I really try not to post obituaries here. I feel like with each passing day something ever darker is happening. Then Gloria Vanderbilt died. The shows we are watching keep getting darker. I try to give fun topics on the weekend but even they tend to got dark. A simple question about what shows are you watching can turn into comments where people like violent, horror shows. Our reality shows are often vats of misogyny and hatred. Women who don’t brawl are “boring.” People who like one housewife over another send death threats. Sites purportedly about reality TV shows pay to obtain information that will wreck marriages. It’s a lot. I never thought of myself as a snowflake. But, I guess I am. I just wanted this site to be fun.
But the death of Gloria Vanderbilt must be addressed.
My shack in the ghetto is where my mother and father raises four kids, two boys and two girls in the 1950s. I was born here nearly a full generation later. There are three bedrooms, teeny tiny closets in each (one is my library room/office and the closet is the pantry). My parents were very good with money. I purchased the house from the estate as I worked at the school next door and was already living here.
Sorry, I am getting to the Gloria Vanderbilt part. I was raised in Tripoli, Libya where my father worked for Lockheed. There was no TV, very little news from the US. And certainly no fashion. So, I guess that is why I am more like a guy when I shop now. I like to just buy ten of the things I like rather than lust after whatever I am supposed to like.
Meeting Gloria Vanderbilt
So, one year in high school for Christmas my mother gave me eleven sweaters. I love me a sweater to this day. But, my brother told my mother I needed better jeans. I personally didn’t really care. I didn’t become more accustomed to nice things until one day decades later when someone sent me a Christmas tree ornament from Tiffany. Like, I knew such things happened. Just not to me.
WordPress Says I’ve Told The Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans Story Before
My mother, who was very tight with money took me to the mall after this conversation with my brother and bought me Calvin Klein Jeans and two pairs of the Gloria Vanderbilt jeans with the swan. I’ve never been good at fitting in. But that swan did a lot for my cred with the boys. 🙂
So in a sense, Gloria Vanderbilt made me feel beautiful for the first time. And I know she must have done that for a lot people. So it was a hard passing for me. And I adore Anderson Cooper (and don’t have a clue why he hangs out with Andy Cohen). So it was very sad news that I did not want to share. And only did so wondering if any other mere mortal was touched by Gloria Vanderbilt. And apparently based on the link I just inserted, I’ve told this story and was still crazy years ago.
Sorry I was all in my feels and forgot to post this. Which was kind of the point.
Gloria Vanderbilt dies at the age of 95.
The American artist, fashion designer, and heiress was the mother to @CNN's @AndersonCooper.https://t.co/vOMShEabdd pic.twitter.com/bpUDUxTByY
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) June 17, 2019
Read an N.P.R post earlier today. 95 years old leaves amazing antedoes about this woman’s life & loves. Read the biography & watched the mini series LITTLE GLORIA HAPPY AT LAST as teenager & was imenslelyy nterested in her from then on. Anderson Cooper is also a personal favorite of mine long before his associates with Andy Cohen. He was photographed as an infant by Diane Arbus & it’s one of my personal favorites. Sad to hear of her passing yet she leaves behind an amazing legacy of a life well lived. Husbands, lovers ,children travel adventure and beautiful homes. What a fascinating life she lived. The HBO documentary was wonderful as well as the book she & Anderson wrote together. Rest in peace Gloria.Your light will be missed.
I think Anderson hangs with Andy because while he acknowledges the fame and background that Anderson comes from and is open about his sometimes curiousity, Andy doesn’t ass kiss like you think he does. Andy is inquisitive like Anderson is, only his is more pop culture when Anderson is serious news. He likes Anderson because of his quirks, etc. not because of his mom and is probably as close to his mom as Anderson was (and still is) to his mom.
No personal revelation, etc. attached to Gloria, other than her name was on my capris today and yesterday!!!
I did read their book when it came out and follow her on Instagram. I have yet to see the documentary.
And to those who are thinking snarkily that Anderson selfishly left out mention of his brothers in the book, documentary, and even today… you are clueless and need to shut your pieholes. Probably not people on here but social media sites. Gloria’s two oldest sons were and are intensely private. I so admire Gloria for STILL respecting the privacy of the son who basically cut her off years ago, and not discussing it even in the documentary she and Anderson did or in the book. (they are mentioned briefly). It paid off – I’ve read that Christopher reached out to Anderson after the doc and book, and that Gloria was able to see him. (She had maintained a healthy relationship with Stan, her oldest, and grandchildren/greatgrandchildren)
I’m so happy for her that it happened.
Andy Cohen is a total asskisser. He doesn’t need to be discussed further in these comments. He is not worthy.
I wasn’t touched but my parents were.
Growing up the youngest of five siblings, we didn’t have alot. We lived off of government rations as my dad was retired vet.
Once we were all grown my parents came into mega money when my father’s mother passed.
This tragedy brought a weirdness over my parents, and the ability to travel. Something they had never been able to do.
