My Fair Lady

STORY BY: Geoff Connor
PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF HARRY RANSOM CENTER/span>

This June, newspapers around the world reported the great loss of Fleur Cowles in London. Glowing articles reflected on her life as a beloved socialite, diplomat, editor and philanthropist that garnered the respect of millions. Though anyone would be impressed by her esteemed list of accomplishments, close friend Geoff Connor reveals Cowles’ affection for Austin and her many contributions to the community.

Very few people are referred to as legends anymore; Fleur Cowles is the exception. Her life is a more fascinating and spectacular drama than any screenwriter can create. The New York native began working for magazines in advertising and writing lifestyle and fashion articles when she was still a teenager. Cowles then switched over to speechwriting for the federal government until marrying Gardner (Mike) Cowles, owner of Look magazine in 1946, where she quickly became associate editor of the publication, dramatically changing the format, style and content. The determined young woman aggressively covered Hollywood elite, New York society and Washington power circles, raising circulation and revenue at an impressive rate. Cowles then launched her own magazine, Flair, both critically celebrated and lavishly designed but was forced to close after just one year of publication due to expensive production costs. Sadly, the couple later divorced.

In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower invited Cowles to represent the United States as a special envoy at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. This honor was the first of several assignments given to her, including meetings with President Nasser of Egypt and the Shah of Iran. At that time, no other journalist could rival Cowles’ ability to move fluidly within exclusive bureaucratic circles and European high society. Two years later, she married wealthy Englishman Tom Montague Meyer at a lavish ceremony in Beverly Hills with Cary Grant serving as Best Man before Howard Hughes’ private plane whisked the newlyweds away. It was a life of champagne, caviar and even more delicious experiences. Having already reached social and political prominence in American society, Cowles set her sights across the pond; over the next half century she made her London home a glamorous getaway for royalty, writers and entertainers. During this time, she produced numerous books, columns, reviews and art shows that kept Cowles in the public eye in addition to her unmatched hostess capabilities. The public embraced her flourishing popularity with open arms; floral enthusiasts named a new rose hybrid in her honor and a china pattern titled ‘Flair by Fleur Cowles’ appeared soon after. She began diligently painting in a bold and dramatic fashion that exploded in the 1960s with large canvases of lions, leopards, oversized flowers, butterflies and bees. Along the way, she flexed her creativity by restoring a 15th century castle in Spain and an Elizabethan manor, Great Surries, in Sussex, too. 

Cowles had strong Texas ties and shared a long and meaningful friendship with the late Lady Bird Johnson spanning several decades. As they frequented each other’s homes over the years, Johnson introduced Cowles to the University of Texas at Austin connecting her with well-to-do locals. She fell head-over-heels for the city and wrote warmly of its hospitable citizens. The result was a generous endowment to the institution and an overall enrichment of its cultural collection. “Cowles prescribed a refreshing juxtaposition of the works of writers, artists and critics that were drawn to the [Harry] Ransom Center’s aim to bring together literary and artistic achievements,” attributes Dr. Thomas F. Staley, Director of the Harry Ransom Center. “With her interest and success in pulling together the new, the controversial and the creative in innovation ways, Cowles’ involvement and association with the center was consistently insightful and inspiring.” She was exponentially proud of the university’s collection of Flair magazines and careful presentation the namesake symposium. Lady Bird Johnson’s daughter, Luci Baines Johnson, remembers Cowles fondly: “Fleur wrote a book called She Made Friends and Kept Them: An Anecdotal Memoir. I was privileged to be one of her legions of friends from all nationalities, political affiliations, professions, ages and interests. She was close to my mother and the Queen Mother; she had a brilliant talent of bringing folks together. If you were lucky enough to be at one of her salons, you felt like the world was at your doorstep.”

In the modern world, we encounter many people with astounding achievements in various fields, but rarely witness an individual who combines eclectic talents across such diverse fields as Fleur Cowles. She attracted the movie stars of Hollywood to her parties in California, enjoyed access to the Oval Office in Washington and was dubbed the darling of New York’s art and literary circles. Her presence on the international scene was almost unbelievable in scope and endurance. For over a century, Cowles moved at the center of everything with magnetic appeal, timeless sophistication and impeccable taste. She had the chameleon-like ability to be mercurial in business yet unfailingly polite in social situations, always extending exceptional kindness to young professionals beginning their careers. Hers was more than a life well-lived; it was a commitment of passion, excellence and persistence to the world and loved ones. Lucy Baines Johnson said it best: “She widened my world and always made me feel loved. She left the world a richer place.”

Share this Article!

Hide Sites