She’s all of this and more
25 Sep
Deborah ‘Debo’ Vivien Cavendish, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire is in LOVE magazine? And no-one thought to tell me? Thanks, you bastards. It’s OK though, I found out for myself about two months after the magazine came out so y’know, I don’t feel like too much of a dick. Honestly, I feel like I need to hand back my Mitford Fan Club membership card.
I couldn’t find the shoot anywhere online, so I painstakingly photographed it all with my phone – just in case anyone is as slack as me and wasn’t aware of it. Under the cut, because the pics are large and plentiful.
Confession time: the shoot actually focuses mainly on Stella Tennant; Debo’s granddaughter, who also just so happens to be one of my favourite models. This may well be because she has Mitford blood, but I think I’ve actually liked her longer than I’ve been reading about the Mitfords, so who knows.
There’s a decent amount of Debo in the story too though, and also lots of lovely shots of her house in Edensor – the ‘model’ village in the grounds of Chatsworth, which she recently downsized to. As a kid, we used to go to Chatsworth all the time because it’s just a few minutes away from home, and Edensor was often a stop-off on the way back. I know at least one person who still lives there, and it’s as picturesque and ridiculous as you may imagine. Good place for a Boxing Day stroll.
Anyway – on with the pictures.
The beautiful church at Edensor…
Debo admiring a Balenciaga shoe!!! I cannot get my head around this. Two of the best things in the world, combined, shot by Bruce Weber.
Kick Kennedy’s grave. I’m sure you all know the story, but if you don’t, read it here.
Stella’s son, monkeying around.
Love this picture.
Look at the bar in Debo’s house!! Wouldn’t have her down as a Gordon’s lady, but love the family photos in the background. Also, and you can’t really see this, but there is a handmade birthday card on the bar with a dog wearing an Elvis wig in a spaceship and the words ‘have a super cool birthday’. I die.
I URGE you to buy the magazine so you can see the pics properly!
BRB, dying of excitement
What an awesome idea though. Also if you’ve seen pics of Stella’s mother when she was young they look so alike. So much stunning in that family.
You have to buy it, such a good issue anyway then this treat nestled away at the back!
I’ll have to try and get this, I’ve been reading stuff about the Mitford sisters for a few years now so this seems quite interesting!
I’m a huge Mitford fan and have read about two thirds of books about them in existence, so I’m a big geek – but it’s still an amazing shoot by all accounts!
I cannot wait to get this. It’s $$$ here in Canada so a kindly relative has picked it up for me back in London for my viewing pleasure upon my return. I’m sure you did, but as a fellow Mitford admirer, did you catch this? http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tkyyg/Womans_Hour_10_09_2010/ If not, it’s truly charming and she just presents herself as the most wonderful and accomplished lady, which, of course, she is.
No I missed it, thank you! God love Woman’s Hour, shall have a listen tomorrow.
Debo!
Apparently the duchess is obsessed with Elvis and has a silver bathroom adorned with framed pix of The King.