Feb.

23

Lovely Lena

Today, Doyle New York will be auctioning items from the late Lena Horne’s Upper East side apartment. In fact, I spent most of last night going through the entire lot and there are some wonderful items available. Lots 1001-1198 include everything from costume jewelry by Chanel and Kenneth Jay Lane to Hollywood memorabilia and Lena’s favorite caftans by designers like Giorgio di Sant’ Angelo. There are also some first edition books that were signed by the authors and the item that I most wish I could bid on, original art by Charles Alston. There was not enough time for me to submit an application to bid via the internet or telephone, but for a peek inside the legend’s life, here are some of the items on offer at Doyle today along with some iconic photos of Lena.

In a world obsessed with reality TV, pay attention wannabes, these are pieces of a well-lived life from a real star, and her life was a life full of art, culture, design, exquisite taste and above all, substance.