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| India Wearing Jewelry From Her Collection |
If ever there was a silhouette that revealed its noble lineage, it is that of India Amanda Caroline Hicks, granddaughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten, India’s last viceroy; second cousin and goddaughter of Prince Charles; and counted as one in the distinguished line of succession to the British throne. In 1947, her mother, Lady Pamela, was a bridesmaid to then-Princess Elizabeth, when the now-Queen married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Lady Pamela’s first cousin). She was also the Queen’s Lady-in-Waiting. India, of course, will always be fondly ingrained in our memories as the pretty young bridesmaid standing intimately alongside a shy Lady Diana Spencer.
One
glance at the statuesque patrician blonde, and it strikes you, most assuredly, that
not every beautiful woman is beautiful in quite the same way. India’s beauty is
rather haunting, because it transcends both time and place. You could easily imagine
her captivating a royal court in medieval Europe; sitting poolside, cocktail in
hand, with C.Z. Guest, Gloria Guinness and Slim Aarons, in the 1950s, or causing
traffic jams while jogging along the Pacific Coast Highway today in Malibu,
California.
Yet, what is most fascinating about India, even more so than her striking beauty, are the choices she has made in her life - choices that have redefined our perceptions and expectations of modern nobility. Like her father, David Nightingale Hicks, the famous English interior decorator and designer, she has a penchant for mixing the old with the new; finding the perfect coexistence between tradition and novelty, and truly making life an adventure.
It was once considered unusual–even outrageous–for a girl, from the manor born, to chart the paths that India has: high-fashion, jet-setting model (Ralph Lauren’s aristocratic dream-girl in tangible form), professional photographer, author of two best-selling books, successful businesswoman, and television host. Most unconventional of all would be the romantic, Bahamian-island life she has shared for almost two decades with the dashing, blue-eyed interior designer and hotelier, David Flint Wood. They have raised five beautiful children (one adopted from the Bahamas) outside of traditional matrimony. “Yes, certainly I have chosen a life less ordinary, but it’s far from outrageous, it is just individual. I think eighteen years after giving up a more conventional life, the life I live today is a life of family and warmth, and love, and quite a bit of hard work keeping it all on track!” says India.
When it comes to that meticulous gift of excellent taste and a discerning eye that a family legacy like India’s can encourage, I am, of course, curious as to her thoughts, particularly her dislikes, of certain interior design and fashion trends. “Being the daughter of a very great decorator, and having modeled for many years, I have been subjected to all sorts of points of view in the worlds of fashion and design, so there is nothing that I particularly dislike, but I do think when shopping for yourself, or decorating your home, you must be true to who you are and how you live your life. Forcing something that does not fit comfortably is a mistake.” She describes her own personal style as, “Modern classic and a little tomboyish.”
Lastly, I must add, before interviewing India, I did weeks of research, hoping to get a true sense of her life and gain an understanding of this supremely elegant woman. I happened to land on her Facebook page one evening a few days after Christmas, which showed her children happily donating all of their Christmas gifts to charity. It left me with a sense of awe and inspiration. During our interview, I asked what her favorite quote was and she responded, “Plus Et En Vous,” which translates to, “There is more in you than you think.” Beyond the beauty, the high-fashion spreads, the heritage, the pedigree, and a most covetable life, was an innocent girl with a big heart that found her home on an island and created a family.
“If we instill in our children feelings of confidence and a sense of family, from that they take with them a sense of responsibility.” – India Hicks
Yet, what is most fascinating about India, even more so than her striking beauty, are the choices she has made in her life - choices that have redefined our perceptions and expectations of modern nobility. Like her father, David Nightingale Hicks, the famous English interior decorator and designer, she has a penchant for mixing the old with the new; finding the perfect coexistence between tradition and novelty, and truly making life an adventure.
It was once considered unusual–even outrageous–for a girl, from the manor born, to chart the paths that India has: high-fashion, jet-setting model (Ralph Lauren’s aristocratic dream-girl in tangible form), professional photographer, author of two best-selling books, successful businesswoman, and television host. Most unconventional of all would be the romantic, Bahamian-island life she has shared for almost two decades with the dashing, blue-eyed interior designer and hotelier, David Flint Wood. They have raised five beautiful children (one adopted from the Bahamas) outside of traditional matrimony. “Yes, certainly I have chosen a life less ordinary, but it’s far from outrageous, it is just individual. I think eighteen years after giving up a more conventional life, the life I live today is a life of family and warmth, and love, and quite a bit of hard work keeping it all on track!” says India.
When it comes to that meticulous gift of excellent taste and a discerning eye that a family legacy like India’s can encourage, I am, of course, curious as to her thoughts, particularly her dislikes, of certain interior design and fashion trends. “Being the daughter of a very great decorator, and having modeled for many years, I have been subjected to all sorts of points of view in the worlds of fashion and design, so there is nothing that I particularly dislike, but I do think when shopping for yourself, or decorating your home, you must be true to who you are and how you live your life. Forcing something that does not fit comfortably is a mistake.” She describes her own personal style as, “Modern classic and a little tomboyish.”
It
is clear that everything India does is done with impeccable, yet easy, style.
So, what can we expect from India in 2014? “There are of course plans for this
year, which are still under wraps, but, in the mean time, I will continue
my partnership with HSN, where I
design and sell collections of bedding. I will also continue with my fine jewelry collections, giving my Love Letters extra
special attention as Valentine’s Day approaches. Running an e-commerce
site takes up most of my day (www.indiahicks.com),
in conjunction with blog posts on crazy snippets from life, and negotiating my
way around five children who have me wrapped tightly around their fingers.”
India also continues to find unique treasures for her shop, The Sugar Mill. "I love supporting cottage
industries or discovering handcrafted creations
with wonderful stories.”
In
whatever spare time she manages to find, India supports her favorite charities.
The Bahamian Breast Cancer Society
is particularly dear to her heart, as her adopted son’s mother died of breast
cancer. “There is very little knowledge of the importance of mammograms in some
of the outer islands of the Bahamas,” she explains.
Lastly, I must add, before interviewing India, I did weeks of research, hoping to get a true sense of her life and gain an understanding of this supremely elegant woman. I happened to land on her Facebook page one evening a few days after Christmas, which showed her children happily donating all of their Christmas gifts to charity. It left me with a sense of awe and inspiration. During our interview, I asked what her favorite quote was and she responded, “Plus Et En Vous,” which translates to, “There is more in you than you think.” Beyond the beauty, the high-fashion spreads, the heritage, the pedigree, and a most covetable life, was an innocent girl with a big heart that found her home on an island and created a family.
“If we instill in our children feelings of confidence and a sense of family, from that they take with them a sense of responsibility.” – India Hicks
