Last year, the name “Simone” was number 820 on the list of popular names for baby girls in the U.S. I expect that in 2016 and 2017, that name will be several hundred places higher, thanks to the awe-inspiring Olympian Simones. Gymnast Simone Biles won her fourth gold medal at the Rio Olympics today. Only…
In the News
Pearls in the Pool: For Olympians Only
I have strong opinions about how people should treat their fine jewelry, and that includes a no-pool policy for any pieces you want to keep in peak condition. But I’ll make an exception for Olympic athletes, like swimmer Kathleen Baker, whose pearl stud earrings are her signature look. Let’s face it: There aren’t too many…
Madeleine Albright’s New Hillary Brooch?
I’ve always meant to write about Madeleine Albright’s Read My Pins book. Albright — the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State (from 1997 to 2001) — is known for cleverly matching her large collection of brooches to important occasions. The book explains that it all started in 1994, after Albright, then the…
History Is Made
I wasn’t sure I would see this in my lifetime. As a child in the 1970s, living in a part of New Jersey that somehow remained untouched by women’s lib, I couldn’t even imagine a woman becoming a nominee for president. Sure, one could TRY, but there was no way it was really going to…
Week in Review … Plus Billy, Betsy, and Qandeel
In case you missed it, here’s what was on the blog this week. Monday: The Vegas Gems at JCK. Tuesday: A lost and found ring. Wednesday: RIP, Garry Marshall and Pondering media descriptions of Meredith McIver. Thursday: One dress, three cities. Saturday: My ninth blogversary. Over on Instagram, I featured some of my gorgeous clients…
Pet Peeve: A Woman’s Work
Like many other people, I’ve been amazed and amused by the story of Melania Trump’s plagiarized speech at the Republican National Convention on Monday. Big shout-out to reporter Jarrett Hill for breaking the story of the speech’s substantial overlap with the speech Michelle Obama gave at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. (Note: Hill wasn’t one…
RIP, Garry Marshall
Late last night, Access Hollywood broke the news that director/producer Garry Marshall died of pneumonia complications following a stroke. He was 81. Embed from Getty Images Marshall directed a number of hit movies, including Pretty Woman (1990) and The Princess Diaries (2001), but before that, he was the creator of the iconic 1970s television shows…
Recommended Reading/Listening
I can’t do the lighthearted Throwback Thursday post I was planning in light of this week’s rash of killings of black men by police officers. Instead, I’ll share these links. I may add more later. Deadly Force, in Black and White (A ProPublica analysis of killings by police shows outsize risk for young black males). …
A Bit of Beauty for Istanbul
One of the jewelry designers I admire most is Sevan Biçakçi of Istanbul. In 2014, the New York Times described one of Sevan’s specialities as “dome-shaped rings that celebrate the city’s Byzantine and Ottoman heritage.” Here’s an example chosen by jewelry editor Marion Fasel as a tribute to the people who have been affected by…
RIP, Bill Cunningham
There’s no one to dress for, now that Bill Cunningham is gone. Embed from Getty Images The legendary New York Times style photographer died on Saturday, at age 87, after being hospitalized for a stroke. Though the Times sounded optimistic about a quick recovery on Thursday, when the New York Post broke the news of…