsa Zsa as she waited for news of the family she still had back in Budapest. Like everyone she met, Hilton was drawn to her looks and her spirit, but once they joined their lives, she got to know the man for who he was:

Zsa Zsa Gabor twirls her skirt as she poses for a portrait at home on March 23, 1956, in Beverly Hills, California. PHOTO BY EARL LEAF/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES

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a notoriously frugal, business-first type with Texas manners she found gruff and a sense of entitlement and ownership of her that she despised. She wrote that his only true loves were his Catholic religion and Hilton hotels. He curbed her spending, putting her on an unforgivable $250/month budget. The couple slept in separate rooms. Zsa Zsa’s only child Francesca, whom she revealed later was a product of rape, grew up in a divided, hostile home, and later embroiled Zsa Zsa in a lawsuit over what else but her parents’ tangled fortunes. After her pregnancy, a reported affair with her stepson, a harrowing robbery of the Hilton home, and a stay at a psychiatric hospital for depression, Zsa Zsa divorced Hilton in 1947. In her 1970 advice book How to Catch a Man, How to Keep a Man, How to Get Rid of a Man (a subject on which she would become a true expert), Zsa Zsa wrote, “I think every woman should have at least three husbands.” Released from her restrictive second husband, Zsa Zsa was free to marry her third, Academy Award-winning actor George Sanders, who spurred her film career by securing her a role in a TV pilot in London. Though the role never materialized, Zsa Zsa quickly landed her first role in a feature film as a featured extra in the 1952 movie Lovely to Look At. In the film, she plays her best character: herself, a model named Zsa Zsa who speaks only un-subtitled French in a rollicking party scene and later appears modeling an over-the-top black gown and an enormous, glittering diamond necklace, surrounded by gilded candelabras and, for some reason, suits of armor with golden faces. In this shot of her twirling in that incredible dress, it’s clear Zsa Zsa is in her element. Sanders said of Zsa Zsa in his autobiography Memoirs of a Professional Cad: “Every age has its Madame Pompadour, its Lady Hamilton, its Queen of Sheba, its Cleopatra, and I wouldn’t be surprised if history singles out Zsa Zsa as its 20th-century prototype of this exclusive coterie.”

The

50s would bring two more of Zsa Zsa’s most well-known movie appearances, a small role in 1953’s Lili, another in the Ginger Rodgers/Fred Astaire hit We’re Not Married!, and a featured role in 1952 in Moulin Rouge as the singer Jane Avril. The film was a huge event in cinema. It was directed by John Huston, who had recently won an Academy Award in directing for The African Queen, and starred a lauded debut performance by Jose Ferrer. Moulin Rouge made strides in technicolor for the time. The film’s vibrant palette seems meant to feature Zsa Zsa’s two musical numbers (her vocals were dubbed by Muriel Smith). Her first song comes ten minutes into the film after an introduction of a vibrant Moulin Rouge night as Toulouse-Lautrec sketches dancers. Zsa Zsa slows the film down with her presence, spends most of the film wearing incredible feathered hats, and was a grounding cast member in a star-studded film that received seven Oscar nominations (including Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Supporting Actress), and was awarded honors in costuming and art direction. Her performance in Moulin Rouge was by far her most prominent serious leading role, and it catapulted her into the public eye. She appeared in 17 films throughout the 1950s, her first decade of six in film and television, including a small role as a strip club owner in Orson Welles’s 1958 classic Touch of Evil. In the same year, she played a seductive alien queen in the camp classic Queen of Outer Space. It was perhaps the one performance she was embarrassed by, “a horrible film,” she called it, that “[kept] coming up” for the rest of her career. In Film historian Neal Gabler’s 1998 book Life: The Movie - How Entertainment Conquered Reality, he defines the trajectory of what we’ve come to call “famous for being famous” as “The Zsa Zsa Factor,” or, Zsa Zsa’s ability to use her marriage to Sanders as leverage for a film career, then to use that career to leverage higher celebrity. As Gabler studies in Life: The Movie, Zsa Zsa is one of the pioneers of “human entertainment,” a person whose own life is entertainment, rather than the work they produce. Zsa Zsa came to Hollywood at a pivotal moment. She parlayed not only her relationship with Sanders but the trajectory of the entire film industry. As TV talk shows began their rise as accelerated gossip rags, as access to information sped the rise of celebrity, there was Zsa Zsa. During her five-year marriage to Sanders, Zsa Zsa began a high-profile affair with Porfirio Rubirosa, a Dominican diplomat, polo player, racing driver, and notorious playboy whose (very)

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Zsa Zsa Gabor having her hair done by Rene of Mayfair, in1965. Gabor would famously be quoted as saying “I never hated a man enough to give him his diamonds back.” LICHFIELD / CONTRIBUTOR / GETTYIMAGES.COM

66 Zsa Zsa’s only child Francesca grew up in a divided, hostile home, and later embroiled Zsa Zsa in a lawsuit over what else but her parents’ tangled fortunes.

ZUMA PRESS, INC. / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

long list of lovers included Ava Gardner, Eartha Kitt, Eva Peron, Rita Hayworth, Judy Garland, and Kim Novak, to name only a few. Rubirosa spent lavishly on Zsa Zsa, and their affair lasted most of the decade. She once called Rubi “a disease of the blood. I cannot be without him.” The 1960s saw Zsa Zsa marry first Herbert Hunter in 1962, then oil magnate Joshua S. Cosden Jr in 1966 (this one only lasted a year). After her brief success in film, Zsa Zsa’s roles settled into a style of performance that suited her well: the cameo. She was featured in seven films in the 1960s, and already in four of those roles she was playing herself. In the two notable performances from this time, Zsa Zsa plays rich sex pots in the forgettable 1966 film Drop Dead Darling, a black comedy starring Tony Curtis as a murderous playboy, and in 1967s Jack of Diamonds, in which Zsa Zsa, as herself, is featured as one of a few victims of George Hamilton’s cat burglar lead. Around this time, Zsa Zsa also became a regular on talk shows and latenight television as the genre blossomed, beginning the climb to a level of celebrity fascination closer to what we know today.

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wrote in How to Catch a Man, “I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.” Entering 1970 single and flush with the winnings from four prior divorce settlements, Zsa Zsa acquired perhaps the crown jewel of luxury living in 1973: the iconic home at 1001 Bel Air Road in Los Angeles, California. Eccentric director and producer Howard Hughes built the home in 1955. An apocryphal Hollywood story tells of a crumbling home on the property ready to be torn down until Howard Hughes sped onto the scene and declared he would buy the property and rebuild the home for whatever the price might be. The resulting house—a bright mustard yellow French Regency exterior with an intricate copper Regency roof, as well as a vibrant red-carpeted staircase connecting the upstairs outdoor patios to the downstairs Monte Carlo-style terrace and pool with respondent views of the city—saw thousands of Hollywood fixtures through its doors. The house had been previously owned by Elvis Presley, who entertained The Beatles there in 1965. The one-acre property is tucked away on an LA hilltop, a six-bed, seven-bath home with 28 individual rooms across 9000 square feet, plenty of space for Zsa Zsa Gabor, her beloved Shih Tzu dogs. (At one time, she had nine dogs total and often threw them parties. The main course: hot dogs.) Zsa Zsa’s closet in the main bedroom spanned 30 feet long, 12 feet deep, and 14 feet high, with room for over 5000 individual garments. In the main room, portraits of Zsa Zsa filled the walls. Zsa Zsa lived in the home for 40 years, until she died in 2016. She hosted hundreds, if not thousands of parties there, one of her favorite things to do, and guests included Hollywood icons like Frank Sinatra, and Elizabeth Taylor, as well as Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Queen Elizabeth II herself. The home appeared in HBO’s 2013 limited series Behind the Candelabra as the set for Liberace’s home, and one of his pianos was a centerpiece in the home for many years. As if the American iconography could not stack up higher, her husband just after the time of this exciting purchase was Jack Ryan, Mattel designer of Barbie, Catty Cathy, and Hot Wheels. Zsa Zsa Gabor’s home last sold in 2020 for $16 million. At the time of her death, the house represented, perhaps even more than she did in her last years, the time of her prime, the opulent legacy of Old Hollywood. When she purchased the property in 1973, she bought its history with it. Then 57 years old, she had been a part of that history for nearly 20 years. In the same year, she was the featured guest on Dean Martin’s Roast, and comedian Corbett Monica joked: “Look at Zsa Zsa, sitting there: famous, beautiful wealthy—how you must be laughing at those people who said you’d be through when talking pictures came in.” If Zsa Zsa’s purchase of the house was indeed a look back in time for her, in 1976, she made a brief cameo appearance in Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood. A strange, dated riff on Rin Tin Tin, which ran from around 1922-1933, the movie follows the acting career of an incredibly intelligent German shepherd brought to 1920s Hollywood by an aspiring actress (Madeline Kahn), a bus driver and aspiring director (Bruce Dern, in a break into mainstream film), and a studio chief (Art Carney). Once the early plot setup brings the gang to

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Zsa Zsa Gabor with one of her beloved Shih Tzu dogs. (At one time, she had nine dogs total and often threw them parties. The main course: hot dogs.) Zsa Zsa’s closet in the main bedroom spanned 30 feet long, 12 feet deep, and 14 feet high, with room for over 5000 individual garments. ZUMA PRESS, INC. / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Hollywood, the film is essentially a string of cameo appearances by faded Hollywood stars that the film’s target audience would have recognized: Dorothy Lamour, Henry Youngman, Aldo Ray, and Joan Blondell, to name only a few. The film was poorly received for plenty of reasons, but what makes it worth a mention is its timing. Zsa Zsa Gabor’s early career is studded with brushes with prestige filmmaking. By the time she has bought her iconic Hollywood home, through which so many of its now dim fixtures had walked, Zsa Zsa appears in Won Ton Ton, a nostalgia comedy project for the last 20 years of her life. The 70s and 80s marked Zsa Zsa’s talk show era. Merv Griffin in particular seemed to enjoy teasing out her shallow nature. Zsa Zsa was always game for a joke, and these TV appearances became the sites of plenty of iconic one-liners. Ask her how many husbands she’s had, and she’d say “Apart from my own?” Or, “I never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.” On Letterman’s Late Night, she appeared on the stoops of stunned housewives asking to snoop in their closets. It becomes clearer and clearer across her career that the role Zsa Zsa was destined to play was herself. Her deadpan charm, her countless affairs (a blind date with Kissinger set up by Nixon, a fling with Sean Connery, Sinatra, Richard Burton . . . ), her over-thetop, high-maintenance lifestyle: it’s just the thing you want to watch on TV, to read all about—the Zsa Zsa Factor. At this point, she was married to husband number seven, Michael O’Hara, who had been her lawyer in the divorce proceedings with Jack Ryan. They got married at the Las Vegas Hilton three days after her divorce was finalized. She and O’Hara were married until 1983. That year, in her fastest relationship on record—and perhaps the shortest celebrity marriage in history—she wed Mexican attorney-turned-character actor Felipe de Alba on a boat on April 13 and had the marriage annulled the very next day. Zsa Zsa’s last marriage was her longest, lasting until her death, to Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt. Born Hans Robert Lichtenberg, the German-American businessman took a new name in 1980, after he paid Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt (wife of a son of Kaiser Wilhelm II) to adopt him as an adult at 36. (He and Zsa Zsa would later adopt up to ten young men as adults to secure elder care for themselves as they grew old.) It was Zsa Zsa’s eighth marriage and von Anhalt’s sixth, and he was 27 years her junior. Von Anhalt liked to say they married for friendship, not love. Their meetcute is a picture frame for the type of relationship this marriage became: the two met at an A-list party von Anhalt was crashing. He paid two college students to pose as his bodyguard and driver and arrived at the home of writer Sidney Sheldon and actress Jorja Curtright, who let him inside on first glance at his vaguely “royal” outfit. Ask von Anhalt, though, and he will insist he met Zsa Zsa at a restaurant. He also insists that his wife knew he had bought his titles by paying for his own adult adoption, that she found it “entertaining.” From someone like Zsa Zsa, it may be true. The entrance of von Anhalt in Zsa Zsa Gabor’s life marks a shift in her celebrity, perhaps because earlier she struck as vain, and flimsy, but credible, and this latest husband was anything but. Von Anhalt was not old money in the same sense: his persona was as much a character as Zsa Zsa’s, but by contrast, he had not come by it honestly. Whether the drama that followed Zsa Zsa from the 1980s on seemed darker because she

1952 British drama Moulin Rouge stars José Ferrer (Toulouse-Lautrec), and Zsa Zsa Gabor. Written and directed by John Huston, the film is based on the 1950 novel by Pierre La Mure, and follows artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 19th-century Paris’s bohemian subculture in and around the Moulin Rouge, a burlesque palace. ALLSTAR PICTURE LIBRARY LTD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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71 had gotten older, or because the world had both changed so much and yet stayed quite the same, Zsa Zsa’s marriage marked a turn for coverage of her iconic celebrity. In 1989, Zsa Zsa served three days in prison and a fine of $12,937, rather than go through with a community service sentence, after she was convicted of slapping a police officer who pulled her over for a traffic violation in Beverly Hills. In 1993, her long-running feud with German actress Elke Sommers came to an end in lawsuits and fines totaling over $3 million. In 2005, a bitter filing fight between von Anhalt and her daughter, Constance Francesca Hilton, ended when Zsa Zsa refused to appear in court to affirm that she co-signed her husband’s suit accusing Hilton of larceny and fraud. Hilton died in 2015 at 67, and von Anhalt never told Zsa Zsa of her daughter’s death. In 2006, von Anhalt claimed to have fathered a child with Anna Nicole Smith, almost assuredly for the media attention the claim would bring. After a series of health problems beginning in 2010, Zsa Zsa Gabor passed away in December 2016, two months shy of 100 years old. Von Anhalt was the sole inheritor of Gabor’s estate and auctioned off 400+ items from the Bel Air home, including a silver horse trophy that belonged to Reginald Vanderbilt, a “mountain” of monogrammed luggage and handbags from Hermes, Chanel, Dior, and her favorite, Louis Vuitton, 18th and 19thcentury furniture (including a gilded piano that belonged to George Sanders), and a sketch pad Gabor used to doodle during her 1989 trial for slapping the Beverly Hills police officer. Looking at Zsa Zsa Gabor’s later years, it is hard not to think of her slide from celebrity as inevitable. It is striking that even Zsa Zsa, who constantly lied about her age and in many ways defied her age as long as she could—even Zsa Zsa grew old. The culture of celebrity, our obsession with its character and spectacle, consumes its actors eventually. On Zsa Zsa’s Facebook fan page, run by members of her family, Zsa Zsa appears in post after post laughing with Sammy Davis Jr, lounging in a full page spread for LIFE Magazine, plugging her autobiography to Larry King. There’s a sense scrolling through the photos there that Zsa Zsa is still doing these things, that even after she experienced the part of life everyone must—the end—she did not stop existing to friends and fans as anything but herself, a cameo and the real thing, just Zsa Zsa. ■

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AZZI & OSTA weaves rich narratives throughout their ensemble “La Matière du Vent (Weaving the Wind),” as they strive to give substance to the fleetingness of a perfume. Dedicating the collection to the mystery of the wind and ancestral paths, where caravans laden with essences from all around the world carry the precious elements that make up a single scented drop. Weaving the Wind is the embodiment of a fragrance in clothen form, lying effortlessly against the skin until the breeze gently lifts it away. ■

The Matter of the Wind by Samantha Paige

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MIMOSA

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Each AZZI & OSTA creation, individual hand-worked embellishment and intricate embroidery, is a carefully considered and authentic artistic representation of a chapter of the story; the handwriting that translates the highly technical into the imaginable, that transforms dreams into reality.

