The last few years have been consumed with major life changes happening for both myself and my female friends. These are the years of marriage, divorce, babies, new homes, new cities, new jobs and inevitable life changes as we grow older into our 30s.
With these life changes comes celebration… and we all know that Ladyhattan loves a reason to party – especially for a Persian Princess named Miriam Davina.
Over a decade ago I was studying abroad in Paris, France when I had the luck of meeting a real-life Princess from San Francisco named Miriam. Although she was intimidating, I was intrigued by her brand-new Louis Vuitton messenger bag and approached her in the school courtyard to check it out. I guess she liked me, because at that very moment, Miriam latched on quickly and decided to make me an addition to her exclusive party-squad, naming the group “the Filles VIP”. She forced me to have the best few months of my life by calling me a “party pooper” if I did not join her for fancy dinners and all-night long ragers at the infamous Parisian clubs – every single damn night. Looking back at my memories in Paris, Miriam was the friend that pushed me to live like there was no tomorrow and experience the world for all that it has to offer.
Through the years we were able to remain close as fellow New Yorkers. Miriam moved to a ridiculous apartment along Central Park South in the heart of Manhattan immediately after college and has yet to leave the neighborhood. The apartment is impressively decorated with needlepointing that she did herself and a gigantic fluffy cat who is referred to as “kitty”. Despite going to law school and taking the bar exam, Miriam chose a creative and entrepreneurial track by starting a stunning line of luxurious preppy ties – Lazy Jack Press. The ties are made with Italian silks and display extremely snarky, and often risqué puns through cleverly designed patterns. Miriam has balls and brains – which is why her company is thriving and featured at nearly every holiday shopping market, a Hamptons boutique to high-end department stores (look for her ties in Nordstrom and Barney’s).
Aside from running her successful tie business, Miriam has been a “ride or die” girlfriend here in Manhattan for Ladyhattan. After the first few dates with my now husband, Prince Erik, I would go for five mile walks in Central Park with Miriam where she would coach me on the “art of dating” which included: tips on being unavailable yet polite, making sure he always ordered appetizers (if he didn’t, he was considered “cheap” and that was a deal breaker for any classy lady), and scolded me that I had to engage in minimal texting or else I would be perceived as desperate.
Miriam knew that I was often the typical New York girl who would text immediately after a first date, “I think we have chemistry and should go on another date and maybe get married and be featured in the New York Times. Call me ASAP. Or text me. Just talk to me. I want a husband.” Stage 5 clinger alert, folks, and there are way too many of them here in New York. No successful man wants a desperate woman, she would yell at me. Her advice, although it seemed a bit crazy and cruel at the time, worked like a charm — he proposed after just 5 months of dating me, which is unheard of in the NYC market. I guess I have Miriam to thank for that.
Fast forward a few years later and it is finally Miriam’s turn to enjoy bridal bliss. She was proposed to by a gorgeous lawyer with a sparkly stunner – a big fat center stone diamond with baguettes on the side just like she had always dreamed of. And of all the places in the world you can get engaged, the dreamy groom popped the question in Paris. What a lucky lady. They plan to get married later this summer in Napa Valley, just north of her hometown (San Francisco), and will then jetset off to Italy for a luxurious honeymoon (of course I gave them some amazing hotel recommendations in the Amalfi Coast).
One of Miriam’s favorite things to do is enjoy boozy brunch with girlfriends. So for her bridal shower in New York City, a few of her close girlfriends and I gathered for a classic boozy brunch with accents that our bride would love. We hosted the event at our friend’s private rooftop on the Upper West Side, giving us breathtaking views of the city we love so much. Highlights of the rooftop gathering included a custom made Bloody Mary Bar and Mimosa Station, her favorite dim sum in the city, classic mini cheesecakes from Magnolia Bakery, and gifts galore. A big congratulations to our bride, Princess Miriam, we love you!
