TODAY’S WOMAN A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE
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MARCH 27, 2015
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THE POWER OF THE INDIVIDUALITY IS SPRING’S FASHION MANTRA
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By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG
t was a long winter, but spring has finally arrived. Time to shed those snow boots, puffy parkas, hats and gloves. Thick tights are making way for bare skin. Heavy pants have been replaced by flirty dresses. Goodbye ear warmers; hello sunglasses! Designers — euphoric over the change of temperature — have turned out a glorious mix of stylish trends, relaying a cast of characteristic attitudes. In this season of abundance and variety, you’re sure to find many new fashion favorites. You’ll know the right match when a look speaks in perfect harmony with your personality. To help guide your shopping adventure, we’ve gathered together a rundown of some of spring’s hottest trends.
Shirtdresses Far from the corporate uniform, women’s fashion takes an offbeat nod at menswear this season. Blue oxfords, white button-downs, starched cuffs and collars have escaped the realm of husbands’ pinstriped suits. Instead, they’ve been trans-
Noir Sachin & Babi, printed tank, and hi-low skirt; available a Neiman Marcus.
INSIDE BEAUTY Style and dye pros offer quality tips for your best look...2A HEALTH Beware the brittle bones of osteoporosis ...4A FASHION Detail oriented: spring accessory report...7A TW PROFILES: Telling stories in the digital age is Wallach’s niche...8A Single-owner estates sales are Elaine Whitmire’s specialty... 12A
formed into short feminine frocks. Contemporary designers have reinvented the shirtdress with double high slits, dropped waists, decorative belts and inventive necklines. Worn with heels, flats or boots — and possibly enlivened with a neck scarf or bold jewelry — the shirtdress is a chameleon of many moods. But in all its manifestations, it’s a fun, crisp look for spring. The only drawback, of course, is the ironing.
Leg up Are they pants? Shorts? Modified skirts? Whatever they are, culottes are experiencing a revival — big time. More wearable than 2014’s obsession with shorts, culottes are a playful way to stay cool and show some leg this spring. Just remember, kneelength or mid-calf styles can hit the body at an unflattering point of the leg, so make sure the overall silhouette flatters your body. Look for shapes that narrow the leg, cinch the waist and create flattering movement. Combined with tailored jackets and smart shoes, culottes are appropriate garb for the office. However, when transformed by a silky, backless halter, culottes transition seamlessly into evening. With a Continued on page 6A
TODAY’S WOMAN
After 20 years, Donovan-Duff’s legacy lives on
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By MARY LEGRAND
urses are considered the ultimate caregivers, professionals who give their all to ensure that their patients are treated to the highest standards of medical care. Like doctors, their goal is to keep their patients alive and comfortable through meticulous and constant attention. But ultimately, all human beings must die, and there are fewer nurses and other medical professionals who work in the field of bereavement than the millions in the more traditional healing-oriented fields. Patty Donovan-Duff, RN, BSN, CT, is in the minority and has committed her life to helping people of all ages work through the stages of grief they experience after the death
JOHN MEORE PHOTO
Patty Donovan-Duff
of a loved one. The Hastings-onHudson resident has worked in the field of hospice and bereavement since 1984 — and was the founding director of the Bereavement Center
of Westchester, a role she has been in since the center opened 20 years ago this fall. The Bereavement Center, located in Scarsdale, opened its doors in
1995, through the efforts of Jansen Memorial Hospice and the Junior League of Bronxville. The staff at Jansen saw the need for a community bereavement program in Westchester County, with a special program for children. “The hospice staff had seen younger families starting to experience losses, either of a sibling or parent, and at that point there was no program these children and families could be referred to,” Donovan-Duff said. “Hospice believes that grief is not an illness, not something to be treated. But grief requires a different kind of expertise in working with people who have experienced a loss.” Donovan-Duff had been working as a bereavement counselor before Continued on page 9A
PAGE 2A/THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE
TODAY’S WOMAN
MARCH 27, 2015
YOUR HAIR, YOUR STYLE, YOUR COLOR
Style and dye pros offer quality tips for your best look LISA DEMARIA Salon Topaz, Dobbs Ferry What are some great ways people can change their look with coloring? Sombre handpainted highlights are a great way to freshen up your style going into the spring and warmer weather. It helps brighten your complexion and gives a natural sun-kissed look to the hair. Clients love this technique because it’s very easy to maintain and still looks natural as its growing out. Is there such a thing as too drastic? The weeks between color for grey coverage varies depending on your percentage of grey hair. It can be anywhere between three to six weeks. If you’re seeing a professional colorist and they are using a high quality professional color line, they will formulate your color to customize the tones in order to get the perfect match. How often does one have to color for grey and how good are the matches to original hair color? It’s important to be using the products your salon recommends at home in order to maintain the vibrancy and shine that you left the
salon with. At Salon Topaz our favorite products to maintain your color are Oribe Beautiful Color shampoo and conditioner as well as Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream for styling.
ROBERT DOHERTY
Is there any maintenance between trips to the salon?
I believe color can create a completely different image, changing complexion, illusion of face shape and personality.
Having clean hair with no product build-up before your color application will help to give better grey coverage and an overall even tone. If you are going to invest in getting your hair professionally colored, it is also important to invest in maintaining that color at home with high performing, salon professional products that are formulated to provide longevity to the color. How prevalent are organics these days and are there plusses and minuses to them? There are organic color options, but the results are more translucent than color formulated with ammonia. Clients that have been getting their hair colored with an ammonia derived color line are used to seeing more solid coverage. Organic is healthier for you and your hair, but one has to understand that it gives different results. Even though non-ammonia doesn’t give solid coverage, there is less of a line of demarcation when your regrowth appears Anything else cool you can think of? For clients with salt and pepper hair, lowlights are a great way to naturally blend out grey hair. This is done by weaving in some of your natural darker tones to spice it up with a little more pepper.
Salon 421, Scarsdale What are some great ways people can change their look and style with coloring?
Is there such a thing as too drastic? I don’t believe anything is too drastic as long as it fits the client’s personality. How often does one have to color for grey and how good are the matches to original hair color? On average a four- to six-week regimen is good for grey hair that’s about a half inch of regrowth a month. You can never totally match a person’s natural color; we have many different shades in our hair, but we can definitely get it extremely close. Is there any maintenance between trips to the salon? There are many things on the market to get clients through between touch-ups. I recommend asking your colorist what to use so it doesn’t go too far from what he/she is using in salon. Are there things that can be done to make the dye take better and last longer? Sometimes leaving color on for a longer period of time or using a heat device to help open cuticle so color goes in better.
