Think Pink
Once upon a time long ago in a land far, far away known as Dallas, there lived a beautiful young girl named Brandes (rhymes with Candace) who adored the color pink. From the tip of her little knit cap to the bows on her teensy slippers – pink. Her jammies, blankie, teddy bear, and bedroom – pink; her petticoat, sweater, suitcase, even her Christmas stocking – pink! Methinks perhaps she was on to something and wise beyond her years. Tailors and couturiers have known for eons that the rosy hue flatters everyone, men and women alike, enhancing every skin tone. (Ever seen Oprah in raspberry?...
Read MoreJewels
“Jewelry is the perfect spice. It always complements what’s already there.” Diane Von Furstenberg Beyond hats, gloves, shoes , perfume, and other accessories that make a woman feel feminine, jewelry is at the apex of desired adornments. Whether a gold hammered collar inlaid with lapis found in an Egyptian tomb, or a gold filigree necklace and pearls casually tossed on the dresser of a Park Avenue maven… Whether simple, understated and classic…or flashy, flamboyant and wild… From the timeless gold chain, to over the top baubles and pendants Jewels have...
Read MoreShoes
“One shoe can change your life.” Cinderella From Manolo Blahnik to Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin To Bruno Magli, Salvatore Ferragamo to Roger Vivier, Stuart Weitzman to Edward Rayne…just the mention of their names can prompt hearts to palpitate and eyes to sparkle in anticipation. Just as the fluttering fan, delicate glove, and winsome hat, can draw attention to a lady, so too, one accessory that towers above the rest (pun intended) that when deftly employed, can capture the roving male eye like no other – the fabulous, flirtatious shoe. For centuries, ladies have understood that a rosy...
Read MoreGloves
“Like most little girls, I found the lure of grown-up accessories astonishing – lipstick, perfume, hats, and gloves. When I write female characters in my historical novels, getting these details right is vital.” Sara Sheridan Winter is slipping through the cracks in frosty gusts, as we rush to retrieve scarves, hats and gloves to keep us warm and snuggly. Nothing feels quite as sensuous as slipping into a pair of leather gloves lined in cashmere. Yum! An exquisite pair of gloves peeping from a Christmas stocking will surely be welcomed, and often the first gift put to good use. Over...
Read MoreParasols & Summer Sun
Ah, the ubiquitous umbrella – from British Bumbershoot to Parisian Parasol – one shelters from the rain; one shields from the sun. We reviewed their rainy day renditions in April Showers. It’s now time for the sunny side of summer with its plethora of parasols. Rather than ducking and dodging sleet and showers, we flirt and flutter with carousels of color. Just being in the sun evokes smiles and happiness. A parasol seems less of a shield, and more of a sidekick, protecting us while joining in the fun. The Latin word umbra means “shade” and historians claim the cooling canopy formed by...
Read MoreEmilio Pucci – the Prince of Prints
When the swinging 60’s ushered in a world of psychedelic graphics, one artist’s images stood head and shoulders above the rest – Emilio Pucci. It’s not surprising, however, since Pucci’s dazzling originality predated the Summer of Love by two decades. His seminal ideas and epochal images were forever ahead of convention, and stand today as timeless classics. “Color directly influences the soul.” Wassily Kandinsky, Concerning the Spiritual in Art 1969 2015 worn by Kendall Jenner Born Marquis Emilio Pucci di Barsento to an aristocratic family in Florence, Italy,...
Read MoreCinderella Redux
Cinderella is a timeless tale of good vs. evil, kindness vs. oppression. The origin of the story is ambiguous, although many claim authorship. Attributions range from Roman historian Strabo in the first century BC, to Sheh Hsien in China, to French author Charles Perrault in 1697…and on infinitum. According to SurLaLune, there are anywhere from 345 to 1,500 versions of the tale! The site opines “Most…tales include an epiphany sparked by an article of clothing (usually a shoe) that causes the heroine to be recognized for her true worth. With Carrie Bradshaw leading the charge, we’ll embrace...
Read MoreCinderella in Four Acts
I don’t know if this charming quartet of Cinderella hankies came as a boxed set, or if a little girl had to collect each image individually, perhaps as a reward for good behavior. This is an intriguing ensemble, for the heart theme unifies the images both visually and through subtext. Each scenario is ensconced in a heart, while Cinderella’s ball gown is awash in tiny valentines. Let’s start with Chapter One, where Cinderella appears to bypass her Fairy Godmother, white mice, pumpkin coach, stepsisters, frankly the who shebang, and zips directly to the Fashion Tree....
