In a world dominated by negative press, it doesn't hurt to step aside for a moment and celebrate how far we have come.
A few years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, Virginia Slims cigarettes were marketed to young professional women using the slogan "You've come a long way, baby."
Little did the creators of that ad know just how far women in the US would rise—from those traveling into space, to those on the Supreme Court, women CEOs, and of course, women running for President. The irony in that ad, of course, is that eventually both men and women would continue to evolve into the savvy non-smokers they are today, educated on the harm of nicotine.
While the progress we have made in medicine, women's rights, and science is not tantamount to how fashion, art, and design have evolved, these creative endeavors are visual testaments to change. Today, we celebrate color blends like pink with orange or blue with black, which may have been frowned upon in years past. There is no need to adhere to arbitrary fashion rules like not wearing white after Labor Day or mixing gold and silver jewelry.
Similarly, interior designers have become increasingly emboldened by weaving in the old with the new. A sucker for nostalgia with an eye on the road ahead, I wholeheartedly embrace this design approach because the juxtaposition of furnishings is precisely what describes the life within. For example, when our dining room was begging for a chandelier, I knew I wanted a brass fixture with a modern sculptural twist. That is where the knowledge ended and the search began. It took several months before stumbling upon the one below.
The moment I saw this piece, I knew it was the one. The modern lines contrast with the antique mirror from my husband’s childhood home in Rome. Conversely, because brass bridges both classic and contemporary design, the chandelier feels perfect in our space. To me, design is less about perfection and more about evolution. Bold choices are the ones that make a home feel personal, like it can only belong to you.
