I didn’t watch last night’s Emmys live, because I was at a concert. I sure didn’t miss anything fashion-wise. I thought last year’s Emmys were uninspiring from a style perspective, but this year was even worse. There was exactly one gown that I would want to wear myself: Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery’s red-and-burgundy Prada….
The Week in Review
Welcome to autumn! In case you missed it, here’s what was on the blog during our last week of summer: Monday: End of summer dressing. Tuesday: Women on the cover of Rolling Stone. Wednesday: Vintage Stephen Sprouse. Thursday: Remembering Parachute, with a photo from 1986.
Throwback Thursday: My Parachute Vest From 1986
With ’80s designer clothing on my mind after yesterday’s post, I figured this was a good day to share a photo from the July 4th holiday in 1986, during which the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty was celebrated. As I recall, my family’s initial reaction to the plans for the huge celebration was…
Browsing Vintage Stephen Sprouse
If I had a zillion dollars, I’d add these two pieces to my Stephen Sprouse collection. I love neon, leopard and Sprouse, so a neon leopard coat by Sprouse blows my mind. And I’ve always pined for the original Keith Haring skirt that Madonna wore in her “Borderline” video, but I guess I would settle…
Pop Divas and Rolling Stone
Clicking around the Interwebs, as one does, I came across an old Rolling Stone magazine slideshow of its “pop diva” covers. The 29 images include the iconic Britney Spears and Janet Jackson covers, of course. Mariah Carey’s cover might be the best she’s ever looked. One of my favorites is this playful 1989 Herb Ritts…
What Wendy Wore: End of Summer Dressing
My designing friend Zang Toi showed his Spring 2014 “Ballet Babe” collection at Lincoln Center last week. A real ballet babe — American Ballet Theatre principal Cory Stearns — got the show started. Here’s the final walk of the show, followed by Zang’s bow. (You can hear the couple sitting to my left discussing which…
Recommended Reading and the Week in Review
Random reading recommendation: This investigative series by Megan Twohey for Reuters exposing the underground market for foreign-born adoptees is extraordinary. On a less serious note, here’s what was on the blog this week: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013: Leave Paul McCartney alone! Monday: Trying to dress ’80s for Depeche Mode. Tuesday: September’s Jewel of the Month….
Boots for Fall: Daisies and Spikes
I got a pair of short, low-heeled boots in Paris this summer — a “Never Is the Next New Thing™” purchase for me — and now there are more decorated versions of the style catching my eye. These $650 daisy-adorned boots by Red Valentino in the Bergdorf Goodman catalog are tough but sweet. I’m amused…
What Wendy Wore: Mermaid Style by Zang Toi
My designing friend Zang Toi moved into a gorgeous new showroom space in New York City and he had a post-New York Fashion Week party to celebrate. Earlier in the summer, Zang had convinced me to try on an emerald-green, paillette-covered, high/low mermaid skirt that he had saved from his Spring 2004 collection. I was…
Wendy Brandes Jewelry in Jeweller Magazine
I got a nice mention in the September issue of Jeweller Magazine, a jewelry trade magazine for Australia and New Zealand. The story by India Nicholson is about jewelry with secret compartments; it really gets into the history of this type of design: I was pleased to see a mention of a locket ring owned…