Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

What Wendy Wore: Yankee Doodle Doggy

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An acquaintance recently said of my blog, “All you do is post pictures of yourself, right?” I laughed because that comment was a perfect counterbalance to the time that I was rejected from a fashion-blogging network — not the wonderful Independent Fashion Bloggers, obvs — because I’d recently posted about the 7th century’s Empress Wu instead of doing an outfit post or writing about the latest collections.  What can I say? It’s true that I’ve stepped up my What Wendy Wore outfit posts due to popular demand (in other words, gorgeous independent fashion blogger Jennine said, “Do more outfit posts. People like them.”) But I still think I’m fairly eclectic in my blogging. I’m just a soul whose intentions are good. Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood.

I’m accustomed to feeling betwixt and between. My favorite business example is the time a store buyer waved her hand at my Venus designs and said, “Don’t do anything like that.” When I saw the same buyer the following week, I wore my rose quartz Venus earrings and she said, “Do more like that.”

I want to read your stories about feeling betwixt and between. Leave ’em in the comments. And remember, if you do happen to be stuck in the middle with me, that means there are clowns to the left of you and jokers to the right. Look out! You could get a pie in the face.

I’m about to segue into outfit posting so if you want to skip that, you can re-read some of my blog’s wordier hits (confession: some of them have pictures of me along with historical facts).

Meanwhile, here are pictures from the July 4th weekend. On July 3, I had a wonderful dinner (all appetizers and shared dishes) at Plein Sud with gorgeous blogger Tina and gorgeous friend Melissa. It was nice and peaceful because everyone else was in the Hamptons. I wore the same outfit I did on July 21, 2008. Outfits posts are useful for tracking trivia like that.

Photo by Tina Anderson.

What Wendy Wore
Dress: T-Bags
Shoes: Dolce & Gabbana

On July 4, I was a patriotism outfit fail for dinner at Bice with MrB’s out-of-town relatives, but this look is remarkable in others ways. It’s the first time in years I’ve worn separates in which one of the pieces wasn’t solid black and it’s probably the first time in adulthood that I’ve worn shorts in a non-pool/beach environment.

Photo by MrB.

What Wendy Wore
Tops: Alchemic and Splendid (2007)
Shorts: Sanctuary (2010)
Shoes: Jil Sander (2008)
Bag: Prada (2008)
Necklace: My own Boleyn design

Henry the dog was the only one sporting the full red, white and blue. Here is a view of the back of his head as he romps with Gigi the dog.

Gigi had matching ribbons but she took them off. Damn Commie Pinko dog!

If you look very closely at my photos, you see some red toenails peeping out. That polish is from a gift bag I got at the opening party for the gigantic Forever 21 in Times Square on June 24. (There were no color names on the sample bottles. Sorry!) I do love the bright red and it’s held up very well. The mushroom color is great for fingers. I enjoyed schmoozing gorgeous blogger Rumi from fashiontoast (and her lovely boyfriend Colin) at the event, and stood on my tippy-toes to take a picture with her.

Rumi is so tall!

You can’t see my full outfit post from that night because I’m saving it for another post on vintage designers. I’m hard at work on that and my next book club post, which will be about the 15th century’s Elizabeth Woodville.  It’s like a variety show around here, isn’t it? Stay tuned!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Hi Wendy. Just dropped by to say how much I like your blog and that you look gorgeous! Oh and your jewels are awesome. That is all. Carry on!

  4. happy 4th, wendy! i love the pattern of ur dress! btw, i also enjoy the wide variety of topics here on ur blog;) hope u had a great weekend!

    TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com

  5. remember, if you do happen to be stuck in the middle with me, that means there are clowns to the left of you and jokers to the right…
    oh…no words are more perfect…i have always believed that there will be people that like what you are doing…and those that don’t…the key is doing what makes you happy…as long as you aren’t hurting anyone…
    and you my dear…need to keep doing what you are doing…love your blog! love your outfit posts…love your sense of humor…love your zeal for life…continue…as i have a feeling you will…
    hope you had a fab weekend!

