Even after five seasons of Southern Charm, viewers are still enthralled by the show's matriarch—and unlikely breakout star—Patricia Altschul. A fixture of the Charleston social scene, Altschul is also the mother of series creator Whitney Sudler-Smith. She lives in a perfectly appointed 19th century mansion in Charleston, has a butler that serves her martinis every evening, and showcases an enviable wardrobe of caftans and Birkins on each episode.

If you've ever wondered what exactly goes on behind the scenes at Altschul's sprawling residence, you're not alone—we've been thinking about it for years. Luckily, with the help of Patricia's close friend Luzanne Otte, T&C was able to get the inside scoop.

We tasked Otte with shadowing Pat (as she's known to friends) for a weekend in Charleston to chronicle her every move—from the moment she wakes up until the minute she goes to sleep—and it did not disappoint. Otte's day-in-the-life dispatch includes everything from Pat's preferred lipstick to her midnight jaunt at a Taco Bell drive-through. (Seriously.) Read on for the full 24-hour diary.

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Patricia wakes up in her cheerful master bedroom, which was designed by Mario Buatta. Her bed linens are by D. Porthault (in the Tulipe Perroquet print for those wondering), and she is wearing a white silk bias-cut nightgown trimmed in Chantilly lace from Carine Gilson, a lingerie boutique in Paris. She uses the house phone to notify her faithful butler, Michael Kelcourse, that she’s ready for breakfast.

Patricia always has breakfast in bed and her order rarely deviates from a coddled egg and one cup of coffee.



Patricia’s bedroom Luzanne Otte

Michael appears soon thereafter carrying an antique silver Buccellati breakfast tray with three newspapers tucked neatly on the side: The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, and The New York Times (she reads several other newspapers from her iPad).

Michael opens the curtains and lifts the blackout shades, illuminating a whimsical Donald Roller Wilson painting. The moment Pat has finished breakfast, Michael appears with three dogs: Siegfried, Roy, and Chauncey. While Patricia reads the newspapers, the dogs snack on treats.

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Particia’s bathtub has a chromatherapy feature (also known as LED lights), and she testifies to the positive influence of color on her physical and psychological states. She dries off with D.Porthault Bouquet Éclateé printed towels in periwinkle.

Patricia's bathroom

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She has dermatologists in Charleston, Los Angeles, and New York. Every morning she cleanses with Dr. Dennis Gross’s All-in-One Cleaner with Toner, Germain’s Gentle Skin Cleanser, or Avene’s Antirougeurs Redness-Relief Dermo-Cleansing Milk for rosacea.

She follows with micellar water stored in a William Yeoward decanter. Twice a week, Pat exfoliates with the Method Polish by Dr. Lancer, and she uses the Pro Facial Steamer by Dr. Dennis Gross as needed. She’s also experimenting with an LED mask.

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Patricia primes her skin with Huda Beauty Complexion Perfection and uses the eyelash conditioner RevitaLash VLumine before curling her lashes and applying mascara. Patricia’s go-to foundations are a mix of Chanel Les Beiges and Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. Always au courant with makeup, Patricia also sings the praises of #FauxFilter Foundation by Huda. While filming Southern Charm, Patricia uses a blend of three shades which provide maximum coverage: Macaroon, Shortbread, and Crème Brulee.

She removes a handful of Chanel brushes from a traditional mint julep cup and begins application. Patricia believes that the most important tools in applying makeup are a magnifying mirror and a Beauty Blender. Next out of the drawer comes the Naked Heat palette by Urban Decay and Natasha Denona's Diamond and Blush palette. She finishes off with a lip trifecta: lip liner, Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte No.7 lipstick, and lip gloss. Upon completion, Patricia leaves out the tools she has sullied to be cleaned.

The commode in Patricia's home isn't your traditional toilet. Luzanne Otte

After finishing her makeup, Patricia gets dressed. Contrary to popular belief, she does not wear ballgowns or caftans every day. During the fall and winter she wears solid black or navy pants with a cashmere sweater, and during the spring and summer she wears khaki or white pants with a white blouse by Dolce & Gabbana.

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Patricia spends time in her home office each day working on her finances, various business ventures including Patricia’s Couture, and correspondence with fans. Her personalized stationery is from Mrs. John L. Strong.

