Wendy Brandes Jewelry

Notice

2009-06-17T13:55:00.005-04:00

I'm shutting down comments for a short while I work on migrating my redesigned blog to its new home. Bear with me! If you're bored, come say hello to me on my Francis blog.

Obsessed

2009-06-17T09:30:00.000-04:00

This "artist's jacket" by Karim Bonnet for Impasse de la Defense would be mine...

... except it's probably too similar to my painted jacket by Steve J & Yoni P. Right?

If you want to get the artist's jacket so I can live vicariously through you, it's available at ShopCurious for £110.00.

For more jacket news, see my other blog.

Sweet Sourdough and Bloggy Love

2009-06-16T00:01:00.001-04:00

Gorgeous blogger Annie Wilson of Poetic & Chic recently launched a business called Sourdough, which sells beautiful accessories handmade from vintage barkcloth through an Etsy shop. Annie sent me a Sleepytime Eye Mask in Scarlet Scroll. The mask is filled with lavender to help banish insomnia.

Sleepytime Eye Mask
Click photo to buy on Etsy.

It really does help when I commit to using it. The only problem is that I find it hard to give up my usual nighttime routine in order to sleep. A New York Times interview with cartoonist Roz Chast on Sunday made me realize that Chast is one of my proliferating soulmates. Chast said:

"I kind of tend to stay up late just about every night, anywhere from 12:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. I putter. I nurse old grudges. I fold origami while nursing old grudges. I think about the past. I wonder if there’s any grudges I should start."

Yep, that pretty much sums what I'm up to when I'm not commenting on your blogs during the wee hours.

I was going to take a picture of myself wearing the mask, but I couldn't resist the urge to photograph a barkcloth product on the dogs. I hope Annie forgives me eventually. Frankly, the photography session didn't go very well. Every time I placed the mask on Henry, he got up and strolled off. I managed to pose the mask near Gigi.

Gigi and the beautiful eye mask.

Unfortunately, when I tried to put the mask over Gigi's eyes, she growled ... very quietly. What is the world coming to when dogs don't appreciate a fragrant barkcloth product? Jebus. Usually Gigi only growls at my mother. But thanks again to Annie for sending me her gorgeous work. I recommend that you all check out her shop and refrain from putting any of her pieces on easily irritated animals.

I'd also like to thank Annie for vowing not to blog about last night's CFDA awards. As I was reading the CFDA real-time tweets yesterday, I was thinking how much I dreaded reading about the event on, oh, three million blogs today. It's not that I don't want to know about the awards. It's just that I hate post-event blogging overload, where you can't escape the coverage and after the first 1,000 posts on the topic it starts to seem like no one has anything new to say. So thanks to anyone who is not writing about it, including:

Of course, now that I am saying this, I am a little embarrassed that I will be mentioning a past CFDA award on my Francis blog later this week. Stay tuned for that.

While I'm handing out all the appreciation, I should thank the bloggers who mentioned me yesterday. Three in one day! I was so proud.

The Swelle Life, who was inspired to dig up some wonderful Rossy de Palma photos.
Daddy Likey, who always makes my day when she includes me in Blogback Mountain.
7x7, who enjoyed my recent rant.

I think there was someone else, too, who reminded me of my love for clown collars. Identify yourself, woman!

Good Squirrel/Bad Squirrel

2009-06-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

A good squirrel is one you can wear around your neck.

WendyB's haiku-inspiring silver Squirrel Necklace is available for $125
Click photo to purchase

A bad squirrel is one that invades my personal space while I am sitting outside minding my own damn business.

"This squirrel is a little closer than normal."

"Uh-oh, he sees me."

"That is close enough, buddy."

"RUN AWAY!"

As always, don't forget to check out my other blog. There was a new blog post today, and if you don't read it, I'll tell the rabid squirrel where you live. I still have your address from when I egged your house. Yeah, I'm playing hardball. I'm not ashamed.

UPDATED TO ADD: Note the horrible bald patches on the squirrel in the last photo. Also, I was not zooming in! He was really that close. Him and his mange.

Sale Item of the Day

2009-06-13T00:58:00.000-04:00

I'm loving this green leather jacket by Peter Som. It's at Neiman Marcus for $558, down from $1,595. Click the picture to go to the site.

The latest post on my Francis blog also has a jacket on sale, so check that out if you haven't done so already.