PROVENCE

The precious ingredients of perfumery intersect in this collection where orange blossom, peach bud, patchouli, magnolia, fig, neroli or myrtle abound in poetical embroideries, to which are added subtle petals of fabric molded and water colored by hand. © AZZIANDOSTA.COM

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77 A micro mini hi-low corset dress made in an iridescent silver Solstiss lace highlighted by a voluminous ruffled hemline through to the train extension.

FLEURS D’ORANGER

The tulle, cut into ribbons stitched together edge-toedge in frills, combines the tactile and the volatile with an irresistible sensuality. Between a dress cut in the shape of a vase and an incredible mimosa ball-shaped dress drawn from a cloud of tulle, you breathe with your eyes, you touch with your wings. © AZZIANDOSTA.COM

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ABRICOT

So many hands, so many communities, so many talents at work within a single bottle of perfume. Georges Azzi and Assaad Osta saw in each perfume a choral masterpiece. The idea of this worldwide collaboration to obtain the most subtle, the most abstract product possible, obsesses these two lovers of nature. In the light of climate change, it also reassures them that if humanity can join hands to create beauty, it can also do so to save the earth. © AZZIANDOSTA.COM

VETIVER

As great lovers of the arts, passionate about civilizations and history, narrators at heart, Azzi and Osta have long dreamed of this collection dedicated to perfume. First attracted by the challenge of the materialization of the ineffable, for months on end, they leant together, with the beautiful connivance that is theirs, on what could be the shape and material of a dress that evokes spontaneously a wake, the lightness, the volatility and the pervasiveness of a fragrance. Added to this is the obsession with contributing to the protection of species which will result in the creation of feathers without feathers, fur without fur. Just as perfumery uses artifices to replace or refine rare essences, the designers pipe the organza and assemble it into moving ears of wheat on a ready-to-fly stole. © AZZIANDOSTA.COM

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VERVEINE

From this blend of natural simplicity and extreme sophistication emanates a quiet joy, a comfort that only the obviousness of beauty can provide. © AZZIANDOSTA.COM

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City of light & love & fashion by Daina Savage

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PHOTOGRAPH BY STOCKBYM / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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PHOTOGRAPH BY IM_PHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Opposite: A beautiful ancient stone carving statue depicting the image of a lady with her dog. PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDRA LANDE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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there a season and a city so inextricably linked as Paris in the springtime? Celebrated in song and film, the cliche is rooted in the truth of how the city sheds its winter greys and blacks for a floral technicolor cacophony as the streets, parks, and cafes all are enlivened. In the city synonymous with romance, it’s the young infatuation of the first buds and blooms of spring that enchants visitors and residents alike. Even the first of May celebrates the heady, elegant scent of lilies of the valley, with bouquets exuberantly exchanged, perfuming the streets. Here in the historic fashion capital of the world, (think Chanel, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, and Louis Vuitton), high fashion is on display each spring in an enthusiastic embrace of the season in all its glory. Yes, this is the city celebrated in the recent film Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris when the dream of a Dior gown is all-encompassing and awe-inspiring. Each fall, Fashion Week previews the next Spring Collection, so now’s the season to make manifest what the catwalks revealed. Whether adorned in haute couture or prêt-à-porter, a promenade down the Champs-Élysées awaits. The two kilometers of this renowned, historic thoroughfare, which runs from Place de la Concorde to the majestic Arc de Triomphe, is often described as the world’s most beautiful avenue. It is the place to see and be seen. Shopping and cafes abound, as do fashion-inspired art exhibitions like those at the Palais Galliera and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. It is a sensory delight. As Parisian law ensures that no building in the city may be higher than six stories, the city remains on a human scale, allowing for ample sunshine as you stroll or linger over a coffee and croissant. The city’s architecture is renowned. Spared from any war damage through the centuries, iconic buildings and structures tell the city’s history through the ages, with Romanesque, Gothic, neoclassical, neo-Byzantine, and modern styles of architecture. In addition to taking in the breathtaking view from the Eiffel Tower, be sure to visit iconic buildings like the opulent Palais Garnier, the Place des Vosges, and of course, the

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The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is the world’s most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL GREGOIRE / UNSPLASH.COM

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Louvre, which is the most visited art museum in the world, home to the Mona Lisa. Nearby, find one of the most unusual art galleries in the city, a counterculture gallery/studio co-op at 59 Rivoli, where every surface, from spiral staircases to ceilings, has been painted and adorned throughout the many levels of the building. Working artists occupy these studio spaces and visitors can watch masterpieces created on-site as they climb each floor. Hiking the flights of stairs to the Sacré Coeur Basilica offers another stunning viewscape of the city as it keeps your heart pumping and works off the morning pastries. And for a delight of another sort, the titillating Moulin Rouge district is a popular thrill. Visitors hoping to check Paris icons off their list should know that restoration work continues on the fire-damaged Notre-Dame, with scaffolding and cranes still surrounding the structure, set to reopen in 2024. Exposed like this, it’s still fascinating to observe. Near Notre-Dame, indulge your fashion sensibilities by strolling the Boulevard Saint-Germain, which is one of the most iconic streets of Paris’ Left Bank. It’s a less crowded way to indulge in fashion-forward shops. Or if you’d rather more centralized shopping, pay a visit to the art nouveau Galerie LaFayette department store in the heart of the city, with floors filled with luxury brands. More flagship stores can be found along the Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where fashionable visitors can both see and be seen. While a well-tailored dress and bespoke shoes are de rigor, the French know it’s the accessories that truly make the outfit complete. Jewelry and leather goods of course are necessary, but in a city full of tiny apartments, Parisian pets also make an iconic mark as they stroll or are fashionably carried throughout the city to get some fresh air. They are a celebrity favorite companion at Paris fashion shows, as guests on the laps of their famous pet parents. A newer trend is for designers to work them into the presentations themselves, as models carry them in matching outfits or walk with them down the catwalk. They are incorporated as an homage either to the beloved companion role they play, or to make a political statement about the environment or animal welfare.

Nymphe marble statue in Tuileries gardens. PHOTOGRAPH BY ELENA DIJOUR / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Opposite: At the Moulin Rouge: The Dance,1890, by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Lautrec was a French painter, known for his enticing, elegant and provocative images of the sometimes decadent affairs of the colourful and theatrical life of Paris in the late 19th century. PHOTOGRAPH BY EWY MEDIA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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The Musée national Gustave Moreau is an art museum dedicated to the works of Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau. PHOTOGRAPH BY CHANTAL GARNIER / UNSPLASH.COM

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lthough the fussily groomed French poodle prancing on a leash led by an elegantly dressed woman may once have been a common sight, this stereotypical image of “FiFi” has given way to pets who are carried and make a statement with their containers and accouterments. Now it’s more bulldogs and chihuahuas in designer leather harnesses and leads who are accompanying the ladies who lunch. Some restaurants make it a selling point. Outdoor patios of restaurants like Au Petit Sud Ouest near the Eiffel Tower, Le Bouledogue, and Café de l’Industrie (with a pet-friendly dining area called Bring Fido) are very friendly and accommodating to dogs and their owners, allowing you to enjoy the finest French wines and delicious cuisine with your furry companion at your feet. Dog-friendly cafes like Le Bel’ Vil Café and the ice cream shop Berthillon Glacier are also welcoming places to bring a pet or simply to enjoy being in their company. While the idea of lunching with pets in tow is ever-present, cafes devoted to housing domestic animals are also a popular sight. Cat cafes popped up in Paris a decade ago with Le Café de Chats near the Bastille. Rescued cats weave through your legs as you dine and they may be petted after you’ve washed your hands. Known as “the” cat cafe in Paris, it has inspired others like the popular Chat Mallow Café, which is home to a dozen or so friendly and personable felines who amuse and entertain diners with their playful antics. Not to be outdone, there’s even a planned dog cafe, Dog’s District, set to open soon. The history of pampered pets is intertwined with French history. A recent exhibition on the pets of French royalty at the Palace of Versailles focused on the place and role of pets at court, from the royal family to courtiers. Ever-present pets filled and animated the royal rooms, and were a big part of the daily life of the families, all witnessed in the collection’s historical portraits. Among the sovereigns, many chose to surround themselves with their favorite animals, such as Marie Lesczńska, wife of Louis XV. Treated like family members, these “royal” pets slept on

Paris’s long-standing ties to Haute Couture fashion can be traced back to the late 1800s, as seen in this early photo of a womens’ clothing shop, Paris, 1910. WORLD HISTORY ARCHIVE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO Opposite: The poodle, mostly known for its fashion good looks, was originally bred as a hunting dog and used by wildfowl hunters to retrieve game from water. Although the Poodle most likely originated in Germany, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and a minority of cynologists believe it originated in France. PHOTOGRAPH BY EALISA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Pampered pups on bespoke leashes are omnipresent at cafes, bakeries, bars, and restaurants where they are catered to with their own menus and water bowls. They may be dressed in simple shirts or accessorized with colorful bandanas, or outfitted in custom-made quilted coats or cashmere sweaters. A new trend is to dye their coats with the latest hue. Inventive grooming can make its own statement. The “couples’ fashion” of dressing in matching outfits as your pet began in Paris in the 19th century and continues to this day. As it was then, it is possible to be outfitted in similar hats, boots, handkerchiefs, and jackets. Pocket dogs and cats ride in style in chic designer bags from Hermes, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton through department stores and office buildings. You’ll see them packed on bicycles and motorscooters, inquisitively poking out their noses to sniff the sensation of smells breezing by them. And in a city known for its perfumeries, there are even some specially made for your pooch.

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Models wear creations by Belgian designer Raf Simons as part of a Dior collection presented during the Paris Haute Couture fashion week. DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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Paris, the city of light, might as well be referred to as the city of fine delicacies, as the city is steeped in cafés and brasseries—many petfriendly. MIDDLE: PHOTOGRAPH BY YANA FEFELOVA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM • RIGHT: PHOTOGRAPH BY MOSTOVYI SERGII IGOREVICH / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Opposite: During Paris Fashion Week, colorful styles and trending designer wear can be seen off of the runways and all about the city, as with Aya Suzuki and Ami Suzuki of Amiaya, photographed outside of Valentino. PHOTOGRAPH BY FERRUCCIO DALL’AGLIO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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custom silk or velvet beds, ate gourmet meals, had their own staff of servants, and dressed in matching outfits. Paris was famous in the 19th century as the place for canine haute couture. Wealthy aristocrats from around the world would travel to the salon of canine tailor Monsieur Vivier in the Galerie d’Orléans at the Palais Royal to ensure their beloved pups were outfitted in the most fashionable outfits. Vivier dressed toy terriers, greyhounds, and griffon dogs in impeccably tailored dog coats constructed in the same fabrics and hues used in women’s clothing. Clients would arrive from London and New York, as well as the city of Paris, to have a whole wardrobe made for each season and occasion, including elegant outfits for traveling, yachting, and relaxing at home in silks, serge, tartans, and leathers. Animals are a familiar and much-beloved motif in French art. The palace once held celebrated interior decorations of the Menagerie, which no longer exists today, as well as the sculptures of the gardens, such as those of the Latona Fountain or the vanished Grove of the Labyrinth, which once featured more than 300 animals, gathered around a staging of Aesop’s ancient fables. Animals are also a favorite subject of street artists. Commissioned murals and guerilla art both feature the exotic and the domestic alike. Street signs are a common place to adorn, with mini portraits of stylized cats and dogs seemingly on every corner. Larger artworks along the winding alleyways seem to fancy cheetahs and leopards. The most famous, if not the wealthiest, Parisian pet may be Choupette, the Birman cat owned by Chanel designer Karl Lagerfield. When Lagerfield died in 2019, he left his fortune to Choupette. She has made millions herself, a reported $2.5 million in 2020, through sales of her book and licensing her image. Alas, beloved pets are gone too soon. Paris celebrates the lives of these constant companions with elaborate decorative gravestones in the city’s historic pet cemetery. Le Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestique’ (cemetery for dogs and other pets) has also become the final resting place of famous exotic animals like turtles, monkeys, horses, lions, and even a shark, as well as more traditional cats and dogs. Built in 1898, the cemetery was designed to stop people from placing their dead pets in the trash or throwing them in the river. The French government passed a law that forbade this, urging people instead to bury their pets. Other noted memorials include that of a mountain rescue dog that saved the lives of 40 people from an alpine pass in Switzerland, Napoleon’s three-legged ‘Moustache’, and the celebrity dog Rin Tin Tin, who starred in 27 silent Hollywood films before his death in 1932. Although the lavish tombstones are the stars of this site, the grand entrance is spectacular as well, an Art Nouveau archway designed by Eugènie Petit. The French also celebrate the animal heroes of the Great War, where 11 million horses, 100,000 dogs, and 200,000 messenger pigeons were lost in service. These enlisted animals were decisive partners in combat, carrying soldiers, pulling equipment, rescuing the lost and fallen, keeping troops informed, and giving comfort in the face of the brutality of World War I. The Spielberg film War Horse based on a novel of the same name demonstrates how instrumental animals were in these efforts. The City of Paris is working on the creation of a memorial that pays homage to these animals killed in both WWI and WWII. ■

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French traditional pastries from local organic ingredients on display in healthy lifestyle oriented patisserie. PHOTOGRAPH BY ELENA DIJOUR / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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The Two Fridas by Helen Arden

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By Frida Kahlo as a young girl, 1919. FINEART / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

2022, Frida Kahlo’s cumulative influence is staggering compared to the modest fame she had achieved by the time of her death at 47 in 1954. Throughout her active years, other active female Mexican painters were far more famous than Kahlo. She produced only around 150 known paintings from 1924 to 1954. (For context, Georgia O’Keeffe produced 2000 works in her long career, and over a period of just 10 years, Vincent Van Gogh produced 900 paintings.) The rarity of Kahlo’s work, her short, difficult life, her high-profile marriage to muralist Diego Rivera, her agency to revolutionary movements, and her carefully cultivated look combined over the years after her death to create a towering figure, separate from the woman herself, larger than life. Her image is a meme. In the 1990s, the meme was called Fridamania, culminating in a 2002 critically acclaimed biopic starring Salma Hayek. Her branding was such a part of her that it eventually transcended her. Swirling around Frida Kahlo was a unique stew of social, cultural, and political moments that directly influenced whom she became, whom she represented herself as, and what she painted. The image we can conjure of Kahlo just by hearing her name—colorful shawl around her shoulders, hair full of flowers, her famous unibrow—is so strong because she herself was so focused on it, not only her own physical image but an image of herself in her moment, an attempt to answer the questions: What does it mean to be Frida? What does it mean to be a woman? What does it mean to be Mexican? Of her 143 works, 55 are self-portraits. She was asking audiences to look at her, which is perhaps part of why we still love to do so. The complexity of self on display in Kahlo’s work is totally immersive, a self-examination so layered the viewer must look for a long time to see everything there is to see.

