This narrative chronicles the remarkable journey of Condé Montrose Nast, a pivotal figure in the world of publishing and fashion, as seen through the eyes of his daughter, Leslie Bonham Carter, and substantiated by significant historical events. It illuminates Nast's indelible contributions to the fashion industry, the art of photography, and the broader publishing landscape, most notably his acquisition and revitalization of Vogue magazine. The account also explores the personal facets of his life, including his family dynamics, his vibrant social engagements, and the adversities he encountered, culminating in the establishment of the Condé M. Nast Galleries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy.
Recently, The Metropolitan Museum of Art honored the memory of Condé M. Nast by inaugurating the Condé M. Nast Galleries, a new permanent space dedicated to fashion exhibitions on its first floor. This event, attended by Nast’s daughter, Leslie Bonham Carter, and her relatives, marked a significant moment. Roger Lynch, the chief executive of Condé Nast, remarked on the occasion as a “full-circle moment,” emphasizing the collaborative efforts between the company and The Met to elevate fashion from a mere craft to an esteemed art form, weaving it into their shared cultural narrative. This new gallery space is particularly notable given that three of The Met's most attended exhibitions were curated by the Costume Institute, underscoring fashion’s growing prominence within the museum’s offerings.
Condé Nast, born in New York City in 1873 and raised in St. Louis, was a self-made entrepreneur renowned for his natural flair for promotion and an exceptional aptitude for mathematics. Edna Woolman Chase, Vogue's editor-in-chief from 1914 to 1952, fondly recalled Nast’s passion for numbers, leading to his early career moniker, “Figure Jim.” By 1907, a decade after moving to New York to pursue his ambitions, Nast had earned a reputation as one of the highest-paid young men globally and a leading authority in national advertising within the publishing sector.
In 1909, after extensive negotiations, Nast acquired Vogue from the estate of its founder, Arthur Turnure. Under his ownership, his portfolio of magazines, which by 1920 included House & Garden, Vanity Fair, and international editions of Vogue, thrived due to his innovative “class publications” theory introduced in 1913. This approach prioritized cultivating deeply engaged audiences based on shared interests rather than merely chasing high circulation numbers, advocating for quality over quantity in content delivery.
Nast’s relentless pursuit of excellence extended across all aspects of his business, driving advancements in both art and technology. Biographer Caroline Seebohm noted his pivotal role in legitimizing fashion photography as an art form, thereby transforming photographic literature and paving the way for fashion photography to be showcased in galleries and museums. Horst P. Horst, a celebrated photographer, corroborated this, acknowledging Nast’s instrumental role in persuading pioneers like Baron de Meyer and Commander Edward Steichen to innovate in fashion photography. Nast’s commitment to superior quality also led him to acquire a printing company in Connecticut in 1921, transforming it into a cutting-edge facility to ensure his publications featured the best possible reproduction techniques, including color printing.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Nast, alongside his close friend Frank Crowninshield, editor of Vanity Fair, was a prominent figure in café society. He was famous for hosting lavish parties that skillfully blended high society with figures from the arts. His daughter, Leslie Bonham Carter, recalled his knack for bringing together diverse personalities, such as Groucho Marx and Mrs. Vanderbilt, at his gatherings—a practice echoed in the varied guest list of the modern Met Gala. From 1925, these opulent events took place in Nast’s thirty-room penthouse at 1040 Park Avenue, a space exquisitely decorated by Elsie De Wolfe, featuring a ballroom with a parquet floor imported from France and 18th-century hand-painted Chinese wallpaper sourced from an English estate.
To Leslie Bonham Carter, Condé Nast was simply “Dad,” and she cherished their loving relationship. She reminisced about their outings for ice cream sodas and his gentle, attentive demeanor. Their mutual affection was profound, with Edna Woolman Chase remarking that Nast’s love for Leslie brought him true happiness in his later years. Nast, married twice, had three children: Coudert Nast and Natica Nast from his first marriage, and Leslie Maud Nast (Bonham Carter) from his second marriage to Leslie Foster. The latter union, when Nast was 55 and Foster 21, was significantly impacted by the 1929 stock market crash, which led to Nast losing much of his fortune and grappling with the challenges of his company’s survival. This period, as Leslie Bonham Carter recounted, left her father exhausted and prompted him to facilitate her mother’s remarriage to Lieutenant Colonel Reginald “Rex” Benson, a British banker and diplomat.
Leslie Bonham Carter spent her summers traveling with her mother and later lived with her father until his declining health necessitated her move to Washington D.C. to join her mother and stepfather. Her own life saw her marry Lord St. Just in 1949, with whom she had a daughter, before her subsequent marriage to Mark Bonham Carter in 1955. This second union, which brought her three more daughters, was a source of great happiness. Her granddaughter, Flo Phillips, describes Leslie Bonham Carter as an incredibly elegant and inspiring woman, even at 95, underscoring her enduring grace and influence. The recent inauguration of the Condé M. Nast Galleries at The Met was a deeply moving occasion for Leslie Bonham Carter, reflecting the lasting impact of her father’s vision and legacy on the world of fashion and culture.