Catherine “Deeda” Blair did not want to write a book. The society doyenne, medical philanthropist, and mental-health and brain-research advocate has lived an extraordinary life. She’s traveled the world, and developed meaningful relationships with politicians, industry leaders, and cultural luminaries. She is known for her elegantly restrained style and extraordinary couture collection. But she would much prefer to put two interesting people together—like an impressionist art collector and a brain researcher—and listen, rather than talk about herself. Nevertheless, Blair has distilled decades of entertaining knowhow in a new book, ‘Deeda Blair: Food, Flowers & Fantasy,’ to benefit brain and mental-health research. At the link in bio, Blair shares her philosophy on style and entertaining. —⁣ Photographer: @jodyrogac Makeup: @romyglow Story by: @leahchernikoff Picture Two: Blair sightseeing along the Dalmatian Coast in the 1960s, snapshot by Cecil Beaton