rida Kahlo was born to German and Mexican parents in 1907 in Coyoacán, outside of Mexico City. Her father was a talented photographer and painter who encouraged his daughter’s artistic pursuits from an early age. Kahlo suffered from polio at age 6, only the beginning of the physical trauma that would plague her all of her life. She began her pursuit of a medical degree (and was one of only 35 female students admitted to her school) in 1922, but in 1925 she was a victim of a horrific bus accident. Several passengers were killed, and Kahlo suffered extensive serious injuries. An iron rail impaled and fractured her pelvis and punctured her abdomen and uterus, and broke her spine in three places, among many other fractures and dislocations. Kahlo wore plaster corsets the rest of her life to support her spine, and over the course of the next 30 years underwent over 30 intensive reparative surgeries with limited success. Much of her life, both after the accident and in her final years, was spent bedridden or confined to a wheelchair. Her parents constructed an easel and mirror that allowed her to paint self-portraits in bed, and this was where her career began. Kahlo married the famous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera in 1929. Her courthouse wedding attire was borrowed from a maid, a tiered and embroidered peasant dress. Kahlo wore her own interpretation of traditional Tehuana dress, a matrilineal indigenous people from Oaxaca. Her

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Kahlo had been a promising student headed for medical school until being injured in a bus accident at the age of 18, which caused her lifelong pain and medical problems.During her recovery, she returned to her childhood interest in art with the idea of becoming an artist. VINTAGE_SPACE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Frida Kahlo and her pet deer, Granizo, 1939. Kahlo often used her pets for inspiration, and as models within her paintings. Opposite: The Wounded Deer, 1946, this painting has multiple interpretations from an expression of her frustration over the botched surgery to sexual implications featuring her struggles in different relationships. BOTH COURTESY ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

colorful attire became a way to turn heads on the streets of San Francisco, Detroit, New York, and Paris, with Rivera, and also a way to disguise her disabilities. Three years after Kahlo’s birth in 1907, the Mexican Revolution began. From 1910 to 1920, groups of revolutionaries, including the Zapatistas, fought to depose and replace the Federal Army in the most historical period in the formation of modern Mexico. Victory in 1920 brought sweeping political, economic, and social change to Mexico. Kahlo was born at the end of one country and the dawn of another. Growing up, her teachers introduced students to indigenismo, a school of thought and a new form of Mexican identity that celebrated the indigenous cultures of Mexico in an effort to combat colonial thought. Postrevolution Mexico saw the rise of a new middle class and stronger attempts to include rural and ingenious Mexicans into a new, cohesive cultural identity, which became known as Mexicanidad. This surge of cultural identity influenced the young, educated women of Mexico, including Kahlo, to incorporate native dress into their daily wear. Kahlo wore traditional native Mexican clothing to advertise and emphasize her mestiza ancestry: bright-colored long-tiered skirts, huipils (square cut embroidered tops), rebozos (colorful shawls), elaborate Tehuana headdresses, and jade jewelry. She wrote in a letter to her mother

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from San Francisco: “The gringas really like me a lot and pay close attention to all the dresses and rebozos that I brought with me; their jaws drop at the sight of my jade necklaces.” Kahlo traveled with Rivera to the United States several times between 1931 and 1933, following Rivera’s commissions for murals at the San Francisco Stock Exchange, California School for Fine Arts, a retrospective in New York at the Museum of Modern Art, a mural at the Rockefeller Center, and a mural at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Kahlo miscarried a child, began her long affair with photographer Nikolas Murray at this time, and both subjects feature heavily in the work she produced in the States. She painted only 13 paintings during these years. In America, Kahlo thrived on turning heads with her bold dresses and severe face. She painted herself in these outfits as expressions of the emotional support they represented for her. Around 20 outfits she once wore now tour in an exhibition around the world. Symbols of native Mexican culture litter Kahlo’s paintings. Her interest in naive folk art was part of a movement to centralize rural Mexican tradition to the

country’s identity, and this iconography combined with her European influence is the basis for Kahlo’s unique style. Much of Kahlo’s work plays in such contradictions. Roots symbolize both personal growth and a sense of being trapped (My Grandparents and I). Scissors represent female empowerment and male dominance (Self Portrait with Cropped Hair). Medical imagery connotes both healing and pain. She was fascinated by the Aztec’s concepts of duality and hybridity, the idea of being two things at once. This is a fundamental conceptualization of many identities to Kahlo—Mexican, mestiza, female, personal—a combining of disparate elements that conflict and support each other. Other representations of Mexican identity can be found in Kahlo’s animal iconography. Once again drawing inspiration from ancient Aztecs, Kahlo painted monkeys (Self Portrait with Monkeys), parrots (The Frame, which was the first painting by a Mexican woman to appear in the Louvre), and the pre-colonial hairless dog Xoloitzcuintle, or Xolo. Kahlo was an avid animal lover, and painted Diego, Me, and Señor Xolotl, in honor of the couple’s beloved hairless dogs. In several famous

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Itzcuintli Dog with Me, 1938. CONTRIBUTOR:FINEART / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Self-portrait with Hummingbird and Thorn Necklace. MARTIN SHIELDS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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photographs taken in 1944 by Lola Álvarez Bravo, Kahlo wears a striking lace black dress and peers into a mirror in a courtyard, surrounded by her two dogs. The Mexican hairless dog is a breed with ancestry traced back to the Aztecs. She also owned two spider monkeys named Fulang Chang and Caimito de Guayabal, who would entertain guests with tricks at the couple’s home, Frida’s childhood Casa de Azul. Rivera and Kahlo returned to her childhood home in 1934, and while they divorced in 1935, they remained close friends, and Kahlo managed Rivera’s finances and household—his studio was right next door—until her death. Kahlo hosted plenty of influential artists and political figures in the blue house in Coyoacán, including former Soviet leader Leo Trotsky and his wife. (When Trotsky was killed in 1940, Kahlo was briefly considered to have been involved with the murder.) Kahlo’s health declined rapidly between 1940 and her death in 1954. She underwent multiple surgeries, including the amputation of her right leg in 1953, and she wore 28 different spinal supports from 1940-1954, which she painted and decorated herself. Her paintings from this period reflect her health problems, including The Broken Column (1944), Without Hope (1945), and The Wounded Deer (1946).

y this time, word of Kahlo’s paintings had reached Surrealist artist André Breton. He was so impressed by her work that he helped her arrange her first solo exhibition in New York in 1938. Held in November, artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and many other popular painters attended, and over half the paintings sold. The showing was so successful that Kahlo earned another solo exhibition opportunity in Paris the year after. This one was less successful, and it only showed two of her paintings, declaring the rest too vulgar to display, but it did result in the purchase of a painting by the Louvre. Kahlo’s fame and reputation began to gain much of its speed in the later years of her life and grew posthumously. During her life, she was known most as the wife of Diego Rivera, as a socialite, and as an important member of the international cultural elite. Back in Mexico, Kahlo helped found the Seminario de Cultura Mexicana, a group of 25 artists commissioned by the Mexican government to expand local and global knowledge of Mexican culture. Kahlo worked as an art teacher out of the Casa de Azul for much of the 1940s, until her health took a turn at the end of the decade. Kahlo painted a few of her most famous works during this period, perhaps the most recognizable of her paintings— The Two Fridas—as well as Self-portrait with Cropped Hair and The Wounded Table. Her paintings were featured at three more exhibitions in Mexico City, San Francisco, and New York. After a long decline in her health, Kahlo died in her bed in 1954, and her reputation slowly grew, gaining speed in the 1970s during the feminist movement’s challenge to the exclusion of women and artists of color from the historic canon of art. This moment also aligned with the Chicano movement of the 70s, a social and political wave that sought to elevate Mexican icons. In the 1980s, Mexico forbade the export of any more of her works, as they are part of the country’s national cultural heritage. This added to the allusiveness of Kahlo and her work: complete retrospectives are almost impossible, and her work rarely appears at an international auction. (The last Frida Kahlo painting to be auctioned, Two Lovers in a Forest, sold in 2016 for around $8 million.) Historian Oriana Baddeley compares the intense, everlasting interest in Frida Kahlo to the fascination of Vincent

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Kahlo’s Self-portrait as a Tehuana,1943. ARCHIVART / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO Opposite: The dress Kahlo wore for that self-portrait, featured in the Frida Kahlo Beyond Appearances exhibition. FREDERIC REGLAIN / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Frida Kahlo was enamoured with the Mexican hairless dog breed xoloitzcuintli, whose name is derived from two words in the Aztec language: Xólotl, the god of death; and itzcuintli, or dog. She even named her favorite “Mr. Xolotl,” after the Aztec canine deity and guardian of the underworld. OPPOSITE: SCIENCE HISTORY IMAGES / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Here, Kahlo’s husband, artist Diego Rivera with one of the xoloitzcuintle dogs in the Blue House. ARCHIVART / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Van Gogh, but cites one crucial difference: Van Gogh is associated most with his paintings and work, and Kahlo is associated most with an image of herself, which, printed on stickers and t-shirts and candles has more in common with Bob Marley. Kahlo has even been made into a Barbie doll. Kahlo’s unusually complex and compelling art, portraying a dark but inspired mindset, only deepens her mystery.

ften in Kahlo’s paintings, there are two Fridas. In The Two Fridas, two sides of her sit together, holding hands, one in a high-collared white dress, the other in Tehuana traditional dress, both figures with hearts exposed. In Self Portrait on the Mexican Border, Kahlo paints herself in a dainty pink dress, standing between Mexico on the left, represented by a desert with Aztec symbolism, and America, represented by the Ford factory. In Self Portrait with Cropped Hair, Kahlo is dressed as a man, holding the scissors she has just used to cut her hair short. In a drawing for the exhibition Appearances Can Be Deceiving, Kahlo drew herself naked beneath a voluminous skirt and shawl, her plaster corset, the scars of her body, visible beneath it. Between these many Fridas must be the real thing, and perhaps this is why her legacy still commands attention. Kahlo integrated the tragedies of her life with raw emotion. She did not resolve feelings in paintings, she merely expressed them as she felt them. Perhaps this is why, other than her physical limitations, there are so few paintings from her active years: these paintings took emotional effort, and became a way for Kahlo to pour frustration, pain, confusion, longing, and the many conflicting but important identities she found within herself all at once. Kahlo once said, “I paint myself because I am often alone and I am the subject I know best.” Though her image now feels culturally ubiquitous, her reality is still a swirling mystery to us, even after she painted it 143 times. ■

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Frida Kahlo’s plaster corset on display at the Museo Frida Kahlo, Mexico City, Mexico. JEREMY GRAHAM / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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THE WOMEN WHO INSPIRE US INTERVIEWS BY KAREN FLOYD

Women Inspiring Women . . .

* Copy edited for length and clarity. * Interview videos are available to watch at elysianwomen.com

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LYSIAN was the result of Karen Floyd’s personal quest to tell and listen to stories about exceptional women. On the surface, Floyd’s interviews are about women achieving, overcoming, persevering and enduring. Their authentic journeys are captured through her anecdotal interviews. Floyd asks, “Timing, virtue, luck, funding, perseverance, faith, endurance or passion?” The answer, she concludes, “is as unique as the stories themselves.” “There is no “secret sauce” to success nor one roadmap to achievement.” In many cases, she emphasizes, “their journey was lonely . . . yet hardship created inner strength, clarity and enlightenment.” Floyd maintains, “With age and time, the Inspiring Women collectively recognize and identify a universal goal: making the next chapter of their lives more meaningful.” It is that purposeful determination to give back, that Floyd mirrors the women she interviews, and shares their inspiring stories with the ELYSIAN reader.

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Consuelo What hasn’t CONSUELO VANDERBILT COSTIN done? You could say the singer, composer, songwriter, designer, actress, philanthropist, and entrepreneur has built her success on not only finding her voice, but in helping others find theirs. Despite the pedigree attached to her family name—she is a seventhgeneration descendent of shipping and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt—Consuelo found success through anonymity and carved out her own identity along the way. With an impressive music career—signing her first record deal at age 21, founding her own label and producing multiple hit singles—and her own jewelry line, Consuelo launched SohoMuse, a member-driven social networking platform for creatives, in 2017. SohoMuse has become a melting pot of globally renowned designers, artists, musicians, directors, dancers, makeup artists and more who have collaborated on projects around the world. With the recent launch of SohoMuse Presents VOICES, these creative professionals now have an additional outlet to face issues like women’s rights and diversity. Whatever Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin hasn’t done, she’ll likely approach it with the same heart and fearlessness that has driven her all her life.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL PANICCIA

Interview Date: September 13th, 2022

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Can you tell our readers about your work with death row inmates? I am honored and it has been one of the greatest lifechanging roles for me to facilitate the release of Jimmy Dennis’s story to the world, and to help his life dreams come true. Jason Flom, from the Innocence Project, has been a major supporter of Jimmy. He also founded and was the former chairman of several record companies, including Lava records. But Jason is also known for his work in criminal justice reform, and more specifically the Innocence Project. He has 30 million subscribers on his podcast, which came out on October 23rd. So, you explore the aftermath the families suffer . . . emotions like shame? Yes, and we will also expose what happens with the wrongfully convicted and innocent. Can you imagine being incarcerated when you are innocent, yet everyone around you believes that you’re not? How do you live with that? No, I cannot imagine that…not as a mother, as a sister, as a wife. Let’s shift to you, Consuelo, and start from the beginning. You have a worldview that is second to none. What are your first memories of London? Do you remember being in the United States before you left for London at the age of two? I do. My Dad loved gymnastics and would take me before I moved to London. I had a strong bond with my dad, which was my foundation and the beginning of memories. I adored gymnastics. How do you maintain your physicality today? I work out four or five days a week and then things slowed down during the Pandemic when I was unwell, and now I am fully recovered and back to working out 3-4 days a week. So how do you mitigate stress? I learned about managing stress when my mom got sick. I became her health proxy, which was my greatest honor, to take care of her for her last four years. I found a way to deal with her situation in the most amazing way because I saw myself as if I was a person watching myself. I was the best of myself then. I managed my stress in the most powerful way. At that moment, I was able to see myself in the worst of times under stress. Whether it was taking walks, writing, or being completely in my music journaling, it was my absolute release. I learned that if everything were to be banished . . . if I were to lose every piece of jewelry, everything tangible, and was left with only the clothing that I had on my back, the one thing that I would have is my journals. They are the chapters of my life and tell the stories of my life. Are you going to publish them? Probably. That truly was how I dealt with my stress at that moment. Today, I don’t deal with my stress the same way. But I am finding a way to meditate more peacefully, play piano, listen to calming music and to overall try to be more balanced. Which is not easy for me, lol, but trying. You really have learned a little bit more about yourself ? Just being very truthful about who I am. Even in that honesty, always acknowledging the place that I’m in at that moment, and facing my fears, and always trying to overcome them to the best of my ability. Your parents seemed to be very athletic, which told me a couple of things about your point of reference—your physicality, determination, and willpower. As an outsider, I see these as your strongest traits and characteristics. Can you tell me more about your mom? I just got chills. My mom was such a light. She was absolutely beautiful, looked like Barbie, and had a very dirty sense of humor. She had these amazing dimples and could get away with murder. She could just walk into a room and light it up. She could light up the world. She was silly and yet she also made the world a better place. She really did. She knew

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about family and understood connecting. She was all heart. What was your relationships with your mother like? We had a beautiful relationship, but as with most mother/ daughter relationships things can be complicated. I think being a singer going against the grain of my family was unnerving for my mother and I think she worried for my path but always supported my songwriting. How did you come about the name Rebel? I have never done anything that anyone ever told me to do, haha. Not ever. I follow my own rule book. Yet, have you been able to sustain a marriage? Yes and Rafael and I have a wonderful marriage. He is incredibly supportive always of my family and my Dreams. We have been through a lot together and I am forever grateful to him. He is hysterical, so talented, and incredibly bright and very handsome, I think. She was in San Francisco, and you had a seven-piece male rock band in Los Angeles. How did that work for the relationship? Raf and I had only been together for three months. I would commute between SF and LA singing in my band and taking care of my Mom. Raf would also come and visit in SF. I am so grateful to him for his support. I was recording an album in LA at the time, and I was working. I would go back and forth taking care of her. And then I would come back. I became an advocate for the American Cancer Society and the vice president of the Ovarian Cancer Coalition. All this allowed me to acquire information for my mom. I became a huge champion for the Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and that was my greatest gift. You were her advocate and caregiver until she passed. I was. My mom made dying okay on every level. She embraced it. She did. She did. She did something I had never known. She really made dying okay. She made the world okay. Walking through it with her, as painful as her chemo treatments or her radiation treatments were, I became a part of her journey. It wasn’t something that was wrong. Are you familiar with the CaringBridge? Yes, but for those unfamiliar can you describe the CaringBridge? It is a wonderful online tool that allows you to share health updates, and it lets the patient communicate firsthand in their own words, as my mom did, to thousands and thousands of people. Even when she may not have wanted to speak to someone because she did not feel well enough, family and friends would tune in and read her words. The sharing changed my mother’s life. The CaringBridge became her journal. It became the chapters of her life story. People from all around the world would read what she shared on CaringBridge . . . they would tune in every day. Beautiful. Consuelo, let’s now focus on your life at the time of your mother’s illness . . . on your music career. What was going on with your band? We wrote an album together, which was an extraordinary process because I had been signed and was in a production deal with Peter Amato, this amazing songwriter. On two or three occasions in my life, I have worked with genius songwriters like Matt Prime, where the world stops during the collaboration and there is such amazing magic. Were you a collaborator on songwriting? Yes, always. The magic happens and your world stops when you are so in sync with an artistic genius that you finish each other’s sentences. I write a melody; someone writes a lyric. I had a collaborator, Andrew Richford, who is one of the longest-standing Sony artists on this planet. He would call them purple notes. It’s an unimaginable world that you can’t quite describe, but where collaborations truly come from.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL PANICCIA

Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin attends the SohoMuse x NYFW Ignite the Runway Fashion Show featuring Victor de Souza at 199 Water Street New York, NY on September 7, 2022. SIPA USA / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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FOR WOMEN WHO ARE 35 AND YOUNGER, HOW DOES THAT SELF-AWARENESS MANIFEST?

