Lynn Wyatt: “It’s almost the duty of the younger generation to shock the elder!”

In candid revelations set to be released in a book later this year, Lynn Wyatt, one of the United States' leading fashion collectors, articulates her life philosophy: "Life's path is sometimes strewn with obstacles, potholes. Some are deep, and some are not. But one must live life as an adventure and dance around them."

Penned by journalist Ronda Carman and featuring a foreword by her close friend Elton John, the biography delves into Wyatt's extraordinary life through five decades of photographs and handwritten letters, chronicling the journey of a woman who witnessed an era now vanished.

As early as 1977, Lynn Wyatt was enshrined in the prestigious International Best-Dressed Hall of Fame by Eleanor Lambert, the ultimate accolade in the art of dressing. This 88-year-old grande dame, both patron and style icon, has mingled with the world's most prominent figures, hosted extravagant parties on the French Riviera at her villa La Mauresque in St Jean Cap Ferrat (formerly owned by writer Somerset Maugham), and supported countless humanitarian causes and artistic endeavors throughout her life.

A close friend of Princess Grace and involved for many years in her foundation, Lynn continues to lend her support to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, as well as to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, The Alley Theater, and numerous local causes in Houston. The city paid homage to her last September by naming the heart of the theater district "Lynn Wyatt Square for the Performing Arts."

Lynn Sakowitz Wyatt was born in Houston on July 16, 1935, to Bernard and Ann Sakowitz. Her paternal grandfather, Tobias Sakowitz, a Ukrainian Jew, immigrated to Texas at the end of the 19th century with his brother Simon. Together, they established Sakowitz Bros, a luxury shopping haven on Main Street in Houston, a veritable temple of fashion long before the advent of the retail giant Neiman Marcus.

In 1963, Lynn married Oscar Wyatt, an oil magnate, and they had two sons. For over thirty years, the couple resided in one of the grandest properties in the lush residential neighborhood of River Oaks in Houston. Their home, named Allington and nicknamed the "Wyatt Hyatt," was a hub of high society.

Since 2000, the family has lived in a smaller colonial-style brick residence, still in River Oaks, filled with artwork and personal mementos. Notable among these are two Andy Warhol silkscreens depicting Lynn, with her lips painted red and emerald eyes, dominating the living room—a photo chosen for the cover of her book.

Today, Lynn Wyatt no longer attends fashion shows; instead, designers visit her. For sixty years, no couture runway was complete without her presence. It was her husband Oscar who introduced her to haute couture, although her style education began in the family store.

A prominent figure in the fashion world, she counts among her close friends Emanuel Ungaro, Marc Bohan, Hubert de Givenchy, Valentino, Bill Blass, and, of course, Karl Lagerfeld. "Karl was a dear friend. I often think of him. We had long and profound conversations in his villa and mine on the French Riviera," reminisces Lynn. "Oh, Marc (Bohan) was wonderful! My friend Betsy Bloomingdale loved Marc as much as I did. We couldn't wait to call each other and discuss his beautiful dresses. He dressed all women, not just models."

She continues, "I met Coco Chanel in Paris in the mid-60s. A woman walked into the fitting room and said, 'You're my Texan client. I'm happy to finally meet you.' She smiled and quickly left. I asked who she was, and I was told: it's Mademoiselle!" Impeccably dressed as ever, Lynn Wyatt is a consummate storyteller.

How many haute couture pieces does she own? She smiles and says she never started counting. A budget? Yes, she had one… but she dares to say she doesn't remember it anymore. At 88, Lynn inspires younger generations.

"We discovered through letters and social networks that mom is well known to the younger generation," says Trey Wyatt, one of her four sons. Lynn Wyatt remains a figure of a bygone glamorous era, and even at her age, she sticks to her chic, sophisticated, and impeccable look, still wearing clothes designed for her fifty years ago.

When asked about her thoughts on haute couture today, she responds, "Finding one's style, owning it, and accepting it are far more important than what is or isn't trendy today." She concludes with a big smile: "I think the duty of the young generation is to shock the elders!"