BIAGIO PERRONE Salon Biagio, Irvington What are some great ways people can change their look with coloring? There is so much you can do with color to enhance one’s mood or personality to make them look and feel good. Adding highlights or lowlights, color blending for people who are all grey and soft ombre. Is there such a thing as too drastic? There isn’t such thing as drastic. It depends on the client and their personality. How often does one have to color for grey and how good are the matches to original hair color? It depends on how fast their hair grows, anywhere from three to six weeks. We can always match to their natural color. Is there any maintenance between trips to the salon? Aftercare products such as shampoos. Color shampoos for enhancements. They can use a touch-up color wand in-between their services. Also a color spray can be used such as by Rita Hazan. Can things be done to make the dye take better and last longer? Continued on the next page
MARCH 27, 2015
THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE/ PAGE 3A
TODAY’S WOMAN
Continued from previous page
Depends on what color line is used at the salon, what shampoos are being used at home, how rapid someone’s hair grows. Anything else cool you can think of? Always consult with a stylist about color and what they are looking for and what to expect.
Is there any maintenance between trips to the salon? We recommend using a color safe shampoo and conditioner and hair care products that help preserve the color and texture. It’s also important to protect your hair from the sun as much as possible. Can things be done to make the dye take better and last longer? Each manufacturer has specific instructions. To get the best results from their products we always prep accordingly.
SETSUKO HOSOMI Setsuko at Jean Claude Salon, Scarsdale What are some great ways people can change their look and style with coloring? Subtle highlights can give your hair more definition, especially with blonde hair. Unfortunately many of us weren’t born with the best hair color for our skin tone so it’s great opportunity to make you look your best by matching your color to better complement your complexion. Is there such a thing as too drastic? If you can pull off the look, that’s great but, if it looks a little odd or like you’re trying too hard, then you’ve gone too far. How often does one have to color for grey and how good are the matches to original hair color? About every four weeks for single process color and six to eight weeks for highlights if you want to match your original color, but
JULIUS MICHAEL
it’s also a good opportunity to improve your look for the best.
How prevalent are organics these days and are there plusses and minuses to that? Organics are more and more popular today. They contain no ammonia, so they are very mild to your hair and scalp and add shine and translucency resulting in a more natural look. They last as long and cover gray as well as traditional color. However, we need to add heat during the process and the hair must be perfectly clean before coloring. Anything else cool you can think of? Hair coloring is a very personal thing. It allows us to create a better overall appearance and a look of total beauty. Balayage highlights have gained popularity today, look more natural and last little bit longer than foil highlights. Along with ombre sombre and color melts, they help medium to long hair have movement and life. They’re not only for young people and are great for fashionable professionals. When you look great without make up, you know your hair color is right for you.
How prevalent are organics these days and are there plusses and minuses to that? Nowadays everything is organic.
Julius Michael Scarsdale Hair Salon, Scarsdale What are some great ways people can change their look with coloring? Adding a few highlights or doing balayage can enhance it change your look. A few brighter highlights in your hairline can make your eyes pop and your face look brighter and younger. Is there such a thing as too drastic? Yes, of course, unless you’re in high school it’s very hard for a woman to pull off a full head of hot pink or some other creative color. I do add a few edgy creative colors to my clients over 40, but it’s age appropriate. How often does one have to color for grey and how good are the matches to original hair color? I recommend covering your gray every six to eight weeks or when you look in the mirror and feel like you need a lift. Hair color can be matched up to 100 percent to your original hair color. Is there any maintenance between trips to the salon? Yes, using the right shampoo and conditioner will help maintain the life of your color. Can things be done to make the dye take better and last longer? Using sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners will help your hair from color fading and make your color last longer.
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Anything else cool you can think of? If it’s your first time hair coloring, don’t be afraid. Connect with your colorist and trust that they want you to look your best. Take a risk and go for it! Remember the first thing people will talk about is your hair so make sure it looks perfect. ____________________________________
CHARLES GUILIANTI Salon Perri, Pound Ridge What are some great ways people can change their look and style with coloring? If people have fine hair and would love to get more volume, using color doubles the circumference of your hair shaft so it makes your hair feel thicker and gives you more body. So if a client is looking to change their style and previously could not because the hair wasn’t thick enough and now she decides to get color, maybe that style can be achieved since color adds body and thickness to your hair Is there such a thing as too drastic? Yes, there is too dramatic! Using the right hair color on someone has many components so that can be dramatic in a good way. There is dramatic in a bad way depending on if you are Continued on page 5A
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PAGE 4A/THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE
TODAY’S WOMAN
MARCH 27, 2015
Beware the brittle bones of osteoporosis
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By ANTHONY R. MANCINI
common medical condition that can pose a risk for women later in life is osteoporosis, defined as a brittleness of the bones that leads to an increased risk of fractures or breakages. Women who have gone through menopause have the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis, although younger women and men do have a smaller risk. “Osteoporosis is a common problem characterized by low bone mass and skeletal fragility resulting in weakened bones and an increased risk of fractures,” said Dr. Dino Paiusco, the co-founder and medical director of Enhanced Health Coaching in Scarsdale. “Although osteoporosis can affect anyone, the vast majority of those afflicted are postmenopausal women. Women greater than 65 years of age are at greatest risk due to lower levels of estrogen, a hormone that helps maintain bone mass.” The only obvious symptom of osteoporosis is a bone breaking or fracturing, giving no warning of the disease if screening measures are not undertaken beforehand. “Osteoporosis does not cause symptoms until you break a bone,” Paiusco said. “It often presents with a fragility fracture, i.e., a fracture that occurs during a simple fall or after a mild impact.” There are a number of causes attributed to someone developing osteoporosis over time. Smoking and higher consumption of alcohol can be factors. Having a family history of osteoporosis is also a factor, as is insufficient nutrition and the side effects from certain medications. One of the major risk factors for osteoporosis involves being thin. Heavier people are at less of a risk of developing the disease because the bones adapt to carrying around extra weight and are therefore stronger. “Being thin is unfortunately associated often with a lower bone density. I tell patients that it is the one health drawback of being thin,” said Dr. Jeffrey Powell, an endocrinologist with the Mount Kisco Medical Group. “Bones get denser in response to bearing or carrying more weight. If a person is a normal weight and their bone density is lower, I don’t tell them to go out and gain weight, but it is true in terms of what’s a risk factor for having low bone density, probably even more so than almost anything, is it relates to body weight.” Even though osteoporosis typically affects women who are postmenopausal, lifestyle choices made during youth such as proper diet and exercise have an effect on bone health, as bones continue to grow until young adulthood. An individual that does not develop sufficiently healthy bones during crucial years can develop