Are you a “creative” or are you a “linear” person? Creative mostly . . . but probably a blend of both. The reason I speak about these very specific collaborations in my life is that both Matt Prime and Peter Amato were the foundations for the music created. They created very specific moments in time, in music. Once I wrote the album with my band, the first song Naked, stayed on the dance charts for 16 weeks or maybe 20. And then Naked literally went to number 16, which changed the trajectory of my career. You had an ailing mother, a crazy commute, and were responsible for the band. How did that work? The complexity helped me to be the best for mom and myself. Because you were fulfilled creatively and yet you were also caregiving to someone that you loved so much? I wrote a song and dedicated all of the proceeds to the American Cancer Society. I was giving back, and I was doing it all at the same time as caring for her . . . which was an amazing experience. There is nothing more that I could have done. Does he ground you or do you ground him? We compliment each other. Every day is different, and I never experience the same type of day. Life for me is never vanilla. It is always purple, yellow, and blue…with a bit of drama. What was your most successful music venture? The last single, Body Needs, went to number five in the US. I went on tour in Europe, and it was mind-boggling, performing in Germany and signing autographs. Having people sing your songs and their appreciation . . . there are no words to describe that, truly. Then you pivoted in your career, why? It was a very hard and important decision for me. I knew that if I did not take on this entrepreneurial need and void that I saw in the marketplace, I would always regret never having fulfilled this venture. But music is always in my soul and will forever be my first love.

Will you be releasing new music in the near future? My previous album was only launched in certain territories. Last October I realized my music landed between TikTok and everything else technology allows. So, I started integrating pieces into the different facets of my world and putting 30 or 45 seconds of my music into everything. I am basically building out new audiences. I will be launching my album next year. Are you a complete extrovert? I am both, an extravert and an intravert. Do you feel like your mom is always with you? I do. Is that where you inherited your love of fashion and jewelry? Tell me about your experience selling your line on the Home Shopping network. Oh God, it was amazing. There is nothing on this planet like that . . . no preparing in advance or training you can do either. I performed in front of 250,000 people before, but presenting on the HSN is like being a puppeteer in that medium. You have a host and 25 different items with random people calling in while you are talking to them live for a maximum of one-and-a-half minutes. You hope that that host likes you because if they don’t like you, your entire hour or two hours is sabotaged. Meanwhile, you are trying to upsell as the producer is talking to you through an earpiece. You keep repeating the same thing, which is insane . . . just the craziest thing I’ve ever done. But I loved it. I loved it so much. I never wanted it to end . . . for as long as I lived. And you loved it because? Being able to sell to so many from the comforts of your own home and really have people relate to you is an amazing experinece. Did you prepare or wing it? I prepared for about six months in advance. Will you do it again? It was so much fun and so amazing to have had this experience. When you were songwriting and in the real performance stage of your life, you did not use the Vanderbilt name. Never. I wanted to be really known for my music. It was important to me as a musician that my music be based on anonymity. It was my pride and joy to be Consuelo. I wanted one name: one name and on my own. I did this and it had nothing to do with anyone else. I stood completely alone and on my own, rock solid. The label would say, “Consuelo is too Spanish sounding.” They asked me, “What is your nickname?” I answered, “Mo. Because my best friend called me Ho.” Then, “What’s your last name?” I answered, “Costin.” The label said, “Great, then Mo Costin.” And that’s why you did your own label? No one knows what the magic ingredient is. I own my own label to control the narrative and the distribution of my music. Is there too much responsibility with your last name Vanderbilt? It is incredible and I feel very fortunate but it also comes with expectations as well.

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Singer Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin performs as models walk the runway during the Vivienne Hu Fall 2016 fashion show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Art Beam, 2016. BEN GABBE / STRINGER / GETTYIMAGES.COM

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a Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin and guest at the LA Launch Event Of SohoMuse at Christopher Guy West Hollywood Showroom on February 07, 2020 in West Hollywood, California. ELLA HOVSEPIAN / CONTRIBUTOR / GETTYIMAGES.COM

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“WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL SAFE, YOU ARE CONSTANTLY FIGHTING, SEARCHING, AND NEEDING THINGS TO FILL THE HOLE. WHEN YOU DO FEEL SAFE, YOU GROW UP KNOWING YOU CAN SUCCEED, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT ROCK-SOLID FOUNDATION. I SPENT MY LIFE SEARCHING, SADLY, BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE THAT.”

Why is your family name anyone’s business? It is not anyone’s business; again, I am very proud of my family’s name and background. You are self-made and self-actualized. What is the end game . . . for SoHo Muse to be a household name? Yes. Because these are extraordinary opportunities—these young brands, these young artists, young talent—helping them to achieve their dreams. There is so much undiscovered talent, such a need for mentorship and internship job opportunities, we want SoHo Muse to be a facilitator and truly become a trusted source for the creative community. Do you trust people? I think through life experiences it has made me more self aware so not as trusting as I may have been before, but I also live with my heart so I always give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Every woman, further in her journey, who is not threatened by your beauty and brilliance, relates to you. How do you temper jealousy, or do you even try? I don’t believe in Jealousy or ever look at this quality. I have in the past tried to hide behind and make it about others rather then my self but I have been working on this. I am going to cry, Consuelo. Never dim yourself. That makes me sad. I don’t know why that touches me. I did. Because it was just easier. When you diminish yourself, you give them . . . Power. If you want to be remembered for one thing, what would that be? Heart, 100%. What one piece of advice do you want to give women that are embarking on their own journey? Don’t be afraid to be you. That would be my advice. Always.

Do you think that people know who they are, and when did you figure out who you were? Two years ago. Truly. For women who are 35 and younger, how does that self-awareness manifest? I think love and parents do this. When a child feels safe—the cocoon between the child bonding with the parents—it starts there. When you don’t feel safe, you are constantly fighting, searching, and needing things to fill the hole. When you do feel safe, you grow up knowing you can succeed, because you have that rock-solid foundation. I spent my life searching, sadly, because I didn’t have that. Does the journey of hard knocks force people to eventually figure out their life’s purpose? Sort of. I think you get to the point where you say, what does it all look like? Or something inside of your heart says you are enough. This is where forgiveness comes into play. The interesting thing about forgiveness is that in the end, you don’t blame anyone for anything. I don’t blame my parents . . . my mom showed and taught me about dying. Planning her funeral was one of the greatest things I have ever done, which sounds so strange. It was one of the proudest moments of my life because I felt that I honored everything that she wanted. It was remarkable because of who she was and everything that she was about . . . it was extraordinary. And the world saw it. And the world saw it. Her legacy, truly, was that she became so much more in her passing. You did not have children? Not yet. I still want to experience motherhood if I can. Like everything Consuelo, you will figure it out and you will be an amazing mother. Thank you so very much. I hope I will. ■

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vikki Interview Date: March 30th, 2022

Animals have shaped VIKKI SCOTT’S life in a profound way. Fueled by a lifelong dedication to saving our four-legged companions, her strongest childhood memories involve her pets, and she can easily identify her own personality traits that evolved out of her relationships with them. As Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Vikki Scott lives this ideal. She is a trailblazer, an advocate, a natural leader. At Animal Advocates of Barnwell County, she developed a program with a nearby prison that allowed rescue cats and dogs to live with inmates. The nonprofit continues to thrive after 20 years, thanks to her creative and innovative approach. This rescue and adoption agency has given Vikki a chance to pay forward what she has had all her life—the perfect pet for an individual, a child, a family, and the promise that their lives will be enriched just as hers was.

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Your entire adult life has been dedicated to saving animals. When did that love begin? I have always loved animals. The first bad word I ever said was in their defense. As a child, I became very ill, and the family doctor came to our house for a doctor’s call. I was actually having an asthma attack. He said, “That damn dog and those damn ducks have to go.” To which I said, “Like hell they will.” I was three or four years old at the time. That sentiment has held throughout my entire life. I was allergic to dogs and am highly allergic to feathers and cats (I currently have 10 cats of my own!!!). Thankfully, I out-grew my allergy to dogs. At the present time, I have 10 personal dogs. What were the names of your animals? Buffy was the dog, and the ducks were Susie and Ducky Daddles Roma. What was special about Buffy? I don’t remember when or how we got her, only that I was three years old, and she was a cocker spaniel. When I was five, she made her way through our fence and I witnessed her being run over by the milkman. It was devastating for me. After Buffy who came? The vet knew how upset I was after Buffy died and had been boarding a little dog named Tuffy who was left at his clinic by people who never returned to get her. The vet gave Tuffy to me. As an only child, did animals replace siblings? Absolutely. If you grow up as an only child, you create a pretend friend or talk to your animals. Animals became my best friends. Did you learn unconditional love from your animals? I knew that no matter what, my animals would be there. They were inside dogs. My father would say no more animals, but every time he went out of town, we got another animal. How many animals did you have in your formative years? As a child, the most dogs I had at one time were three, but in my older years, a lot more.

You were born in Washington, DC, and lived in Alexandria, Virginia, until your father’s job as an engineer moved the family to Clemson, South Carolina. Yes, I moved to Clemson in high school. After graduation, I went to Winthrop and then transferred to the University of South Carolina where I obtained a degree in nursing. Was it tough? Yes, it was the hardest thing for me because they gave my dogs away when we moved. I never got over it. How long were you without dogs? Until after college. It broke your heart. It did. I was very shy at that age and although I had a friend or two, I wasn’t someone that had a lot of friends. Why did you enter the profession of nursing? And has that helped you in the world of animal rescue? Absolutely. In nursing school, you learn not to give sympathy, but to give empathy. If you give sympathy, you can’t help someone because you become too emotionally involved. You must be able to stand back a little bit, think, and then react. Did nursing create the foundation for your life’s work with animals? Absolutely. What area of nursing did you gravitate toward? I thought I wanted to be a pediatric nurse. I requested that when I applied for a job at Richland Memorial, (Richland Palmetto now). Pediatrics didn’t have a space and so I was placed in orthopedics. In hindsight, this was a good thing because I was exposed to so much more. Surgery was eventually the field where you landed? Yes, and I use what I learned in nursing every day now but directed at animals. My medical knowledge and experience help me save animals’ lives. I can pick up on a symptom, just like with people, and act on it. When did you move to Allendale, South Carolina? After I met my husband and we were married, we moved to

SO, YOU WOULD GO TO THE COUNTY FACILITY, AND PAY TO SAVE CERTAIN ANIMALS, WHILE KNOWING THE REMAINING WOULD BE EUTHANIZED? HOW DO YOU DECIDE BETWEEN THIS ANIMAL AND THAT ANIMAL, KNOWING THE END RESULT?

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Vikki Scott at her home just outside of Aiken, South Carolina with three of her beloved rescue dogs—Windsor, Chloe, and Aci.

Allendale, South Carolina, which is a very rural area of the state. It was not an easy transition. Most of the people have lived there all their lives and like many small towns, new people are slowly accepted. We lived there for eight and a half years, and then we moved to Barnwell. Is this where your rescue work began? My first adult rescue was right after college, but yes, it continued on a much larger scale in Allendale and then in Barnwell. My husband is in the lumber business, a place where stray dogs and cats would congregate. While some lived at the lumber mill, we always tried to find homes for them. We kept what we could but never took them to the pound. How many animals are you talking about? Hundreds. Do you think that people were leaving their animals at the mill knowing that they would be cared for? I’m sure they were. In 2005, you formally began protecting and caring for animals? In the beginning, we helped the local shelter as volunteers. We were just so sad and upset with the deplorable situation there. There was a 98% euthanasia rate at that time, so wonderful animals that were very “adoptable,” were being euthanized. The annual budget, when we started, was $40,000 at the county shelter. This included salaries and they only allotted $200 a year for food for the animals. Their mindset was to kill the animals, which was hard to watch and absorb. We decided to start a nonprofit called

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Animal Advocates. We felt that we could save animals by taking them from the shelter as quickly as possible and getting them medical care or whatever else they needed . . . Did you begin, initially, with the sickest animals or the healthiest? We tried to do a variety. So, you would go to the county facility, and pay to save certain animals, while knowing the remaining would be euthanized? How do you decide between this animal and that animal, knowing the end result? It is tough, and we still make those decisions. It’s not easy for one person to make that decision either, so we send two people . . . sometimes three, to decide their fate. We feel very guilty when we leave because we couldn’t take them all. You must focus on the big picture and help as many animals as possible. What criteria do you use when you rescue animals? There are different criteria depending on space availability. Our Friends for Life Center has limitations with little and large runs available. So, the criteria are based on what animals we already have at the center. If we have little dogs, we will get big ones. We try to diversify with different colors, sizes, and personalities, so we have something adoptable for everyone. What are the mechanics of adoption? We place our animals on various rescue sites like Petfinder and RescueMe. Sometimes adoptions happen by word of mouth. We have several repeat adopters who tell their friends. Most people are looking for an animal on the internet and they call us. We have been so amazed. People drive many miles to our facility when we know they have a county shelter or even a rescue in their town. This past week, we had an adoption from Daniel Island, South Carolina, and one from Augusta, Georgia. We had someone fly from New York on their private plane to adopt one of our cats. Your team spends a good bit of effort, time, and energy in the digital world? Yes, we have our Facebook page, of course, and we place our adoptable animals on rescue sites. How many premier rescue sites do people use? There are four that people really follow. You started a program in the prison system, where animals are placed with the incarcerated. Why that population? How did that idea come about? It was an idea I have always had in the back of my mind. We were building our Friends for Life Center and I had a call from the warden at the Allendale Correctional Institution. He asked me to come visit, which I did. I felt that cats were a necessity. “How would we do cats here?,” he asked. I said, “They will live with the guys . . . with a litter box.” At the end of the day, he said, “Bring nine cats.” We started with two cats, and the program evolved. “When are you going to bring the dogs,” he asked. I said, “Well, I’m not.” He asked why? And I said, “because I don’t like where you want to put them. I don’t want them just stuck out in dog houses.” He asked me where I wanted them placed and I said, “In the rooms with the guys.” “All right, bring them and we’ll try it.” he said. We went from nine cats to having 50 animals continuously at the prison. Do the cats fare better in that program than dogs, or is it equal? No, equal. Were there any experiences that were bad, that made you reconsider? Never. The one thing that I worried about was if the animals got sick. Would they get in touch with me? Every single time an animal became ill, it didn’t matter when, they would do their part. If it was two o’clock in the morning, they would call. What are the criteria for placing the animals with inmates? We had one dorm with two wings. We put the cats on A wing and the dogs on B wing. It was one dorm and we affectionately called it the Animal House. Inmates must apply to be pet dads. Our program is called Meow Mate & Mutt Mate. The inmate must go through an interview process with inmate leaders,

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Vikki with Hank Scott, and their daughter, Kimberli, at the Night of the Unleashed, fundraiser Event for Animal Advocates. Opposite: ELYSIAN Publisher, Karen Floyd, interviews Vikki at her personal residence.

