Every once in a while, an invitation lands in your inbox that makes you stop and think: Is this really happening?
That was exactly how I felt when I was invited to Atlanta to celebrate the launch of the Frances Valentine Mary Tyler Moore collection and its partnership with the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative.
Fashion, nostalgia, a beloved television icon, and a cause devoted to helping others? This was an easy yes.
And off to Atlanta Mr. Twist and I went.
For women of my generation, Mary Tyler Moore was more than a television star. She represented something: Independence, optimism, friendship, career, and style. And the idea that a woman could create a life that looked a little different from the one everyone expected her to have.
There was Mary Richards walking through Minneapolis in those fabulous clothes, surrounded by a wonderfully imperfect group of friends and coworkers, figuring life out as she went. And, of course, there was that hat toss.
It is remarkable how a television show can become part of our collective memory. You hear a few notes of the theme song or see that familiar image of Mary tossing her beret into the air, and suddenly you’re transported back to another time.
That is one of the reasons this collaboration between Frances Valentine and the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative feels so special. It isn’t simply borrowing something nostalgic from the past. It is taking something we loved and giving it new purpose.
Frances Valentine does nostalgia so well. The Mary Tyler Moore collection captures that unmistakable 1970s spirit—the colors, silhouettes, patterns, and playfulness—but it feels completely wearable now. It is joyful fashion.
One of the great pleasures of this weekend was spending time with Frances Valentine co-founder Elyce Arons. I have loved Frances Valentine for a very long time, so when I had the chance to meet Elyce in person, it was a dream come true. If you aren’t familiar with Elyce’s origin story with Frances Valentine, I highly recommend you purchase her memoir, We Might Just Make It After All. It’s a beautiful love story about her best friendship with Kate Spade: how they met in college and launched both Kate Spade and Frances Valentine. It makes the brand that much more special. I brought my copy of Elyce’s book, and she happily signed it for me!
There is something particularly meaningful about meeting women who have built creative lives and businesses—and who are still curious, enthusiastic, and excited about what comes next. The Frances Valentine partnership with the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative will hopefully raise awareness of Mary’s advocacy for preserving and restoring vision in people with diabetes. Mary was diagnosed with diabetes at age 33. While she did not see a cure for diabetes-related vision loss and blindness in her lifetime, her legacy of leadership lives on through the initiative’s work. Twenty percent of the net proceeds from the Mary Tyler Moore capsule collection will help support the vision initiative.
The evening was filled with so much joy! The event was held at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Students in the program helped design a set to resemble the famous Nicollet Mall and 7th Street in downtown Minneapolis, where Mary threw her Tam O’Shanter into the air. Everyone had the opportunity to get their own hat toss moment. And, in the collection, you can purchase an exact copy of Mary’s knitted cap!
And the memorabilia collection was fabulous — Mary’s Emmy statues from The Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore Shows, her gowns from award ceremonies, bound scripts from her shows with her handwritten notes in the margins, magazine covers, and vintage television screens playing reruns of her series.
The team also had the capsule collection available to try on and purchase. I came home with some fun treasures.
The evening concluded with an intimate discussion between Elyce and Mary’s husband, Dr. Robert Levine. They shared how they met to discuss their collaboration and bring their dream to life. It was touching and heartfelt to hear how he and Mary met, married, and had 30 beautiful years together. I teared up many times during the night because you could honestly feel Mary’s presence in the room. I know she is so happy.
The Mary Tyler Moore collection launched today, and you can find it all here. Remember, 20% of your purchase goes to the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative. The capsule collection is very limited, and once it sells out, that’s it. So don’t miss out on a piece of history.
Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
