The Originals

Nan Kempner

Nan Kempner was a New York socialite known for her voracious appetite for clothes and a good time. At 5'9" she never allowed herself to get over 110 pounds so she could fit into the couture samples she wore. She wore everything fabulous and edgy with her own flair. A friend of Yves Saint Laurent for over 40 years she attended every one of his shows from 1961 to the year she died in 2005. Always the party girl she declared "the best part of a party is getting dressed to go" she also authored a book on party hosting titled R.S.V.P. the proceeds of which went to charity. Charity was another thing Nan felt a love for, in 30 years she managed to amass donations totalling $75 million dollars for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Besides her socialite persona Nan worked at Paris Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Tiffany & Co., and Christie's Auction House. Upon her death she left behind the largest collection of couture known to man. Her clothing collection was installed in the MET as an exhibit in the past 40 years of couture. The exhibit included everything from Valentino samples, custom Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta for Balmain couture, Bill Blass, Chanel, and Madame Grés.