Kanye West popped the question to Kim Kardashian with a 15-carat diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz. I appreciate his timing, because yesterday I launched another Instagram account — @WendyBrandesJewelry — which focuses solely on my jewelry designs and other jewelry news. No cats and dogs (you need to follow @fitzroy_the_cat for those) and no concert…
Fashion
What Wendy Wore: Patrick Kelly in Philadelphia
Next May, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is going to present a retrospective of one of my favorite ’80s fashion designers: Patrick Kelly. I have a nice little Patrick Kelly collection: The notorious and frequently worn leopard gown (seen in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011). Bow dress (seen in 2009 and 2011). Black mullet dress…
Pining for Vintage Anne Klein Boots
I’ve been looking for these vintage Anne Klein Couture boots for years, and, finally, found a pair on eBay for a “Buy It Now” price! Alas, they are a European size 38 and I’m a 36.5. I was thinking that maybe I could make them work anyway, but the heel-to-toe measurement is a full inch…
Throwback Thursday: Busy Business Lady, Busy With Business
Whenever I’m super-busy, I like to tell MrB that I’m a “busy businesswoman doing business.” That’s inspired by this Family Guy moment. I don’t have a lot of photos of me in the office during my corporate days, but I’ve dug up two. This one is from 1995, when I worked for the Wall Street…
What Wendy Wore: Madonna-Inspired for Nine Inch Nails
A few hours before the Nine Inch Nails concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Monday, I was at the gym thinking, “I guess I’ll just wear my Damien Hirst skull t-shirt and jeans AGAIN.” I wear that combination a lot. Then Madonna’s 1984 “Lucky Star” video came on the music-video station I was watching…
It’s a Suit! It’s a Gown! It’s a Suit! It’s a Gown!
Last year, I pined for a vintage trompe l’oeil Roberta di Camerino dress that looked like a green pantsuit. Now my gorgeous friend Cherie of Shrimpton Couture has an even more desirable version in red. So highlarious. Argh! I want it.
I Love My Peeps
I’m trying to clean up my computer desktop, which is almost as messy as my real desktop, and that’s saying a lot. I just like to keep files there (on the computer) for easy access. Screencaps are among the things that pile up. I laughed out loud when I saw this screencapped tweet from gorgeous…
Jewels of the Month: Skulls, a Heart & Other Doctor-Worthy Studs
I just can’t stop adding stud earring designs to my WENDYB by Wendy Brandes line! Last week, I introduced my Heisenberg hat stud in honor of Breaking Bad‘s finale. Now, in time for Halloween, I’ve got a miniaturized earring version of the skull design that first appeared in my Juana peekaboo skull ring and Juana…
Throwback Thursday Gladiators, Plus More Miley & Madonna
In 2008, I got a pair of white wedge gladiator sandals by Jil Sander, inspired by my fond memories of the flat white gladiators I wore in 1985. I searched for photos of the original sandals but didn’t find any … until now! Here are the sandals sitting next to me on the beach. I…
What Wendy Wore: Visiting Chicago
Last week, I went to Chicago to see my designing friend Stacy Lomman‘s collection presented on the runway for the Gold Coast Fashion Award Show for the second year in a row. More than 1,000 people attend the event, which is a fundraiser for the Children’s Service Board, an affiliated organization of the Anne &…









