As with all my profiles, I give my “subjects” a questionnaire to answer and the models questions, are, of course, different from my other profiles. Karen, along with the other models I have “interviewed” for nenasnotes, was a total joy to work with, taking professionalism at its true meaning…always on time and show ready, glamorous when the garment called for that, sporty if need be, turning into a businesswoman for our Working Women Seminars, etc. Modeling is really acting and letting your audience think what you have on is the most fabulous garment they have ever seen and they must want to add it to their wardrobe! It is all about “selling” that is, after all, the end result. She always listened to instruction, and most importantly respected the designers (again, all my models did this, if they didn’t why book them again!!!!) Karen had a girl next door quality, relatable but with an edginess.
Karen Ryan’s first composite.
Let’s see what Karen has to say about her modeling career and what she is up to now….
When did you start your modeling career, was this something you always wanted to do?
I had never even thought about being a model, even though people had always said to me, “with your height (5’8 ½”), you should model”. I had gotten an MA in journalism at the University of Kentucky in 1974, shortly before marrying my husband, Bill, and moving to Chicago. In Kentucky, I worked for one of the original educational television stations, Kentucky Educational Television (KET). I got to watch PBS and its wonderful programming years before most of my friends and family. When we moved to Chicago, I eventually worked for Pioneer Press, the local suburban newspaper chain, and by the mid-’70s, had worked my way up to Promotion Manager. As such, my staff was responsible for special sections. We did a fashion section every Fall, and in 1977, it was my responsibility to publish the fashion section with the help of writers and a budget for a photographer we had used in the past. Ann Taylor was loaning us the clothes, but we had no budget for a model. My staff and the photographer, Paul McCall said, “what about you, Karen”? I was not really interested in doing it, but I was overruled.
From another shoot very space age, very of the period!
I went to a makeup shop on Oak Street, learned how to do makeup for black & white photography, and we did it! I wish I had kept that fashion section, but my first comp has pics from the photo shoot (see comp at top of profile). I think I looked silly in a couple of them, but that was 40 years ago! I found out that the camera didn’t love me (my jaw is too square) (Nena’s note, I so don’t agree!!!!), so I didn’t do much print work. I started auditioning for fashion shows and was very surprised to feel comfortable and natural walking the runway. To use an old expression, the rest is history…I was lucky enough to meet Nena Ivon and work for Saks Fifth Avenue!
This isn’t Karen’s favorite comp but I love it so I am including it…apologies, Karen!
From Karen’s scrapbook.
What was your favorite Saks Fifth Avenue Show(s)?
My favorite Saks shows were the Misericordia benefit shows. Backstage we were usually so rushed that we didn’t pay attention to the happenings outside the dressing area curtains.
But I remember the first time I heard the voice of an angel, Sister Rosemary Connelly. She spoke from the heart and to our hearts about the special people who live and work at Misericordia www.misericordia.com. I should backtrack here and tell you that before we married, my husband taught special needs adults. We’ve been avid supporters of Misericordia for many years, and I joined the Women’s Auxiliary over 25 years ago. The Auxiliary does many things, but my favorite event is the annual fashion show. I always get a couple of tables at the show and get to catch up with all my besties from our runway days, including Nena of course. (Nena’s note, I will profile Misericordia in a future post.)
Some of the “gang” at this year’s Misericordia Fashion Show, all profiled in nenasnotes with the exception of Debra Balchen (Candace Jordan wasn’t one of my models but did model and was a room mate of Jeaounche). The gentleman is Avron Fagel, a dear friend to all of us and the “music guru” for all my shows!
Who was your favorite designer and why?
Adolfo, hands down! He was so nice to the models…before we walked out onto the runway, he would say, “You look so pretty”! Other favorites were Countess Jacqueline de Ribes, Bob Mackie, Alexander Julian, Halston, Bill Blass (also very nice to the models) I especially remember the elegance of Saks’ Jacqueline, Comtesse de Ribes’ show at The Casino. I never actually worked with Diane von Furstenberg, but she is one of my favorites and I wear her wrap dresses today!
Newspaper clipping with Terri D’
What was your most favorite “behind the scenes” story?
Of all the people who assisted backstage at Saks Fifth Avenue, my favorite was Ruth Ivon, who we affectionately called Ruthy. In 1981 we were doing a series of shows and I wore a full-length strapless gown just one week before this incident. The next week I was to wear the same gown and Ruthy could not get the top of the zipper to go up, even with me pushing it together with both hands. I was 3+ months pregnant at the time, which of course both you and Ruthy knew. She called Nena backstage, and sweet person that you are, you said: “skip it”! Who knew the body could change that much in just one week. (Nena’s note…this doesn’t only happen when we are pregnant but as we age our rib cage settles….its called gravity! and our bodies change and I would have to adjust what I pulled for my models!)
What are you up to now and how did you begin your new career/passion?
