Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

What Wendy Wore: The Purple Jacket Takes Los Angeles

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I sneaked off to Los Angeles for the weekend: MrB and I both had business to attend to, and family to see. The one drawback was that I was too booked to have one of my L.A. blogger fiestas.A  Next time, peeps!

As you might guess if you read my post on casual outfits, I packed black t-shirts and jeans, one pair of interesting shoes, and my hairy, purple Versace jacket. I’ve worn that hairy, purple jacket in L.A. before and a lot of people gave it the side-eye. The single comment I got in the past was from a clothing-store owner who looked me up and down and said, “You must be from New York.”

Maybe New York style is more acceptable in the City of Angels these days because everywhere I went, people ran after me to tell me how much they loved the jacket. One lady of a certain age threw herself in front of me to declare, “Best. Jacket. Ever.” I thought, “Most. Unexpected. Phrase. From. Lady. of. a. Certain. Age. Ever,” but out loud I just said, “Thank you.” I don’t know what accounts for this change, but it goes to show that some clothes get better with age rather than going out of style. So, once again, I urge you to — at least occasionally — go for the hairy, purple jackets in life rather stick to safe basics.

The one non-black top that I brought was the metallic Black Halo top in which I’ve already achieved a three-peat pose. This time, I did some wardrobe remixing by changing the shoes, adding a jacket and carrying a different purse. The jeans are the same ones I usually wear with the Black Halo top.

What Wendy Wore for a Black Halo Four-Peat
Jacket: Versace (pre-2005, I’m pretty sure)
Top: Black Halo (pre-2008)
Jeans: Acne (2007)
Shoes: Miu Miu (July 2010)
Bag: Louis Vuitton (2001)
Lip Color: Lasting Lust by MAC
Rings: My own “OMG” design

Those jeans would look better if they were a little longer, but those shoes are so high they make all my jeans look cropped.

I squeezed in a trip to the Getty Museum for work reasons. I figured I’d get a lot of design inspiration from the exhibit “Imagining the Past in France: 1250 – 1500” and I was right. Medieval art always does it for me. I wore the purple jacket with my standard black-t-shirt-and-jeans combo.

What Wendy Wore to Peruse Medieval Manuscripts
Jacket: Versace
Top: MaxMara, recently seen here
Jeans: Acne (2007, purchased in Stockholm)
Shoes: Michael Kors (pre-2005)
Lip color: MAC’s Violetta and YSL Touche Brillance #13
Ring: My own Borgia design

MrB is sure that we had a fabulous celebrity encounter in our hotel elevator. I missed getting a good visual of the face so we’ll have to take MrB’s word for it. But I was aware of the extremely dapper gentleman in his late 70s or early 80s who had the most beautiful (accented) voice. When he exited the elevator, he wished us all a good night and the minute the doors closed, MrB quietly screamed, “Peter O’Toole!” in my ear. From what I saw of the man in question, I believe MrB is correct and I am very pleased to have shared a confined space with Lawrence of Arabia (not to be confused with Sex and the City 2’s “Lawrence of my labia“).

My purple jacket was trotted out again for two important meetings. One was with Laura, the gorgeous owner of Broken English Jewelry, which carries my line. Laura was looking so cute — I’m not sure why I didn’t have the sense to take a picture of us. You can stalk Laura on Twitter at BEjewelry. Also, if you’re anywhere near the Brentwood Country Mart in Santa Monica, you should swing by and try on some of my jewels. They’re even better in person than online! Laura gave me a good idea for a new variation on an existing piece, so stay tuned for that early next year. We’re also thinking of having a trunk show at the store in April. I expect all you L.A. bloggers to attend! Let me know in the comments or by email what dates are best for you and I will work around your availability. I know y’all want to see these pieces up close.

My other big meeting was with my new grandson, Jude. (He’s technically a step-grandson, but why be technical?) He was born in the summer and I hadn’t seen him yet. He’s a big boy! MrB saw Jude when Jude was fresh out of the oven and was amazed by how he’s grown. The two of them seemed to have a meeting of the minds.

What an intense look!

Jude’s older brother, four-year-old Wolfie, was adorable and very articulate. He amazed us all by remembering that MrB had hand surgery shortly before his last visit. He inquired very politely about the well-being of the hand. Move over, Miss Manners! There’s a new etiquette sheriff in town.

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Comments

  3. Now where can I get that yummilicious purple hairy jacket?, and I LOVE your sparkly top; as for your grandson, he is so adorable!!!

    XOXO
    J

  4. I have a pair of kneep-high black boots with red stitching and red eyelets that always make people come up to me and do the “Best boots ever!” or “OMG! I so want a pair of those!!!!”

    It is quite fun and I agree with you…even though a lot of my clothing these days is “basics” and in “basics” colours….you have to get some stand-out clothing or accessories or else how else can you have that fun of people saying those sorts of things to you?

    I am jealous you saw Peter O’Toole! I would have loved to have shared an elevator with an older celebrity. I so love old movies!

    Jude is cute! I also love his name! I like older names that are now coming back into usage…it is refreshing after all those years of people trying to spell names so strangely to be unique.

  6. Hi my dear-what a really lovely photo of Mr B and Jude and Wolfie sounds the sweetest, politest young man!! Love our purple hairy jacket, I got a green and blue French hairy jacket, vintage 80s, at the weekend from the charity shop, I’ll post on it soon!! Sounds like you both had a great time in LA!!

  8. Mr B looks tres cute.

    Funny how cities have their own style. I usually walk along in a bubble so didn’t notice, but when we were in New York last year Mr D said people kept staring at me in my ‘London’ attire. But perhaps I had just tucked my dress into my underpants.

  10. They are gazing into each other’s souls!! Also “go for the hairy, purple jackets in life rather stick to safe basics” is my new shopping philosophy

  15. The jacket is fierce no matter where you are and how cute is Mr B and the baby. That photo is one for the memory books. And another thing, I’m in LA too! I know you were too busy so we’ll catch up in NYC. See you soon.

  20. Ouu I love your jacket- such a lovely colour! I have a jacket with a similar texture but it got a hole in the sleeve and I have no idea how to fix it 🙁

  22. You have a lot of cute kiddies in your family. And damn, you look fine for a granny! (I intend to look just as fine if ever I become a granny.)

  25. Miss J gives a bigsmile just thinking about that trunk show in April. LOVE the jacket. If Miss J had even a remote chance of fitting into it, she might have to mug WendyB comes April…

  29. What a cute picture of Mr.B and the baby!

    You don’t look half bad, either!

    I love shorter jeans with those shoes, because I get to see the shoes clearly. I’m always one for showing off the shoes, especially YOUR shoes.

  32. Love that shot of MrB and his corduroy jacket. Maybe we need a What MrB wore (says she who mostly is living in mens clothes lately).

    I prefer the Getty villa in Malibu but there’s something about that tram ride up to the Getty Center that puts you in that calm space for viewing art. They get the best things over there, it makes it worth braving the 405 freeway.

    Hope to see you next time you’re in L.A.