In a 2008 post about gladiator sandals, I wrote: “I’ve loved this style since 1985, when I had a pair of flat white gladiators. I felt so chic when I wore them with my Guess ankle-zip jeans and oversize blouse! I’ve been searching for a photo that shows me wearing those shoes for a while…
80s style
Foot Fetish: 1980s Booties and Boot Styles
There hasn’t been a shoe that’s interested me in quite a while, but this Dior caught my eye because it reminds me of a Peter Fox style I had in the 1980s. You can just barely make out those Peter Fox shoes against my crazy striped tights in this poorly lit photo from 1986. Madonna…
What Wendy Didn’t Wear: Patrick Kelly Mini Dress
For last week’s video on the late designer Patrick Kelly, I wore a Kelly dress that I’ve never worn out in the real world. Can you guess why this one stays in the closet? What Wendy Didn’t Wear Dress: Vintage Patrick Kelly (probably from eBay, maybe purchased around 2008?) Boots: Prada (2012-ish) If you truly…
Wednesday’s Video: All About Patrick Kelly
I’ve been wanting to do a video about the late fashion designer Patrick Kelly since I started doing YouTube videos in 2017. I did one about my favorite vintage designer, Ossie Clark, right away, but I postponed Patrick because I felt that the video wouldn’t be perfect without great new photos of every Patrick Kelly…
Fashion Repeats Itself: Saint Laurent Lights Up
The 1980s were a decade of DayGlo, and I’ve never lost my love for neon colors. Those hot ’80s hues were inspired by 1960s fashions. I spoke about that with some experts when I wrote about neon for the Huffington Post in 2012: “Ingrid Johnson, professor of textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute…
Wednesday’s Video: Vintage Clothing FAQ, Part 5
Last year, I did four FAQ videos about vintage clothes. If you missed them, check ’em out now! Vintage clothing FAQ, part 1: Cleaning, storing, collecting. Vintage clothing FAQ, part 2: Vintage sizing and alterations. Vintage clothing FAQ, part 3: “New with tags” and other ways to find unworn vintage. Vintage clothing FAQ, part 4:…
Out With the Old-Old Haring Kicks, In With the New-Old
My old Reebok x Keith Haring sneakers — which were in dire shape to begin with — were beyond repair after I sloshed through a torrential rainstorm recently. So … out with the old-old and in with the new-old! I’m happy that I accidentally got two pairs of these in 2013 when these first came…
Thirty-Five Years of Madonna Fandom
On July 27, 1983 — 35 years ago today — Madonna’s self-titled debut album was released, and I became an instant fan. I have a big video about Madonna that I’ll post next month, but to celebrate the album anniversary, here’s a little teaser in which I talk about choosing a Madonna concert over my…
Byron Lars and My Met Gala Dream Look
My designing friend Stacy Lomman teaches at the famous Fashion Institute of Technology, her own alma mater. Every year, during the final semester for graduating students, the school brings in designers to mentor the students as they work on their final projects in the categories of intimate apparel, special occasion, knitwear, children’s wear, and sportswear….
A Fashion Playlist for My First YouTube-a-Versary
I’ve had my Wendy Brandes Jewelry YouTube channel up and running for one year, as of last Thursday! To celebrate, I’m putting together some playlists for you for the next couple of weeks. First up is the best of my fashion-related videos. In these, I explain “slow fashion” and “homegrown vintage”; talk about my earliest…