One of the places they traveled to was the Gloria Vanderbelt estates. My mother grew up in a “rich” family in Mass. Her father a plant owner her uncle’s doctors and lawyers. My father always felt bad that she basically lived in poverty to be with him. So he felt now being able to take her to places like this made up for it
However, my father was highly alergic to black flies. One bite and he would swell up.
On a visit to the estate they were on a tour of the grounds. And a black fly kept buzzing my father’s head. Finally having enough and affraid of swelling up, he killed it.
This was also the same time the tour guide announced that the estate had flown in rare tiny humming birds that were very tiny.
My father stood there in horror not sure what to do as the hummingbird lay at his feet.
He picked it up and held it in his hands. He summend the guide over and explained what had happened. They were brought inside then asked to leave and to wait to see what the estate would do.
He got a letter two weeks later saying please do not worry about it. You were brave for coming forward. You are not the only one to have done this. Please accept these two tickets for a special tour the next time you come.
It was signed by Gloria
Probably a stamp signature. But even still my father felt so bad for killing it he put up humming bird feeders at his house.
They did go back and got a special tour that some people don’t get.
” We lived off of government rations as my dad was retired vet.” This may be the most heartbreaking thing I have ever read.
If you don’t think the misogynist needs to shut his pie hole then you need to STFU.
I actually agree with Erica but will respectfully STFU.
I have umpteen pairs of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans in various sizes (10, 12, 14, 16) from Costco. I lived in them for many years until l lost a bunch of weight after surgery 2 years ago. Anyone need or want a pair or two or three?
Yes please. I will take the 16 and the 14s and maybe a twelve. Email email me tamaratattles on the g mail
JCPenney also sell Gloria Vanderbilt jeans.
I got a pair at Kohl’s, she is big on vanity sizing so that was a bonus!
I have to wonder one thing, she and Kathie Griffin were close until Andersen threw her under the bus. I hope that relationship was mended if only for a moment.
What is vanity sizing?
the tag inside said 8 but they were definitely more like a 10/12
If any go unclaimed, I can meet you somewhere in SF to get them. I, too, need to have three sizes because I go up and down and NOT from binge eating.
Congrats on your weight loss. No matter how you get there, it COUNTS. Just stay healthy and happy in your new “forever” size!
BEST jeans ever! Still to this day I can go to Kohls or Walmart and get her jeans with the stretch denim, normal waist and they make you look great! My first pair of good jeans too!
Remember when I got my first Calvin’s and Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans and paid for them because my Mother said if you want designer duds you pay for them.
Ha! We must be siblings, my mom had the same rules! Gloria Vanderbilt, Calvin Klein’s and Jordache were my go to jeans. And then came Guess and they were all forgotten.
I watched a tribute he did to his mother, it was amazing and made my eyes leak something fierce. They had the same giggle, it’s adorable. She told him he came from great wealth but it was up to them to make their own way in the world. She was an amazing woman. Truly.
I had the pleasure of meeting Anderson last year and he was charming, open, kind, and had a beautiful twinkle in his eyes. I’d like to think that twinkle is Gloria, and it will always remain.
An amazing tribute to his Mother. I also loved Anderson’s documentary on Gloria. She was indeed fascinating and made clothes that fit me like a dream! She had a marvelous , long life. RIP.
My first Gloria…WITH the gold swan…and my Calvin’s were my first serious clothing purchases with my hard earned babysitting money. I had her corduroy jeans in every single color. I bought 2 pairs in denim a couple of years ago and they are still great.
I can remember trekking to Snyder Drug in the late 70’s just to buy her perfume. It was one I liked and could actually afford with my measly babysitting money.
I was so sad to hear of Ms. Vanderbilt’s passing. What an incredible woman!! As an awkward 14 year old I got my first pair of her jeans and that one pair fit me like a glove. For the first time I fit it with the rest of the girls and boys started notice I was actually a girl. Yes I was a tom boy and played lots of sports. Ms. Vanderbilt you changed my lonely life and I thank you.
It makes me sad that another icon has passed, but she led a full life and left behind a wonderful legacy. My personal connection to her did involve a few pair of her jeans. Years ago, when Gloria Vanderbilt jeans first became popular, I wanted them so badly it was stupid. I come from a blue collar family and my parents had four children within the first seven years of their marriage, so we got store brand (usually Sears) clothing and learned to deal with it. A relative of mine worked for a trucking company and they got in a shipment of GV jeans that were “irregulars” and were being sent back to the warehouse, but the company told the employees to take whatever they wanted (at least that’s the story my relative told us). I got two pair of the prettiest jeans I’d ever owned. I was bone thin at the time but still never liked to tuck in my blouses. You can bet your sweet butt that I tucked in my blouse when I wore those jeans so that beautiful swan logo was visible.
I wrote a long comment, probably screwed up posting it but I love this post, and the video and Gloria!! Thanks-
TT I thought I was THE SHIT when I got my pair of black denim Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. That swan on the pocket was errythang! It made me sad when I found out Gloria had passed. Such an icon!
I read “Little Gloria, Happy at Last” when it first came out decades ago & thought it was such a sad tale of a child & the unthinking adults around her. I still have a few pair of her petite Amanda jeans (I’m not very tall, though my 3 generations of offspring have increased in height), though Fly Boy prefers me in leggings these days. Have always been a fan of Anderson; much sympathy for his loss.