  6. Love the t-shirt and shorts outfit combo. Look at those gams! No feelings of betwixt and between there for me!

  9. Well, you already know what I think of that statement as per twitter. As for feeling a bit in the middle, I certainly do, and I’m ok with that – in fact, I like it! I’ve never been a person who is strictly one thing or another. There’s such a cross-over with fashion, art, design, photography, and even food – it’s all about creativity, innovation and aesthetics. I see my blogging as a self-directed education in exploring interesting and beautiful things. If I couldn’t do it that way I wouldn’t be here at all! (Can’t believe you got kicked out of a network for that post. Would love to know which one…)

  11. T-Bags always remind me of something far different than their lovely dresses. You look wonderful as always. You know I love your blog…a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I have a very short attention span and need variety…which you deliver, chica!

  13. Holy cow what a lot of outfits! I don’t believe you’re wearing BROWN SHORTS! You really have the legs for them, so I hope you’ll trot them out more often. You look great in brown, too!

    I wore jeans and a flowered top yesterday, so I was a “patriotism outfit fail” too. I had blue on, but that was the predominant color, and as there was no red or white to contrast with it, I really just blew off the holiday.

    I had high hopes for 14’s patriotism manicure success yesterday morning when she prepared to do a fresh lacquer application on nails. I turned away for a second, then faced her again to look on as she put . . . YELLOW polish on. “No red, white and blue?” I asked. “Oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!” emanated from 14, followed with what would have been a forehead slap if not for the fresh nail paint. We laughed. Patriotism manicure fail.

    • Oh dear. They’re actually army green. I guess the lighting made them look brown. I hope you’re not too disappointed.

  14. Wendy…who needs “that” fashion blog network when you can write about topics as varied as history, manufacturing and what you wore. I can’t wait until your next book club post.

    • I keep meaning to do one outfit post a week on Wednesday. What Wendy Wore Wednesdays! But it seems I never have one on Wednesday. Gotta get the scheduling under control.

  17. I am definitely an in the middle person. Complete with the clowns and jokers. I love your wit, obvious intelligence, humor beautiful and inspiring design and your lovely clothes.
    I also love that you keep your shoes. I do too. Also because i am broke but love shoes i often buy super high end used ones from 10 or 15 years ago. I don’t care about current. A lovely shoe is a lovely shoe. Makes my heart warm to see some one else loves her shoes despite the waves of style.
    O dear. Was this a fan girl post? help. that scares me. and i one sentence away from OMH, Judy I DIE!

    • LOL. I agree with you about shoes. I also think that way about bags. As far as I’m concerned in year #1, the bag is an “it” bag. Sure, year #2 it’s passe. But year #3…it’s vintage!

  18. Wendy!

    Love your great dress, amazing prints and also the D&G shoes! So great to see you with Rumi, she is a sensation!

    Love,

    Kira

  19. I love the mix of posts on your blog. And these are great outfits. I particularly love your dress.

    For me, the betwixt and between is normally close related – on the one hand I want to look chic and French in a perfect outfit, on the other I want to wear silly things that make me laugh. Hence the style schizophrenia.

  20. I think your blog is fab Wendy! I love that you write about all sorts, although loving the outfit posts! I also find myself prattling on about all manner of stuff but hey, though my Mr would disagree, he says all I write about is “bloody sex and the city” and shoes! remember variety is the spice of life! e x

  22. Love the dress, love the shoes, love the hairbows, can not wait to get the bow ring!!!!!!

  24. okay i can’t believe someone said that to you. you are one of the most versatile and definitely well read bloggers around and that is exactly why i love you. i am totally loving that you are posting more outfit pics too, in fact i gave you an i heart your blog award and that’s saying a lot.

    xxx
    t

  26. I re-discovered your blog via Alicia’s, I think my google reader must have unsubscribed you because I know I was subscribed at some point…hrmmm…

    Anyways, I love that you provide intelligent/historical/wordy posts alongside fashion ones! I’m constantly feeling betwixt and between too; I’m not as stylish as so many people (and physical problems lately put me dressing for 100% comfort first anyways), and I like writing about other things that are kind of an odd mix with fashion (umm, you know, paganism for one). I thought about splitting into several different blogs, but I’m just too lazy for that shit.