problems later in life. “A lot of people say that osteoporosis starts in childhood because during childhood you’re building your bones,” said Dr. Steven Hindman, an orthopedist with Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists of Greenwich. “You build bones until you’re about 30, then for the rest of your life you’re in a negative bone balance. People assume bones are sort of a static structure: You make them and they stay there, so that’s not really true. “You’re actually turning over your bones, so your bone is being broken down and remade, but what happens is that you have this equilibrium, so up to the age of 30, you’re making more bone than you’re breaking down. After 30 that balance changes and now you’re not making bone as quickly. You’re breaking it down more quickly.” Powell said it is difficult to determine when somebody has begun to develop problems with bone density. For an older woman, problems can occur as a result of insufficient nutrition during youth or because of a decline in estrogen late in life. “When you do a bone density exam on someone for the first time and it shows osteoporosis, or it shows low bone density, we really don’t know if their bone density is low because maybe they never got to a good peak bone density or their bone density did get to a good peak and it’s declined since then,” Powell said. Screening for osteoporosis involves a scan
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similar to an X-ray examination, although not nearly as powerful. “It’s a type of radiology test where you just lay on a cushioned table and it’s like an X-ray, but it’s much less radiation than for instance a chest X-ray,” Powell said. “It’s about one-thirtieth the radiation of a chest X-ray. You get more radiation supposedly flying from New York to California than you do during a bone density scan.” Bone density is determined to be sufficient if it appears to be a bright white on a scan, indicating that a bone has a plentiful amount of calcium. “If the bone shows up as very bright or white, that tells you that there’s a lot of calcium in the bone,” Hindman said. “If the bone turns up as dark, then there’s not much calcium.” In terms of nutrition, calcium and vitamin D are thought to be the two most crucial nutrients that help bones grow early in life and prevent their loss later on. Calcium is commonly found in dairy products and in some green vegetables. Powell said that it is difficult for people to reach their recommended intake of calcium and supplements might be necessary to maintain a healthy level. “A post-menopausal woman let’s say is supposed to take in 1,200 milligrams of calcium,” Powell said. “The average American only gets approximately 300 milligrams of calcium in their diet, so it’s not so easy to really take in enough.” Vitamin D is primarily obtained through absorbing sunlight through the skin, which can be a problem in the Northeast, as during the winter less intense sunlight blankets the region. Vitamin D can be supplemented similarly to calcium. It is sometimes found as in fortified milk. Blood tests can determine if vitamin D levels are adequate. “A pandemic of vitamin D deficiency has been recognized recently, this likely contributes to increased rates of osteoporosis,” Paiusco said. “Many believe it is the recommendations to avoid sun exposure because of the increased risk of skin cancers that has led to the increase in vitamin D deficiency. Sun exposure is the major stimulus for the body to normally produce vitamin D.” Weight-bearing exercise is also recommended starting at youth for maintenance of healthy bones. Weight-bearing does not necessarily mean weight lifting, but it can include that. Generally, weight-bearing exercise involves activities that are done while upright such as walking or running, while weights can be used to exercise arms. “Kids sitting around generally don’t make stronger bones,” Hindman said. “Active kids make better bones and that persists throughout
life. The more active you are, the better your bone structure is. After osteoporosis, weightbearing exercise tends to help you maintain your bone structure.” Someone diagnosed with osteoporosis has a number of medication options to choose from. Commonly, drugs called biphosphonates are used for limited periods of time to prevent bone loss for those with evidence of osteoporosis. A problem with the biphosphonate class of drugs is that they are not a permanent solution to the bone loss problem. “You can only be on it for a limited period of time, usually three to five years before you have to stop it because it actually creates goodlooking bone that’s not strong. It’s very brittle bone,” Hindman said. “What happens is that people were put on biphosphonates for a long time and that actually caused fractures, so that’s something that we’ve over the last really 10 years told people you can’t just keep taking those indefinitely.” Powell said, however, that with biphosphonates, side effects such as these are rare and that patients are prescribed “drug holidays” where they would not take them. “Many of those medicines have very rare, but frequently talked about side effects that make people quite anxious about using them,” Powell said. “Osteoporosis patients are generally undertreated because of concerns about the side effects of the medications. In a person with osteoporosis, it’s generally felt that the benefits usually outweigh the risks.” Additional biphosphonate side effects include heartburn or an upset stomach. Individuals taking them are also required to stay upright for 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion to avoid damage to the esophagus. Hindman said an alternative to biphosphonates is teriparatide, a parathyroid hormone marketed as Forteo. “Forteo actually is an injectable daily medication that builds bones, so where equilibrium gets out of whack and instead of making bone and building bone and you’re losing more bone, this actually stimulates that making of bone and it puts you back in positive equilibrium and you make better bone. It’s a daily injection for two years and it’s limited to two years,” he said. Hindman said that users of teriparatide might experience symptoms such as joint pain and that it is quite expensive. He said fears that the drug has been linked to acceleration of bone cancers have been unfounded. “One concern when it first came on the market was that because it stimulated bone production, it could stimulate bone cancers,” he said. Continued on the next page
NEWS NOTES
The Alexander Technique The teaching members of the Alexander Technique Association of Westchester/Putnam have started a website, ATAWestchester.com, that keeps the community updated on classes and workshops on the Alexander Technique in Westchester and Putnam. You can also find information on teachers in the area as well as articles and recommendations of books on the technique. The Alexander Technique is an approach to maintaining and/or
restoring your health and well-being. With the Alexander Technique, learn how to improve postural and movement habits, reduce muscle tension, find more ease in everyday movement, calm reactions to stress and alter habits that can cause pain. Alexander Technique is taught at Juilliard and the Yale School of Drama to people whose mind/body is their instrument. Everyone can consider his or her mind/body as an instrument, which can be played more efficiently.
