Privilege Blog

An Actual Answer To The Julia Child’s Monogrammed Pin Question


It’s my birthday today. (I know, that’s not the answer to the question about Julia Child’s pin, but I’m getting there.) Kindnesses are happening today, phone calls from friends and family, none the less appreciated for their familiarity. It is clear to me that 53 is a most uneventful of birthdays. The real significance is skeins of affection, drawn about me like a knitted shawl. I don’t know what brought me that image but since I can’t even begin to knit for myself the metaphor is apt.

Kindness, however, has extended to the Internet. The Queen of Cashmere emailed me to let us all know she has the answer to our questions about the monogram pin that Meryl Streep wore in Julie and Julia. (See? Just takes a little time.)

“Not long ago, I spoke to Ann Roth, the Academy Award winning costume designer who transformed Meryl Streep into Julia Child. The pin was commissioned for the movie using Julia Child’s initials and was inspired by one in Ms. Roth’s personal collection. She was unsure if Mrs. Child had actually owned a monogram pin of her own — though we agreed it wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination. Ms. Roth, a dynamic octogenarian, was definitely amused to think that anyone found monogram jewelry newsworthy as it was a look from a bygone era and one she remembered well.”

Ha! Ms. Roth, little do you know. And the Queen, along with her hotline to Hollywood royalty, has a secret source of diamond monogram jewelry for the 21st century. With photos that may incite a riot of desire.

As another surprise, Peonies and Polaroids, not knowing it was my birthday today, wrote me a thank you note. So nice. A thank you note is almost never a mistake. Exquisite manners are almost always good for all involved.

The rest of the kindnesses I’m experiencing are more random, maybe unmeant, probably unseen, still felt. I read many blogs. I comment where I have something to say. Sometimes people send me emails. Sometimes people comment on what I write. This has made my life richer in ways I could not have predicted. To you all, many thanks.

47 Responses

  1. Julia did indeed own/wear a monogram pin. In the book "Appetite for Life:The Biography of Julia Child" by Noel Riley Fitch, there is a photo of Julia (with her cat) dated January 1950 with a rather large monogram pin slightly askew on her jacket.

  7. Happy Birthday!!! Bask in all the love and celebration you so deserve.:-)

    I didn't notice the pin in the movie. I couldn't keep my eyes of Meryl/Julia's face and all the joy she exuded.

    Thanks for noticing all the details!

  9. A riot of desire, indeed! It's enough to make one wish her initials were "M W".

    Happy birthday, hon. And remember, NO birthday is uneventful when it's yours.

  14. Happy Birthday!

    I do the visuals for Brooks Brothers…they had a monogram deco cubic pin last season that was fabulous. Very much like the one used in the movie. It was so fab, I had to have it…even though it isn't my initials!

    Someday, someone will be thoughtful enough to commision one for me!

    :-)

  15. Your Birthday! Happy Birthday; I wish I had something special for you. I'm sure you deserve it. A Libra; yes, I can see that. My parents are both Libras.
    Fun to learn the answer about the pin. Thanks, and I hope you had a great day!
    Birthday Hugs.

  16. Ah ha, the universe has given you a perfectly classic Bay Area fall day for your birthday! Happy day!

  18. Happy birthday, LPC. If I can slip "serendipity" in an small ecru suede pouch and secure it with brown leather thongs… that would be my present to you. Have a beautiful day.

  21. A very happy birthday! There is a conncection: monograms are your very own, so are birthdays. (Yes of course there are other LPCs but only one that is combination of talents, temperament and life experience that is YOU.)

    I posted awhile ago on monograms, with sources for monogram jewelry.

  22. Great piece of reference work, Lisa! I'm a librarian and love good questions like that.

    Happy Birthday, Privilege!

  23. Wow! I didn't realize anyone other than me was STILL obsessed with that monogram pin!

    HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO!!!! I hope you spend at least part of the day doing something to spoil yourself. So this makes me wonder…what is your favorite kind of cake for your birthday?

  25. Happy Belated Birthday! Your blog brings me much pleasure, so I'm glad your special day brought you some as well.

  26. Happy Happy Birthday! And thank you for the answers on the pin! Now if only I could buy one for myself! And one for you as a birthday gift! I hope your day is fantastic! :)

  27. Happy Birthday! I have a fall birthday also – it's a great time of year to be born. I hope you have a fantastic day!

  29. Thank you all so much! Those who have been around from early on like Maureen and Muffy and smiles4u and those who are new like Miss Whistle and !Tbon3! and What A Splurge and to everyone everyone everyone. Each person who reads this blog makes me very happy, those of you who say something happier yet. I had a wonderful day. Wishing the same to all of you.

  30. Well then, Happy B-day, LPC! I hopped on a link and a moonbeam over at Peonies and landed here. And I think there's nowhere else I'd rather be at this moment. I shall return! Consider yourself blogrolled.

  31. Oh Happy Birthday! And here's secretly wishing for you to get a diamond pin of your own (hugs)

  32. First off, happy birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day. Secondly, I thought about your last post addressing brooches and pins when I heard an interview with Madeleine Albright on NPR, discussing her new book, "Read My Pins." I must start sporting the pin that was my grandmother's. There's something so wonderful about them.

  33. Happy birthday! I hope it is all cake and chocolate and champagne and flowers (if you like things like that) and that the next year finds you in the perfect job.

  34. Happy birthday – a day late… I hope you had a wonderful day, filled with everything you could have ever wanted (and it sounds like more). Love, love, love.
    -maria

  38. Oooooh, a belated Happy-Happy Birthday! I hope it was fun and fabulous, everything you hoped, and then some.

    Sending you a big birthday smile,
    tp

  40. I'm so ashamed! In my haste to make the point of Julia wearing a monogram pin, I completely forgot to wish you a "Happy Birthday". I have cards that I mail to friends for just such infractions, so I will state it here: I so regret my behavior on September 30. etc etc.

    Hope your Birthday was the happiest.

    PS i'm right behind you so let me know how the year goes :)

  41. Lisa – I am completely with you on the rush to truth sometimes overwhelming social courtesies. I took your information about Julia as a present, no apologies required but I commend you on the grace to make it anyway.

  42. MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY, my dear! I hope somebody brought you a balloon. And a Useful Pot for Putting Things In.

    xo, A.

  44. How did I miss this? Happy Happy (belated) Birthday!! And you have an incredible way with words.

    :)

  46. Happy belated birthday!

    Birthday-wise, you and I are bookends for September, so to speak. I rather like that.

  47. Thank you all! Belated or not, it's wonderful. And I'm thinking about honey pots. Full and empty.

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