My gran-gran was a well-known socialite, and many of my aunts and uncles were part of the same world — dinners, weddings, races, holidays and long evenings with friends.

I grew up hearing stories about them, and later I started collecting old photographs, society pages, invitations and family memories. Little by little, these pieces became something more than just family history.

This album is also very personal to me. I write about my grandmother and what it was like to grow up with a true lady. This ladies showed me that elegance was not only about beauty. It was also about good manners, kindness, conversation, knowing how to welcome people and how to make others feel comfortable.

In this album, I bring together old photographs, family stories and memories from a world that has almost disappeared.