MARCH 27, 2015
THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE/ PAGE 5A
TODAY’S WOMAN
Continued from previous page
“That’s actually never happened. It happened in very high doses in lab rats, but there’s never been a case of it in humans.” Hindman said another medication, denosumab, a monoclonal antibody, known by the trade name Prolia, is newer and requires less applications than teriparatide. He said it’s being determined how effective denosumab is when used in conjunction with teriparatide. “Prolia is a newer medication,” Hindman said. “It’s a twice-yearly incision, so you have to have it by intravenous infusion. It’s a little different version of medication. It’s the newest one on the market. It has been effective for people and the good thing is it’s not really an injection, it’s just an every-six-month infusion, so it’s somewhat simpler and it has been effective. “There have been people who have been trying to combine the two, Forteo and Prolia, or after the two years of Forteo, have been put on Prolia and those things are kind of in flux about where it’s going.” Paiusco said another medication alternative, zoledronic acid, might be suggested for those who cannot tolerate oral biphosphonates. Zoledronic acid is a biphosphonate injected intravenously. Estrogen therapy is yet another alternative. Dr. Gloria Cohen, a sports medicine physician with Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists, said that she has seen instances of young women athletes who have been at risk for osteoporosis after exhibiting stress structures during events or training. “I see a lot of them coming in with stress fractures and it’s more than just treating the stress fracture, we always have to find out why did it happen,” she said. “Not everybody succumbs to it and there’s various aspects to it, but one red flag that always goes up for me is what’s their bone metabolism like, what’s their bone density like? They’re still at the stage that they
can still protect the bone and certainly have that heal, but in many of these cases, they haven’t yet achieved a maximum bone density yet.” Cohen said in young women who are training hard, they might become malnourished if they have adopted an intensive workout schedule, leading to changes affecting menstruation, which could have an effect on estrogen levels and subsequently bone density. “Similar to the post-menopausal women, there’s no menses, there’s no period, they have low estrogen and that’s often a factor in these young females because they’ve shut off the normal system from the pituitary gland, so they have less estrogen on board and there’s less hormones that they need to build a bone,” Cohen said. “As a female, you want to make sure that you’re menstruating regularly because that’s often a sign. If you’re having recurrent stress fractures, certainly after a first stress fracture, one would want to see if it’s just related to the training and I would say to see a sports medicine specialist.” It is harder to establish a baseline bone density amount with younger women athletes, Cohen said, as more intensive trends in training and athleticism have led to different conditions than existed 25 years ago. She said that a stress fracture does not automatically indicate that a young woman has or is in danger of developing osteoporosis. “They may just be overdoing it or, in many cases, they may also be limiting their nutrition,” Cohen said. “It’s not just the one factor. They may have an architecture that’s not as dense as it should be and then there are just increases in the stresses on the bones, so the bone formation can’t keep up with that constant pattern. “Certainly, when somebody’s doing their activity, they shouldn’t have pain. If somebody’s having pain, it’s not the pain because they’re putting the effort in. If there’s pain, one should check it out. It’s different when it’s more of an overuse injury.”
HAIR COLORING
just to replace some pigment that was lost in between color applications from the sun or from hard water.
Continued from page 3A
ready for your new color. When you are changing your hair color dramatically, nine times out of 10 to pull off that shade you need to change your make-up color and application and choose clothing that complements your new hair color. The other things that contribute to dramatic hair color is your lifestyle — where you work and what you were trying to portray, like if you work in a really hip art gallery you can do some real avant-garde hair color to be dramatic and get away with it with the right clothing and make-up, or if you work for the third circuit court and want to add some highlights around your face that might be as dramatic as you can go. How often does one have to color for grey and how good are the matches to original hair color? There is an average of three to five weeks to make sure your growth line is covered for most people. To get the right shade is the art of the hair colorist that you choose and hopefully they have a good eye to pick up and see exactly what kind of pigment they need to use to re-create your natural color or the color that you last had that some other colorist applied for you that you liked. That’s what makes a fair colorist, a good colorist or great colorist — it’s their eye. Is there any maintenance between trips to the salon? I think just using the right product at home to keep your hair color looking as fresh and vibrant as possible can be achieved by buying shampoos and conditioners that are for color treated hair and in the summer months when the sun pulls out pigment from your hair you may go revisit the salon so they can apply something called a color glaze
Ready, Set
Are there things that can be done to make the dye take better and last longer? Hair color, especially if it’s permanent hair color, grows out so that it is hard to slow down the growth of your hair for hair color to take better. I only use professional hair color. For professional hair color it’s just using the prescribed products so your hair looks the best. What I tell clients is when you buy a piece of clothing that says dry-clean only do you throw it in the washing machine? I don’t think so. You get it cleaned and processed with the right product so you should do that for your hair also by using the prescribed products. How prevalent are organics these days and are there plusses and minuses to them? Over the years, different companies often try to come out with organic products. I don’t think that it has been done successfully as of yet. Any organic professional hair color line I tried did a poor job of coloring and keeping the hair color looking vibrant and natural and a poor job and covering grey. Anything else cool you can think of? Hair color has come a long way over the last 20 years. They have formulated hair color now that makes your hair look healthier, shinier than it did before you used color, which is great. The hair color line that we use was formulated in Italy and has antioxidants and is infused with a chai berry. I think people that are going to get their hair colored, especially if they’re going to a new colorist, need to bring in multiple pictures of what they want and maybe what they don’t want so the client and the colorist can be on the same page before the color application starts.
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PAGE 6A/THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE
TODAY’S WOMAN
MARCH 27, 2015
SPRING FASHION Continued from page 1A
tank top and platform sandals, another look emerges — casual and relaxed. A word of caution — because the silhouette interrupts the leg line, the feet can risk looking stumpy. Counter this by wearing high heels, platform espadrilles, stacked ankle booties or anything that laces up the calf. These shoe styles will add height, draw attention to the ankle and refine the foot.
Sexy shoulders Some years it’s all about arms or backs or legs. This spring, shoulders have taken the spotlight. The current obsession lusts for oneshoulder tops and dresses, incorporating fabrics’ sinuous drapes or alluring stretched diagonals. Having developed from last spring’s preference for completely off-the-shoulder silhouettes, the current one-shoulder looks are more interesting and dynamic. Exploiting the sexiness of shoulders, one-shoulder silhouettes are supremely flirtatious in their simultaneous play of reveal and conceal. In stretch fabrics, these tops make great casual separates. In dresses, the neckline plays up femininity or can be styled for dramatic effect. From a practical standpoint, and for confidence in movement, the one-shoulder silhouette trumps strapless any day.
