Bettie Bearden Pardee's beautiful book, Living Newport: Houses, People, Style is living proof that Newport is the epitome of American elegance and style. I have been following the work of Bettie since her days at Bon Appétit as a contributing editor for the Entertaining with Style column.
Long before blogs, I would rush to the mailbox each month looking for the latest issue and Bettie’s entertaining installments. In 1992 I started my own 'entertaining with style’ binder. After reading (and rereading) each issue I would carefully cut out the pages and tuck them in prepared page covers. To this day, 200+ pages later, I still have (and use) my cherished binder.
Recently, I was both thrilled, and surprised, when our mutual friend Jessica Gordon Ryan introduced us. This past November, all of these years later, Bettie and I meet in Houston. What a small, wonderful world. I am now looking forward to spending time with Bettie in Newport this summer as I start my next book. I love it when life comes full circle.
Photographer Alexander Nesbitt