PROFILE: STEVEN STOLMAN…A MAN OF STYLE

STEVEN STOLMAN AT LEISURE

I am pleased to introduce you to a true legend in the design world, Steven Stolman, who will be discussing the book he co-authored with John Kurdewan, Bill Cunningham’s right hand man at the New York Times. The book BILL CUNNINGHAM WAS THERE SRING FLINGS +SUMMER SOIRÉES, along with Steven, will be the subject of an upcoming Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum event on Wednesday, March 16th (I’m doing a separate post on the invitation details and a brief review of the book later today!)….the book is a must have in your fashion/lifestyle library. It’s a stunner. Steven, thank you so much for letting us have a glimpse into your life.

Steven and husband, Rich Wilkie

I asked Steven to respond to my questionnaire, I know you will enjoy his answers….here you go

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB

If you mean first ever, it would have been an ice cream scooper at Baskin-Robbins in West Hartford, CT. If you mean after college, it would have been as a PR lacky at Albert Nipon on Seventh Avenue in NYC.

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR MOST RECENT OCCUPATION

After stepping down as president of Scalamandré, the renowned textiles house, I went out on my own as a freelance PR and marketing consultant, specific to the design world.

WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER THE FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOUR TALENT

I could always draw. In junior high school, I was lucky enough to have an art teacher who recognized that and nurtured it.

WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD “MADE IT” EXPLAIN

Being inducted into the CFDA, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and being invited to The White House as a member of the organization.

HOW YOUR ORIGINAL PASSION BROUGHT YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW

I have always been a strong designer and wordsmith. It’s just what I do- and something I do pretty much everyday. 

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR ALTERNATE CHOICE AS A CAREER….WAS THERE ONE

Definitely a journalist.

YOUR FAVORITE BOOK,

Dominick Dunne’s “The Way We Lived Then”

MOVIE,

“Indiscreet” with Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant

FAVORITE FORM OF THEATER

Definitely Broadway musicals, and specifically Stephen Sondheim’s “Company”

TYPE OF MUSIC YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO

Broadway musicals

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT

Gibson’s

FAVORITE WORK OF PUBLIC ART

I view the John Hancock building as a public work of art. For my entire life, it has defined Chicago.

HOBBIES….

They don’t call me the Serial Entertainer for nothing. During normal times, I am a relentless host. It runs in my family.

YOUR HOME….MODERN, TRADITIONAL, ANTIQUES (WHAT ERA) ECLECTIC DESCRIBE

Always a mix. The great Bunny Williams says that a great room should be like a salad- a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Otherwise, it looks like a showroom. 

WHO WOULD YOU HAVE AT YOUR FANTASY DINNER (LIVING OR DEAD AND BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOURSELF!) AND WHAT WOULD YOU SERVE (10-12 GUESTS)

I just don’t think that way. I have a lot of friends who rhapsodize about legendary individuals, but I don’t. My fantasy (and reality) would be to be at a dinner with the people I love. 

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT VISITED AND/OR ON YOUR GO TO LIST (HERE IS A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO!)

London. Always London. For me, it’s exhilarating- walking through Fortnum & Mason- one of my earliest European memories- having Welsh Rarebit for lunch somewhere- and sitting at the bar at Scott’s in Mayfair for dinner. That’s my happy place.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING MOST IN YOUR FREE TIME?

At this point, the lines between work and leisure have been blurred. I do love writing, which I do for both work and pleasure. The same with cooking- if it’s for people that I love. My “zone” is setting the table. That’s also something I inherited from my family. My mom, especially, took such pride in setting a beautiful table. The simple act of doing it gives me great comfort.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED

As a mensch.

INCLUDE A FAVORITE (OR TWO) RECIPE

PHOTO FROM FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES (a nenasnotes if you don’t subscribe to the New York Times Cooking newsletter and recipes do so NOW!)

Oh, jeez. Wonderful New York Times Cooking editor Sam Sifton had a thing for my recipe for Chicken Provençal, which isn’t really a recipe but a preparation. It was among the most popular recipes at The Times for that year.https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/magazine/the-enduring-appeal-of-roasted-chicken-provencal.html

“This is a recipe I picked up from Steven Stolman, a clothing and interior designer whose “Confessions of a Serial Entertainer” is a useful guide to the business and culture of dinner parties and general hospitality. It is a perfect dinner-party meal: chicken thighs or legs dusted in flour and roasted with shallots, lemons and garlic in a bath of vermouth and under a shower of herbes de Provence. They go crisp in the heat above the fat, while the shallots and garlic melt into sweetness below. You could serve with rice, but I prefer a green salad and a lot of baguette to mop up the sauce. — Sam Sifton”

I also make a mean vinaigrette, which baffles me because it is so basic. But people freak every time I serve it.