High contrast Like vintage movies, black and white never goes out of style. The classic partnership is dramatic, elegant and refined. To keep the look fresh this season, choose modern silhouettes with interesting textures, graphic patterns or unusual details. A lack of balance can be visually dynamic. Look for much more black than white — or much more white than black. Diagonal divides of color, shapely cut-outs, angular hemlines and interesting sleeve shapes invigorate the timeless appeal of black and white with a 21st-century touch. Blue and white combinations and allwhite outfits are popular modifications of the trend. White can be harsh, however, so be sure to play with textured surfaces that absorb and reflect light in different ways. Mixing shades of white — tone-on-tone, but slightly off — keeps the trend from looking antiseptic. And don’t forget… a daring hat, lots of distinct jewelry, Western ankle booties or wildly colored shoes will individualize the look by adding your perfect finishing touch.
Aphrodite Goddess gowns — long, loose and Bohemian — capture the natural sexiness of the modern femme fatale. In scarf prints, colorful patchworks and vivid layers, these dresses are individual enough to transcend categories. They can be dressed up with diamond earrings for an evening at the theater, or they can be dressed down with leather sandals for an outdoor music festival or fireworks on the beach. The beauty of these dresses is in the way they come alive. In the open air, their diaphanous texture chases the wind, and their billowy form follows a woman’s every movement. At their best, they sing the song of the woman who wears them.
Modern denim Jeans are among the most freContinued on page 11A
Pictured clockwise from the top left: Mink Pink Floral Trim Romper available at Lester’s; Gingham full skirt and polka dot tee, available at Banana Republic; From Forever 21, a scalloped faux leather skirt featuring a cutout diamond pattern; A red, colour-block, sleeveless shirt dress from Youmbo.com; Carmen Marc Valvo jacquard gown, exclusive to Neiman Marcus; A denim shirt dress with chunky red statement platforms and a floral tote from lobagaya.com; Lauren Ralph Lauren Modern Yellow Trench Coat, available at Nordstrom; Ash Jungle, Impulse, and Gold Slip Ons available at Lester’s.
MARCH 27, 2015
THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE/ PAGE 7A
TODAY’S WOMAN
Detail oriented: spring accessory report
T
By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG
he devil is in the details. Accessories are fashion’s biggest game-changer. They give outfits a particular attitude and can personalize individual looks. Follow the trends for fun and fashion, but be sure to stay true to yourself. If you have a signature piece of jewelry, a well-loved bag or favorite shoes, celebrate them. The most distinct looks come from the confidence of women who dress and accessorize in ways that make them feel completely themselves. But, if you’re looking for a few new favorites, this season’s offerings are sure to please.
Obi belts For sleek and simple definition, the obi belt is a perfect choice. Through its wrapped and dangling structure, obi belts exploit both horizontal and vertical linearity, thus capturing oppositional dynamism. Paired with this season’s robe coats and kimono dusters, the obi belt cinches the waist and shapes volume. Knotted cords around the waistline of jackets and shirtdresses are a casual variation of the trend. Just make sure you learn the proper technique of tying a neat knot, as sloppiness detracts from the look.
Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Christian Dior and all the blue chip design houses are leading this trend. However, other fashion labels are following suit and creating their own covet-worthy bags, expanding their lines and appealing to consumers’ brand loyalties.
Statement earrings Try to look away, and you can’t. Not just big and bold — but BIGGER and BOLDER — spring’s earrings command attention. An offbeat creativity drives the current taste for shoulder-length varieties, amplified sparkle, colorful bronze disks and, especially, mismatched sets. Challenging expectations of symmetry, unpaired companion earrings make you look, thus calling more attention to their
Luxury label bags The economy must be booming, because there is renewed interest in luxury handbags. High-end fashion houses are reviving signature designs and configuring new styles — all with prominently displayed logos and distinct hardware. Look for modern interpretations in fresh new colors, patterns and textured surfaces.
Pictured clockwise from the top: Neoprene Totes in a variety of colors available at Lester’s; Steve Madden strappy sandles and espadrilles available at Lester’s; A golden gem studded statement brooch from Green With Envy.
Continued on page 10A
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PAGE 8A/THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE
MARCH 27, 2015
TODAY’S WOMAN
TODAY’S WOMAN
Telling stories in the digital age is Wallach’s niche
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By MARY LEGRAND
rowing up in the Five Towns on Long Island, Abby Wallach was anything but into fashion. Instead, her passion was baseball. A self-professed “total tomboy,” she played on a team made up of boys and learned to hold her own against tough competition. Later, after graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1988 as a communications major, she was an account executive with Madeline de Vries, organizing print, radio and television publicity and special events for clients including Coach, Procter & Gamble and Oil of Olay, to name a few. Since then, Wallach’s personal and professional lives have resembled a whirlwind of activity, and it sounds like she loves every minute of it, thriving on the excitement. Growing up in a family of business owners, including her family’s longtime kosher catering business that dovetailed well into owning a sleep-away camp, Wallach asked a lot of questions around the dinner table and became a sounding board for adults looking to know what kids were thinking. “I was always putting in my two cents and point of view,” the Scarsdale resident said. “I was fascinated with and interested in hearing what my parents and other relatives were doing, especially with the camp and catering businesses. I was also a camper and very proud to be part of the family that owned it. I would hear and see things there, and was attuned to what campers would say was missing, how things could be made better.” What Wallach calls an “insatiable curiosity” led her to “constantly throw out ideas for businesses and products — like when we went to the movies I noticed there was nowhere to put the soda on the theater seats, or when I was in Europe as a teenager saw all these cool candy stores there and wanted similar shops here. It was a way of thinking and seeing the world in my own little way. I saw trends and opportunities and actually pursued them.”
JOHN MEORE PHOTO
Abby Wallach
Wallach’s career has not followed what others might consider to be a typically sequential path. After her two-year stint as a publicist and special events planner, she served as publicity and advertising director of the United States and Canadian tours of the Moscow Circus and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Rock ‘n’ Roll Band. From 1992-98, Wallach joined Showtime Networks Inc. as director of special events, creating and producing live staged events and tours for the network. She later worked with Kermit Love, the original creator of “Sesame Street,” to develop children’s properties and joined Gladys Nederlander of Nederlander Television & Film as an executive producer to package, option and pitch movies for cable, television and film. As a veteran of the media and entertainment industry, Wallach has spent the past 23 years creating, developing and producing with some of the top talent in the field.