My career now is grandmother! And it’s been my favorite stage of life…the joy and love that my grandchildren bring me are unbelievable. As I mentioned before, another passion is volunteer work, especially with Misericordia. I also volunteer at a soup kitchen once a month along with hubby Bill. Another passion is gardening! We have a summer home in Wisconsin which I have landscaped with very little help from professionals. The only landscaping I kept from the original plan when we built the house in 2003 were trees and shrubs. I have planted hundreds of flowers and shrubs on my own.
With Ruby when she was a baby.
With the gorgeous grandchildren, Ryan and Ruby.
Karen in her Wisconsin garden with Ryan this Fourth of July.
What did your modeling years teach you that you are using now?
Humility, sometimes I simply didn’t get the gig. I never asked why, and when one door closed, another usually opened. Some of my best fashion shows were last minute replacements. This was before the days of cell phones. Early in the business, we worked directly with the fashion director at the store. If a friend could not get in touch with the director, and could not make a show, she would call me and ask how fast I could get to Saks or wherever. The models were very supportive of each other, hard to believe for those who don’t know the business, and maybe it’s different in 2017, but we had each other’s back. Some of my best friends to this day are the people I worked with back then: Nena, Jeanouche, (I am her son’s godmother and she is mine) Shelley, Shauna, Terri, D’Arry, Dori, Elsa, Diane, Debra … I know I’m forgetting many, please forgive!
Karen and Jeanouche in a photo shoot back in the day have no idea what this was for?????? Interesting composition! (Definitely a Nena’s note!)
The best friends having lunch at Jeanouche’s home a couple decades later, from Nena’s photo album.
A Nena’s note…..at a “reunion” show when I was doing a “Hooray for Hollywood” lecture and had my model girls in garments from Saks Fifth Avenue to illustrate the garments in the films I was discussing, a fun show. They still all can, most definitely, walk the catwalk. Karen leads the parade on the left ombre blue chiffon one shoulder gown. Of the ten pictured, I have profiled six in nenasnotes….I hope I can persuade the rest to come on board!!!! This is from Nena’s photo album.
I also learned patience and grace under pressure…occasionally we had wardrobe malfunctions backstage, and had to make the most of it, walk out on the runway cool, calm and collected. And most important: posture, posture, posture! When I was in high school (back in the stone age), it was not “in” to be tall. I slouched, but for some reason, when I walked out on the runway, my shoulders were back, my tummy was in, and I felt a confidence that I had never had as a youth. The models who worked for Saks Fifth Avenue had the best posture on the runway because we had the best example, Nena Ivon! Thank you, Nena.
No, thank you, Karen, for being the consummate professional, loving friend, caring individual and perfect wife, mother and best gran ever!
All photos, unless otherwise noted, courtesy of Karen Ryan.
Long before Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Brian Atwood, Patrick Cox, Prada and Miu Miu (let alone Chanel, Dior, etc.) there was Salvatore Ferragamo, Roger Vivier, Andrea Pfister, Maud Frizon, and the list goes on…and, of course, Herbert and Beth Levine. Beth Levine and Beth’s Bootery are the subjects of today’s post. I have always loved shoes and have worn heels since I was 13 years old, of course, heels then were 3-4 inches, not the stilettos of today (which, by the way, I wore for many, many years!) This post came about when I read about the Michael Kors buy of Jimmy Choo for 1.2 billion dollars!
Beth Levine as I remember her, joyful and beyond talented!
Two examples of Herbert Levine Springolators.
I had this exact shoe except in pink (me in pink!!??, interesting) the ornament was Dresden china. I loved those shoes.
The racing car flat.
Very Mod and certainly the late 1960’s.
Beth’s boot revival “were made for walking” as Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 song tells us 
Adore this shoe and it came on many color combinations.
I am mad for this shoe the lace embellishment, the shape of the heel, a true masterpiece (could also be a Vivier!)
I think this is a particularly beautiful heel….just like the back of our ready-to-wear garments are seen by all so are the back of our shoes. Wouldn’t you love to see these with a LBD for a fabulous cocktail party….please!!!!!
Portrait by Philip Pearlstein, 1980’s which was on loan for the Beth Levine: The First Lady of Shoes exhibition at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in 2015. Go to their blog at 
My mini collection of miniature shoes. They sit on my decoupaged chest that held my Father’s paints. Interesting that the Elfinware shoes have forget me knots on them and are on a postcard of them, who knew! Not the world’s best photo but a hard one to capture with my handy dandy iPhone 7!
A close up of my snuff box. My photo.
The two photos found on Pinterest, credit unknown. The shoe above is what the front of my actual Beth’s Bootery shoe looked like. A good look at the slide that opens to reveal the container for your snuff.
The two images above are inlaid with mother of pearl. Pinterest photo credit unknown.
Isn’t this a beauty inlaid with silver and the compartment flips up to reveal your snuff! Pinterest photo credit unknown.
My favorite of all the wooden shoe snuff boxes…isn’t is a wonder, so very tiny with all the intricate carving…I want it! Pinterest photo credit unknown.
I have, over the years, given away several of Mom’s pieces to friends who wanted a token from her collections. My photo.
One of my favorites, a Limoges snuff box, again featuring forget me knots, Interestingly I don’t have any “shoes” with lily of the valley…I’ll have to look for one! My photo.