Leader of the Pack

2009-06-12T00:01:00.001-04:00

I was amused by yesterday's New York Times article about how round sunglasses are the hot look this summer. Here's how it starts:

"Was it only last year that round sunglasses were considered square?

The hot eyewear look of 2008 was pretty much defined by plastic Wayfarer knockoffs, garish neon trapezoids often seen color-coordinated with a plaid shirt and sneakers. Or else it was 'shutter shades,' those ventilated blinders popularized by Kanye West."

Alrighty then! Here's a photo of me from March 2008. Click it to go to my original post.

The Times also said, "When Proenza Schouler introduced round sunglasses in spring 2008, the designers were actually so far ahead of the trend that they were at a disadvantage." It's true. Early birds have it rough. I only managed to get the glasses I wore in the picture thanks to my friend Evan Ross, owner of the vintage store Frock, who tracked them down for me a couple of years ago. No one was making what I was looking for at the time. Now I'm interested in a new sunglasses shape for this summer. I can't find it anywhere so far, which, I guess, means that next year I'll find it everywhere!

This is exactly why I started designing my own jewelry: I could never find what I wanted when I wanted it. Maybe a sunglasses line is next for me!

Speaking of people catching up to my fashion sense, I was equally amused by WWD's piece on the popularity of Lanvin's blue, leopard-print dresses. If you're on my blog roll and wrote anything about the Golden Globes, chances are good that you, like Mahalo Fashion, have a comment from me that expresses my love for Maggie Gyllenhaal's Lanvin. MaggieG and Marisa Tomei were the standouts of the night to me, and I didn't hesitate to say so, unlike some less adventurous souls who dithered over the print and the bow.

I called it!

Of course, I've always been a big fan of leopard, no matter what other people might think of it.

Oh, and here's one more way I'm ahead of my time. I'm a designer who blogs for another designer! Who's ever done that before? No one, that's who! If you haven't checked out my new blog, it's right here. Another thing you don't want to miss out on is a great shopping opportunity for blog roll bitches ONLY. If you're my bitch, email me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com for more information.

Look Over There!

2009-06-11T00:12:00.000-04:00

I'm not really here today, I'm at my Francis blog. But I want to thank gorgeous blogger Belle de Ville of Beverly Hills Branchee for the fabulous post about the new blog (and for reminding me to add her to my blog roll). If any of you other gorgeous bloggers post about Francis, let me know so I can give you a shout-out in return.

Speaking of bloggers, I have an amazing shopping opportunity for blog roll bitches ONLY. Want to know more? Holla at me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com and be sure to mention the name of your blog.

The One Where I Get a Hand Job

2009-06-10T00:01:00.006-04:00

I had to have minor surgery on my left hand to remove a weird bump. The bump was near my middle finger, but the doctor says it should not affect my ability to flip people off.

Things are not as bad as they appear.

I wrote a few posts in advance so blogging won't be too slowed down, but I might not be commenting on your blogs as much as usual for a couple of days. To console you, I was going to provide a musical interlude featuring Eric "Slow Hand" Clapton but I decided this was so much more fabulous ... ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty!

Tomorrow's post will be on my new blog instead of here.

Sunday Styles Strikes Again

2009-06-09T09:30:00.003-04:00

You'd think that after this recent post, I would have stopped reading the non-fashion articles in the Sunday Styles section of the New York Times. I know I should avoid exposure to quotes from incredibly annoying people, but I still couldn't resist last Sunday's section.

The latest irksome article, about abandoned blogs, was called Blogs Falling in an Empty Forest. According to the piece, Technorati statistics indicate that 95% of blogs die a quiet death, though over what time period it doesn't say. The story mentions people who lose interest in their blogs (nice shout out to our young friend Stephanie of the now-defunct Fashion Robot), people who regret being personally revealing, and people who don't make as much money from their blogs as they'd hoped. Those were all okay with me. What drove me crazy was the first example: the blogger who got no comments. Here's what the Times said:

"'Hi, I’m Judy Nichols. Welcome to my rant.'

Thus was born Rantings of a Crazed Soccer Mom, the blog of a stay-at-home mother and murder-mystery writer from Wilmington, N.C. Mrs. Nichols, 52, put up her first post in late 2004, serving up a litany of gripes about the Bush administration and people who thought they had 'a monopoly on morality.' After urging her readers to vote for John Kerry, she closed with a flourish: 'Practice compassionate regime change.'
The post generated no comments."