I hope you and Fly Boy are having a wonderful summer!
As the resident fashion nerd and writer of the Project Runway recaps (along with the lovely Les), my first pair of designer jeans were ALSO Gloria Vanderbilt. I got them for Christmas in 3rd grade and I remember it when it was yesterday. We met Anderson at an event for Americares in NY. We accosted him coming out of the bathroom. He could not have been more kind or gracious.
I just love Gloria Vanderbilt. She was the whole package, beautiful, interesting, talented, funny, graceful and kind. It would take a whole page to write how wonderful she was. Her struggles, her triumphs. What an interesting lady. I watched the documentary. She had such an interesting, full life. She even shocked Anderson with some of her stories. My heart goes out to Anderson and her family. She will be missed. Another icon gone.
I’ve met Anderson and Carter (RIP). Rest in Peace poor little rich girl.
My parents would pay for my school clothes ever year up to a point. I had to get my jeans at Sears or J.C. Pennys and if I wanted any other brand not sold there, I had to earn money myself to pay for them. I remember my first pair I considered designer jeans were Gloria Vanderbilts and I thought I was pretty stylin’.
In early 80s high school, I had ’em all — Gloria, Calvin, Sergio, Jordache — I’m flummoxed as to how I afforded them, except to say that I supplemented my wardrobe with my older sister’s sweaters that I would sneak from her bedroom while she slept.
But my biggest Gloria Vanderbilt piece was the red wrap dress I wore to a PBS premier party a few years later, in my early 20s. I rocked that dress. The memory is a bit tainted because of the static cling, but I had that dress for years and I believe it would still fit current styles (but definitely not me!). I understand Gloria is kind of legendary for the wrap dress. Didn’t we learn that from a snarky Ramona comment on RHONY?
Ohhh I forgot the Sergio Valente jeans! Loved them too.
Here’s a funny designer jeans story. As I said I had to use my own money for them and my mother found it ridiculous that I would advertise for these people. So she bought herself a pair of Chic jeans—we didn’t consider them designer so that was bad enough. But wait, there’s more. She ripped out the Chic stitching and REPLACED IT with Just Me. And she wore them. In public. Where people could see!
My mother bought me my first two pairs of Gloria Vanderbilt courdory jeans while I was at George Washington Junior High School in Ridgewood, NJ circa 1978. Dark green and tan, thank you very much. Those jeans made a very tall skinny shapeless girl feel cool.
I loved Gloria, she was ubiquitous on tv growing up in the seventies/eighties. If you grew up in NY, NJ or CT you knew about Gloria, she was always in the NYC papers. She even made the Love Boat. She had that HORRIBLE hairstyle in the late 70’s, I read the book, “Poor little rich girl” and watched the series. What a survivor. I loved Anderson’s documentary because it gave us an eyeview into her “real” world not what she showed all of us and I finally felt that I knew her just a bit. She was an artist.
I love when you share a bit about yourself TT, this was a great story. It’s funny because I’ve thought of those jeans several times since Gloria died. You nailed it.
I also had Gloria’s jeans!! I, too, loved those swans. I am pretty sure they all went in a big purge a few years ago where I took 8 large garbage bags of clothing to a local church that has the homeless come in on Saturday mornings, where they do have to attend a service but they get a fantastic cooked breakfast, can take a shower and do laundry and they have a clothing bank. They get more men than women so I hope some woman or girl child got the jeans.
These days I have Vera Wang jeans that fit better I guess.
Anyway, I was VERY emotional about Gloria’s passing. Anderson’s eulogy video was wonderful. The two of them were such a pair. I enjoyed Anderson’s bio years ago (got it on cassette at that time, with Anderson reading the book) and have read the book they wrote together and saw the documentary.
She was quite an artist. Her cancer was discovered at a very advanced stage and Anderson said she really wanted to do more art. I loved the scene of the two of them laughing together.
When Anderson had his talk show, I always watched and I especially loved the days when his mother would come on the show. Anderson was so caring and would walk her up on the stage.
GV: She sure lived a life.
She tasted everything life had to offer (including some of the most interesting men) and came back for more. Even the sad upbringing and the suicide of her son didn’t keep her from the joy in life. I’ve been reading about her most of my life and she remained fascinating throughout.
When I was young, her gold swan jeans fit my little waist (and ”unlittle” derrière) like no others. Now that I am not young, and not spending foolish amounts on everyday wear, I love that I can buy her jeans at Costco and that the jeans are still designed to fit women and come with a bit of stretch in short, average, and tall. One of the first designers who designed for “real-sized” women.
I spent three hours earlier tonight watching the Little Gloria TV miniseries from 1982. It was shockingly good for a TV movie. Bette Davis and Angela Lansbury were very good. It’s free on YouTube if you’re interested.
Kathy Griffin stated that Gloria thought of her as a daughter. Anderson confirmed i a few years ago. Wonder if she was left anything (maybe art)? Or, if Gloria halted the relationship after the feud with her son?