I’m extra excited to share June’s Jewel of the Month here, albeit at the last possible minute, because this is the first significant new gold design that I’ve created since 2019. Last year was a washout for jewelry design, but the pandemic wasn’t to blame. My manufacturers actually masked up and went back to work…
In the News
Remembering George Floyd, Part 1
Today, May 25, marks a year since George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis by then-cop Derek Chauvin — a death that triggered one of the largest protest movements in U.S. history under the rallying cry of “Black Lives Matter.” Memorial marches, rallies, and vigils are planned in many locations. If you’re in New York City,…
Same Time, Last Year: Braving the Outdoors
One year ago today, I ventured out of my neighborhood for the first time in six weeks. New York City had locked down for COVID-19, but I decided activism couldn’t wait any longer; I didn’t want the former guy to become a lifetime dictator with the help of a pandemic. I met up with activist…
Throwback Thursday: Tiger Morse, Vikki Dougan
I’m always fascinated by the life stories of a wide variety of women. 12th-century empress? 20th-century fashionista? They’re equally compelling to me. Today was my lucky day in the 20th-century fashionista category. I’ve been interested in 1960s fashion designer/amphetamine-queen Tiger Morse since reading the Edie Sedgwick biography Edie by Jean Stein in 1986. In December…
Abolition Now
It’s been difficult to know what to blog here, while police all over country continue committing acts of violence against Black and brown people. For 20-year-old Daunte Wright to be shot to death by a veteran cop at an unnecessary traffic stop in Brooklyn Park, Minn. — mere miles away from where Derek Chauvin is…
Trans Visibility and The Stonewall Protests
Yesterday was International Transgender Day of Visibility. In New York City, the celebration in Washington Square Park defied the persistent rain. There were impassioned speeches, songs and poems … … voguing (to Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion — yay!) … … line dancing … … and fashion. Organizers also set up a shrine to…
Jewel of the Month: Inspired by Lil Nas X
In 2019, 19-year-old rapper Lil Nas X vaulted from TikTok meme maker lauded by Justin Bieber to record-breaking mainstream success with his country-rap song “Old Town Road,” and there are so many things I love about this story. First of all, this song appealed to every age group, from toddlers to their grandparents. If you…
Throwback Thursday: Cold-Shoulder Top Has Its Moment
Ten years ago, I wore an outfit that made me look like Blanche Devereaux if she were trying to dress like a New Yorker. On casual day. That cold-shoulder turtleneck was already “old” to me at the time. I had gotten it on eBay years earlier, thinking it was going to look more punk, only…
My Best Dressed at the 2021 Grammys Is …
The winner of my Best Dressed/Wear What You Want award for the 2020 Grammys is Billy Porter and his fabulous mechanical hat! Yeah, I said 2020. I know the 2021 Grammys ceremony was on last night, and I’ll get to that eventually, but I’m a wee bit behind! There was a lot going on when…
Throwback Thursday: 32 But Looking Brand-New
I’ve been neglecting the laundry so, yesterday, I was forced to dig into the “things I never wear” layer of my dresser. When I say I never wear something, I’m not kidding, because this 32-year-old sweatshirt from my graduation from Columbia University looks brand-new! I’ve never been a fan of gray sweatshirts. They’re too drab…