I don't know what kind of effort Judy Nichols put into promoting her blog and interacting with other bloggers, but the story gives no evidence of any and the reporter seems as baffled as Nichols by her lack of response. "I just wanted to post something interesting and get people talking, but mostly it was just my sister commenting," Nichols told the Times. Well, maybe she should have reached out to enough friends, acquaintances and colleagues to have them among her commenters, though as everyone on MY blog roll knows, the key thing is really reaching out to fellow bloggers.

The following rant is not addressed to my super-cool, interactive blog roll bitches but to bratty "bloggers" moping over their lack of comments/fame/fortune/whatever: Guess what, folks! As I mentioned here, the world does not revolve around you. It revolves around Oprah. So, unless you're Oprah, you can't start a blog, sit on your lazy ass and expect the world to "beat a path to [your] digital door," as the Times put it. Not only do you have to let people know of your online existence in the first place -- because it's not like millions of people suddenly say, "Eureka! I sense a new blog out there!" -- but you also have to give some attention in order to get some back. In other words, if you don't ever comment on my blog, don't expect me to comment on yours. Moreover, if I have the misfortune to stumble across your blog and find a whiny post saying, "Maybe I should shut down this blog because I don't have any comments," I will egg your house. Don't ask me how I will find your house. I just will.

GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASS!
Photo source is here

You all know I'm not shy about reaching out to readers and guess what? There's a new post on my Francis blog today. Click here to check it out. We're still tinkering with the registration system for comments. I'm trying to make it user-friendly to log in while keeping anonymous comments out, and WordPress is making that difficult. I hope y'all don't have trouble. Please let me know if you do and, if so, where it seems to go wrong. And if you have any technical insight into what would work better, holla at me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com.

Where's the Beef?

2009-06-08T01:04:00.001-04:00

I grew up with Heinz Ketchup commercials that used Carly Simon's song Anticipation to make the point that the ketchup was so thick and rich that it came out of the bottle very slowly.

Times have changed. Last night, while out at dinner with my gorgeous friends Jen, Kevin, Alyssa, and Amanda, I became distracted for a split second while holding a miniature Heinz bottle over my burger. This was the result.

Anticipation? Not really. More like premature ejaculation! My photo reminds me of a different commercial -- for the fast food chain appropriately named Wendy's.

Ironically, the thing that distracted me from my ketchup pouring was the fact that Amanda was commenting unfavorably on the bun to beef ratio of our burgers. She made up for it by sharing her fries. I certainly had enough ketchup for them!

Don't forget to check out my new blog!

This Post Is Not for the Sensitive

2009-06-06T00:05:00.003-04:00

Last week, I went to see "Whole in the Wall," an exhibit of graffiti art at the Helenbeck Gallery, accompanied by my designing friend, Christian Francis Roth, and my gorgeous, non-designer friend, Maggie Kneip. I wrote more about the show on my brand-new Francis blog today. Click here to check that out. As a bonus, you can also check out my new dress (from Christian's Francis line), new shoes (Manolos, just like Princess Poochie's) and new hair (courtesy of Keith Carpenter).

While I was at the gallery, I took a picture of this sign by the elevator. I was amused by the warning at the bottom.

I thought of the sign while reading a story about Disney's The Princess and the Frog movie in the New York Times Sunday Styles section a few days after the show. I think photographer Bill Cunningham is the only reason I even bother with that section anymore. The rest of the pages are exploding with craziness. (For previous instances of Sunday Styles insanity, click here and here.) The Princess and the Frog doesn't come out till the end of the year, and it is Disney's first movie with a black princess. Woot! But the article was about how some people are claiming the movie is racist sight unseen, based on photos of Disney merchandise taken from a toy industry event and a one-minute trailer. Shit like this is why I have an issue with people. Really, how can you form an opinion -- and worse, share it -- based on practically nothing? The Times points out that, "Few people outside the company have seen footage of the movie." Among those who have? Members of the NAACP ... and Oprah. OPRAH, bitches! In Oprah we trust. That's what it should say on U.S. currency. (Neither the NAACP nor Oprah commented for the Times story but Oprah voices the princess's mother, so I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that she's cool with things.)

Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog
Photo from Walt Disney Pictures, via the New York Times

My favorite part of the story -- and by "favorite," I mean the part that made me most want to slap a fool -- was a quote from former Charlotte Observer columnist William Blackburn, who last year told a U.K. paper, "Disney should be ashamed ... this princess story is set in New Orleans, the setting of one of the most devastating tragedies to beset a black community." WTF, Bill! The movie is set in the '20s against the Big Easy's blazing jazz scene. I don't understand why we should erase memories of the cultural importance of New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina. It's the other way around! We should revel in its history. (Here's the original, full quote from Bill B. What does he have against alligators? Gator hater! As my gorgeous stepdaughter points out, "The Little Mermaid had a flounder and a crab ... Disney always takes random shit and makes it talk.")

I was relieved that the last paragraph of the Times story was a quote from a voice of reason. Floyd Norman, who is African-American and a former Disney animator, wrote this in a 2007 essay Jim Hill Media: "Overly sensitive people see racial or ethnic slights in every image. And in their zeal to sanitize and pasteurize everything, they've taken all the fun out of cartoon making." You tell them, Floyd!

I'm not even going to get into the other foolio story on celebrity weight in Sunday Styles that day, except to state that if Kirstie Alley wants to say that she feels unhappy about weighing 228 pounds, she should not have to censor herself for fear that a random 228-pound lady whom Kirstie doesn't even know will then feel bad about her weight. Jebus, people! The world doesn't revolve around you. It revolves around Oprah! Deal with it.

Whole in the Wall runs through June 27 in NYC. Click here for more info.
The Princess and the Frog opens in New York and Los Angeles on November 25, and in theaters everywhere on December 11.

...And don't forget to check out MY NEW BLOG!

Francis + WendyB = Fun

2009-06-04T23:11:00.002-04:00

Today's your lucky day, bitches, because there is going to be more of WendyB online to love. In addition to writing this blog, I'm going to be blogging for my designing friend Christian Francis Roth's Francis clothing line here. As you might have noticed, I'm very enthusiastic about Christian's line and I've posted about it often. Meanwhile, poor Christian was going through life blogless. Imagine! BLOGLESS! The horror! I realized I was the perfect person to save him from this horrible life of bloglessness and gave myself the job. Then I bragged to him about how lucky he was to have me, gave myself the title of Commander-in-Chief of Francis, and stole all the petty cash from his desk drawer to buy myself celebratory drinks. I'm pretty sure the tears I see Christian crying are tears of joy. But if they're not, so what? As long as I'm happy.

This is the first picture Christian and I took together.
Note that I'm being normal and he is goofing around.
This is typical.

I know change is scary -- well, it is for me, because I'm not well adjusted -- but I promise you this won't be too bad. On this blog, I'll still write about my jewelry designs, fashion, royal ladies, books, dogs, Coco and shit that annoys me. I'll also write about my other favorite fashion designers, including Zang Toi, Ossie Clark and Prada, here. And I will continue to swear a lot.

Empress Wu has always been one of my favorite royal ladies.
Probably because she is the one most likely to kill a bitch.

Over at the Francis blog, my posts will be more focused on the clothing line, but I will also take you behind the scenes at the studio and for walks around the 'hood. You'll get to know Christian and the people who work with him. You'll even meet their pets. Of course, you'll get get sneak peeks of new designs and find out what inspired the clothes. And I'm planning giveaways, special sales and other events that will help you spruce up your wardrobe. There will, however, be less swearing on the new blog. Maybe. I can't make any fucking promises. Also, my vague plan is to post "a couple of times a week." That was my original intention for this blog, too, and I ended up posting every day for over a year. So who knows?

Christian before his runway show last September.
I wish I could get my legs as smooth and hairless as his head.

If you're on my blog roll here, you will notice that you are automatically on the Francis blog roll. I told you it was your lucky day! If you link back to Francis, you will be my new BFF. If you don't link back to Francis, I will shake my fist at the sky and say something ominous that includes the phrase, "As God is my witness!" Keep that in mind.

It will be just like this, without the food poisoning and messy hair.

If you are on neither this blog roll nor the Francis blog roll and feel like you should be because you're a regular commenter or plan to be one, let me know by emailing me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com.

One bit of history that makes this new online venture so appropriate is that Christian and I met through this blog. Click here to read how that came about. Then we collaborated on some awesome jewelry, which you are going to be able to buy online very soon. Everything is coming together.

I'm modeling the swear rings we designed together.
We took a second picture where he's giving y'all the finger but I can't find that fucker.

And now for your new favorite links:

Click HERE for the Francis blog.
Click HERE to follow Francis on Twitter.

See ya there!