Abby Wallach Productions specializes in “the art of digital storytelling” with a focus on “beauty, fashion, lifestyle, luxury and media,” according to her website, www.abbywallachproductions.tv. Wallach is a co-founder, chief executive officer and executive producer of Beautiful Stranger.tv, the online content brand that photographs tastemakers on the street and interviews them about what they’re using, wearing, loving, doing for the environment and more, and then links to every product and service mentioned. “The journey that I’ve been on wasn’t necessarily carved out in the way I envisioned,” Wallach said. “I did want to go into special events and beauty and fashion public relations, and then sort of segued into entertainment. That became a huge part of my journey, being mentored by incredible people over the years.” Wallach said she has “achieved a lot and failed a lot, and continue my pursuit every day to reach my goals, live my dream and pursue the vision that I’ve always had to try and make opportunities turn into real businesses. There’s always a lot of rejection in business — half of my life has been about rejection — you have to figure out how to get around that.” One of her latest projects, Fashion Week Brooklyn (FWB), is a biannual international collection show founded by the 501c3 nonprofit BK Style Foundation. FWB’s Fashion Week 2015 will be the launch event for 2015 Denim Day NYC on April 29, a nationwide annual event that spotlights rape prevention and education while dispelling myths that surround rape and sexual assault. “As a woman it’s important to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” Wallach said. “Denim Day is a compelling movement — you should be able to say and wear whatever you want and say no to sexual assault and violence.” Wallach’s family, most importantly her husband and three Continued on the next page
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PATTY DONOVAN-DUFF Continued from page 1A
being asked to start the center. Its first children’s program, the Tree House, began in March 1996. The concept of acknowledging and treating children’s grieving began at the Dougy Center in Portland, Ore., “because nurses in hospital oncology units saw kids come in for chemo and go home, come in and go home,” Donovan-Duff said. “Then they’d die, and no one would see them or talk about them after that. Everyone was petrified to use those words, that someone died, but the kids being treated in the unit knew. The nurses wanted to create a place for children to talk about death and be able to have their questions answered honestly.” Using the Dougy Center as an example, the Bereavement Center’s Tree House program lets children who have lost a loved one, most likely a sibling or parent, know they can talk about what has happened to them. “Adults think kids aren’t grieving because they look like they’re doing well,” Donovan-Duff said. “They have to play and go to school, but they need places where they can acknowledge their dad, mom or sibling has died.” Less inclined to talk about herself than the programs at the Bereavement Center, DonovanDuff is a graduate of Salve Regina College in Newport, Rhode Island. She has been a nurse since 1971. Her career prior to working in the field of hospice and bereavement included oncology and psychiatric nursing, working with both children and adults. In 1984, she began her career in hospice as the first patient care coordinator at Phelps Hospice in Sleepy Hollow and went on to create its bereavement program. Recruited by Jansen Hospice in Tuckahoe, Donovan-Duff was instrumental in creating all the programs at the Bereavement Center for children, teens and adults. She holds a certificate in thanatology from the Association of Death Education and Counseling. Donovan-Duff is married and the mother
ABBY WALLACH Continued from previous page
sons, who are 10, 16 and 19, are the core of her life. “I try to give my children the attention they deserve and need,” she said. “There’s a lot of communication in our house; I share my world with them and they share their worlds with me.” Wallach said she and her husband have encouraged their sons to “follow their passions and dreams, but also to think about where they want to spend their time. There are so many different paths to go down, so get as much information and find something you love. If you love what you do, you will be happy and succeed.” Advances in technology have been and will continue to be a major driver in Wallach’s life. “I don’t even remember the last time I sat down at my computer unless I was working on a business plan,” she said. “I do so much work on mobile devices. I’m always on the move and always connected, especially with the boys.” Ultimately, she said, “There’s nothing more important than human connection, talking with people you love and discussing the day’s events. One of the things I do love about technology and social media is that you can see the people in your lives from afar. It’s like a big scrapbook and everybody is adding to it. But this doesn’t take away from the fact that being together is the foundation of life.”
TODAY’S WOMAN
of grown children, and she has “two going on three” grandchildren. She will retire from the Bereavement Center later this year. “It’s been 20 years and I’m totally ready to make this change,” she said. “We’ve been planning this for a while and it came together this year. Change is good, and my retirement is really good for this organization. I’ve been here for a long time and leave behind an incredibly strong group of people who do the work here, including professionals, volunteers and a fund board that really understand our philosophy of grief.” She acknowledges not quite knowing what her professional and personal futures will bring, other than anticipating moving closer to family and spending quality time with her loved ones, especially the grandchildren. Working in the field of bereavement “is such
a hopeful thing,” Donovan-Duff said. “It’s quite an honor and a privilege to watch people who have come out of terrible, terrible situations find strength and hope and healing.” Grieving is an individual process, she said: “Everyone grieves differently, and that means some people can do it naturally with the support of family and friends. But it’s such an unusual thing for a young family to experience the loss of a parent or child, and often they don’t know what to do. That’s where the Tree House can be such a help.” Families participating in Tree House programs come together for a common meal and then break up into age-appropriate groups. “Participants identify themselves and, if they want to, name who in their lives has died,” Donovan-Duff said. “The little ones especially
THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE/ PAGE 9A
get practice saying that. It’s important that children are comfortable talking about what’s happened in their lives.” There used to be more rituals and customs surrounding death, “and people lived together and experienced death together,” DonovanDuff said. “Now it’s common that people going through the grieving process are alone, and they’re feeling very lonely as well.” Programs like those offered at the Bereavement Center can bridge that divide, and Donovan-Duff suggested that those who wish to learn more about the center can call her at 787-6158 Ext. 1305, or visit thebereavementcenter.org. Leading up to her retirement, Donovan-Duff said she is “looking forward to spending time with my husband and my family and friends. But I will take so many people with me in my heart.”
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ACCESSORIES Continued from page 7A
individual object qualities. Today’s mismatched sets explore color variation, dramatic differences in length and imbalanced relationships of volume — but always with a point of connection, usually in materials. Unlike fall’s experimentation with the “one earring” trend, spring’s refinement can never be mistaken for the consequence (…oops) of a lost earring.
Gladiator shoes It’s time to release your inner warrior princess. With so much interest in leather cords wrapping around the body, footwear looks back to the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome, and it simultaneously references — and sanitizes — the conventions of bondage. The last time the gladiator trend was so prevalent was in 2008, but this year’s version is lighter and more delicate. It relies on thin, criss-crossing laces, rather than cagelike bands and buckles. Sandals with a wrap of serpentine, leather cords and ties command strength and are a plentiful option this season. However, for something less typical, go for knee-length gladiator boots in an exotic material like snakeskin — and be absolutely fierce. If you dare, edgier versions by designers like Alexander McQueen are risky — but worth it.