IT IS TOUGH, AND WE STILL MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. IT’S NOT EASY FOR ONE PERSON TO MAKE THAT DECISION EITHER, SO WE SEND TWO PEOPLE… SOMETIMES THREE, TO DECIDE THEIR FATE. WE FEEL VERY GUILTY WHEN WE LEAVE BECAUSE WE COULDN’T TAKE THEM ALL. YOU MUST FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE AND HELP AS MANY ANIMALS AS POSSIBLE.

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. which once selected, is how they become a pet dad. They can have no disciplinaries. What happened during COVID? My heart goes out to the incarcerated because they were unable to see their families until recently for two years. Volunteers like myself could not go in. How many animals were part of the Meow Mate & Mutt Mate program? At least 1000 animals have gone through the gates of that prison. Were they more adoptable because they became socialized by the inmates when they left? Absolutely. I was working at the center one Saturday and a couple from Columbia came to look at our cats. I took them from room to room then I returned to my desk and said, “Just help yourself and see if a cat “speaks to you.” In a few minutes, the husband came out and looked so funny. He said, “What do you all do to these cats? I’ve never seen such friendly, sociable cats in my life.” I said, “We sent them to jail. I explained the whole process to him. He was just amazed. It is a win/win. The pet dads compete against each other to see whose dog and even the cats can be trained. The men got on a kick of teaching cats to walk on a leash and harness, oh my gosh, and how to sit up in bed like a dog. The experience for the animal is positive because it makes them so much more sociable. We usually send our problem animals to prison, and the inmate and animals help each other. We have animals so strong they can pull our vet assistants down on the ground. The inmates work with them. There was a cat with separation anxiety, so bad that when you would leave it by itself, it would throw itself against the door, literally cutting its face all up.

Because the men are in the rooms most of the time, they would step out of the door for a minute, then go back, then three minutes, then five . . . Over time, it really made a difference in the cat’s life. Was the cat eventually adopted? Absolutely, absolutely. Why has this program not been templated across the United States? I think people are afraid. When I first brought this up at our board meeting, I had a couple resign. Vikki, they did not belong on your board. Well, thank you. They worried that something would happen to the animals. Think of all the people who were bettered by the program, not to mention the lives of the animals who were loved. How could anyone tarnish that? The program has lasted nine years, and I never had a problem. Is there a comparable program, to your knowledge? To my knowledge, no. There are several cat programs across the United States, but none with both. Your foundation received the 501 C 4 status in 2005 meaning you are approaching the 20-year mark. What is the capacity of the shelter? We can accommodate a total of 100 animals. Having a prison program allows us a place to house so many more. The animals are being trained and they become more adoptable at the same time. It’s just a no-brainer. You double your footprint while socializing animals in preparation for adoption. Whose idea was that? I wanted to do it, but our Center was being built. It was the decision of the warden. The moment we got the key, we took the animals there.

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Before the warden approached you, you knew that there was a need. Was he a family friend? No, but his executive assistant is a friend of mine. He had called another rescue and they never returned his call. She told him, “I know somebody for you to call.” She then called me and asked if I would come to talk to them. I said sure, not ever realizing what it would become. What was your biggest struggle in the formative years of Friends for Life? In the rural south it is so difficult to raise money for any nonprofit. Our median income is $25,000 and people are just trying to keep their heads above water. They don’t have money to donate or time to volunteer. They are hardworking and caring for their children and families. We became pretty creative and opened a thrift shop called Pick of the Litter. During the challenging economic times, it has helped so many people in Barnwell. They can find quality merchandise at low prices, while we provide jobs to diverse people. We currently have three special needs employees working between the center and our Pick of the Litter shop. Where do you find the Pick of the Litter inventory? People deliver the items to us. Every Saturday, if there’s a yard sale, people will load what they don’t sell and bring the residuals to the shop. Some families cleaning out “grandma’s home” will donate a whole house full of furniture. Animal Advocates and Friends for Life Center. What’s the difference between the two of them? Nothing, our organization is the Animal Advocates and the center is called Friends for Life. How many square feet is your center? Can you describe it to the reader? The center is about 5,000 square feet. You enter the Friends for Life Center through the lobby. In front are our adoptable cats housed in glass community rooms. On one end is our quarantine wing. Every animal, it doesn’t matter where they came from or if they’re up to date on vaccines, goes to quarantine. That way, we can observe their behavior and identify any medical

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Pictures with the Easter Bunny—Vikki Scott with rescue dog Francie at the Pick of the Litter Thrift Store in Barnwell, South Carolina, which is owned and operated by the Animal Advocates. Above: Vikki points to the marketing banner for the Animal Advocate Prison Program at Allendale Correctional Institution in South Carolina. Opposite: Vikki Scott pictured with one of the adoptable dogs at Friends for Life Foster and Adoption Center located in Barnwell.

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problems. They stay there for at least 14 days, or until we feel like they are medically ready to enter the general population. The other wing is our dog adoption wing. The animals start at one place and just rotate through. How large are the cages that these animals are in? None of them are in cages. When they are in quarantine, we have condos for the cats because they must be isolated. But once they make it into the general population, we have three good size rooms, and they intermingle. They can climb on structures for exercise. We have little cat and doggy doors that go out on screen porches. The animals can go out and get fresh air and be on the screen porches. They love that. Do they have a herd mentality and ever bully? Oh yes. They’re just like children. We have one room that we call the Cattitude. It is a room for the ones that are a little bit older, and they don’t like the young ones and have an attitude. Are all animals adopted? Some are, and some are not. During COVID we had the most adoptions we have ever had. And where did those adoptions go? All over. People had a lot of time on their hands at home and were on the rescue sites. They would call us, download an application, and then apply. We then set up an appointment for them to come. Sometimes they come just to meet a couple of different animals. Sometimes they have already made up their minds. If they have other animals at home, we ask that they bring them so we can test their getting along. Do you ever end up with rare breeds that are super desired, or are most of the rescues mixed breed animals? We have everything, from little poodles to Great Pyrenees, Dobermans, and designer breeds. We have a little variety in every breed. If you had an open wallet to make changes in this geographic area, what would you do? I wish I could say just one thing, but our challenges are so multifaceted. Education is the key because you always change hearts if you can teach children. It is also simple awareness. I don’t think people that live in rural areas realize how bad it is. We have

a lot of hunters in this area and if their dog doesn’t hunt well, they just let them go. In the fall, you would not believe the number of hounds and beagles that come into the county shelter. If a dog is lost, the owners will drive off and leave them. They do not want the dogs spayed or neutered either; it is a mentality that is beyond belief. If we could teach children the proper care and the value of animals, it would be such a different world. How many days a week do you work? I don’t do as much as I used to. I used to work seven days a week. I would usually go to the prison two or three days a week and then be at our center the rest of the time. How many total employees do you have? The total at our center right now is 11, and we have 10 employees at the thrift store. While we had hoped we could run this through volunteers, unfortunately, you can’t count on them. We have three certified people at our center. Looking into the future, how does this operation sustain itself ? We must be always thinking of new ways to fundraise. We have a grant team with three of our board members searching all the time for grants. Many grants are based on the people population, so often times small rural areas do not qualify for much-needed grant money. We don’t get a lot of help while still experiencing an overpopulation of animals. What do you want to be your legacy? I hope that I made a positive difference in the lives of animals and children. What piece of advice would you give your younger self ? I would say to be more outgoing because I am naturally an introvert. It is important to learn how to network with others, particularly if you want to be successful in the animal world. You have to be able to talk with like-minded people and be willing to help each other with situations involving animals. Working in the animal world definitely made me become more outgoing. I think it is also very important to be open-minded. You said something to me earlier, that one of the values of animals was they were not judgmental. But Vikki, you are not a judgmental person. Where does that come from? From animals. ■

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philanthropy

an unFurgettable affair BY CAROLINE RYAN

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ELYSIAN’S UPCOMING NEW YORK FASHION WEEK EVENT CATWALK FURBABY WILL FEATURE INDIVIDUAL DESIGNERS WHO WILL COLLABORATE WITH A RUNWAY MODEL AND A FOUR-LEGGED RESCUE ANIMAL TO SHOWCASE CUTTING-EDGE FASHION CREATIONS AND RAISE AWARENESS AND PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR ANIMAL WELFARE.

haddeus Stevens Boltz snuggles up close to his owner, Fiona, on the living room couch. A relative newcomer to the family, the goofy gray cat with the sweet white muzzle and piercing green eyes joined the Boltz tribe that includes two grown children and a senior canine named Eleanor during the COVID pandemic when their previous cat passed away. “When we said our goodbyes to our first rescue cat, I was convinced we were one and done,” remembers Fiona. That cat, Aslan, was one of a kind—smart, sweet, and incredibly handsome. But one day, I started looking at rescue cats online, and a picture of a beautiful shorthair popped up on my screen. I couldn’t stop staring at him, and two days later, he came home for good! Thaddeus (named for the emancipator Thaddeus Stevens), brings our whole family lots of laughs, is easily amused with toys and laser pointers, and is a prodigious snuggler. We are definitely two for two with rescue cats!” Thaddeus’ story is similar to that of many others—in fact, according to the ASPCA, 23 million American households adopted a pet during the COVID-19 crisis—that’s one in five homes that have added a new canine or feline member since 2020. Many of those adoptions were from animal shelters and rescue organizations, and underscored people’s need for companionship, especially during lonely and isolating times. “This incredibly stressful period motivated many people to foster and adopt animals, as well as further cherish the pets already in their lives,” said Matt Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA.

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esearch has shown that having a pet in your life is good for your mental health and can help with depression and stressful situations. A recent article in Nature reported that human– animal interactions may even improve peer-to-peer social relationships, as well as enhance feelings of respect, trust, and empathy between people. But why consider a shelter animal? There are myriad reasons to do so, according to the Humane Society of the United States. For starters, HSUS says that by adopting, you will most certainly save a life. Each year, more than a million adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized simply because there are too many pets in shelters and not enough people considering adoption. This number could be dramatically reduced if more people would rescue a pet from a shelter or rescue organization instead of purchasing one from a breeder or pet store.

elping Hands Humane Society also believes that adoptions and rescues help stop cruelty in mass breeding facilities. These facilities, often known as puppy and kitten mills, engage in intolerable practices that force animals to produce litter after litter in harsh conditions until these animals are no longer profitable. Adopting a shelter animal means you do not support these practices and can help make it financially unviable for these types of facilities to continue operations. Supporting shelters that have taken up this charge to encourage pet adoption and that also promote animal welfare and advocacy as a whole, is a cause that is near and

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IT WAS KANSAS WHO IGNITED FLOYD’S DESIRE TO DO MORE FOR ANIMALS, AND THE MEMORY OF THEIR TIME TOGETHER HAS SERVED AS THE UNOFFICIAL INSPIRATION FOR ELYSIAN’S UPCOMING INAUGURAL NEW YORK FASHION WEEK EVENT DUBBED CATWALK FURBABY. dear to ELYSIAN publisher Karen Floyd. Floyd met the love of her life seven years ago after an introduction from her veterinarian. The handsome fellow had four legs, a microchip, and some serious health issues. However, Floyd fell head over heels for this skinny, ailing dog and nursed him back to health. “There was something about him,” she recalled fondly. “He had a nobility about him. Most important, he loved me, and I loved him.” Floyd named him Kansas, for the state that turned out to be his place of origin, and the pair created a lasting and meaningful bond during their next six years together. It was Kansas who ignited Floyd’s desire to do more for animals, and the memory of their time together has served as the unofficial inspiration for ELYSIAN’s upcoming inaugural New York Fashion Week event dubbed CatWalk Furbaby, a day of fashion designed to benefit animal charities from around the country, coordinated by cocollaborator BISSELL Foundation, founded by fellow animal lover Cathy Bissell. The foundation has a network of more than 5,750 shelters in all 50 states, and has impacted more than 605,000 pets since 2011. According to Bissell, the foundation is saving animal lives in all 50 states as well as Canada. Like Floyd, Bissell’s inspiration for the foundation came from her own adoption of her black lab, Bear. Bear was six years old and he was surrendered by his original family to the local humane society because they got a new puppy and didn’t have time for him. The BISSELL Foundation has now grown into an organization that partners with shelters across the country to address the pet overpopulation crisis in the U.S. and works to reduce the number of animals in shelters and rescues through pet adoption, transport, spay/neuter programs, vaccinations and microchipping, as well as to help animals who are facing crisis situations due to human-made and natural disasters. “BISSELL Pet Foundation is excited to be the beneficiary charity of ELYSIAN magazine’s CatWalk FurBaby event during New York Fashion Week,” said Bissell. “My team and I are dedicated to creating solutions for animal welfare organizations and the communities they serve through our adoption, spay and neuter, vaccination, microchipping, and crisis and disaster response programs. We are grateful to the

participants for raising awareness and philanthropic support to benefit deserving pets and help us get closer to achieving our mission to end pet homelessness.” Catwalk Furbaby will feature teams of individual designers who will collaborate with a runway model and a four-legged rescue animal to showcase cutting-edge fashion creations and raise awareness and philanthropic support for animal welfare on behalf of featured shelters from around the country. Floyd, long a champion of initiatives related to businesswomen and children, is also a dog lover known for her animal advocacy and philanthropy. She believes that now is the perfect time to begin the CatWalk Furbaby initiative.“I have devoted the last 10 years to creating change related to women, children, and the environment,” she said.“The fourth issue where I want to make a difference is animal welfare.” CatWalk Furbaby, which will take place on February 10 in the Paramount Hotel’s Sony Hall, one of Midtown Manhattan’s premier venues, will be produced by Runway 7 Fashion and will feature clothing and accessory lines from SohoMuse designers for both the models and the participating dogs and cats. SohoMuse, which was founded by “rebel heiress” Conseulo Vanderbilt Costin, a seventhgeneration descendant of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, is an invite-only social networking club and global community that boasts thousands of creatives from the fashion world, including designers Malan Breton and Nicole Miller, and New York Times fashion writer Ruth La Ferla. SohoMuse is known for creating experiential events that highlight topical issues. This melding of creative minds and organizations will most certainly result in a memorable inaugural event, according to Catwalk Furbaby Chair Kimberli Scott. It will be an event that is worthy of the venerated New York Fashion Week, which has been featuring cutting edge couture since 1943, and more recently, has been a vehicle for spotlighting social issues, such as diversity, equity and inclusion, migration, and sustainability. New York Fashion Week, a biannual event of runway shows and presentations, features celebrity models, vaunted fashion guests such as Vogue’s Anna Wintour, and some of the world’ most notable designers who are highlighting their collections for the coming season. Scott, who is also the chair of Elysian Impacts, the philanthropic arm of Elysian Publications, said that Catwalk Furbaby is the result of the efforts of an “incredible team of people” who have come together to amplify the cause of animal welfare and to create change. “CatWalk Furbaby is a way to celebrate the spirituality of rescuing animals and to support the work of organizations that are making it possible for animals and humans to create meaningful connections,” added Floyd. “Elysian is particularly excited to release its much-anticipated ‘Pets & Fashion’ spring issue at the event. ■ Editor’s Nnote: CatWalk Furbaby will benefit the charities on the following pages.