Balmain for Eight Crazy Nights

2009-06-04T10:12:00.001-04:00

When I first glimpsed this studded Balmain tank top in Bergdorf Goodman, I thought it had a menorah on it.

Furtive cell phone photo

Now I can't get this Adam Sandler song out of my head.

That song is really very educational. I like that David Lee Roth is first on Sandler's list of menorah-lighting Jews. Many years ago, I had a fun night out on the town with Diamond Dave after meeting him at a strip club. I wasn't working there, fools! My friend Dave (another Dave) and I were there getting lap dances. Duh! Anyway, Roth was very smart and funny. I'd hang out with him in a topless joint any time. Call me, Diamond Dave!

What Really Grinds My Gears

2009-06-02T21:47:00.007-04:00

I've mentioned my love for the animated series Family Guy before. On one episode, Peter Griffin gets his own segment on the local news called "What Really Grinds My Gears." Take a look.

The incest/period portion of that clip isn't relevant to my post today. I don't even have a brother, for God's sake! You people and your perverted minds. I love you anyway. But I'll tell you what really grinds my gears. A designer named Pam Hogg. She specializes in designing shiny catsuits best worn by pop stars and celebrity spawn.

Image from Stylefrizz

You regular gals who don't want to look like C-3PO on the stroll can get the more conservative dress version of the look for 795 pounds at Browns.

Click the photo for more info

The mere existence of this stuff doesn't grind my gears. What bothers me is that gorgeous blogger and fashion adventurer Susie Bubble boldly modeled some of the Hogg catsuits for a fun post -- only to have Hogg's people complain that it was "bad publicity." Susie, being the nice person that she is, took the original post down. I, being the bitch that I am, say, "Welcome to the world of bad publicity, Pam Hogg!"

I also want to say to you peeps that there are a lot of designers who are thrilled by your enthusiasm for their work. I am always honored when customers or admirers post photos of my jewelry. I started a fan page on Facebook just to share those pictures. Basically as long as you're not stealing my designs -- or making off with one of my rings (that can only be forgiven once, Britney) -- take as many pictures as you like and let the world know how awesome I am! I know my designing friends Christian Francis Roth and Zang Toi feel the same way. So if you're going to spend your money, spend it with those of us who appreciate your fine asses! Do we have a deal? I think we have a deal! Just don't buy stuff, wear it and return it. Now THAT will piss me off.

UPDATED TO ADD: Racked.com posted on the topic with two of Susie's photos. Susie looks like a beautiful robot, no? My robotic Hogan shoes would complete the look.

Photo from Stylebubble via Racked

I'm Fairy Jealous

2009-06-01T16:30:00.000-04:00

I'm still in love with my Prada Fairy bag from last year.

Holding the bag in 2008

Naturally, Henry the dog posed with it when I first got it.

Henry doing his job

I even admired some Fairy wedges in Prada's window.

Seen in April 2008

But I will still unprepared for the beauty of the Fairy platform heels recently worn by gorgeous blogger Thumbelina Fashionista. I'm so jealous.

Thumbelina's pretty feet

The rest of Thumbelina looks spectacular too, but I've grown accustomed to that.

Prada With Pooch

2009-05-30T19:17:00.005-04:00

My gorgeous friend, jewelry designer Tina Tang, emailed me to say that my Prada handbag addiction has rubbed off on her. Naturally, I instructed her to take a picture of her new purse with one of her dogs. Why? It's a WendyB tradition! The only thing better than a new handbag is a new handbag with an attractive canine companion. Here's Bruno.

Bruno with Tina's purse

Bruno may look like a pit bull to you, but Tina describes him as "an Italian from Queens."

East Coast Ass Flowers

2009-05-29T01:13:00.002-04:00

The Metropolitan Museum of Art held its 2009 Corporate Benefit on Wednesday night. The honorees were Michael J. Kowalksi, chairman and chief executive of some non-WendyB jewelry place, and my dear friend, Ambassador Carl Spielvogel. (Carl is married to the gorgeous Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, previously mentioned here.) I wore the beautiful Zang Toi gown that I wore in February to the Vanity Fair Oscar party. I figured that the East Coast needed to see the ass-flower gown; the West Coast can't have all the fun!

Before heading out

We got to view the new American Wing, which was recently reopened with Michelle Obama there to cut the ribbon. At dinner, I had a lovely time talking to my tablemate, Ralph Appelbaum, who designs (non-art) museums, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and the Planetarium here in New York.

