I was looking through my Mother’s books and found a copy of Victoria ~ At Home With White. Victoria as in Victoria Magazine. Sigh. Why did that magazine go defunct? Those luscious photos by Toshi Otsuki and the articles of fabulous stores in France or England where you could transform you life into something deserving of, well, just something you certainly deserved.
Seems to me there still would be an audience for that magazine. I liked it because it was more than just a decorating magazine and more like a lifestyle magazine. Dreamier than, say, Martha Stewart’s Living or even Romantic Home (both magazine I like a whole lot).
The book is out of print but copies are to be had from book resellers. It makes me want to start collecting all of the Victoria books.
My mother loved white. Her garden is all white. White roses, birch trees, white hydrangeas and geraniums. It is very elegant, just like my mother was. Just from where I am sitting I can see eight or nine books on decorating or gardening with white.
Decor-wise she always paired it with a certain shade of blue, kind of an oceany greyish blue. The effect is calming, elegant and surprisingly not cold considering the palette.
But back to the book – if you like the sample of pictures above then try to get your hands on a copy of the book. You will not be disappointed. Each page is a visual feast; photograph after gorgeous photograph.
Looking through it I was reminded of a catalog I used to get that started out selling French lace curtains. Then they branched out, still mainly selling curtains but also decorative objects from France. Does anyone remember that catalog and the name of it? I want to say it had France or French in the name but I just can’t remember. I wonder what happened to them?
Edited to add: And Claudia gets it! It was Rue de France. Doing a quick search it looks like they were bought out by the Lillian Vernon Company and then they decided to phase it out in 2004.
And the big mystery ~ why is it that when I really like something like a magazine or a company it disappears?
Hi!
There is a company online called French General that sells a lot of textiles. Is that the company you are referring to? My mother still mourns the loss of Victoria Magazine too…I think there are a lot of people out there who miss it. 🙂
I don’t think we got that magazine in Australia but those pictures are gorgeous! thanks for sharing!
Was it something like Rue de France?
This is so funny! I nabbed that same book from my moms collection a couple of years ago! Together with some other books by Victoria magazine – and all her back issues of the magazine, which are now stored intact on my office shelves. Such a great source of inspiration!
I have that book! It is indeed lovely, as are ALL the Victoria books. I too have often wondered what happened to the magazine – one day it simply didn’t show up on the newsstands or in mailboxes. No reason given. How sad… too many people miss it to think that there wasn’t enough interest.
I love that book. I just posted a picture on my blog before I read yours and you can sort of see that book under a lamp in the background. I have a few of the old Victoria books. The Bedroom one is really pretty and so is the book on decorating with Blue and White. I wish they would bring back Victoria magazine. I think it was ahead of it’s time but now I think more people would buy it. I have many years of that magazine that I saved. I regret that I got rid of the early years. I still go back and read them over and over.
I too mourn the loss of Victoria mag. Ahh the photos, the amazing photos. I bought a few issues off Ebay and that seemed to help for awhile.
I remember seeing a Victoria fashion photo spread, set in Paris – at night. I don’t know the month or year (anyone?), but those pics fueled a lot of travel fantasies for me;-)
I loved Victoria magazine too (big sigh). I don’t think there is another magazine that can compare to it. I didn’t know about the books though, and I’m so excited. I am going to look for some to purchase right now. I just love your blog, and I couldn’t help delurking today because you mentioned your fondness for Victoria.
Thanks for the inspiration. I just bid on the book on Ebay.
I was all happy until I remembered about Victoria. I grieve the loss of her often. I know a lot of people do and we want answers! Maybe Google will tell us what happened…I do have some old issues. No other magazine comes close.
I’ve never been able to throw any of my Victoria magazines away.
I always wonder what happened to the editor, Nancy Lindemeyer. That magazine was her vision and creation.
I’ve been indulging in all my February issues from Victoria, and enjoying every page.
Truly, it doesn’t make sense to me that Hearst would continue to reprint the Victoria books and not see that there’s still a market for this particular niche.
Having said that, I cherish my copies, and hope that one day the magazine might be reinstated. With Nancy Lindemeyer at the helm, of course.
I, too, miss Victoria Magazine. I haven’t found anything quite like it, though I do enjoy Romantic Homes and Southern Lady. I just don’t understand why something of equal quality hasn’t come along…sigh.
Sister Posters: For all you “Victoria” fans, I suggest you join “Missing Bliss” at the Yahoo! groups site. Go to Yahoo! and sign up. I did last year and found a legion of sister fans who miss and swap stories, issues and projects famous in “Victoria’s” heyday.
Don’t delay a moment longer, the mantle clock on the fireplace awaits…to take you back to a world of graciousness.
Wonderful……….I am so glad Victoria mag. is coming back……only mag. ever that i missed…………cannot wait!
Victoria is coming back! I am a mail carrier and today I was on the route on which I live, as I was looking through my own mail I received the subscription invitation, I got sooo excited I almost wet my pants!
VICTORIA magazine is baaaack! Got an invitation in the mail yesterday for a free magazine to be delivered in October! You have no idea how happy I am!
I, too, was very sad when they discontinued circulating.
Check out http://www.victoriamag.com.