Toasting Mary Emmerling in NYC

Wow! Today is going to be a special day...

I am headed to NYC with Matthew Mead, to join him tonight at a party

for guest of honor, Mary Emmerling, the iconic Country Style designer.

She has had a storybook career in decorating and design, that has spanned five decades, starting

in the magazine business at Mademoiselle.  Mary was asked to join House Beautiful next.  She brought along a freelance gal she worked with named Martha Stewart.  They had always talked 

about doing a book together where Martha did the food and Mary the table settings. While working

for House Beautiful, Mary was also writing her first book, American Country. She was traveling the

country shooting homes for both HB and her book, which came out in 1980.  The next big thing 

for Mary was that she opened a successful shop in the 80s in NYC selling painted furniture and country style accessories, like rag rugs and ironstone pottery, primitive paintings and quilts.  Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein shopped at her American Country Store on Lexington Avenue, as did many celebs looking for that country look that Mary was famous for.  After a few months she quit House Beautiful to run the shop full time. She continued to freelance at various decorating mags, and then her own Mary Emmerling's Country Magazine came out in 1993! Her career was on fire, and her name was one with Country style. HGTV came next with her own TV show for seven years, Country at Home. In the late 90s she returned to magazines as editor of Country Home Magazine.

That is where she put a new spin on Country style by mixing in bits of modern elements, which

really made her stand out, and eventually everyone started copying. 

Phew!! So that is where I will leave off...and I will continue with Part II of the Mary Emmerling 

story after I return from New York.  Matthew credits Mary with giving him his start in

the magazine business, and he is looking forward to their reunion. 

 I am excited to get into that as well as share pics from the  party we will be at tonight! 

 And sneak in perhaps a video too??

Now what to wear....cowboy style? I've got plenty of boots and hats that is for sure, but

again, its in the city and everyone wears black..so maybe that is the safe bet.