Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/361673
Gr ande dame alli achtmeyer If reincarnation exists, we want to come back as A lli Acht meyer's closet: R a lph Lauren cout ure, A mer ica n I ndia n headdresses, cowboy boot s, naut ica l st r iped tops, a nd ca f t a n upon glor ious caftan. "I look forward to being a 90 -year-old. I'm only going to wea r ca f t a ns. I'll t a ke up smok ing cigarettes in ext ra-long holders while I sing 'Bali Ha i' a ll day. It 's a good drea m, a f ter a ll." Unt il then, she's living the dream as a Boston style icon. She a lso ser ves on t he boa rds of Ma ssGenera l Hospit a l for Children, t he Isabella Stewa r t Gardner Museum, and Unicef, among other orga- nizat ions; is ma r r ied to Pa r t henon founder Bill Acht meyer; a nd is w r it ing a cof fee -t able book about style and entertaining. "I met Bill because I was a party planner. He would have a party every night. W hen we st a r ted dat ing, I sa id, 'You st ill have to pay my fees.'" Achtmeyer's cherished pieces: A R a lph Lauren matador jacket, Bobbi Brown Beach per- f ume ("It ma kes me feel like I'm a k id aga in"), her mood boa rd f illed w it h fa shion photos a nd quotes, a ca shmere Nava ho sweater ("I live in t his and my vintage Pearl Jam T-shirt"), oversize belt buck les, a nd Sex Wa x for sur f boa rds. "It rem inds me of my Ca li days," says t he Sout her n Ca lifor nia nat ive. secret weApon: "A f ter ever y R a lph Lauren show, t he pieces I fa ll in love w it h a nd purchase get snipped f rom St yle.com a nd ha ng f rom my cha ndelier for reference." 114 bostoncommon-magazine.com above: "I love caftans. You can just throw one on, and there's no need for jewelry. It's just old-world glamour but comfortable. I would not sacrifice comfort for glamour." right: "One thing people don't know about me is that outside of my ball gowns, I am a flannel-loving, vintage Pearl Jam T-shirt– wearing California girl." "I look forward to being a 90-year-old. I'm only going to wear caftans. I'll smoke cigarettes in extra- long holders while I sing 'Bali Hai.'"