Renate Is Dressing The Angels

This is a photograph of my daughter, Celia, in Iceland. But I don’t want to talk about Celia or Iceland. I want to talk about Renate Lindlar, our wardrobe stylist for Iceland and Scotland, who just died after a long battle with cancer. I was crushed when I heard the news. I loved this woman. Funny. Intelligent. Passionate. She was an extraordinary stylist with impeccable taste. Every time I see a Rodney Smith photograph I see Renate’s vision behind the image, as she was the genius behind all his stunning wardrobes. Together they created a beautiful, slightly anachronistic world that was magical and always had a smile to it. First Rodney. Now Renate. My heart is broken. If there is a Heaven, Renate, I'm certain, is dressing the angels.