Sheila Michaels — the woman responsible for popularizing the honoric “Ms.” as a substitute for “Mrs.” or Miss” — died last month of leukemia at age 78. As her New York Times obituary by Margalit Fox notes, Michaels didn’t invent “Ms.,” nor did she claim to. The abbreviation appeared in a Massachusetts newspaper in 1901,…
The Week in Review
In case you missed it, here’s what was on the blog this week. Monday, July 3: Sailor outfit by JC de Castelbajac. Tuesday, July 4: Proof that I do wear the sailor outfit on boats. Thursday, July 6: Independence Day included a corn dog for me. Friday, July 7: The Handmaid’s Tale offers insight into…
The Handmaid’s Tale and American Slavery
I’m normally quite negligent when it comes to watching newsworthy, high-quality television shows. I’m sure I’ll end up consuming Orange Is the New Black the same way I did Breaking Bad and Mad Men, belatedly cramming in every episode right before the series ends. However, the current political climate inspired me to keep up with…
Independence Day Goal Achieved
For the 4th of July, I packed up my Independence Day outfit, got out of town, and ate my first corn dog. This came about because my gorgeous sister, Terri Berry, and her family just moved to Indiana. When I realized they would be there for the holiday, my immediate thought was, “I bet that’s…
Holiday Video: Happy 4th of July!
You saw my special Independence Day outfit in yesterday’s post — now you can watch a video to see what else I have to say about this look. As I mention in the video, it does amuse me to wear this outfit for little boat trips and there’s proof of that here. Have a happy…
What Wendy Wore: Sailor Suit by Castelbajac
The 4th of July holiday means it is time to get out my JC de Castelbajac sailor outfit! What Wendy Wore Top: Castelbajac (2010) Pants: Castelbajac (2010) Shoes: Terry de Havilland (made in 2004, acquired in 2012) It’s a tradition! Oops! I almost forgot last year’s outing. In all this time, I’m pretty sure I’ve never…
The Week in Review
In case you missed it, here’s what was on the blog this week. Monday, June 26: RIP, style icon Anita Pallenberg. Tuesday, June 27: One last, crazy purchase from Allan & Suzi. Wednesday, June 28: “New With Tags” means I can gloat over the original price of my puffy Giambattista Valli jacket. Friday, June 30:…
RIP, French Feminist Icon Simone Veil
Simone Veil, an Auschwitz survivor who became a lawyer and then a much-admired feminist politician in France, died yesterday at the age of 89. Embed from Getty Images As France’s health minister in the 1970s, she pushed through laws that lifted restrictions on contraception and legalized abortion. During the National Assembly’s debate over abortion, “phrases…
Flashback Friday: Pearls From the Past
The last day of June is a good excuse for one more post about the month’s birthstone, the pearl. I made this one-of-a-kind pair of pearl earrings in 2008. The pearls are set in 18K yellow gold and accented by 83 points of black diamonds (there are 100 points in a carat). It’s a much…
Wednesday’s Video: Vintage Clothing FAQ, Part 3
Today’s YouTube video is the third in my FAQ series about vintage clothing. This one is for people who feel there’s an ick factor to buying from a store or site that specializes in secondhand clothing. Guess what? Not everything is necessarily used. You can often find unworn clothes at self-described vintage, thrift, or consignment…