Once the essential tasks are completed, she reviews auction catalogues. Patricia earned a bachelors and masters degree in art history and archaeology from George Washington University, and she continues to apply her education to researching existing and potential acquisitions. Her academic approach to collecting is reinforced by her assiduous inventories of each object’s provenance. She notes that maintaining accurate records of an object's title history is critical, whether for the purposes of insurance, reselling, or heirs of the estate.

The table in Patricia’s informal dining room set for lunch Luzanne Otte

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While lunch is served in the informal breakfast room, the table is decidedly formal. It is set with hand-painted Anna Weatherly lunch plates, Tiffany’s elusive Lap Over Edge silverware, Waterford crystal, bespoke Léron linen napkins monogrammed with Pat’s swan crest, a Mottahedeh centerpiece, and a service buzzer. The cook prepared fried chicken, macaroni salad, coleslaw, and sweet tea, which Michael served.

A follower from Texas sent a generous basket of pies, pralines, and truffles. The ordinarily restrained Grand Dame is non-discerning when it comes to sugar: Krispy Kreme, See’s Candy, and candy corn are her kryptonite.

Michael serving lunch Luzanne Otte

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Michael meets us out front at 2:45 p.m. to head to the hair salon. Beyond her semi-weekly training sessions, Patricia’s cardiovascular activity is limited to the dozen steps to or from any given door to the Bentley.

Even though she regularly exercises, Patricia doesn’t own t-shirts. To work out, she wears a black Lululemon top with matching leggings, but she makes it clear that she only wears spandex in the privacy of her own home, not while wandering public streets.

Patricia’s monogrammed table linens Luzanne Otte

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Patricia sits at her dressing table, but on an ordinary day, Michael doesn’t appear with her infamous dressing drink. Like the white gloves for reading newspapers, the ever-present dressing drink is an example of Patricia camping it up for Southern Charm. Patricia is very judicious with alcohol consumption.

Patricia’s makeup and dressing drink Luzanne Otte

After touching up her makeup, she then retrieves eyelashes by Huda (Samantha #7) and Anastasia Beverly Hills' Original Contour Kit. She decides to wear an impeccably tailored dress by Ralph Rucci and adds diamond jewelry by David Webb, as well as her massive diamond promise ring.

She transfers select items from her limited edition Hermes Birkin to a Chanel sequin flap bag. The surest way to ruin an evening vignette, she says, is to carry a cumbersome handbag. (Patricia owns Chanel sequin flap bags in every color.)

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We split the “Gaillard Dinner” (saffron bucatini, Beef Wellington, and tres leches cake) at Zero Restaurant with Eddie Irions, a board member of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

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Later in the evening, we attend a one-night-only performance of Puccini’s Tosca presented by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra at the Gaillard Center to benefit the forthcoming Daniel Island Performing Arts Center. Patricia glides past the benefactor wall (which listed her as a donor) and sits in a seat with her name inscribed on a plaque. During intermission, a tourist requests a picture, and Patricia agrees. The living embodiment of Miss Manners does not understand the surreptitiously taken photos of her that pop-up on social media.

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The light dinner fare has prompted an emergency detour to a Taco Bell drive-thru. To be fair, said detour was at the request of a gluttonous guest, but Patricia does not voice any objections before ordering a Burrito Supreme.

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Upon arriving home, Patricia thanks Michael, says “goodnight” to the menagerie, and heads to her boudoir where the blackout shades have been drawn, the bed has been turned down, and fresh water is on the bedside stand.

Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips CLINIQUE sephora.com $19.50 Shop Now

Patricia begins a meticulous makeup removal process. First, she uses Clinique Take The Day Off Oil-Free Makeup Remover for her eyes and lips. Next, she washes with Cetaphil and again with a prescribed cleanser. Finally, she applies a doctor-prescribed cream to treat rosacea. She also swims in La Mer The Body Crème every night. She has a jar by her bed and lathers it on like it doesn’t cost $275 for 10 ounces.

She brushes with a Sonicare DiamondClean electric toothbrush and flosses with Reach mint floss. After a long day and in her least favorite state, au naturale, Patricia is still spectacularly beautiful.

She gets in bed, then navigates to her favorite channels. The television turns off as quickly as it turned on, and her Kindle comes out. Patricia reads multiple books at once. She is currently reading Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan, The Riviera Set by Mary S. Lovell, and Palm Beach Babylon by Murray Weiss, and she just finished Deep South by Paul Theroux. After reading, she turns her lights out at 1:30 a.m.

Tune into Bravo on July 12th to watch the Southern Charm finale.



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