Harness belts and body chains Just as art follows fashion, sometimes fashion follows art. Stepping outside of the box — and definitely the result of fevered interest in “Fifty Shades of Grey” — bondage has inspired a wealth of current accessories. The most wearable options include harness belts with metal fasteners and leather straps, as well as body chains that loop around the neck, drape across
MARCH 27, 2015
TODAY’S WOMAN
A silver and crystal studded peacock ring from Green With Envy.
the chest, wrap underneath the arms and fasten at the back. With the season’s new preference for high-waisted pants and flowing skirts, harness belts add definition and slim the waist. Some leather belts incorporate shoulder straps and choker collars into their harness apparatus. Even these can be wearable when combined with refined basics emphasizing quality construction, architectural structure and modesty.
Dramatic necklaces This season’s necklaces are not for the faint of heart — or the weak of neck. Bold and heavy, metal breastplates, tubular chokers and oversized wooden pendants are attention grabbing and dramatic. They look best when paired with a high collar or a low neckline and they can build complete looks when partnered with gladiator sandals or rustic clogs. The goal of matching jewelry pieces to outfit details is misguided. Statement necklaces have an identity like an independent voice or a unique work of art. Fall in love with a distinct piece and make it your own signature look. Layering necklaces of various lengths and materials also makes a statement that is rich and individual. Its appealing Bohemian style perfectly supports the season’s taste for goddess dresses and ’70s-inspired jeans.
Low or high soles
Fringe
Comfort is the new aesthetic. Flat shoes, in every iteration, exerted a dramatic presence on spring runways. Oxfords, colored sneakers, sandals, pointed toe patent leathers and square toe slippers are just a few examples of this trend. They can be worn with everything — dressed up or down — and easily transition from work to play. On the flip side of this trend is elevation, sometimes with the same flat base and sometimes with a wedge heel. Platform soles create height and add style without sacrificing support. Look for platforms on sporty flats, ankle booties and Saturday night heels. Get ready for fun to reach new heights.
Fall’s obsession with fringe continues, but it has shifted from leather to textiles. The current refinement allows for more play of color and texture. Fringe adornment enlivens handbags, clutches and shoes. The current fashion is for long, curtainlike fringe, rather than border trim. Vivid colors — like royal blue and red — are fun and funky. In ombre and neutrals, the vibe is Boho chic. A band of lanky, dripping leather around the ankle ups the ante on shoes’ sex appeal. Silk cording is sinuous on a clutch, cultivating sensual sophistication for evening. Metal studs sharpen the edge on any look, adding bite to the honey.
Messenger bags
More U-shaped than before, spring’s messenger bags follow a modified crossbody form. With roomy, open interiors, they are an ideal solution for an everyday bag, particularly for women who carry around a plethora of items. Eschewing the horizontal orientation of previous years’ messengers, the current vertical emphasis adds a design aesthetic to the silhouette and avoids typical thickness and bulk. Broad shoulder straps lie flat against the body and position the bag against the back. It’s a look born out of the need for mobile urban style, but its practicality translates perfectly to suburban life as well.
Flowers Oversized flower blossoms are bringing the garden to the handbag this spring. Embroidered, printed or attached three-dimensionally, these floral embellishments exert a strong graphic presence. However, they must not be taken too seriously. Their real appeal is in their campiness. Go for bold — not subtle. Choose diva over demure. Pick your bouquet from hothouse tropical and leave the garden varieties outside. These flowers should celebrate like a party — with volume that’s loud, loud, loud.
Clogs
Ovoid sunglasses
Look for substantial clogs to finish the leg line of looks focusing on fashionable culottes, Boho goddess dresses, casual shirtdresses and new denim. With thick wooden heels, rounded toes and stud borders, clogs are substantial footwear. Clogs in black or brown leather with wooden heels are traditional and beloved; however, modified fabrications have managed to modernize the look. These include a range of vivid colors and unusual heel choices, such as resin or stained wood mosaics. The look nods to the 1970s, but is every bit 2015. Get ready to make a loud entrance.
If you blink, you might miss it. Oval is the new favorite shape of sunglass frames this year. Choices are abundant, ranging from thick resins in luminous colors and tortoise shell patterns to thin metal rims to basic black and white. Colored and reflective lenses are as popular as standard polarized varieties — and can make a real statement. Depending on your facial structure, you might want to try out true ovoid styles (i.e. egg shaped), modified squared-off forms and everything in between. Now all that’s left is to bring on the sun.
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MARCH 27, 2015
THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE/ PAGE 11A
TODAY’S WOMAN
SPRING FASHION Continued from page 6A
quently worn, best loved items in any woman’s wardrobe — no matter her age, style or profession. Waistbands rise and fall; leg width opens or narrows. Sometimes, denim skirts and jackets join the mix. But, through all of their variations, jeans remain a perennial favorite. So, what’s new this spring? After seasons of skinnies followed by boxy boyfriend cuts, this spring’s most contemporary denim fashions revolve around cropped legs, higher waistlines and baggy silhouettes. For greater fluidity and refined style, look for lightweight denim and flawless construction. Add flair with chic details such as paper-bag waists, exaggerated pockets and deep hems. To balance the extra leg volume, baggy or wide-legged jeans are best paired with tailored shirts and trim tops.
stand tall and layer your pieces with attitude. A great obi belt doesn’t hurt either.
Yellow fever Bright and bold, spring’s favorite hue celebrates like a party. Yellow is cheerful and upbeat. It speaks to our collective need for sunshine after the long winter. It attracts attention and looks stunning against green grass and blue sky. With so many shades of yellow — ranging from warm saffron to vivid canary to cheeky lemon to pale butter — you should experiment to discover the best complement for your skin and hair. Go all out in a long wispy dress or pair basic black with a structured yellow jacket to radiate electric zing. Even a bright yellow belt, shoes or bag can be a commanding accessory.
Picnic, anyone?
Polo party
Love is fickle. Fall’s passion for plaid has been replaced by a romance with gingham. At the heart of this checkered affair are myriad manifestations of the classic print — all bedecked with tiny squares that seem to weave in and out of the surfaces of blouses, dresses and skirts. Because gingham’s punctuation is rhythmic yet measured, the pattern works well when paired with neutral separates, juxtaposed against contrasting brights or displayed head to toe. Vivid colors, contrasted with white, allow gingham to express both energy and innocence. Gingham is about contradiction. It’s a mood of exuberance kept in check… but maybe not for long.
