Lynne McCrossan: Farewell then Zelda, you’re fashionably late
Dalen Randal, Southside. I leapt on Dalen the moment I spotted her in the supermarket proving you can be Capital Catwalk ready anywhere as I had to find out where her zig-zag fur coat was from. It turns out it was bought in the 1970s and still looks as good as new. The dress underneath was from Miss Selfridge, circa early 1990s. Amazing.
If you live for fashion it is only fitting you should die for it too.
Last week, that is exactly what happen to socialite and style icon Zelda Kaplan.
The 95-year-old fashion lover took to her front row seat at the Joanna Mastroianni show in New York and, as the lights dimmed and music blared, Kaplan passed out and slipped away.
Renowned for her regal dressing, Zelda was never spotted without oversized shades, loud prints and matching hats. This became her uniform and she would often pick up exotic materials on her travels and have them whipped into wonderful outfits to wow people.
This lady was a big advocate for creating your own clothes, complaining about the lack of diversity in fashion she urged and inspired people to dance to the beat of their own style drum.
A self-confessed night owl, Zelda could frequently be found in Manhattan nightclubs stating bedtime was anywhere between midnight and 7am. Her husband said she rarely visited the doctor, never took medication and was fond of Shiraz.
So, if you are opening a bottle of red tonight, toast this eccentric soul, dying front row at a fashion show. What a wonderful way to go.
FASHION INSIDER
Attention all stylish brides-to-be, I have some insider help for your nuptials. Edinburgh’s own Heritage Portfolio is hosting a vintage wedding fair on Sunday, March 4, at Mansfield Traquair, in Mansfield Place. There will be gin and tonic in teacups. Now that’s my kind of wedding party.
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