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Loxahatchee Groves, Florida

Big Dog Ranch Rescue

ig Dog Ranch Rescue’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and educate until every dog has a loving and safe place to call home. The organization believes they can achieve this goal, and will achieve an end to dog homelessness and abuse through legislative efforts, hard work, and strategic partnerships near and far. “We will never give up and we will never back down from the needs of all heartbeats because every life matters,” according to president and founder Lauree Simmons. Simmons’ passion for saving dogs led her to create Big Dog Ranch Rescue, the largest cage-free, no kill shelter in the United States. Founded in 2008 in Palm Beach County, FL, the rescue has evolved into a powerful global voice with Simmons leading the way on issues including ending dog euthanasia in kill shelters in the Southeast U.S., stopping the China dog meat trade, and as a key participant in the White House signing of the first animal anti-cruelty bill in U.S. history, preventing all forms of animal abuse. Simmons first became inspired while volunteering at a Weimaraner rescue. She would later assume full control and convert it to serve dogs of all breeds. One afternoon, she visited a kill shelter where 14 dogs were about to be euthanized. She left that facility with all of those dogs filling her car—it was then that her vision of Big Dog Ranch Rescue was born. Her unique concept of creating a temporary home that nurtured dogs both physically and mentally has become a prototype of what every rescue should be. Simmons’ advocacy work has extended to the rescue of hundreds of stray dogs left at the U.S. southern border by migrants. On a recent visit to Eagle Pass, TX, near the Rio Grande, Simmons personally saw hundreds of starving and abandoned dogs. “They were left to fend for themselves,” she said, “and they can’t survive on their own.” This experience led Simmons to open a new 100acre rehabilitation, medical, and adoption facility in Shorter, AL, in an effort to save more animals from euthanasia and to help transport dogs to the Northeast for adoption. Big Dog Ranch’s website states that their “mission is to save as many innocent dog lives as possible through education, sterilization, and legislation” and its foundation “is a collection of donors, staff, volunteers, and corporate partners who share the same vision. Through an annual consolidated commitment, we can develop mutually beneficial relationships and provide recognition of generosity.“ Big Dog Ranch will be represented on the catwalk by Paris-based designer Anne Fontaine, who will be wearing her own creation. Fontaine, an ecologist and president of the Anne Fontaine Foundation that concentrates on protection of the Brazilian rainforest, is known for her collections that emphasize elegance and refined chic. “I am so lucky to be able to partner with Big Dog Ranch, such an amazing Foundation that rescues all these animals.,” said Fontaine. “This cause goes hand in hand with my Anne Fontaine Foundation which helps to plant trees in the Brazilian Rainforest, also giving animals a home.” Fontaine will be accompanied by a dog from Big Dog Ranch on the runway. ■

Sponsor: Barbara Gilbert and Lauree Simmons / bdrr.org

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ameson Humane Rescue is guided by the connection among animals, humans, and the environment. The organization seeks to improve animal welfare through global collaboration and education for the benefit of all life. Back in 2014, Monica and David Stevens founded Jameson Humane (Jameson) as a 501(c)(3) registered nonproﬁt organization to improve animal welfare through global collaboration and education. Guided by instincts, the Stevenses and their leadership team have not followed the traditional path of “animal rescue,” but instead listen to the community and respond holistically to the needs of its animals and their human guardians. The Jameson founders describe the organization as an impact-driven nonprofit that collaborates and educates to inspire change in animal welfare, not only in local communities but around the world, Jameson’s program model includes various novel solutions and approaches driven by education, prevention, and intervention. Its work is guided by how animals, the environment, and the community are all inextricably connected. The organization recently rebranded itself to represent its growing mission, to better reflect who it is today, and to symbolize its dynamic future as an impact-based organization that is guided by the connection among people, animals, and the planet. Jameson Humane works to find loving and permanent environments for animals in need, and helps to save animals from euthanasia, sickness, and abuse. They also endeavor to keep animals with their families through their Community Animal Assistance Program (CAAP). This program provides financial assistance for families who are having difficulty paying for veterinary care for their beloved animals. Jameson Humane has also recently partnered with five other animal sanctuaries to create the “Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet (LEAP)” humane education program. LEAP offers participants hands-on farmed and domestic animal care experience, education, and the opportunity to earn scholarships by volunteering at participating animal sanctuaries. (Monica) Stevens wrote that “Jameson knows there is a more compassionate path for students who would like to work with and do better by the animals. It is high time. We regularly receive calls from students in other ag programs who have lovingly cared for pigs, cows, sheep and goats, and have come to the realization that they will be going to auction, to slaughter, and want to do what they can to save them. I am thrilled and grateful that Jameson Humane is part of this celebrated event that will bring both awareness and funding to the necessary life-saving programs at our sanctuary and rescue.” Jameson will be represented on the catwalk by model Tanya Ward, who will be wearing a design by Napabased designer Karen Caldwell and will be accompanied by Chloe the dog. Caldwell is known for her vintage Hollywood aesthetic and her glamorous creations that include evening gowns, dresses, and suits in bold colors and retro silhouettes, and for using vintage fabrics and repurposing items, which is very much in line with the Napa Valley aesthetic of staying green and recycling. Caldwell describes her clientele as “women who have confidence in their strength and beauty.” ■ Sponsor: Jan Zakin / jamesonanimalrescueranch.org

Jameson Humane Rescue Napa Valley, California

Wellington, Florida & Camden, South Carolina

Danny & ’ Ron s Rescue

anny & Ron’s Rescue, which has locations in both Florida and South Carolina, supports the welfare of all dogs by rescuing dogs into their home, embracing them as their own, and helping them find forever homes. Founders Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta began their rescue mission in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by aiding dogs that were left homeless by the storm. Since then, their outreach has grown to heights they never imagined. They are now rescuing puppy mill dogs, bait dogs used in dogfighting, and hundreds of dogs from shelters—often moments away from euthanasia. Danny & Ron’s Rescue also currently delivers pet food and supplies to more than 48 elderly people living in poverty—and they pay for these dogs’ medical bills, as well. The organization has rescued dogs from junkyards and shelters, freed animals chained to trees and living in small cages, and saved abandoned pets living on the streets. According to Danny and Ron, their Rescue is a unique organization. Because an abused or neglected dog can only recover and learn to trust again when it is in a loving home, Danny and Ron have turned their own house into the ultimate safe haven. There, they personally care for injured and abused animals until they are ready for adoption. Each dog receives a wellness check from the rescue’s veterinarian, is then spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed, groomed, and loved. But most important, each dog is treated like part of the family, fed organic dog food from its own bowl, and even allowed to sleep in the bed. Danny and Ron believe that the opportunity to live with humans and other dogs in a real home environment is the best way to prepare a dog for adoption and a life with a loving family. They are also proud to be one of the only organizations that does not charge a pre-set adoption fee and instead relies on an affordable donation from the adopter. Danny and Ron’s journey as animal advocates was featured in the 2019 documentary “Life in the Doghouse,” which aired on Netflix, and shared their story of their commitment to helping dogs, and their mission of speaking for helpless animals that have no voice. To date, they have saved more than 12,000 dogs and show no signs of slowing down. “Danny & Ron’s Rescue is thrilled to be one of the charity organizations featured in the Catwalk Furbaby by Elysian!” said Danny and Ron. “We are grateful to our designer, Marc Bouwer, and to our sponsor, Durbin Emerson, for their enthusiastic support! This magnificent event will help to ensure that we can continue to rescue dogs into our home, embrace them as our own, and help them find forever homes.” Danny & Ron’s Rescue will be represented at the event by designer Marc Bouwer, whose dog Eliza will be strutting on the catwalk. Bouwer, who hails from South Africa but who now calls America home, is known not only for his artful draping and use of stretch fabrics (dubbed athletic glamour), but for being the first designer to produce a virtual fashion show in response to economic struggle across the globe as well as in respect for the environment. ■ Sponsor: Durbin Emerson / dannyronsrescue.org

SAVING ONE DOG WILL NOT CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT SURELY FOR THAT ONE DOG, THE WORLD WILL CHANGE FOREVER.” —KAREN DEVISON

AUTHOR OF A DOG’S GUIDE TO HUMANS

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peration Kindness is a pioneer in Texas for assisting animals in need of veterinary care, companionship, and most of all, a home. They operate a no-kill animal shelter in Carrollton, TX., and in addition to pet adoptions and lifesaving medical care, their programs provide foster care for vulnerable animals, resources for pet parents, affordable veterinary services for community pets, a pet food pantry, and volunteer opportunities. Operation Kindness was founded in 1976 by a group of volunteers who wanted to realize their vision of creating a shelter for homeless animals that had nowhere else to turn. Their idea was simple: show homeless pets kindness. In its earliest days, Operation Kindness functioned out of volunteers’ homes, but in the summer of 1976, the organization acquired the use of a veterinary clinic located in Garland, TX. Fast forward to 1988, and Operation Kindness had moved to a larger storefront location in Carrollton, and in 1999, they found their current home on Earhart Drive in Carrollton. Since then, they have celebrated several milestones, including breaking ground on the renovation and expansion of its adoption center and animal hospital in April 2018, celebrating the grand opening of the Rees-Jones Foundation Medical Wing in March 2020, and completing the remainder of the facility in July 2021. In July 2022, Operation Kindness launched a new Community Initiatives program to impact more pets across Texas. The new program now offers affordable, accessible veterinary services to under-resourced communities and shelters in Texas and beyond. According to Operation Kindness’ website, “While the organization has evolved since 1976, we have always remained committed to giving every animal the care and kindness they deserve.” Just last year, Operation Kindness used its impressive array of resources to provide second chances for thousands of pets across the region, and helping to facilitate more than 2,900 adoptions. Operation Kindness’ director of marketing and communication, Natalie Buxton, said that the organization’s strength is in its partnerships. “We actually have a really large range,” she says. “Operation Kindness works with more than 70 different rescue partners and other municipal agencies that have animals,” she told the North Texas eNews. “We work with some in Waco and Austin, Oklahoma, and Louisiana as well. Some of our largest partners are some of the big shelters in the region like Dallas Animal Services.” As part of that outreach and partnership, Operation Kindness often takes animals from other area shelters that are experiencing overcrowding, and the organization is proud to accept animals who are ailing or injured because they have the ability to care for them at their full-service veterinary clinic. Buxton estimates that Operation Kindness performs more than 1,000 medical exams at the shelter each month, and says that they can handle everything from serious illnesses to surgery. Buxton says that if Operation Kindness can do something to help animals find a healthy, happy life, they will. And Operation Kindness does not limit its services to homeless animals, but also provides resources to pets that already have homes, but might be in situations where their human families are struggling. Thanks to a food pantry, they make sure that no animal needs to go hungry, and because they have a dedicated veterinarian, they can help with basic care to community animals in need. Operation Kindness will be represented on the runway by a model wearing a creation by Soho Muse designer Victor de Souza. New York-based De Souza, who originally hails from Argentina, practices sustainability by creating timeless pieces with quality and care reminiscent of traditional couture. His “Conscious Couture” is a lifestyle that is committed to beauty, integrity, being set apart as well as conscious production. De Souza’s pieces are truly timeless creations that can be passed down from one generation to the next. ■

Sponsor: TBD / operationkindness.org Carrollton, Texas

Operation Kindness Rescue

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ong Island, NY-based Global Strays aims to reduce the suffering of animals in impoverished regions of Latin America. It funds animal shelters and creates longstanding partnerships to bring services directly into communities to increase the well-being of pets, strays, working animals, and families alike. Their goal is to create partnerships so that they can combat animal mistreatment and stray overpopulations at their roots. Their current initiatives are informed by the One Health Model, a driving principle that asserts that optimal health can only be achieved when we consider the health of people, animals, and their shared environment. Global Strays offers myriad programs in order to achieve its goals: animal shelter support to fund the monthly necessities of struggling animal shelters so that they can decrease the financial strain of rescuers; spay, neuter, and veterinary care clinics to reduce both animal suffering and stress for owners, thus allowing for healthier pets; relieving the financial burdens of surgery costs to families with pets, which dramatically prevents pet abandonment; educational clinics to provide pet care knowledge and to help foster empathy and respect for our planet and those that inhabit it; and free of charge working horse clinics that allow for healthy and pain-free horses that help sustain families’ livelihoods. Moreover, Global Strays believes that its role as an animal welfare organization allows it to serve as a resource for animal lovers around the world. According to its website, Global Strays “helps raise awareness on important issues in animal welfare on its social media platforms and website, and strives to become an educational resource for pet owners around the globe.” Global Strays was founded by current president and board member Elizabeth Shafiroff, daughter of prominent philanthropists Jean and Martin Shafiroff, and she began her animal advocacy journey in her 20s when she adopted a Shiba-Inu rescue named Rusty who hailed from a kill shelter in Kentucky. In due time, she also began fostering and finding homes for pitbulls who were scheduled to be euthanized. Her interest in saving these dogs became a guiding cause, and she now aims to educate communities around the world on the proper treatment of our furry companions. She has traveled around the world to areas such as Central America, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, and has garnered support from others who share her passion. Global Strays will be represented on the runway by designer Gloria Lee. Gloria Lee offers elegant yet romantic dresses that women can wear from day to night. Inspired by mythology, nature, and history, Gloria Lee designs each and every garment with the purpose to highlight women’s innate elegance, beauty, and love for all. The mission of the company is to deliver joy, style, and prosperity to everyone in the world and Earth. “It starts with the promise of creating beautiful collections with compostable fibers, collaborating with domestic manufacturers, and embodying production processes (Zero-Waste pattern-making, up-cycled fabrics) that are least harmful to our ecosystem,” according to the Gloria Lee website. ■ Sponsor: Inga / globalstrays.org

