FitzRoy (or Fitzroy) is an Anglo-Norman name that means “son of the king.” Several English monarchs gave it as a surname to their illegitimate children. Henry VIII’s only acknowledged illegitimate child — his son with Bessie Blount — was named Henry FitzRoy. As I’ve said before, I named Henry the dog after Henry VIII because…
Jewel of the Month: Mindy’s Redesigned Engagement Ring
April’s birthstone is a diamond, so my Jewel of the Month is a redesigned diamond engagement ring. I met gorgeous client Mindy through my equally gorgeous friend Tina during Tina’s birthday festivities in Las Vegas. Mindy was wearing her wedding band, but not her engagement ring. Because we were in Vegas, I was hoping Mindy…
Dick Clark, Madonna and My 1980s Jewelry
Dick Clark — the host of American Bandstand and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve — died yesterday at age 82. You’ve probably seen his famous Bandstand chat with Madonna a thousand times in the past 24 hours, but I’m going to link to the clip again anyway. I was glued to the television when this originally…
Henry and Gigi Get Baths and Possibly a Cat Friend
The air quality in the apartment has improved now that Henry and Gigi have had much-needed baths. They also got haircuts and ribbons. Henry’s ribbons are a very masculine baby blue. I wonder what the plumber would say? The more exciting pet news is that the dogs might be getting a feline companion. The desire…
“Fashions Fade, Style Is Eternal” — Yves Saint Laurent
I think this top and skirt by Yves Saint Laurent will be forever stylish. Do you agree?
What Wendy Wore: Stacy Lomman Dress, Vintage Coat
MrB and I went to a preview of the musical Leap of Faith on Broadway last week. The play is based on a 1992 movie, starring Steve Martin, about a con artist posing as a faith healer. In the play, the sex-ay Raúl Esparza plays phony preacher Jonas Nightingale, who travels from town to town…
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Forgot to Call Me
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are engaged! I’ve never met Angelina or Brad — though I did once stand kind of near him when he was still married to Jennifer Aniston. Still, I’m all like, “Brangelina, Y U NO call me to make your engagement ring? Is it because I made fun of Angie’s leg?…
Wendy Brandes Jewelry in ELLE Taiwan
A big thank you goes out to the accessory editors at ELLE Taiwan for featuring my Marie Antoinette ring and Gloriana necklace in the March 2012 issue. I even got a little blurb mentioning my Fashion Group International Rising Star Award. If anyone can translate the rest of it for me, I’d be most appreciative!
Stylish Hillary Clinton, Moving at the Speed of Light
Forget about the wrinkly elbows. Realizing I had missed last week’s hot new Internet meme/website made me feel old and out of touch. The fact that I only learned of it today by reading the quaint paper version of the New York Times pegs me as ancient. (Damn! When have I ever needed to learn…
When Fashion Goes Right
When fashion works, you feel transformed: The LOLcat image is from I Can Has Cheezburger. Since the Wall Street Journal wrote about the original LOLcat site in 2007, Cheezburger has grown into what the New York Times called a “web empire.” One of my favorite Cheezburger-owned sites is This is Photobomb. Gorgeous blogger Jennine of…