Ass flowers at the museum

MrB and his new pet

I loved that the charming security guard we met on the way out was named Aramis, after one of the three Musketeers.

Aramis kindly posed for a picture

Congratulations again to Ambassador Spielvogel!

UPDATED TO ADD: For those who were wondering, I was wearing the gold Louis Vuitton shoes that Jennine modeled in this post.

Everyone Complains About the Weather

2009-05-27T17:15:00.002-04:00

It started out cloudy and cool today, but now I see the sun peeking out. Confusing. So, before I go out this evening, I will check The Fucking Weather for the latest forecast. My gorgeous blogging friend Tina pointed out this bit of highlariousness to me. When I checked a few minutes ago, the site said it was 63 degrees Fahrenheit which is "fucking...alright" and noted that an Eskimo would "beat my ass" to be here. There's a option for getting your weather report in "fucking Celsius," for those of you who swing that way.

Ready to beat your ass with a salmon
Photo source

UPDATED TO ADD: I can't BELIEVE I did this post without mentioning my all-time favorite weather person, Family Guy's Black-u-weather meteorologist, Ollie Williams. Click the picture of Ollie below to see a video montage of his finest moments.

"It's gon' rain!"

Weight-Loss Tip

2009-05-26T15:30:00.004-04:00

When the moon is directly overhead you weigh slightly less.

I got this bit of trivia from the underside of my Diet Snapple lid. Snapple always puts what it calls a "Real Fact" on the flip side of the lid. That's where I read that a duck's quack doesn't echo. I'm skeptical about that. I keep meaning to get a duck and stand on the edge of the Grand Canyon to put the Real Fact to the test. I'll yell, "Hello!" and we'll hear, "Hello hello hello." Then, of course, I'll yell, "Echo!" and we'll hear, "Echo echo echo!" And then I'll squeeze the duck, and it will say, "Quack!" And we better hear "........................" or I'm going to have to speak very sternly to the Snapple people. Very sternly, indeed.

Test subject

You can read more Snapple Real Facts here. We can discuss them tonight while we all stand under the moon. See you there.

Speaking of trivia-related group activities, I'm sad to say that we missed our chance to jointly celebrate National Escargot Day, which was on May 24. It's probably for the best. Snails are on my bad side after one rolled around on my new skirt recently. By next May 24, I'll probably have gotten over that, so put the holiday on your 2010 calendar.

UPDATED TO ADD: I can't believe I published this without reminding you of Peter Cook's "Interesting Facts" skit, which I previously posted here. If you haven't already seen it, drop everything and watch it now. It's worth it just to see John Cleese laugh.

eBay Pick of the Day: Ossie Clark Sweater

2009-05-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

I haven't seen many vintage Ossie Clark sweaters. I recently posted about the only one that I own here.

Not my favorite photo

Well, right now, on eBay, there's an Ossie Clark cardigan with very similar detailing to my sweater. That means that if you get it, we could wear them together and be twins!

Click the photo to go to the eBay link

If you're an Ossie fan, you definitely need this. Also, this cardigan should be the Holy Grail for people who generally love old, gray sweaters. I know a few people like that. Don't knock it till you've tried it. Anyway, there are four days left to bid. If you bid, don't forget to snipe, or I'll be disappointed in you.

UPDATED TO ADD: Whoever won this got an amazing bargain. An Ossie Clark knit for only 91 pounds! Unbelievable.

Henry Reads the New York Times

2009-05-22T18:30:00.010-04:00

Yesterday, Henry pointed out a page in the Thursday Styles section of the New York Times.

"Mom, look!"

Unfortunately, even highly literate dogs like Henry can't resist lying down on whatever you're trying to read.

WendyB: "Excuse me, Henry."
Henry: "My bad."

After Henry got off the paper, I was able to admire a giant Macy's ad for my designing friend Christian Francis Roth's Francis line. I think the dress in the lower right corner would be perfect for my gorgeous blogging friend The Preppy Princess. Lots of pink! I think the best one for me would be the second from the top on the left side. What do you think?

Henry says, "Click the picture to enlarge!"

And talk about perfect timing: gorgeous blogger Fashion Herald was just at Macy's checking out the Francis by Christian Francis Roth selection in person. Click here to see what she has to say!

UPDATED TO ADD: Bloomingdales.com has the nautical dress that Fashion Herald admired for 30% off, but only in sizes 8 and 10. If one of those is your size, go for it! (UPDATED May 26 TO ADD: Hmm. You might have might have missed your chance. It is back to full price today. Keep an eye on it. Maybe it will go back down.)