Read MoreFan Fandango
On a par with handkerchief flirting, we present the fluttering fan. It provides a perfect foil from whence the shy can seek shelter and the ardent arouse passion. From coquette to vixen, ingénue to vamp, a huntress skilled at the game of flirting can drop her prey with a flick of the wrist. “The eyes are one of the most powerful tools a wom an can have. With one look, she can relay the most intimate message. After the connection is made, words cease to exist.” Jennifer Salaiz (The lady in gold is from a Russian website and I apologize, but I do not read Russian, so cannot give an...
Read MoreLe Parfum
“Perfume is magic. It’s mystery. We recreate the smell of a flower. Of wood. Of grass. We capture the essence of life. Liquefy it. We store memories. We make dreams. What we do is a wonder, an art, and we have a responsibility to do it well.” M.J. Rose, Seduction Ah yes, fabulous fragrance. In this season of romance, “le parfum” is the ultimate femme fatale accoutrement for flirting. Our olfactory sense is so finely tuned that a mere whiff of jasmine, rose, or lily can evoke memories of a lost love, a magical summer, or pivotal moment in our lives. Perfumers and retailers know this all too...
Read MoreHats Off to Sally Victor
What do Queen Elizabeth II, First Ladies Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, and Mamie Eisenhower, Hollywood’s Judy Garland and Elizabeth Taylor, Broadway’s Helen Hayes, and even the Gabor sisters all have in common? They all were crowned in hats designed by Sally Victor. That’s quite an entourage to count among your stable of admirers. Included among luminaries Lilly Daché and Mr. John, as one of America’s leading millinery designers, The New Yorker magazine (1954) described Victor as “a magnificent sculptress of straws and felts.” She was actually credited with reviving the Ecuadorean...
Read MoreA Stitch in Time
Creation begins with inspiration, with a kernel of an idea, but in order to execute your concept, you need a plan, a blueprint. The same holds true in the world fashion. Even when couturiers claim they work freeform, and simply drape fabric as they’re inspired, (as did Christian Dior) in order for a seamstress to replicate that creation, she’ll need a roadmap. The fresh, crisp image below depicts the trade of the tailor and represents the roadmap. Whenever we examine the underlying structure of a garment, we view with the eye of an architect – studying the master patterns, the foundation...
Read MoreApril Showers
I love the rain. I want the feeling of it on my face. Katherine Mansfield The first umbrellas were actually fashioned for protection from the sun. The Latin word umbra means “shade” and historians claim the idea for the umbrella was inspired by the canopy of a tree, which offered relief from the sizzling heat. Originally, umbrellas were probably fashioned from tree branches covered with cloth. Although many attribute the umbrella’s origin to China in the 11th century B.C., there is evidence of umbrellas being used during the same time period in India. I guess I’m putting the cart before...
Read MoreExercise
And one, and two, and kick, and kick….and three, and four….and SMILE….this if FUN! Like milk & cookies, mac & cheese, ice cream & hot fudge, what goes with Diet? EXERCISE! Back in the heyday of the handkerchief, the king of exercise was Jack La Lanne. Today people may chuckle at his stretch jumpsuit and pumped up “guns”, but he motivated thousands to get off the couch and into shape; and he lived to be 97. It was pneumonia that finally felled the workout master. As far back as 1936 La Lanne had a gym, juice bar and health food store in Oakland, CA. Doctors decried him as a...
Read MoreThe Handkerchief as Alter Ego
Are you Adventuresome? Creative? Colorful? Fun Loving? Exciting? Or are you Demure and Shy? Serious and Studious? Classic and Refined? A Person of Mystery and Intrigue? In case you think I’m exaggerating the influence of the handkerchief on fashion,(see history) take a gander at this full page ad in the June 28, 1947 issue of The New Yorker. A full page was no small commitment, and it features – not a Mainbocher suit, Christian Dior gown or Lilly Daché hat, but a handkerchief. Yep. A simple square of cotton. And yet….it’s described as mad, witty and sophisticated! The subtext being of...
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