amy merrick by amym 44

living in: driving miss daisy



Driving Miss Daisy, where have you been all my life? Crotchety, sophisticated old ladies, sprawling southern mansions, classic cars, Morgan Freeman in suspenders, mahjong circles, driving gloves, the piggly wiggly. Seriously, a girl could base her life off stuff like this.

leather driving gloves $75, herringbone driver’s cap $25, polkadot bowtie $42, striped suspenders $22, Model 1955 Chrysler Imperial $30 (should have been a Hudson but I couldn’t find a good one), knotted cufflinks $25, New York Times, pistachio sundae heels $72, pearl necklace $240.




Set in the 1950s and 60s in Atlanta, racial, economic and religious norms get blurred as 72 year old Daisy Wethan begrudgingly accepts the services of a illiterate but charming chauffeur named Hoke. Driving Miss Daisy has me in mind of long summer’s drives with the windows down, sweet teas in the cup holders and oldies on the radio. Plus if Morgan Freeman is involved, I’ll even volunteer to be the chauffeur. -amy m.

floppy straw hat $24, gardening tools $5/each, nickel fixture and shade set $234, diner mug $5, checkerboard rug $60, wall mounted clock $88, diner chair $145, vintage wine bottles $14, antique gas stoves.

44 Comments

Rene

I adore this post!!! Here’s to crotchety old ladies and all that goes with!

Naomi

I just love this post ~ and the nostalgia that goes with it.

jessica

i’ve been meaning to watch this film for the longest time!
morgan freeman is an amazing actor!
:)

Newly Domesticated

My parents took me to see this movie when I was 6 years old. Loved it! I miss shopping at the Piggly Wiggly soooo much; when I was a little girl, a Piggly Wiggly mascot used to come to our school!

Linh

There are very problematic portrayals of race relations in that movie that I don’t think I could ignore, but yes the style from that period is pretty cute.

caroline

Hi! Pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaase can you do a True Romance article in this series PLEEEEASE!!! xxxx

Rachel

I love the movie and I think it portrays the truest love story there is….one that is complicated.

Shannon Tilman

I live in the South and still shop at Piggly Wiggly!!

Meredith

I love this movie. Haven’t seen it in forever, though. I’ll have to go rent it for this weekend!

Tod

the car! the pearls! its all perfection! what a great movie inspiration!!
xoxo
tod

RobbieLee at Chickiedee

OMG! My husband and I were just talking about this movie on Sunday evening as we drove back home from the mountains. I was sitting in the back seat with my car-sick pup, Tucker, and my husband felt like he was “Driving Mrs. Daisy” hahaha!

Alli

ugh. now i’m just frustrated that my parents O’Keefe and Merritt stove is sitting in the carport rusting! Time to see how much a restoration would cost!

eva

leave it to ModCloth to have yet another pair of bank-account-depleting shoes!

Jillian

Another favorite movie! I watch it every time it’s on, and I cry every time. Your picks are perfect.

Ronique Gibson

Awww.. the good ‘ol Piggly Wiggly! Thanks for taking me back with this post. When I use to go to college in Alabama, the Piggly Wiggly was one of 2 stores in our town! Coming from metropolis Denver, CO – this was a HUGE shocker!

Gina

I love this movie but missed the Piggly Wiggly in it every time I watched it. Being from the south, this store is common sight. I live out West now and seeing that in my inbox this morning was a sweet little trip back home. Thanks for highlighting it!

Tracy C.

I absolutely adore this film. My husband worked on this film here in Atlanta as a Scenic Artist. A Scenic Artist’s work includes set painting and construction and working with the Set Director. He says it is probably his favorite movie to work on (except maybe for Fried Green Tomatoes). This was his favorite movie for one reason mostly, Ms. Jessica Tandy. He worked with her and her husband on quite a few films and he says that she was the most gracious and warm person.

Thank you for spotlighting this movie. It has actually brought up quite a few memories.

Also, my husband calls me “Driving Miss Daisy” because I drive so slow.

Pixie

I love this movie too! And boy do I miss The Pig. I grew up waaay down south and Piggly Wiggly was the only place to shop until Winn Dixie came to town. lol, when I moved north, I had no idea what a Shop-Rite was…I thought it was like 7-11.

Michele

Amazing movie, amazing “Living In”. I, like many others, grew up around a Piggly Wiggly so I always forget that “The Pig” (as we call it) isn’t something that everyone is familiar with. Great job!

Megan K

Is there any way to find out exactly what brand and kind of antique stove that is? It’s gorgeous!!

caroline

I just watched this movie (netflix streaming!) after having it recommended to me by my grandmother when I was visiting her in Atlanta a few weeks ago. She told me that it was mostly filmed in the neighborhood she grew up in, and the real Miss Daisy, Lena Fox, was a friend of her mother. I loved the film and its aesthetic so I’m so happy to see it on here! I’m definitely buying some garden tools for my new apartment and maybe that bowtie for my boyfriend!

Paula Zargaj-Reynolds

How I wish Piggly Wiggly would expand into Massachusetts so I could regularly say, “I’m off to the Piggly Wiggly.” Saying (or hearing — remember when Dan Aykroyd said it in the movie?) Piggly Wiggly is like taking a happy pill.

Shannon

I adore this column! Thank you for reminding me to take in inspiration in all forms. Do you take requests? I’d love to see Annie Hall or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. :)

Nancy Butts

The funny thing is… the building used during filming for the Piggly Wiggly was actually the a truly crunchy vegetarian co-op store in the hippy / bohemian part of Atlanta.

mary lou bethune

I grew up in South Carolina in the 60′s and I have always thought that the art diretor of Miss Daisy was spot on. Not one item struck me as out of time or p lace.
The content was hard for me, but thank God times have changed!

Ruby

The link to the checkered rug doesn’t seem to work. Any chance you might be able to redirect me? Thanks!

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