Click to buy

Also, the pocket-square jacket that Fashion Herald posted is 30% off at Bloomingdales here (my kilt-pin skirt is 30% off at Bloomies too). Meanwhile, at Nordstrom, the adorable Nerd Bird vest La Herald picked out is 40% off. Click here. I've got the matching jacket to that vest, so if you buy the vest, we could be twins. You know how I love that. I wish I could tell you how much everything is at Macy's since Macy's inspired this whole post but, alas, Macy's doesn't have the Francis line on its website.

UPDATED AGAIN TO ADD: Ever alert, Henry pointed out that my other designing friend, Zang Toi, made it onto Bill Cunningham's party photo page in Sunday's New York Times. The picture is from the Tulips & Pansies Headdress the Affair event that I posted about here.

Click the picture to go to the full page

Zang's dresses appeared in the Times just a few months ago. I posted that here. Congrats again, Zang!

Aquascutum on Sale

2009-05-21T00:01:00.002-04:00

I'm loving the colors of this Aquascutum dress. It's on sale at Browns for £400, down from £795.

Click the photo for more information.

UPDATED TO ADD: Thanks to gorgeous blogger Alix Rose for interviewing me. You can read it here. I'm amazed by the big, beautiful photos she uses. I have to crack the whip and get my blog redesign done so my blog can look as lovely as hers!

Zang in Bloom

2009-05-20T00:01:00.001-04:00

My talented and charitable designer friend Zang Toi won the "Most Beautiful Headdress" award at Tulips & Pansies Headdress the Affair, the event I mentioned here. For the event, which raises money for Village Care of New York, fashion designers and florists team up to produce spectacular head pieces. Zang worked with Golf Srithamrong of Tantawan Bloom. The beautiful pink gown in these photos is by Zang, of course!

That's Zang to the right of the model and Golf to his right.
All photos from Guest of a Guest.

There's a nice back view of the gown at Harper's Bazaar's site, and a good article on the event here. Congrats, Zang! And I think all you fashion bloggers who are into feathery fascinators should consider upgrading to giant headdresses. They're definitely the hot new look.

Seen on the Street

2009-05-19T00:34:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I had more fun with visiting blogger Princess Poochie, but I'm going to let her post about the shopping portion of the day on her own blog. Keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, I will share this license plate we noticed on a parked car at the corner of Mulberry and Houston.

Devilish Times With Gorgeous Friends

2009-05-17T22:04:00.002-04:00

Gorgeous blogger Princess Poochie came to New York this weekend, and I was delighted to spend quality time with her. We took a mini-jaunt to Riverdale to visit my gorgeous friends Jen and Amanda. I was most entertained by the name of the train stop -- Spuyten Duyvil -- which is an old Dutch phrase that has something to do with the devil.

The duyvilish Princess Poochie

We stopped by Jen's apartment and met her grumpy-faced cats, Simon and Elise.

Jen holding Elise the cat.

The ladies took turns trying on my Francis by Christian Francis Roth skirt. I swear on the Duyvil himself that this skirt is universally flattering. You can get one of your own for 30% off at Bloomingdales. Then if you come to NYC, we can go out on the town dressed like twins. Don't think I won't do it!

Jen wearing my skirt.
Amanda eluded my camera.

The next day, Poochie and I checked out the Model as Muse exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, dined at Flex Mussels, and stopped by my apartment to meet MrB and the dogs. MrB took our photo.

Don't click -- it won't enlarge.

I'm wearing a vintage Ossie Clark snakeskin vest in the picture above ... and speak of the Duyvil! Gorgeous blogger Disney Roller Girl tipped me off to an Ossie Clark snakeskin jacket on The Look. The current owner of that jacket thinks it's a jacket that was worn by Ossie himself. Could be.

Sex-ay Ossie Clark in 1970
Photo: Hulton Getty
Via The Look

I also have an Ossie Clark snakeskin jacket. I know it wasn't owned by Ossie though. I got it from one of his employees. It's my most treasured piece of clothing.

My Ossie snakeskin jacket

I'm looking forward to seeing Princess Poochie one more time tomorrow. I don't want her to go home. Maybe I can convince her to move to NYC with her husband, two chickens, four cats, one dog, and two mini-goats. I'm sure there's room for all of them in Riverdale.

UPDATED TO ADD: Read Poochie's version of our adventures here.