Marella Agnelli

"If they were both in Tiffany's window, Marella would be more expensive." -Truman Capote (comparing Agnelli to that other rare bird, Babe Paley)

Marella Agnelli, wife of Fiat magnate Gianni Agnelli, was another of Truman Capote's jet-set and lovely swans. In 1963, she was included on the International Best Dressed List, later becoming a member of the Hall of Fame. In addition to being a well dressed wife and mother, she was educated in Paris, and had several careers. She was assistant to photographer Erwin Blumenfeld, and also an occasional editor and photography contributor to Vogue. In 1973 after developing a textile line for Abraham-Zumsteg, she was awarded the Resources Council's prestigious 'Roscoe' (the design trade's equivalent of the Oscar). She is also an avid gardener, having authored several books on the subject, often, contributing her own photographs for the books.

Below is a photo of Marella with Princess Luciana Pignatelli on one of Agnelli's yatchts in the port of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the Côte d'Azur. From Vogue, July 1, 1962:

I am currently reading Princess Luicana's book, The Beautiful People's Beauty Book. She describes much of Marella's lifestyle and beauty regimin. It seems Marella is very fast paced and active. Her husband was very impatient and also always on the move, so Marella developed the ability to be ready to go at the drop of a hat. The couple had several homes around the world, and she could be ready to travel to one of them in no time at all.

Here are Marella and Gianni at Truman's Black and White Ball:

Here she is in the library of her home in Turin, Italy, photographed for Vogue, January 1, 1967:

In a January 1977 interview with Vogue's Joan Juliet Buck, Marella said of her endevors, "One applies a certain technical know-how, some culture, and a certain amount of taste—which I hope I have. It is my little soufflé." Such a philosophy! Life as a little soufflé. Couldn't have said it better myself.