A similar piece found on Pinterest with handpainted flowers. Photo credit unknown.
As is my custom, here is a book for you to expand your knowledge, if you are so inclined, of the wonderful collectible world of snuff boxes. What you say, you don’t do snuff, well just think of them as beautiful objects that you can admire, perhaps put your aspirin in one or two of them! Enjoy….
I adore color samples, here one of Pantone’s green palettes, these are the greens that are the most attractive to me, however, I do love all greens!
From Carolyne Roehm 
Another tablescape from Carolyne Roehm
I not only love this photo but want everything in it!!!! It is so me!
Beautifully detailed tiles.
A magnificent garden path leading to a secluded nook.
The entrance to Monet’s home in Giverny
A fantastically beautiful solarium….
Ivy on a brick wall from a weekend in Harbor Country my photo
A wood in Indiana my photo
I am mad for this capture….an exquisite bird sitting on a fern frond
Ferns in a Blue Island garden my photo
I know I have posted this but it is a beauty with the gold embellished embossed leather binding, you might find something similar at the 
My all time favorite tree, a weeping redbud in full leaf, also in a Blue Island garden my photo
Can you believe this is a cabbage! It is amazing and HUGE, the shades of an almost metallic green are extraordinary, another shot from my Harbor Country weekend.
I know I did this in another post but had to feature it again, John Galliano for Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall 2006 (the Collection I was fortunate to witness!!!!) Vogue photograph
A truly spectacular conifer in Harbor Country, my photo.
This was our table and I was facing a wall of wine bottles, how appropriate!
The place setting, my photo.
I think this was the Farmer’s Market Bhel Puri my photo, absotutely delicious.
Tempura Elotes amazing!
Salad of Sugar Snap Peas and Carrotss, yuzu kosho, sesame, miso brûlée my photo
Our whole grilled fish “Pescado Zarandeado”. My photo.
One of our meat courses, BBQ Lamb Ribs with mango pickle and cashews. Our other choice was Wagnyu Beef Short Ribs with Malyasian curry, sort of a medley of ribs….also my photo
Andrew Zimmeman and Emmanuel Nony
Notice the original barrel ceiling and the custom fixtures, a great blend of old (read original) and the new, stunning.
Two views of the bar, adore all of it, but especially the tile floor!
A collection of brown transferware. Photo courtesy of Pinterest credit unknown.
Here is a small portion of the collection I amassed several years ago. It is a complete supper set found in various antique markets both here and abroad. I started this collection before RSM began but have found items to add to it recently at the Market. I didn’t want anything very flowery nor with people but rather English scenes and a flower or two. I don’t remember where I first found what I wanted for this country house but it just grew from there. I do remember I was doing a fashion show out of town and went antiquing at a local mall on our way back to Chicago and happened to glance down into a case and there was an entire set of the exact pattern I was collecting…if you are a collector, you can only imagine my excitement…had to run out to find a cash machine and hurry back to make my purchase. I have, as mentioned, added to the collection over the years but the place settings are done. I add a pitcher, a platter, a bowl, etc. when I see them. I particularly like the salt and pepper shakers on the top shelf, they were in the antique mall collection.
The platter at the top of the breakfront was found at an antique market in the English country side. I carried it and several other pieces back with me on the plane home, I was, for some unknown reason, upgraded to first class on the flight and my treasures were stowed very carefully by the flight attendant, she must have been a collector as well!
More of the collection displayed on a rough white plaster wall. I think very country, don’t you agree!
A group of pitchers found at various times on various treasure hunts.
I would love to find a similar cheese dome, isn’t it smashing! Love it! Pinterest image credit unknown.
Great collection of plates from Pinterest photo credit unknown.
A couple of reference books found on 
English Summer Pudding Pinterest photo credit unknown.
My garden cherub (originally in my Evanston garden) now residing in a lush garden in Harbor Country, Michigan.
Michigan or France….this one is Michigan with day lilies, hedges and beautiful trees around water….
Here we are in Giverny 
Giverny
Michigan
Our Monet at The Art Institute of Chicago 
More Michigan and actually I think these are lotus flowers. “The lotus flower represents one symbol of fortune in Buddhism. It grows in muddy water, and it is this environment that gives forth the flower’s first and most literal meaning: rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment.” Taken from 
Monet’s home and studio in Giverny, glorious!
A charming home in a Michigan garden.
A vignette with Lutyens bench in the walkway next to the house.
More Giverny
Trees being trained over an arbor in Michigan.
The white garden and trained arch shrubbery at Sissinghurst, my Queen Mary II trip in 2004. 
A hidden treasure at Sissinghurst
Nena in the Sissinghurst formal garden
Sissinghurst path
Michigan garden path
Back in France, 2006 and Paris in the Jardin du Luxembourg on my last Sunday, glorious day.
And another lovely Sunday this time 2017 and in a Michigan country garden
Freshly picked from the garden for a cold soup, how delightful to forge for your own dinner and carry your bounty back to the kitchen in a trug, seriously, how wonderful for a major City Girl to play Country Girl at least for a few days…….