Long Island, New York

Global Strays

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Barnwell, South Carolina

Animal Advocates of Barnwell County

nimal Advocates of Barnwell County, SC, was founded in 2005 to provide care and shelter for stray, abandoned and abused cats and dogs in its community. According to president Vikki Scott, Animal Advocates of Barnwell County is a non-profit organization made up of a diverse group of people with the same common goal—to make a difference in the lives of the cats and dogs in their community by reducing the number stray, starving, abused, and diseased animals, thus reducing the need for euthanasia. Animal Advocates of Barnwell County’s website states that its goals are: • To place these animals in stable and loving permanent homes. • To promote and provide spaying and neutering to reduce the animal population. • To make the public aware and educate the community on the proper care and treatment of all animals. Scott writes that she realized that the local county shelter often had a euthanasia rate as high as 98 percent. She and the AABC Board of Directors decided that the best response to this was to build a facility that would enable them to pull these helpless dogs and cats from the county shelter into a safe haven. While being fostered there, AABC would give them the medical attention that they needed and deserved before helping them to be adopted into loving, forever homes. Animal Advocates of Barnwell County’s first step was to open the Pick of the Litter Thrift Shoppe which was able to fund a no cost/low cost spay and neuter program. It then began a capital building campaign and started applying for grants. It was a struggle because the median income in Barnwell County is $25,000.00, however, their determination paid off and, in the spring of 2013, they not only opened the Friends for Life Center, but also formed a unique partnership with Allendale Correctional Institution (ACI), a Level 2 character-based institution. Since its inception, the MeowMates/MuttMates program at ACI has grown from an original two cats to 50 animals currently being housed, fostered, and trained by a select group of inmates that we affectionately refer to as “Pet Dads.” To date, more than 500 dogs and cats have been fostered at ACI. This exceptional program has allowed Animal Advocates of Barnwell County to expand the number of animals that they can foster, thus saving many more lives. Scott attributes her organization’s success to the organization’s willingness to think outside of the box and to be open to new and innovative ideas for the rescue organization and the precious animals that they serve. Animal Advocates of Barnwell County will be represented on the catwalk by model Belle Scott and her dog Penny. Belle will be wearing a creation from the Brooke Wilder label. Wilder pieces are created under the supervision of designer Gina Marie Roberts and are crafted from natural, repurposed, deadstock, organic, or eco-conscious materials and are hand dyed with non-toxic botanicals and tannins. The aesthetic is natural, dramatic, and romantic, with “a splash of whimsical stardust.” ■ Sponsor: Vikki Scott / theanimaladvocates.org

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trong Island Animal Rescue has been taking calls about injured, abused, and neglected animals since 2010. The organization focuses on outreach and offers food, vaccines, and proper shelters, and also offers a strong educational component to reach people of all ages regarding animal cruelty laws in New York State. With years of experience in animal medicine, rescue, and welfare their team tackles Suffolk County’s toughest and lowest income areas. “We started out with cats and dogs, and then we saw a need for wildlife rescue,” said vice president of the rescue Erica Kutzing in an interview in the Village Times Herald. For instance, the Strong Island team recently helped save a raccoon that was trapped in the front grille of a car after the driver hit it and it became lodged in the metal. Thanks to their quick response, the animal made a quick and full recovery. President and Founder Frankie Floridia doesn’t discriminate—”whether it’s a trapped raccoon, a deer stuck in a fence, runaway cow, an abandoned mother cat and her kittens, or an abused puppy left on the side of the road, Strong Island will be there to help,” he said. “We’re available 24 hours, seven days a week for abandoned and abused animals,” Floridia continued. “We’re a local rescue that likes to give back to the community and we’re always here for everybody. That’s the way it’s been, and we’d like to keep it that way.” Florida, who grew up in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, learned about rescuing animals from his mother, who taught him at an early age to have compassion for all living creatures. She would work with feral cats and rescue dogs, and Frankie grew up in a house filled with dogs, cats, and parrots. Floridia wanted to continue his mother’s advocacy after she passed away from lung cancer, and “wanted to honor her memory” by immersing himself more deeply into animal welfare issues. It was from this desire that Strong Island Animal Rescue was conceived. Floridia, in particular, works to rescue animals from kill shelters and abusive home situations, in addition to being on call to rescue wildlife throughout the area. ”Getting animals to a safe place is what drives me,” he said. “I want to give them the chance to live to see another day.” Strong Island Animal Rescue will be represented on the runway by Noize Apparel and a dog from Connecticut. Noize is known for being a brand that is cruelty-free, sustainable, and vegan. Their website states that they are a company of “animal lovers who are driven by the belief that building a better world starts by making smarter decisions today. We said goodbye to animal by-products because vegan and cruelty-free are core to this idea, and we source innovative textiles and sustainable goods wherever possible.” ■

Sponsor: Carmel Fauci and Holly Williams / strong-island-animal-rescue-league.myshopify.com

Smithtown, New York

Strong Island Animal Rescue League

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Companion Animal Alliance

ompanion Animal Alliance formed in 2010 to increase the save rate of animals in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, community—a rate that has increased from 20 percent in 2010 to 89 percent annually today. Working in partnership with the East Baton Rouge City-Parish, Companion Animal Alliance operates the parish’s open-intake shelter and cares for nearly 9,500 animals each year, including cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, wildlife, and exotic animals. The alliance’s mission includes reducing the number of animals entering the shelter by providing resources to pet owners and increasing spay/neuter services; treating animals humanely while they are in the shelter’s care by guaranteeing strong medical care and providing socialization opportunities; finding forever homes, foster homes or rescues for lost or abandoned animals by making information on adoptable animals easily accessible, coordinating volunteers and pet transports, and maintaining strong relationships with local rescue organizations; and returning lost pets to their families by holding lost pets for as long as possible and reviewing microchipped information to make contact with the owner, if possible. Companion Animal Alliance’s agreement with the East Baton Rouge Parish includes caring for animals during emergencies. In 2021, the alliance provided temporary homes for pets evacuating from Hurricane Ida – many of whom belonged to people living in shelters who had no place to take their pets. Companion Animal Alliance was able to place 70 dogs and one bunny in foster homes in less than 48 hours. “We are beyond grateful for the families that generously offered up their homes to our pets to safely ride out the storm, and we are glad CAA was prepared enough to take on pets that needed us the most,” board Chairwoman Christel Slaughter said in the organization’s most recent annual report. The alliance has found success in its Pets for Life Baton Rouge program, which provides free animal care, services and information directly to communities lacking access to affordable veterinary care. With approximately 38 percent of Baton Rouge residents living below poverty, —ANONYMOUS this program removes barriers to resources for those facing socio-economic and geographic challenges. The Pets for Life Baton Rouge program is one way Companion Animal Alliance fights for racial and economic justice and weaves itself into the fabric of a community. Companion Animal Alliance has also seen promising results with its Trap-NeuterRelease program, held in conjunction with Spay Baton Rouge and the Feral Cat Coalition. So far, more than 4,000 cats have been spayed or neutered and returned to their communities. ■

NOT ALL HOMES SHOULD HAVE A DOG, BUT ALL DOGS SHOULD HAVE A HOME.”

Sponsor: Ann and Jimmy Hunt / caabr.org

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PHOTOGRAPH BY SVETLANAFEDOSEYEVA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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Franklin, Tennessee

Williamson County Animal Shelter

illiamson County Animal Shelter has four prime directives: adoption, enforcement, education, and spay/neuter. Their goal is to increase the save rate of animals in their area, find a good home for every adoptable pet, slow pet population growth, end animal neglect and abuse, and to be a positive force in the community. The center itself is a public open-intake shelter serving the citizens of Williamson County and cares for area domestic animals. It enjoys the distinction of being recognized with an achievement award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). A staff of 27 is led by director Ondrea Johnson, and includes a full-time veterinarian, two licensed veterinary technicians, a community relations coordinator, four animal control officers, an intake coordinator, two kennel managers, and four other full-time staff members. The shelter also employs five part-time kennel techs and support staff. The facility consists of a 35,000 square foot building containing an adoption area, cat and dog visitation rooms, free-roaming cat areas with enclosed patios, intake services, isolation and quarantine areas, testing area, community lecture room, dog training space, veterinary office and surgical suite, grooming room, photo studio, volunteer center, and office space. On the shelter property, large dog runs for exercise, wooded trail and a public dog park (opening TBD). The shelter’s Mobile Adoption Center (MAC) is used for adoption events held away from the shelter. Johnson said that Williamson County Animal Shelter is a proud no-kill shelter. “We do the very best job that we can to make sure that animals get adopted into a good home or go to a senior sanctuary.” Johnson got started rescuing animals when she was five years old. She often brought puppies and kittens home and “hid them in the barn” and began caring for them. She is an active animal foster parent, having had more than 100 furry foster children, and is absolutely thrilled to serve as the director of the Williamson Shelter. One way that she believes Williamson County Shelter can help spread the word about animal welfare is by modeling best practices for partnering with the community to keep pets in homes, help control pet populations, educate the public on pet-related issues, and offer adoption services for families looking to add a pet to their home . . . I strongly believe that the way to improve life for animals is to partner with the people who care for them.” Williamson County Animal Shelter will be represented by Merci Dupre Clothiers on the runway. The model will be accompanied by Tilly the dog. Merci Dupre is a private label created by Dr. Christina Rahm’s The Root Brands that is also the parent company of Under the Red Chandelier and Bill and Coo. ■ Sponsor: Root Wellness & Dr. Christina Rahm / adoptwcac.org

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PHOTOGRAPH BY MONIKA VOSAHLOVA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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ased in Oceanside, CA, Freedom Dogs is a nonprofit organization devoted to serving wounded members of the military who are being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and/or other physical impairments. Along with the organization’s trainers, Freedom Dogs’ specialty service dogs provide both physical and emotional support, helping wounded warriors successfully make the challenging transition back to civilian life, or in some cases, return to active duty. Their stated mission is to “speed the recovery and to enhance the lives of military heroes through the use of specialty-trained service dogs.” Freedom Dogs was founded by Beth Russell, a former critical care nurse in the Surgical ICU/Trauma unit of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center. Russell launched Freedom Dogs in 2006, later becoming its lead trainer and director. Both of her parents were veterans of World War II, so Russell had a great interest in working with the military. In May of 2009, Freedom Dogs completed a pilot program with the Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Battalion-West at Camp Pendleton as requested by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. It paired specialty service dogs and their trainers with two Marines—becoming an indispensable part of the Marines’ rehabilitation and recovery from post-traumatic stress. This pilot was so successful that it resulted in an ongoing close partnership between the Wounded Warrior Battalion—West (WWBn-W) and Freedom Dogs—the only one of its kind in the country. Freedom Dogs’ partner program pairs up and works with a wounded warrior assigned to him or her by the Wounded Warrior Battalion—West over a period of about nine months. Working closely with the warrior’s medical care providers, the close-knit team allows Freedom Dogs to follow participants throughout their transition from military to civilian life, customizing the dog training to the specific needs of the warrior. Regardless of the nature of the wounds, Freedom Dogs works to enhance the rehabilitation of warriors whose path to recovery can be rocky and takes time. The dog/trainer team provides an unparalleled approach to the healing process, offering steady support and demonstrating ways to navigate the challenges of daily life. The training program involves several phases, beginning with a meeting between the warrior, dog, and trainer. This progresses to weekly classroom sessions, during which the wounded warrior participates in the training of the dogs. This involvement can create an enhanced sense of purpose for the warrior and forms a bond and trust with trainers and dogs, helping reduce anxiety and depression. As trust develops over time, the warrior gradually ventures out into public with both the dog and trainer to the grocery store, doctor appointments, or sporting events, for example. This is where a Freedom Dog really earns its title—helping the warrior experience freedom by feeling calmer, safer, more sociable, less hypervigilant, and less reactive to triggers such as loud noises. With independence the focus of the final stage, warriors attend school or events alone with the dog, returning the dog to the trainer at the end of the day. Although the formal program eventually ends, the warrior can continue to request a Freedom Dog for specific outings, as needed. In some cases, a warrior will need more long-term support than the partner program can provide. This may become apparent after working with a warrior for a period of time. Then a dog may be placed with this person for the rest of the dog’s life. Freedom Dogs will be represented on the catwalk by model Logan Taylor and her dog. Logan will be wearing a creation by Taiwanese-born designer Malan Breton. Breton is renowned as one of the most versatile names in the fashion world, known for his work as an actor, film director, costume designer, columnist, musician, and model. His groundbreaking work includes becoming one of the first designers to digitize fashion into AI and VR, and joining the metaverse with photosynthesized models in 3D. An alum of TV’s Project Runway, Breton is known for his perfectly tailored garments that ooze glamour and are sought out by A-list celebrities and Hollywood stars such as Priyanka Chopra, Billy Porter, and Janelle Monae. Breton has been honored by a wide swath of dignitaries, including the Government of Bulgaria and during last year’s Queen’s Jubilee. He is one of a handful of international designers who have been invited to present privately to the British Royal Family, alongside other design luminaries including Dior, Chanel, Pierre Cardin, and Scaasi. ■ Sponsor: Lori Taylor / freedomdogs.org Oceanside, California

Freedom Dogs

sandra DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE FROM GEORGIA

emocratic Representative SANDRA SCOTT entered the world of politics in 2008 as a member of the Clayton County Board of Education. She has represented District 76 in the Georgia House of Representatives since assuming office on January 10, 2011. Though her current term ends on January 9, 2023, Rep. Scott advanced from the May 24 Democratic Primary and is on the ballot for reelection when the general election is held on November 8. Rep. Scott has been a member of numerous legislative committees, presently serving on the Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee, Human Relations & Aging Committee, Science & Technology, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, and Special Rules committees. She has sponsored more than 100 bills in the Georgian House of Representatives—most recently, House Bills 962 and 971 for legislation that would require gun owners to store their firearms in a secure manner and report if a firearm has been lost or stolen. “My heart cries out with sadness, grief, and anger every time I learn that a child has been shot by another child because someone left a loaded firearm on the table, in the car, or on their dresser,” said Rep. Scott. “We do not need legislation that would allow people to carry a gun without a permit. We need laws that increase gun safety, such as House Bills 962 and 971. When household guns are not stored safely or securely, the risk of death or injury only increases.” Policy Director for the National Foundation of Women Legislators, Rep. Scott was awarded the NFWL 2013 Woman of Excellence Award in Washington, DC. She is the vice-chair of the Henry County Legislative Delegation. She has been the chair and vice chair of the Clayton County Legislative Delegation, was the Recording Secretary for NOBEL Women from 2018-2021, the Georgia Women Caucus, the Working Family Caucus, WILL/WAND and the Clayton and Henry County NAACP, and the Clayton and Henry NCNW member. In addition, she is a member of Henry County Democratic Women and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Executive Committee. She has been honored as the 2013 Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Legislator of the Year. Her favorite saying is, “If I can just help one person a day then, my living will not be in vain.” When asked, however, what advice she would give her younger self Representative Scott said, “To love me unconditionally. To believe in myself. To take time to be comfortable with who I am. Take time to understand how to move around in this world that is constantly changing. Take time to understand why I do what I do. To go to school and never stop learning. To get involved in what is going on in my community, county, city, and state government. To be the voice for the people who won’t or are afraid to speak up against injustice. To encourage people that they can be . . . Don’t be afraid to fail because failure will only make you better. To never stop dreaming because my biggest dream is yet to come. To love my people unapologetically. To always embrace righteousness over wrong. To STAND UP for what is RIGHT, even if I MUST STAND ALONE. To trust God and let him lead me through this worldly world.” ■

