DRIVING IN STYLE

My earliest memory of being in a car was when I was a wee queenling. My mother's parents, and my grandparents I was closest too, had two cars, one being a vintage Citroen DS. Matter of fact my grandfather learned to drive very late in life, just to able to own and drive a Citroen. I remember enjoying being in the car when we went for rides, but it was much later that I really remember just how chic, and what style they had till I was much older and couldn't recall seeing other cars like it. Girls, when I say this car was chic and fun, it was just that. The car sat for years when he stopped driving. Even after sitting for years, the car started right up when my uncle took the car at the urging of my grandmother, who was razing the detached garage, to make way for a sunroom and more garden space a couple years after my grandfather's passing. How I wished I had that car now. I would totally drive it daily.

My grandfathers Citroen DS  in Belleview Park where they lived.

When the Citroen Ds was unveiled before an astonished crowd at the 1955 Paris Motor Show, the world had never seen anything like it. The DS captured the spirit of Citroen, innovative, daring, spacious, style and dripping with haute couture and Gallic comfort. The interior was huge and well appointed. Motorist around the world fell in love with the car, and it refused to die till the last 1, 456,115 produced came of the assembly line in 1975. It was a mainstream family car in Europe. And it was a car of choice for everyone from artistic and eccentrics, to businessman, doctors, engineers, and professor to housewives. After the DS was out of production, and Citroen left the American market, there was no comparable replacement in the American showroom that had its retro style.

 The features list tends to define what a luxury car is these days. And while classic cars arguably had style and grace, they can't compete when it comes to the bells and whistles of today. But at the time Citroen had offered a lot and was way ahead of its time. It's hydropneumatics, self-leveling suspension and aerodynamic styling, and adjusting headlights. In 2009, a panel of automotive designers named it the most beautiful care ever made. High praise, considering it faced off against the like of Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Jaguar. It was also the first mass-produced car with front disc brakes. The Citroen DS's real party trick was its suspension, though, which was like a magic carpet ride and one of the smoothest rides I can remember in a car. The ride quality was so impressive, Rolls -Royce borrowed it for its own fleet.

While regarded today as a technical masterpiece...it's beyond me why car makers now can't still have the amazing and convenient technology we now have, yet bring the style, grace and chicness back into one car. These days one can barely tell the difference between car makes anymore.

Monday Moments

It's Monday again?!?!?!?!?!

 I will definitely need a couple cups of wakey wakey and some moving music to get moving today, and a ride in a vintage Citroen to work might not hurt either.......you?

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Tisket of This, a Tasket of That

Well, well ,well, it seems forever since I was around, no? I have finally returned to my ever faithful Casa du Borghese.....

.......... and how I have missed you all! Now... I usually like to hibernate in the winter, but it seems others had plans for me. Since my absences, I have had two back to back business trips for some visual work at some of our other locations, a concert at the New Hope Winery with Duncan Sheif, a trip to the ancestral home, and a long weekend in New York at the fabulous Oheka Castle, but more on that later. But first I have some tidbits  of some tiskets and taskets I'd like to share and feel free to chime in on any subject.....

First things first. I sure hope my Social Director, Anitia Moorecock behaved and was a swell hostess?!?! She went through some stress whilst I was away. Since back I have sent her to Guatemala for some R&R.She just can't handle the boys.

American Horror Story season 2 ended. What a ride it was!!!! And did Jessica Lange not turn in yet another twisted performance? I can't believe it ended already. I have also heard that season three is already in the works with talk of witches, magic or some variation of the two, and how that will be incorporated with Murphy’s rather cryptic use of the term “evil glamour.“ Murphy says that Jessica has spent enough time in rags, and will be a glamour puss in the next season. Season three will also see the return Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and from season 1 Taissa Farmiga.

It's been a tough week for Downton Abbey fans. I am still in mourning for Lady Sybil. But I'm more then happy to take up with Branson, and take that hot head Irishmen off the Crawley's hands!!!

While away, a saw a real live Citroen on the road, and now more than ever would love to have one. A vintage Citroen. Practical for me? No. Stylish? yes. I would look so cute behind the wheel.

Saw Max Ryan in a movie while away. He is so my new salt and pepper crush.

The team and I made trips to the showrooms again, and must say was in love with Christian Dior's Spring Collections......

........and even more happy that the peplum is back in vogue again on everything from jackets, to dresses, to the most basic of shirts. Women's clothing needs to get more feminine again.

It's a major treat to have RuPaul and the girls back again! All-Stars shows are such a cop out. And what a great collections of queens. Is it me or have Michelle's tits gotten even bigger??? She really could compete in the show if you ask me. I have seen many of these queens perform, and am pleased they are showing their true style. I have been very pleased with my girls Alaska, Roxxy and Detox. But I don't suspect Serena or Monica will be around much longer. Serena is about as useful as a glass hammer! Caught by surprise I was by Lineysha Sparx......

I had not seen or heard of her, but I am loving her lots! Great style, flawless paint, and old school drag and etiquette. Hmmmmmmm, she may be the surprise sleeper this season. Watch out gurrrrrrrls!

Finally, I am loving Christina Aguilera's new cd Lotus. Good Gawd does that girl have pipes on her! So glad she also left the Voice. A wise choice. She is getting re-grouped, spending time with her son, and continuing with new music. I love her, but lets hope she keeps away from the foods. Now I must get caught up with you all, so much reading to get caught up on. Now feel free to discuss, whilst I gather myself upon getting back today. Tootles!

Bon chic, bon genre....Anything Goes

I do believe everyone at last night's dinner thought the Mistress was plum crazy! I came across some pictures my mother gave me, I'm slowly trying to get them organized, and one of them was a vintage Citroen that my father had right before he met my mother. It was my grandfathers. I have no idea why he would have gotten rid of such a beauty, or what even happened to it. If only he knew he would have a gay son! Well, at dinner I told everybody I would love to own one of these beauties as my carriage, how chic! I even showed them the picture, the car was similar to the white one in the picture below. Most said they wouldn't be caught dead driving something so eccentric looking, but with me they know anything goes. How can you not love this fashionably chic little carriage?



The Citroen was founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën, Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA, and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that complements the motor car. Within eight years Citroën had become Europe's largest car manufacturer and the 4th largest in the world. The Citroen was a ground-breaking car that not only had beautifully elegant coachwork but was also bristling with advanced technology, and a sleek design. They could be seen all over the French roads and the high roads of Monte Carlo, as well as Europe. Yes, I do believe I could drive one of these. Lucky for my father is he departed.



I have visions of the Mistress in the convertible, you know for the weekend get-aways!





A matching set for pete's sake..... maybe for the houseboys?



I swear, sometimes I think the Mistress was left behind from another era. I'm heading to the Rodin Museum later to view some sculpture. How fun would it be to drive this in town, or for those fun summer road trips to take unlikely adventures? After all,unlikely adventures require unlikely tools!