I’m always fascinated by the life stories of a wide variety of women. 12th-century empress? 20th-century fashionista? They’re equally compelling to me. Today was my lucky day in the 20th-century fashionista category. I’ve been interested in 1960s fashion designer/amphetamine-queen Tiger Morse since reading the Edie Sedgwick biography Edie by Jean Stein in 1986. In December…
vintage designers
My Fashion Mood for 2020
I want to walk into every room in THIS MOOD for the next 11 months. View this post on Instagram When you arrive at the party… đ 1958 Arnold Scaasi evening dress, worn by Arlene Francis, white and metallic with rhinestones, interior corset and ruby red satin coat. @mfaboston According to a designer biography provided…
Year in Review: What Wendy Wore in 2019
I started out 2019 with a fashion choice that was simultaneously rare for me … yet typical. What was rare that I wore a dress that I’d never worn before. What was typical for me is that I’d owned the dress for four years before wearing it once. And this wasn’t even the longest I’ve…
What Wendy Wore: Nan Kempner Style
I always attend the conferences organized by Initiatives in Art and Culture. At last month’s New York Fashion + Design Conference, I met designers Anna Sui and Zandra Rhodes — and Anna admired my vintage Ossie Clark dress, so I was on cloud nine. CLICK TO SEE ANNA, ZANDRA, AND THE DRESS. I wore a different…
What Wendy Wore: Squeeee! Anna Sui!
Last week, I attended the “Blue” conference held by Initiatives in Art and Culture, which included a talk featuring British designer Zandra Rhodes and American designer Anna Sui. I planned to wear my red and pink Zandra Rhodes chiffon dress to that panel, but at the last minute, I was inspired to go with a…
What Wendy Wore: Ceil Chapman at La MaMa
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club celebrated the centennial of its founder, Ellen Stewart, at a fundraiser for its 58th season recently. Stewart was a dress designer when she started La MaMa in 1961 — no experience in theater whatsoever — but she became an icon of the performing arts in New York. I feel like…
Wishlist: Dress With Hood by Pauline Trigere
I’ve always loved a hooded dress! Check out this 1960s Pauline Trigere I found on 1stdibs.com It’s actually two pieces. Here’s the plain dress, which is nothing too exciting. Add the hood and it’s a whole new story. I especially like that it’s not just a head piece, but something that goes over the shoulders…
Wednesday’s Video: The Gold LamĂ© Toga Met Its Match
My newest YouTube video is a sequel. Part I came out in April, when I confessed that a vintage gold lamĂ© toga by designer Stephen Burrows was a fashion mistake. I don’t make too many of those with vintage, but when I do, it’s a disco doozy. OG blogger Sheila from Ephemera — an expert…
What Wendy Wore: Ossie Clark at the Loebs Again
MrB almost always attends the annual Gerald Loeb Awards for business and financial journalism. He got the Loeb lifetime achievement award himlsef in 2002, and I don’t think a year’s gone by when someone hasn’t thanked him in an acceptance speech. I often go to the Loebs with him to catch up with people I’ve…
I Need to Put Ossie Clark on My Calendar
Thanks to vintage goddess “Timeless Vixen” for pointing out that yesterday, June 9, was the late designer Ossie Clark‘s birthday. He would have been 77. View this post on Instagram Happy Birthdayđto the late, great Ossie Clarkđ Having over 100 designs of his in my personal collection, itâs safe to say he is one of…