Women's Lifestyle April 3, 2026 0 Comments

Unlock the Style Secrets of These Four Iconic Women Who Outsmarted Fame and Redefined Elegance Forever

Ever wondered how the most fabulously eccentric minds fly through life with such effortless style—and zero apologies? Diana Vreeland, the legendary fashion editor, wasn’t just dishing out couture advice; she was rewriting the rulebook on living boldly and decadently. Now, in a spirited revival penned by Lynette Nylander, Harper’s Bazaar’s exec digital director, “Why Don’t You?” challenges us to channel that same fearless flair into everyday living. From mixing couture like a DJ to knowing when to exit stage left on your own high note, this isn’t your usual lifestyle spiel—it’s a call to live richly, fiercely, and unapologetically. Ready to shake up your status quo? Dive in and embrace the art of doing life on your terms. LEARN MORE

3 min read

Diana Vreeland had a singular take on not only fashion but life. Her eccentricity has become folklore and was best exemplified in an illustrated column of irreverent advice for chic living she called “Why Don’t You?” Resurrected and reimagined for modern life, the column, now written by Bazaar’s executive digital director, Lynette Nylander, will dispense tips on how to live stylishly, decadently, and daringly.

WHY DON’T YOU…LIVE

firmly in the moment. The recently departed and eternally chic Countess Jacqueline de Ribes was once described as the DJ of couture, thanks to the ease with which she mixed garments. “She was a real femme du monde,” Pierre Bergé told Harper’s Bazaar in a 2015 profile of the French socialite. “I think she may be the last to know how to live like that.” She cut up couture gowns to her liking, had her wardrobe showcased at the Met, and possessed a beauty so captivating that legendary Harper’s Bazaar fashion editor Diana Vreeland demanded photographer Richard Avedon take her portrait immediately upon meeting her. She was one of Truman Capote’s swans, she ran in circles with Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino, and Joan Collins’s Dynasty style was modeled on hers. Despite her epically glamorous life, she swore she would never write a memoir. The lesson? Focus on living your life instead of chronicling it on social media—and keep the really fun stuff a secret.

Formal attire worn by a couple, featuring a glamorous white feathery outfit.

Patrice PICOT//Getty Images

Jacqueline de Ribes leaving a party in Paris in 1973

WHY DON’T YOU…LEAVE

on a high note. Model turned shop owner Tiina Laakkonen’s unassuming Amagansett boutique, Tiina the Store, was the place for those in the know to find everything from Iittala glass tumblers to mille-feuille-thin summer separates from Dosa to embroidered cashmere shawls from Yaser Shaw. Her artful curation had the well-to-do Hamptons crowd in a tizzy. Business swelled. But at the height of its popularity, in 2023, Laakkonen closed the whole thing down. Instead, she travels to Japan (check out her Instagram for the idyllic Kyoto snaps) and favors, as she told the indie mag Family Style, reading books, hanging out with her cat, making dinner, and seeing friends, leaving life open for the next wonderful wave of creativity to hit. “Once the lightning strikes again, I’ll go for it,” she said. A prime example of going out on top!

Person standing on a platform overlooking the ocean.

Jon Rosen

Tiina Laakkonen in Japan

WHY DON’T YOU…COMMIT

to the bit. Marie-Hélène de Rothschild was so skilled at throwing parties that The New York Times called her the “hostess with the mostest.” Most of her memorable fetes were thrown at her family’s lavish Château de Ferrières, outside of Paris. De Rothschild’s 1972 surrealist ball, inspired by the work of Salvador Dalí (who also attended), featured tablescapes adorned with broken baby dolls, dead tortoises, and dyed-green bread rolls and attracted guests like Marisa Berenson and Audrey Hepburn, who showed up with her head encased in a birdcage. De Rothschild dressed as a fallen stag with a mask adorned with diamond teardrops! Triple down on what you do best—and have no one question your talents.

Formal dining scene with individuals at a table.

Marie-Hélène de Rothschild, flanked by Salvador Dalí and Yul Brynner, at the Lido in Paris in 1973

WHY DON’T YOU…DEFY

expectations. Dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, who passed away in 2025 at 94, defied the racism of the ’50s and ’60s to become one of the most celebrated artists of her generation. She began her career with pioneering modern choreographer Lester Horton, was one of the first Black prima ballerinas with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and went on to perform in iconic works with Alvin Ailey. She starred on screen with Harry Belafonte in 1959’s Odds Against Tomorrow, and Duke Ellington called her “one of the most ravishing women in the world.” Dancing until her 80s, de Lavallade remained breathtaking, often wearing striking crimson outfits and statement earrings. Her life was a reminder to always keep going with grit, substance, and style.