Barbara Woolworth Hutton was one of the first American socialites to capture public attention for her wealth and flamboyant style, as well as her troubled private life.
Hutton, the heir to the Woolworth fortune, frequently appeared in fashionable circles and made headlines for his lavish lifestyle. Over the years, he became known for his valuable jewelry collection, extensive marriage list, and spending nearly all of the fortune he inherited from his father.
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Hutton’s debut in New York society took place at her 18th birthday party, an extravagant event held at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in 1930 during the Great Depression. Photos of Hutton in her debutante ball gown and diamond earrings appeared in newspapers, fueling a debate about her excessive ostentation during a severe economic crisis. Hutton temporarily fled to Europe to avoid bad press.
Seven Wedding Dresses
Hutton married her first husband, Georgian Prince Alexis Mdivani, whose family fled to Paris after the Soviet invasion of Georgia in 1921. The ceremony was held in Paris on June 22, 1933. a long cover.
They divorced two years after the ceremony, after Mdivani spent some of Hutton’s inheritance.
In 1935, Hutton married Count Kurt Heinrich Eberhard Erdmann Georg von Haugwitz-Hardenberg-Reventlow, with whom her only child, Lance Reventlow, was born. She wore a black silk gown, a charming dress and a fur coat as the bride for the ceremony.
Hutton divorced Reventlow after three years of marriage and exchanged wedding vows with actor Cary Grant in 1942. For the wedding, she wore a striped dark coat dress and a white ruffled blouse.
After her divorce from Grant in 1945, the socialite had four more wives: Prince Igor Troubetzkoy (1947 – 1951), Porfirio Rubirosa (1953 – 1954), Baron Gottfried Alexander Maximilian Walter Kurt von Cramm (1955 – 1959) and Pierre Raymond Doan ( 1964 – 1959). 1966).
The Mystery of the Romanov Jewels
Hutton had a lavish jewelry collection, much of which he purchased from Jules Glaenzer, former chairman of Cartier Inc. The most famous piece of his collection was the Vladimir Tiara, made from emeralds belonging to the Romanov Duchess Marie. From Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Mecklenburg-Schwerin had a large jewelery collection that she kept after fleeing Russia following the abolition of the monarchy in 1917. His jewels were reportedly smuggled out of a secret safe in the Vladimir Palace and he was reunited with them in exile.
The Duchess’ jewelery collection was sold by her children after her death, with Cartier purchasing most of it. The emeralds in the collection are from Queen Mary of England, Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth was sold to Elizabeth Taylor and Hutton.
Hutton transformed the emeralds into a yellow gold-rimmed tiara. Later in life, he sold the crown to Van Cleef & Arpels, who continued to sell the emeralds separately. The identity of the current owners of the Mecklenburg-Schwerin emeralds remains a mystery.
fashion lover
Hutton was a loyal customer of Cristóbal Balenciaga and would reportedly break one of his cardinal rules, allowing him to buy the entire collection at once.
The socialite was also a fan of designer Oleg Cassini, who described his relationship with Hutton in his autobiography “In My Own Fashion,” published in 1987.
According to Cassini, she was persuaded by Cary Grant to help him save his marriage to Hutton. “He said, ‘Oleg, I understand that Barbara thinks about you very much. You know we have problems. I hope you’re not taking it personally because frankly that would be a huge blow to me. Now, if I can trust you, if I’m sure there’s no romantic interest involved, if I’m convinced you’re a friend, I’m going to ask you to do me a favor; Intercede on my behalf. Be peaceful. Please tell her to be reasonable,” the designer, who was then married to Gene Tierney, recalled in her book.
“Poor Little Rich Girl”
Hutton’s story inspired a television biographical drama starring Farrah Fawcett in 1987. The film, “Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story,” portrays Hutton as a victim of social climbers, chronicling her troubled relationships and the death of her only son. She died in a plane crash in 1972.
“Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story” won the Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Movie.
Barbara Hutton died at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles at the age of 66.
Barbara Hutton: Style Through the Years [PHOTOS]
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Launch Gallery: Barbara Hutton: Style Through the Years [PHOTOS]
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