La Dolce Vita and the Living Legacy of Tony Duquette

Ah, the Good Life!

Do you know of the splendid coffee table book by Slim Aarons “A Place in the Sun"--  a collection of photographs showing the rich and famous at play during the 60's?  I can't tell you how often I indulge myself the pleasure of getting lost in these iconic images that conjure up bygone elegance and glamour, when taste was both confident and chic.  I would always conclude these indulgences with a forlorn sort of melancholy -- those days are gone forever, Michael.

Or are they??????

On the evening of Friday, February 17th I found myself dressed rather smartly in formal attire alongside my business partner Douglas Truesdale, in the back seat of a liveried Jaguar sedan winding our way up into the heights of Beverly Hills to the home of complete strangers, the Count and Countess of Alastaya.  We had no idea what expect other than a swanky party, a benefit for Save Venice.  We had only one loosely acquainted friend who we might see, otherwise, we were flying solo, or in our case duo.

Turban-wearing attendants escorted us into the entryway along with a stream of other guests and Douglas and I we're immediately aware that, as our good friend Dorothy once put it, we weren't in Kansas anymore.  By walking through the front door of the private home of Hutton and Ruth Wilkinson, aka the Count and Countess, we thus began a weekend-long odyssey of elaborate parties where attendees were encouraged to dress in 60's couture -- "La Dolce Vita" as the weekend was proclaimed --Beverly Hills style, and my fantasy of basking in the glow of that golden era, if only for a short glimmer of time, was about to come true.

Ruth and Hutton Wilkinson, Count and Countess of Alastaya

Let’s start with Count and Countess’ glamorous (jaw dropping) home “Casa Contessa” which was built three years ago and adjoins Tony Duquette’s storied property “Dawnridge.” Hutton Wilkinson was Tony Duquette’s business partner, and inherited his estate and businesses after Tony passed in 1999. Hutton now runs the various Duquette empires, but is also an incredibly accomplished decorator, fabric designer, jewelry designer and accessories designer in his own right. Dawnridge sits at the long edge of a canyon-like property high in the Hills of Beverly, and Ruth & Hutton have built their home at the narrow end of the same canyon. The two homes share one of the most fantastically imaginative gardens I’ve ever seen: Tropical plants, palm trees, fig & olive trees comingling with an Indonesian Folly; a gondola floating in a koi-stocked lagoon; not to mention the crystal chandelier fitted with a disco ball in its interior; and towering palm tree-like sculptures that have over-scaled porcupine quills as foliage!

We're not in Kansas anymore...

One enters the Wilkinson’s home on the second level; the front doors open to an expansive gallery-like space, with an elliptical stair that coils up and down on the left side of the gallery, and a glass railed balcony that overlooks the two story high living room on the right. Douglas and I were immediately awe-struck as we gazed upon the spectacle of the party that enfolded below: Coral walls punctuated with gold leaf; Venetian paintings and blackamoors; leopard pattern carpet over polished black marble floors; yards and yards of HW designed fabric for Jim Thompson and Los Angeles society decked out in their best couture and jewels. We descended to the living room to be met by our host, Hutton, who waited to greet his guests at the bottom of the stair. From there, it was if we were carried on a cloud all night… we were simply enchanted. Adding to the sensory overload was the fact that Ruth and Hutton had staged the party in three phases: Cocktails at Casa Contessa; dinner in the gardens; and dessert and dancing at Dawnridge. This allowed us revelers to see all the glories of each property, and to be fully immersed in the creative genius that conjured up these magnificent environments.  One half expected to see the Fabulous Cushing Sisters, or Cole Porter or Auntie Mame herself walk through the door at any moment. I don’t think there’s been a party like this since Truman Capote’s Black & White Ball!

Staircase at Casa Contessa

Living Room at Casa Contessa

Dining Room at Dawnridge

Ballroom at Dawnridge

After some beauty sleep, Douglas and I attended the centerpiece of the weekend’s festivities, the Fellini Ball, which was held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel. The 1960’s theme was in full-force that evening complete with President and Mrs. Kennedy impersonators, go-go dancers, an army of James Bonds, and the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas & Elvis Presley making guest appearances. Of course, being LA, the Paparazzi were there too! The charming, handsome Chairman of Save Venice, Inc., Matthew White, gave a lovely toast to the assembled guests, and explained some of the important restoration work that is taking place in Venice thanks to the fundraising efforts of SVI. Did you know that Save Venice, Inc. raises more money for the restoration of art and architecture in Venice than any other organization or country? Pretty impressive!

The Crystal Ballroom of Beverly Hills Hotel

Paparazzi!

Michael and Douglas with Juan Prieto and Matthew White, chairman of Save Venice, Inc.

The orchestra coaxed one and all to the dance floor before, during, and after dinner. And in between spins on the dance floor, Douglas and I managed to make some new west coast friends. Of particular note were a group of four sisters who all flew down from the Bay Area on their private jet for the weekend’s festivities. These gals were doing it all with style, putting themselves up in the Presidential Suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel. This suite is actually a three-bedroom bungalow, with a living room, dining room, library, and most importantly, its own pool in its own back yard! The sisters invited us back to the suite for a nightcap after the ball had wound down, and we swapped stories poolside until the wee hours of the morning. Bliss!

Our new BFFs from the Bay Area

The final jewel in the weekend’s crown was a luncheon given at a gorgeous private residence in Beverly Hills. This was the time to reflect on all of the wondrous events of La Dolce Vita, and to solidify our new friendships. I can tell you, my head is still spinning from this whole experience, and I feel so grateful to have been given this peek into a glamorous life we rarely get to witness, let alone partake in.

Wes Carroll of Beverly Hills, Douglas Truesdale, Michael Carter, and the Pucci-clad Joy Venturini  Bianchi of
San Francisco

So, gird your loins, readers! All of this LA eye-candy has stoked the creative fires of Carter & Co., and we can hardly wait to share the wealth!