Because you can't have depths without surfaces.
Linda Grant, thinking about clothes, books and other matters.
Pure Collection Ltd.
Net-a-porter UK

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Sir Tom, me and that hat


To the Dorchester for the South Bank Show Awards lunch in which the literature award was won by me, presented by Sir Tom Stoppard. I kissed him. Twice.

Then over to American friends watch the inauguration in which the show was stolen by Aretha Franklin in that hat

19 comments:

Geraldine Ryan said...

Hey, well done, Linda! You must be thrilled! And isn't that hat the business!

Susan B said...

Congratulations, Linda!

And I agree, Aretha hit it out of the park with that hat.

Duchesse said...

Sister Ree, continuing the tradition of the Church Lady Hat. Love it!

Anonymous said...

Yes - bravo Linda!! And, considering the temperature in DC at the Inaugural (25 degrees F with a wind chill of 8 degrees), Aretha Franklin was the only woman of the presidential party that was sensible enough to WEAR a hat. OMG - it was freezing down there. And, by the way, Michelle Obama's ensemble, by Isabel Toledo..." said the coat and dress were made of Swiss wool lace, backed with netting for warmth and lined in French silk." (NY Times)

Anonymous said...

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

and, congrats to you, too, Linda!

Miss Cavendish said...

I loved this hat and wrote a little something about it as well. And a hearty congratulations to you!

Anonymous said...

Today was a great day all around! Congrats Linda!

Anonymous said...

Yes, Aretha was lovely in her hat. Finally, a beautiful day to be an American! It has been such a painfully long time coming. Beautiful (and not so beautiful) hats off to the 44th President and his lovely wife. We are so grateful to you. Hail to the Chief!!!!

Congrats Linda, for your own accomplishment!
snp

George S said...

Wow! Hadn't heard about the prize, Linda. Many congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Yes! Yes! That hat!
I think we need to know the designer of Ms Franklin's wonderful outfit. Any ideas?

adele said...

Well done indeed for the South Bank award ...and never mind the Presidential stuff...what did YOU wear for that lunch? Your readers demand a picture, please.

Cal said...

Woo hoo, congratulations

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your award!

Yes, splendid hat. It reminds me of a hat worn by one of the classic Blues artists between the wars, perhaps Bessie Smith?

And dressing Aretha, who is no longer young and rather portly, so beautifully, is a splendid accomplishment.

The US anthem she was singing in such a strong, rich voice (not their national anthem, but another popular patriotic song) is of course God Save the Queen with other lyrics.

Queen of Soul!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your award!

StyleSpy said...

Congratulations, Linda! Sounds like a heckuva party! And I agree with Adele -- what did you wear?

Aretha's hat was perfect on her. One cannot expect small & demure from the Queen of Soul.

Fashion for Aliens said...

Congratulations-a grand day all round then.

Anonymous said...

Aretha is the sort of person we should just shut up and watch. I read criticisms of her hat and could not believe it. There seems to be a huge effort to make everybody ordinary.
Mustard on Michele, gray on Aretha. Lucky the woman who can live up to any color at all.
I hereby join in on the prizes! I asked a friend from New York to bring me your book and I finished it last night. Wonderful! Congratulations and thank you for it. I reckon I will get at least a couple more readings from it to gather up details.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Linda; I hope the applause was thunderous.

Disneyrollergirl.net said...

Congrats Linda! I loved the hat the minute I saw it. (And Aretha.)