Dearest Vivienne,
We’ve always been told that a lady never reveals her age. But then again, you’ve never been a woman of convention have you, Viv? And all the better for it, we say. You are, as the rumour goes, the woman who met HRH sans undergarments. So we’re sure that you won’t mind if we reveal it’s your birthday today, and not just any birthday, but your 75th. We have chosen this delightful frisson of flowers to send in celebration. But before we go further, an admission. These aren’t really birthday flowers. That was an excuse. This artfully displayed bunch is actually just to celebrate you – all day, everyday. For who else brings us so much joy season after season? Who else changed the way that we dressed, that re-jigged the corset and put a cock necklace upon our bowed heads? And yes, we know we are just a mere fashion rag but we do also happen to know that you look after planet earth very tenderly indeed – fracking, climate, sinking Venice – you are basically all that’s good about the world, Vivienne. We wish could send you flowers everyday, but well, Will’s card got cloned and used in the Co-op, and the rest of us are in similar states of financial disenfranchisement. We just don’t have the funds. We’re sorry. But Dominic once told us that your favourite meal is a slice of lettuce drizzled with olive oil. So we hope you treat yourself with that tonight. Perhaps one of those classy lettuces? A rainbow chard? Belgian endive? Lamb’s lettuce? It’s a special occasion. “Just don’t pick an iceberg wedge,” the ever-wise Will advises. But you know that already, Viv. Because we have the feeling you know pretty much everything about everything. Either way, we hope you have a wonderful birthday and all your dreams come true. Now, we fear that you wouldn’t enjoy being cited as our source of daily inspiration, but you know what Viv, you need to hear it. You are all the woman anyone could ever want to be. Long live the dame.
Love always
Ten x
Arrangement and photograph by Simone Gooch at Fjura – www.fjura.com