VINAIGRETTE

1 big spoonful of Dijon mustard

1 small finely chopped shallot

1 splash of cider vinegar

1 pinch coarse salt

A few grinds of black pepper

Extra virgin olive oil

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT the olive oil in a coffee mug. Blend thoroughly with a fork.

Then, slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking with a fork until creamy and emulsified. Taste for balance. You don’t want it too sharp or too oily. If you can’t determine that, you should not be cooking.

Toss with a few heads of freshly washed and thoroughly dried Boston lettuce. Add a final bit f salt and pepper and toss again. Pile high on pretty salad plates. That’s it.

FAVORITE LINKS YOU WANT ME TO INCLUDE

The Instagram accounts that I find inspiring are:

Bunnys_eye (Interior designer Bunny Williams)

Douglasfriedman (Interiors photographer Douglas Friedman)

BLOGS YOU FOLLOW

My sister Stacey’s blog! She’s a professional chef and food stylist with her own studio kitchen in South Portland, ME.

It’s https://goodriddancekitchen.com/

I thought I’d close with a photo of Steven and Rich on a glorious warm day…far from our current Chicago deep freeze!

All photos with the exception of the chicken and vinaigrette are courtesy of Steven Stolman.

BOOKS…BOOKS…BOOKS: AN EVENT… BILL CUNNINGHAM WAS THERE

Bill at work, photo featured in the book.

Don’t we all miss the wonderful Bill Cunningham photos that appeared in The New York Times…I say, yes, yes we do! Not only was he there but on his trusty bicycle, he was everywhere! Over the years he chronicled the Who’s Who of fashion and society like no one else. A new book takes us inside these photos. And lucky us we can join the Costume Council when they welcome co-author Steven Stolman at a very special program on Wednesday, March 16th.

CO-AUTHORS, STEVEN STOLMAN AND JOHN KURDEWAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY BILL CUNNINGHAM

I just did a post to introduce you to Steven Stolman, please check it out. The co-author, John Kurdewan, Bill’s right hand man and a person who knew him best, was at his side when laying out those pages that drew us to the Style section of the New York Times each Sunday. One of the things I like about the book…..well several things…are the quotes from Bill, never one to mince words or thoughts….brilliant! In addition there are essays by Stolman and Kurdewan and the brilliant forward by the extraordinary artist Ruben Toledo.

BILL AND JOHN AT WORK

Do we need yet another book on the uber talented Bill Cunningham, seeing this book…the answer, is again, a resounding yes, yes, we do! Full color photos, I really didn’t realize he did so much in color and I followed him like I was in a cult! He chronicled not only the social functions but street fashion and current and upcoming trends without regard to where it was coming from. Of course, he covered all the fashion weeks as well as Haute Couture. His was a totally original eye! The book is divided into categories each begins with a quote from Bill. He indeed had a eye like no one else and when he saw a color, a silhouette, a pattern more than once he would see what else was out there with those themes….brilliant. He saw tends before they became trends. He seemed to be everywhere in New York on his bicycle and in his blue Frenchman’s work top. I had the wonderful experience of working with him for Fashion Group events when he was designing millinery as well as spending time, off camera, visiting New York’s museums and landmarks and enjoy his running commentary on everything that interested him…..good times!

A quote from Bill in the book…”I let the street talk to me. I try to find what’s honestly there….I just enjoy life and enjoy what I do”. Bill Cunningham, July 19, 2015

The invitation…details of this special Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum event…book now…it’s an event you won’t wait to miss!

Please note date change:

March 16, 2022
Woman’s Athletic Club of Chicago
626 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

VIP and general receptions 5:30 p.m.
Program 6:30 p.m.
Wine & hors d’oeuvre will be served

Join the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum for a presentation on the book Bill Cunningham Was There by its authors. The five-star book follows the famed New York Times photographer who chronicled society and fashion with his images of the vibrant events of spring and summer. Guests will enjoy a presentation by the one of the book’s coauthors: Steven Stolman, design and entertaining icon.

Sponsors and Costume Council Patron members are invited to attend a VIP meet-and-greet book signing with the authors preceding the event.

Reservations are limited, so don’t hesitate to purchase your ticket!

Due to Covid, this event has been postponed to Wednesday, March 16.Purchase Tickets

Co-Chairs: Gabriela Cleveland & Pauline Kurtides Sheehan

Proper attire required; athletic apparel and denim are not permitted.

Event attendees are welcome to purchase additional signed books for $40 apiece. If you wish to do so, please contact Nell McKeown at mckeown@chicagohistory.org or 703-403-1482.

Questions? Contact Nell McKeown, Development Events Manager, at mckeown@chicagohistory.org.

The Chicago History Museum and Woman’s Athletic Club of Chicago are following all state and local Covid-19 guidelines. Masks will be required when not eating or drinking. Learn more about the Museum’s safety policies and procedures.

Photos courtesy of Steven Stolman.