Video: Natalie Paley - granddaughter of the emperor, who conquered Western catwalks and movie screens
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
She was called the queen of Paris, she was the first princess on the podium, her beauty was admired by Saint-Exupery, Remarque and Cocteau. Natalie Paley - granddaughter of Emperor Alexander II - in 1919 she was in forced emigration. Many aristocrats then had to get a job. Natalie chose a profession because of which her mother had to blush - she became a fashion model, and then a film actress. In the fashion world, she managed to achieve notable success.
Natalya Pavlovna Paley was the daughter of Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich Romanov, granddaughter of Emperor Alexander II and cousin of Nicholas II. The life of the imperial family was canceled out by the revolution of 1917. The brothers and father were arrested, in 1918 her brother, aunt and cousins were thrown into a mine alive, in 1919 their father was shot. The mother and her two daughters miraculously managed to escape abroad.
The money, prudently left by his father in France, soon ran out. Natalia needed to get a job. When she told her mother about her intention to become a "dummy" (as the models were called then), she burst into tears of shame: the princess on the podium is a shame for the royal family! But, on reflection, she nevertheless gave her consent.
Natalie Paley introduced Coco Chanel, who was admired by the "breed" and sophistication of the manners of Russian aristocrats. Chanel recommended Natalie Paley as a fashion model to one of Lucien Lelong's prestigious modeling firms. The famous couturier could not resist the Russian beauty, and soon she became not only a model, but also his wife. The marriage of the princess and the "tailor" was called unequal, albeit mutually beneficial: Lelong was rich, successful and sewed clothes for the high society.
Natalie became a sought-after model, her face adorned the covers of newspapers and magazines, her husband dedicated collections of clothes and perfumes to her. She was called the Parisian fashion queen, women imitated her demeanor, walk and talk.
Fashion historian A. Vasiliev wrote about her: “Her appearance is fraught with the same mystery as the face of Greta Garbo. She preferred to be in the company of friends - gifted and bright men, who saw in her the personification of beauty, which they worshiped, but did not strive for intimacy. Natalie had affairs with Jean Cocteau and Serge Lifar, more platonic than passionate. It is clear that too much masculinity repulsed Natalie, she preferred the warm adoration associated with the poetry of feelings. The romance of Natalie Paley and Jean Cocteau still went beyond the platonic relationship: she even had to have an abortion. Natalie remained childless, and Cocteau hated women.
In the 1930s, Natalie began acting in films. She knew how to look spectacular on screen, although there were conflicting reviews about her acting skills. The marriage to Lelong soon fell apart. Natalie was invited to Hollywood, in 1937 she moved to the United States. There she married again - to theatrical producer John Chapman Wilson. Natalie dreamed of conquering Broadway, but she did not work out with the theater. She continued her modeling career, became the face of the "Linkboycher" company. In 1941, Paley became a US citizen.
Her second marriage was not a happy one, given her husband's addiction to alcohol. Natalie had an affair with Antoine Saint-Exupery, it was bright, but short-lived. The writer said that she "radiates the light of milk and honey." Erich Maria Remarque also could not resist the princess. Their romance lasted 11 years. He called her "a ray of light among dolls and monkeys."
In 1961, her husband died of liver cirrhosis. Natalie became depressed, for some time she also abused alcohol. For the past 20 years, she did not answer calls and letters, and she led a reclusive lifestyle. In 1981, a woman broke her thigh and was bedridden. Then Natalie took a lethal dose of sleeping pills - she could no longer feel helpless and alone.
Natalie Paley was not the only eminent emigrant to be helped by the French fashion trendsetter: 7 Russians in the life of Coco Chanel
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