I love this scene from The Sopranos. Tony and his murderous mother Livia are fighting about her future, including the dispensation of her good jewelry. My Livia Poison Ring wasn’t inspired by Livia Soprano, though I’m sure she would have found it useful. Livia Poison Ring in 18K yellow gold and diamonds© Wendy Brandes 2007-2008Photo…
queens
Book Club: Shopping Under the Influence
I was determined to get back into my royal lady book posts today, but I seem to have misplaced the Empress Wu novel that I was working on. Plus, I’m feeling a bit flu-ish, which has sapped me of the energy necessary to tear through the house on a mad search for Empress Wu, especially…
I Will Have Crazy Traffic After This Post*
Holy Coco’s ass, people! You’ve come to the right place if you want to learn how to dress your Chinese dog like Ian Curtis in Kova & T latex leggings, Kanye West sunglasses, and an Anne Boleyn necklace. However, I cannot confirm whether Kelly Valen wears J. Crew sweaters. *Dedicated to my most popular search…
Thursday Book Club: Empress Wu, Part I
First, my apologies to any reader who has recently visited this blog in search of Henry teh 8, caught up on teh Henry posts, and is now anxiously awaiting a post on Katherine Howard, teh fifth wife of Henry teh 8. I am postponing teh post on her once again, while I reread one of…
More Shoes in the News
While in L.A., I found these Pierre Hardy shoes on sale at Neiman Marcus. Festive! A 37 was too small. A 38 was too big. Apparently, one 37.5 exists in the universe and the store is sending it to me. I’m very particular about how shoes fit, so I suspect I will be returning this…
Thursday Book Club: Stop That! Stop That!
If you seen the Monty Python musical Spamalot, you’ll know there’s a character who yells, “Stop that! Stop that! Stop it! No more bloody singing!” If you haven’t seen the play, well…I just told you what the line was, so now you know! I wouldn’t want anyone to feel left out. Spamalot is based on…
Thursday Book Club: Caroline Mathilde
Ah, the double standard. When kings fool around, all is right in the world. When queens fool around, it’s treason. Why treason? Because if a queen gets pregnant by a man who is not her husband, a child who is not of pure royal blood could wind up on the throne. In effect, that partly…
Dressing for All the King’s Men
A few months ago, my husband talked me into buying a vintage Herve Leger bandage dress. I wore it for the first time this weekend. I can carry off tight. I can even carry off short. But short and tight? I felt like a hoor, as they would say on The Sopranos. Or mutton dressed…
Where Be Your Gibes Now?
My friend Stef alerted me to this post by Watchismo with pictures of an elaborate skull watch that was made for Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th century. You must take a look! The site also has great pictures of an 1810 skull pocket watch and a 1610 skull clock. Stef lives in Los…
Thursday Book Club: Anne of Cleves
I am going to prove to you that Anne of Cleves was a damn genius. Anne was the fourth wife of Henry VIII, or Henry teh 8, as we’ve come to know him. Did you know that in the ’60s, the English group Herman’s Hermits had a hit song called, “I’m Henry the 8th, I…