Ladies Who Lunch (and Inspire)

Posted by Katie, Fashion Editor

On Wednesday, a group of us went to a lunch given by Glamour magazine honoring the 50th year of its "Top 10 College Women" program. Martha was honored by the same program in 1961, when it was an award for best-dressed. She spoke at this anniversary event, which was held at the Four Seasons -- providing two motives for us to spend two hours on lunch even though we're super busy around the office.

photo courtesy of Larry Busacca/WireImage

The last time I was at the Four Seasons was years ago, when I was working on the photo shoot for Darcy Miller's wedding, which we featured in our Weddings magazine. I was happy to be there as a guest this time around. Ten people from Blueprint attended, but I only took this one picture across the table. Of course, as is my wont, I didn't warn them that they were being photographed/blogged about. This is Valerie, Milano, Petra, and Johannah. Sorry, guys. 

Anyway, Martha's speech was, as usual, refreshingly funny. I don't know why it continually surprises me to find her public speaking style so candid (when will I learn?). She spoke about originally being a runner-up in the Glamour competition and making into the top ten at the last minute only because one of the original winners found herself in some unfortunate circumstance (had she flunked out? did she get pregnant? Martha wasn't sure). She also talked about how, back then, she sewed the designer clothes she couldn't afford, using patterns imported from French couturiers. I am hoping to see her pattern collection someday.

At the end of the lunch, they asked each of this year's winners to come up and accept her award, accompanied by short biographies that were really humbling. I mean really humbling. Among the honorees was an inventor of a medical device, a fund-raiser for Darfur (herself a survivor of the Rwandan genocide), a physics major who helped NASA with a major discovery, and on and on.

photo courtesy of Larry Busacca/WireImage

Without getting too preachy, I thought the best thing I could take out of this event (rather than just self-loathing) was a reminder to maintain that sort of enthusiasm and excitement that one has at the end of college, about life and its possibilties. Which, of course, include lovely lunches at the Four Seasons.

Comments

[lauren o'neill]

thank you for highlighting this event, your post left me with goosebumps over these ladies' fascinating work. that entusiasm and excitement for life truly hit home. thanks!

[Andrew Ritchie]

I heard Martha speak at the Good Things event and she was, indeed, very frank, particularly in her descriptions of a Thanksgiving gathering that went awry: a dog was kicked in the face by one of her horses and she was rushed to the hospital after sustaining a wound to her hand, all amidst a photo shoot for the magazine. But the show went on!

What she has achieved is truly inspiring. She has revolutionized the magazine and housewares industries while providing quality information every step of the way.

Looking forward to the next issue of Blueprint!

-Andrew