Nan Kempner 1956205 219378584 2008-06-14T23:06:01Z Zoltarpanaflex 2012415 /* Is It Art? */ corrected typo {{Nofootnotes|date=February 2008}} '''Nan Kempner''' ([[July 24]] [[1930]] - [[July 3]] [[2005]]) was a [[New York City]] [[socialite]], famous for dominating society events, shopping, charity work and fashion. An only child from a wealthy [[San Francisco]] family, Nan Field Schlessinger attended [[Connecticut College]] and met Thomas 'Tommy' Kempner in the early 1950's. They married soon after and had three children. After living in [[London]] for a short time the Kempners moved to [[New York City]], where Nan took the initiative to become a leader in society. Over a thirty year period she helped raise over $75,000,000 (USD) for the [[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]]. She also amassed the largest private collection of haute couture clothing featuring classic designers like [[Mainbocher]] and her favorite designers [[Yves Saint-Laurent (designer)|Yves Saint Laurent]] and [[Bill Blass]]. In addition, Kempner is credited as being perhaps one of the first women to undergo modern cosmetic surgery. At various times in her life Kempner worked as a contributing editor for French ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'', a fashion editor for ''[[Harper's Bazaar]]'', a design consultant for [[Tiffany & Co.]] and an international representative of the auction house [[Christie's]]. In [[Armistead Maupin]]'s ''[[Tales of the City]]'' series, two society matrons discuss the creation of a society [[wax museum]], emphasizing that future generations might not otherwise know what Nan Kempner looked like. Kempner herself authored a book about how to be a truly great host entitled ''R.S.V.P.'' ([[2000]], ISBN 0-609-60430-9). The proceeds of the book benefited several charities. [[Diana Vreeland]], legendary editor of American ''Vogue'', once said: "There are no chic women in America. The one exception is Nan Kempner." She died on [[July 3]] [[2005]], aged 74, from [[emphysema]]. Two months later her family held a memorial service in her honour at the esteemed auction house of [[Christie's]]. 500 of Kempner's friends were in attendance. In December of 2006 the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]]'s Costume Insititute opened an exhibition of Kempner's extensive couture collection. ==Is It Art?== Between December 12, 2006 and March 4, 2007 the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art ran a special exhibition entitled "Nan Kempner: American Chic". Her expansive wardrobe of one of a kind couture pieces was showcased, leading many to question the exhibit's artistic value. While many believe that her wardrobe was nothing more than a shrine to materialism, a large audience turned up and found it beautiful and inspiring. One fashion blogger summarized this viewpoint by saying "On its surface, Nan Kempner: American Chic does appear hollow: pretty, expensive clothes for a pretty, rich woman.... But searching for meaning in Kempner’s garments is missing the point. American Chic documents the preservation and maintaining of the ever-elusive personal style". While there will always be those who question fashions validity as an art form, those who appreciate it can compare it to the Rembrandt's or Picasso's of wardrobes. ==Quotes== * "I wouldn't miss the opening of a door." * "Some people say the camera loves me, the truth is, I love the camera." * "The only plastic I want is plastic surgery!" * "Those are small hotel pants...no ballroom." * "I want to be buried naked, I know there's a store where I'm going." * "I loathe fat people." * "I spend way more than I should...and way less than I want." ==Sources== *[http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/shopping/fashion/fall04/9647/ How to Be a Park Avenue Princess] *[http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/catalog/results.pperl?authorid=15389 Crown Publishing Group profile] *[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/06/db0601.xml ''Daily Telegraph'' - Nan Kempner Obituary] *{{findagrave|11296056}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kempner, Nan}} [[Category:1930 births]] [[Category:2005 deaths]] [[Category:American journalists]] [[Category:American non-fiction writers]] [[Category:American socialites]] [[Category:Deaths from emphysema]] [[Category:People from Manhattan]] [[Category:People from San Francisco, California]]