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enator Shealy, 68, was born in Columbia, SC, to the late Brooks Edward, Sr., and Bernice Bell Frye. At the time of her election in November 2012, Senator KATRINA SHEALY was the only woman in the South Carolina Senate—and a decade later, she is one of only five women in the state Senate. She represents District 23. Presently, she serves as Chairman of the Family & Veterans’ Services Committee and sits on the Finance, Corrections & Penology, Rules, and Labor, Commerce & Industry Committees in the Senate. She is also a member and past chair of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, co-chair of the State Suicide Prevention Coalition, member of the State Child Fatality Advisory Committee, and the State Domestic Violence Advisory Committee. She is a past chair of the Southern Legislative Conference’s Human Services and Public Safety Committee and chair-elect of the National Foundation for Women Legislators. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Lexington County Department of Social Services, the Girl Scouts of the Congaree, Friends of Juvenile Justice, served as Chair of the Lexington County Republican Party from 2007 to 2008; is a past president of the West Metro Republican Women, 2008-2010, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Women of Hope Lexington Medical Center Foundation. In 2013, Senator Shealy was awarded Outstanding Female Statesman Award for Lexington County Republican Party, the South Carolina Republican Party Terry Haskins Award, was proclaimed South Carolina Federation of Republican Women’s 2013 Woman of the Year, received the Strom Thurmond Award for Excellence in Government in Public Service, the Saluda River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Conservationist of the Year Award; and in 2014, was awarded South Carolina Wildlife Federation Conservationist of the Year, the South Carolina Taxpayers Association “Friend of the Taxpayer” Award and the Woodman of the World “Community Leadership” Award. In 2015, she was proclaimed National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Legislator of the Year, received the coveted Palmetto Trout Award, the Palmetto Center for Women Twin Award, and was celebrated as the SCCADVASA Legislator of the Year. In 2016, she was named Children’s Advocacy Champion for Children, received the United Way Common Good Award for Volunteerism, the Trailblazer Award for Leadership on Domestic Violence Issues, and in 2017, was named S.C. Beer Wholesalers Legislator of the Year, received the American Legion Special Legislative Award, the Respectable Award, Able SC, and the Legislative Award, S.C. Department of Probation, Pardon, and Parole Services—to name a few. Senator Shealy is the founder of Katrina’s Kids, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which strives to give “Every Chance to Every Child” in foster care and group homes. A longtime champion of children’s and women’s issues, she formerly served as Chairman of the Board of the South Carolina Friends of Juvenile Justice, the Women’s Advisory Board for Lexington Medical Center, and as a board member for the Girl Scouts of the Congaree. As Founder of Katrina’s Kids, Senator Shealy was celebrated for her philanthropy in the Spring 2020 issue of ELYSIAN magazine as an Inspiring Woman. Her interview can be seen on YouTube. ■

Katrina 177 SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA / CHAIR-ELECT OF THE NFWL

PHOTOGRAPH BY SONSEDSKA YULIIA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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Cultivating Change to Leave the World Healthier for Generations to Come

DRC VENTURES:

ultivating change is what Dr. Christina Rahm is all about when it comes to helping people, animals, and the environment. A myriad of entities and individuals—politicians, lobbyists, social service organizations, medical institutions and even not-forprofits—consistently state they are working for the betterment of cultivating positive change. A great concept. A difficult concept. A challenging concept. Though what REALLY constitutes change? Change by definition is replacing “something” or substituting one “thing” for another that is better, cleaner, healthier, more sustainable, and potentially more suitable for everyone. DRC Ventures is Dr. Rahm’s vehicle to cultivate such “change.” Rahm is a multi-talented psychologist, scientific formulator, entrepreneur, patent innovator, humanitarian, artist, mother of four and author. This new “venture” is designed to become a global catalyst for conservation efforts to make the world better environmentally; to leave it healthier for generations to come. DRC Ventures’ overall mission is to create sustainable solutions that challenge the status quo creatively, scientifically, and artistically; to create products to support the health of individuals, animals, and the earth, with environmental attention also paid to land, air, and water conservation. Dr. Rahm’s undertaking is nothing short of genuine: “We are committed to creating safer, healthier, and happier lifestyles on a global scale—to help all of us, our animals, and the earth alike, while not settling with what society has ‘prescribed’ for us,” a theory discussed in her book, “Cure The Causes.” DRC Ventures will launch a luxury skincare line titled Ella Pure, under The Root Brands, a worldwide nutraceutical company. This line has all-natural skincare products specifically designed to reverse the effects of aging, brighten dulled skin, is 100-percent organic and cruelty free. Additional products under Ella Pure will include toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant. Another launch for DRC Ventures will be Merci Dupre Clothiers, which will host a couture line and be the ultimate in luxury eco-fashion and environmental protection. This unique line of “Enviremware” clothing hosts protected coating with innovative nano-biotech coating technology built in. This revolutionary new form of apparel offers an unbeatable barrier against hazardous toxins such as EMF radiation, heavy metals, viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungus, while supporting non-exposure of radio frequency electromagnetic particles from 5G. DRC Ventures will also include a partnership with Bill & Coo, a couture luxury pet and human fashion brand, also hosting nano-biotech technology. This venture will specialize in creating matching sets of eco-friendly clothing for you and your furry family member. Rahm Roast is one more innovative product to launch by DRC Ventures. Formulated by Dr. Rahm, Rahm Roast employs a trade secret method to extract toxins, bacteria, and fungus from coffee and will be the first product on the market of its kind. Finally, Rahm Pharma will also be under the DRC Ventures umbrella, formulating synergistic techniques combining pharmaceutical and nutraceutical patented innovations. Dr. Rahm, also a product formulator of The Root Brands, emphasizes patented technologies, superb quality with the highest level of ingredients utilized for her skincare formulations, coffee products, and environmentally friendly clothing lines. The philanthropic arm of DRC Ventures is The Rahm Foundation, which promotes educational and career opportunities for women, children and minority populations while providing more suitable outcomes for animals. The Foundation has provided support for scholarships, internships, and mentoring programs through the UN Women for Peace Association, Tennessee Voices, and The Treasured Foundation.

drc-ventures.com.

More information on Dr. Rahm and her innovative approach to environmental causes can be found at

www.

health&wellness

The Benefits of Birdsong BY MARCY DUBROFF

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ecent scientific studies now validate this infatuation with these colorful and fragile creatures by linking their sounds with mental health and a sense of well-being. For instance, a recent project done by Dr. Eleanor Ratcliffe, an educator in environmental psychology at the University of Surrey, linked birdsong to increased attention spans and the alleviation of stress. Ratcliffe wrote, “‘through my research on the restorative potential of bird sounds, I was able to show that bird sounds can create similar relaxing experiences (such as) seeing nature or going for a nature walk. I was able to find out how different properties of sounds create the link between sound and wellbeing.” Anecdotally, who can deny that the gentle coo of a dove or the trill of a skylark has calming and restorative effects on humans as we navigate lives that are ever more frenetic and overwhelming? The good news is that even those who live in urban environments or who are housebound can still enjoy the benefits of birdsong. Birds are now the fourth most popular pet in the United States, according to Pethelpful.com, with more than 16 million birds such as finches, parakeets, canaries, and white doves taking up residence alongside humans in their homes. Even the showy peacock, often associated with royalty and zoo exhibits, can make for a friendly avian presence, although most people who own these spectacular birds live in warm climates and keep them in large shelters outside their houses.

PHOTOGRAPH BY EVGENIYA FEDOROVA DRAMAS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ho can deny that the sweet strains of a songbird’s voice can raise one’s spirits on even the gloomiest of days? Humans have certainly enjoyed the sounds of birds in nature for millennia, writing paeans and odes to celebrate the virtues of our feathered friends. In his essay, Sacred Music: The Ecstasy of Birdsong, Richard Pope explained that one of the main reasons that humans have worshipped birds is because “we envied their godlike access to the heavens and revered them for their flight.” Their songs evoke similar feelings of reverence, and “tightly link humans and birds to each other, and both of them to the divine.” Birds can utter “articulate sounds” according to Pope, and although there are other animals, such as mice and whales that have the ability to sing, “none sing with the complexity, variety, and musicality of songbirds and humans.” Thus, a powerful bond between the two species has formed, based on music—even Charles Darwin acknowledged this when he wrote that “our enjoyment of the singing of birds” was a “result of our similar tastes for the beautiful.” Perhaps Henry David Thoreau captured this connection best when he described the effect of birdsong on his psyche, writing that “it lifts and exhilarates me. It is inspiring. It is a medicative draught to my soul. It is an elixir to my eyes and a fountain of youth to my senses. It changes all hours to an eternal morning.”

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EVERYWHERE I GO, YOUR BEAUTY SPILLS INTO MY DAY. THE TREES WERE NEVER THIS VERDANT. THE BIRDSONG NEVER THIS SWEET.” —KAMAND KOJOURI

AUTHOR OF THE ETERNAL DANCE: LOVE POETRY AND PROSE

PHOTOGRAPH BY IRONIKA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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our of these pet birds live in the Buettner household outside of Baltimore, Maryland. The four zebra finches (Ron, Hermione, Bart, and Lisa) that joined the family during the COVID pandemic at the insistence of the youngest Buettner, Michael, grace the corner of his mother Rita’s home office and are now mainstays of all of her virtual meetings. During this author’s interview with Rita, the finches’ lively chirping could be heard in the background. “When I am on a Zoom call with my colleagues, the birds are especially vocal,” she said. “People will often comment that ‘oh, Rita is in the meeting . . . I can hear her birds!” Buettner explains that it is now almost a given that the finches’ songs will serve as the soundtrack to virtual staff gatherings. “They are now part of my professional identity,” she chuckled. Joan Roque, of Cayey, Puerto Rico, has a similar relationship with JJ, the beautiful and colorful Caique (a type of parrot) she has owned for 11 years. While JJ does not talk as much as Roque’s other birds (a parrotlet who died last year, and several cockatiels, lovebirds, and parakeets she had a child), she will sing when she is excited and make lots of other noises. “I love hearing her ‘talk’ and sing to me, said Joan. It is like we are having a conversation.” It is clear that there is a strong bond that exists between the two. During our interview, JJ perches quietly on Joan’s shoulder and whistles softly when Joan laughs. JJ gently nudges Joan’s ear when she thinks Roque is not paying enough attention to her, which prompts another round of giggles and whistles. Joan and JJ were separated for several months when Roque and her husband relocated from Utah to Puerto Rico for a career move, and JJ had to overcome some restrictions imposed by the government before she was able to rejoin her human family. “JJ was very angry with me for a while,” said Joan, “and would ignore me and screech whenever she saw me.” Eventually, JJ realized that she was now safely back with her family, and began singing and whistling as she did before the move. She is now back to clowning around and being affectionate with Joan and her husband. “I love to hear her vocalize and laugh,” said Joan. “She is a true member of our family.” Ratcliffe expounds on both Rita and Joan’s bonds with their feathered friends. “My research expands on an opinion piece by Pete Brash in The Guardian. In that, he speculated on how bird sounds might help people through the darkest days of winter.” Ratcliffe’s studies found that some bird sounds can offer relief from mental fatigue and stress, especially those that are “quiet, high frequency, or have a level of complexity, such as a melody.” Ratcliffe postulates that these sounds are associated with environments that contain resources such as water, plants, and animals, which are areas where humans can thrive. Thus, people feel safe when they hear these birdsongs and respond in a positive way to the sounds. Another theory that Ratcliffe explores is how our “brains process information and focus on certain tasks.” This theory suggests that nature sounds, including birdsong, help us overcome fatigue by giving us something pleasant on which to focus. Bird songs “give us a break from other cognitive challenges in the environment, and allow us to replenish depleted energy levels,” she writes. Another research study, done by Roger Ulrich in 1984, indicates that bird songs can also have restorative effects on those who are recovering from illness or surgery. His groundbreaking article, “View Through A Window May Improve Recovery From Surgery,” found that people in recovery who had a view of nature and could hear nature sounds, including birdsong, needed less pain relief medication which resulted in shorter stays in the hospital. Hal Chernoff of Connecticut attests to the restorative effects of birds and birdsong. Chernoff, who has lived with his cockatoo Rosie for more than 30 years, credits his “opinionated and needy” friend with getting him through some tough times in his life. “Rosie and I bonded early,” says Hal. “While she doesn’t actually sing, her vocalizations are part of my everyday life. She has been with me through a divorce and the loss of loved ones, and I find that her presence and her voice are therapeutic, even if the rest of my family (which includes five cats) doesn’t like it when she screeches!” Hal keeps Rosie in a large cage in his home office, but she often perches on his shoulder or head while he works. “I don’t really even notice it anymore,” he says, “and I consider her my close and dear friend.”

or those who are not inclined to bring a bird into their home, but still want to benefit from their vocalizations, there are several therapies that have recently become popular that feature the sweet sounds of chirping. For instance, in Amsterdam, there is a lounge in Schiphol Airport that pipes in bird noises to calm down nervous travelers. And in the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, England, the sounds of birds accompany patients and visitors as they traverse the hallways. And for those who want to appreciate the beauty of our feathered friends in other ways, there are always the lovely prints of birds a la Audubon and Fuertes, and the bird-inspired fashions of Iris van Herpen and Medha Bhatt. The pleasantness and calm that birdsong brings to our lives is truly a transformative experience for many. Perhaps Pope sums it up best when he writes, “birdsong deeply resonates in the human heart, and the resonance is more than aesthetic. We are, so to speak, hardwired to be able to appreciate the musicality of birdsong—hence its enormous appeal. It speaks to us directly and pleases us, but on a subliminal level, it seems pregnant with meaning—even magical. Birds speak the language of the gods.” ■

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back story

he reveal of ELYSIAN’s Winter 2022/23 issue on thought leadership and the holidays perfectly complemented the work showcased at the National Foundation for Legislative Women’s Annual Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. Leadership development is one of the pillars of the NFWL’s mission; the ELYSIAN woman is a natural leader. The conference focused on everything from criminal justice reform to health equity to early childhood education. And in every one of these sectors, women are not just rising to the challenge of leadership, they are excelling—and they are making an impact in their communities, their states and their country. ■

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Top Row: Charleston, SC, in all her colorful glory. • Second Row, left to right: Sarah Smith, ELYSIAN’s Special Events Director, with the Winter cover reveal. ELYSIAN Publisher Karen Floyd celebrates the new issue. Eboni Williams spoke on the importance of choosing community over individual differences. • Third Row, left to right: The annual conference brings women together to focus on everything from criminal justice reform to health equity to early childhood education. GA Rep. Sandra Scott celebrating her ELYSIAN feature, birthday, and new role as NFWL Chair of Membership. SC Sen. Katrina Shealy with the 2023 NFWL Board taking their Installation Oath of Office. TN Rep. Karen Camper winning the Dean McManus Spirit of NFWL Award as presented by SC Sen. Katrina Shealy. Eboni Williams sees her cover for the first time. • Fourth Row, left to right: NFWL members are making an impact in their communities, their states and their country. Opening reception sponsor, author Rhonda Leonard, signed books for attendees. Rhonda with Dr. Quincie Moore. SC Rep. Rita Allison and Dr. Moore mingle with elected women during a policy roundtable session.

• le printemps 2023 • l’édition pour animaux de compagnie et mode • readelysian.com

ELYSIAN Spring 2023 Fashion & Pet Issue

Articles inside

The Benefits of Birdsong

VENTURES: Cultivating Change to Leave the World Healthier for Generations to Come

Williamson County Animal Shelter

Companion Animal Alliance

Animal Advocates of Barnwell County

Operation Kindness Rescue

Danny & Ron’s Rescue

Big Dog Ranch Rescue

an unFurgeTTable affair

vikki

FOR WOMEN WHO ARE 35 AND YOUNGER, HOW DOES THAT SELF-AWARENESS MANIFEST?

Consuelo

THE WOMEN WHO INSPIRE US

The Two Fridas

City of light & love & fashion

The Matter of the Wind

zsa zsa

ZsaZsa the factor 5 7

ceramic cats & Pups pairs

FASHION IS MORE THAN FUR DEEP

Art

Livable Sophistication

a

CANNOT BUY LOVE…YOU CAN RESCUE IT...AND IT WILL SAVE YOU” we