LIVING HISTORY

photo of Eleanor Lambert by Cecil Beaton

When I worked for Miss Lambert, she used to encourage us all to go through the files. Well actually she used to say, "Does anyone around here ever go through those files?" I know I did.

There were many "unspoken rules" at Eleanor Lambert Limited. One of the rules was you could make or take a copy of whatever you wanted -- just don't take the last one. Growing up, I was obsessed with photographer Cecil Beaton who also wrote The Glass of Fashion. Imagine my reaction when I came across several incredible photos taken by Cecil Beaton of Miss Lambert. Even though there were still a few copies in the files, I approached Miss Lambert and asked if I could have a copy. She agreed and we had an interesting conversation about Cecil Beaton, who was not only a client, but her great friend.

Every single day was an adventure working for Miss Lambert. There was always something surprising, someone famous or something completely over the top happening each day (or all of the above). Mariam Docrat who was the most senior person working for Miss Lambert at that time said to me on several occasions, "John Tiffany, we are living history." And we knew it.

LET’S GET STARTED WITH LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN

In this photograph by Cecil Beaton, it is clear that he could see the potential Empress in his friend Eleanor Lambert even when she was in her 20s.

Eleanor Lambert believed in destiny, she claimed she had lived a lucky life – and she lived to be 100 years old.

Miss Lambert often told the story of an early visit to a fortuneteller who predicted that although she would never be rich, she would always be surrounded by beautiful things and seven-letter names.

She considered her own seven-letter names and people with seven-letter names lucky, she pointed out to me that the person who had referred me to work for her (James LaForce) had a seven-letter last name. Her husband (Seymour Berkson) and son (William Berkson) had seven-letter names. And finally, she pointed out that I had a seven-letter last name (Tiffany) which she suggested was indeed very lucky.

It’s only fitting that Empress and Fashion are seven-letter names that fit well with hers. ELEANOR LAMBERT: EMPRESS of FASHION