Victoria May/June 2018

As summer gives us longer days and opportunities for travel, we journey to one of our favorite places—France—to study the architecture and be inspired by local décor. Come along as we tour homes in Normandy and southern France; visit the treasure-filled Château Dumas; take a look at Marie-Paule Faure’s Art of Living workshops held near Paris; and browse a tiny, overflowing antiques shop in a Parisian neighborhood. If your vacation takes you to France, carry along our guide, found in this issue, to the secret addresses of Provence. Surrounded by the beauty of the land and content from the delicious seasonal foods served in area establishments, follow your heart from castles and historic ruins to businesses producing olive oils, candles, and perfume. “Ethereal French Meringues,” our salute to the sweet, fluffy, cloud-like…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite May/June features: Touring France Rich in history, the landscape of northern France once saw the epic battles of World War I. Come along as we honor the past and celebrate the resilient beauty of the present. A Lasting Legacy Philanthropist and garden designer Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon’s Oak Spring Garden Foundation ensures the continuance of her life’s work through teaching and research. Writing Her Own Story On the outskirts of a peaceful village in Normandy, author and entrepreneur Sharon Santoni has made an oasis of a mid-nineteenth-century maison de maître. Delightful Indulgences From macarons to mascarpone, our delectable meringue recipes contain a little ooh la la in every bite. Pastel hues, swirls of cream, and bright notes of citrus add that extra something special. Our NEWonline store! Discover limited-edition items exclusive…

I love the way the French embrace simplicity, aging, and imperfection without prejudice, as demonstrated by Coco Chanel when she made her comeback in the early 1950s with her boxy, two-piece suit. Elegant, accessible, and timeless, it epitomized how charming an outfit can be when it is created by a woman who is comfortable with herself. When I was working toward my degree in fashion merchandising, I embraced Chanel and the French way of dress because it fit my thrift-store budget and student’s lifestyle. For very little, I put together a classic black-and-white wardrobe that consisted of a black silk crepe dress from the 1960s that I bought for $5, a white button-down shirt, a white T-shirt, a black blazer, a pair of black pants, a black skirt, and a…

Decades ago, in my first writing class, our teacher challenged us to look beyond our safe, enclosed lives to the world outside our door—a world, she reminded us, that needed our attention. I’ve tried to meet that challenge, both off and on the page, for over thirty years. Why, then, do I now find myself wanting to write about ironing, a subject that could hardly be safer or more domestically enclosed? Maybe because Mother’s Day is coming soon. I miss my mother. Though she is very much alive, most of the time she does not remember that she is a mother. When I show photographs of her six children and recite our names, she seems surprised. “And who would you be?” she often asks. Her hands, though, seem to remember her…

“LET THE BLUE SKY MEET THE BLUE SEA AND ALL IS BLUE FOR A TIME.” —Moncy Barbour…

hen the United States came to the aid of its allies by entering World War I in April 1917, the arrival of the first troops in France was a momentous event. But a military presence was only one way America lent a hand to a country that had responded when our colonies were in need during the fight for independence. By the time The Great War broke out, the Franco-American friendship was firmly established, and United States citizens wanted to help in ways both big and small. New York philanthropist Anne Morgan, daughter of eminent financier J. P. Morgan, was one figure whose remarkable efforts stood out. She was spurred to action by the destruction of the lovely Gallic villages laid waste by battle and was determined to assist with their…