Muffy, it’s time to throw that cashmere sweater over your shoulders, clasp those pearls and wear “Le Crocodile” again. The best preppy sportswear of the 1980s is experiencing a total redux, 30 years later but fresh as ever. Polo shirts in popsicle colors populated spring runways, like dress watches on the golf course and iced tea at the club. Some designers embraced the traditional, matching polos to madras plaid shorts and energetic tennis skirts. Others conjured new and more radical interpretations (gasp) by paring preppy tops with unexpected mullet skirts or wide culottes. It’s sportswear with a fun, Ivy League vibe. It’s a way of life. Popped collars required.
Hole punch Leather has become an all-season option in fun colors and supple fabrications. Simple Aline dresses and skirts look feminine and edgy in their marriage of sleek shape and unexpected Crayola color, such as green, marine blue, magenta and teal. Because leather garments are so materially beautiful, decoration is reductive rather than additive. Look for scalloped-edge cut lines, bands of geometric cut-outs, distinct lattice work and pierced details. Fringe skirts are also popular. Accessories further style the look. Demure and dressy hand gloves evoke a vintage, “Mod” mood; however, broad metallic jewelry, such as chokers and cuffs, orients the look in a futuristic plane.
Spy girl Belted at the waist, this season’s relaxed trench coats, loose kimonos and robelike dusters gain instant glamour. You’ll feel like the protagonist in your own movie with a look that is everything the part of a confident, intriguing girl hero. Worn as dresses, or as layering pieces (such as sweaters and jackets), this trend is all about comfort and relaxed elegance. When it works, this look achieves an illusion of effortless style — à la “Oh, this old thing? I just reached into my closet and threw these pieces together… and now I look fabulous.” The magic of brilliantly owning this trend is to
TODAY’S WOMAN
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MARCH 27, 2015
TODAY’S WOMAN
TODAY’S WOMAN Single-owner estates sales are Elaine Whitmire’s specialty By EVE MARX
E
E TH NG
Whitmire said she’s always had an eye for detail. “I took a test recently that told me I was more inclined toward the visual than the math of life,” she said. “I’m drawn to art. I like storytelling. I’m interested in the story of a person’s collection. My job at Sotheby’s is telling other people’s stories through what they collect.” She said technology has forever changed the auction business. “When I first started out, there weren’t cell phones,” Whitmire said. “There weren’t computers. Now a client can get ahold of you 24/7.” And thanks to technology, sales are all global. “Everyone can participate in a sale and you can see every catalog online,” she said. Over salad and broccoli rabe pasta and a bite of ricotta cheesecake at the Blue Dolphin restaurant in Katonah, where she most often takes her Saturday lunch, Whitmire talked about what it means to be a woman in her industry. “Just as much as to the clients, how you present yourself to colleagues is incredibly important,” she said. “You have to be confident without being cocky. You have to show yourself to
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laine Whitmire, Birmingham, Ala., native, is vice chairman of Americas for Sotheby’s, where she has worked for 34 years. After a long tenure and many changing titles, she has in recent years honed her own specialty, which is single-owner sales. Whitmire has pitched, directed and overseen the sales of the estates of many boldfaced famous name clients, including Gianni Versace, Andy Warhol, Geoffrey Beene, Brooke Astor, Bill Blass, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and most recently, Bunny Mellon, whose storied estate in Virginia was auctioned last autumn. In 1987, Whitmire moved to Katonah to raise a family. She has been commuting by train to the city for decades. When asked if she has always been attracted to beautiful things, Whitmire smiled her characteristic Cheshire grin. “My grandfather was a painter,” she said, her Alabama drawl still quite evident. “My parents were noted collectors of 18th century furnishings.” While Whitmire has been celebrated and often quoted in the press for her high profile sales, the majority of her auctions are the estates of people whose names you probably don’t know. She spoke glowingly of her sale of the art and furnishings of Jayne Wrightsman, the widow of Charles B. Wrightsman, a noted art collector and philanthropist. “Jane and her husband began collecting in 1952 and together amassed one of the finest private collections in America of the decorative arts,” Whitmire said. Many of the objects comprising the Wrightsman Galleries ended up going to the Metropolitan Museum. “We sold the contents of her London residence,” Whitmire said. “She had impeccable taste. Very high society.” Bill Blass, she said, was a favorite. “I loved his clothes, his friends, his story,” she mused. She called the Versace sale “bittersweet” because it took place only a year after his death. The Mellon sale generated an enormous, if not extraordinary amount of press. “Mellon is one of those names like Rockefeller and Vanderbilt,” Whitmire said. “They were very private. Their home had never been photographed.”
be a team player. Women get a bad rap as leaders. You have to be fair and smart. And take on opportunities as they present themselves and be open whether you think you want to be or not. Don’t be a wallflower. You have to speak up. And this is very important. Women have an obligation to raise up other women.” Whitmire said that being a team player doesn’t mean that a woman should be the person who always gets the coffee. “Don’t fall into that trap,” she said. The hardest period of her life was when her daughters were young and she was a full-time working mother. “That was the hardest part,” Whitmire said. “I had a job I loved.” She talked about her schedule that often required traveling for work, and living with nannies, which might sound like fun but really wasn’t, not to mention the lack of privacy in her house. Her children often begged her to stay home. “The bonus was that they grew up seeing a person who was passionate about her work,” Whitmire. “For me, working full time was the right decision.” While people might imagine that someone in Whitmire’s position would have an inside track on fabulous auctions, Sotheby’s employees are not allowed to buy in their own sales. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t fall in love with stuff. “At almost any sale there’s always something I personally love and want,” she said. “I get really attached to these sales. I really put myself into them. I want to do right by the client and make sure their story is told well. I get very involved but I can’t ever buy. We are not allowed.” Whitmire is a collector herself. “I collect what I love,” she said. “Everything in my house is from someone I love, or a period of time that I love. I’m interested in the provenance of things, and by that I don’t mean just in what country it was made. I have an early 19th century Austrian chest of drawers that has been with me my whole life. It was in my mother’s entrance hall. I just love the color. My grandfather’s art on the wall. I don’t care what’s on trend. I’ve got to love it and it’s got to mean something to me. I have formal things surrounded by things that aren’t formal at all. I’m not formal. Dogs are allowed in my living room.”
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