Rosalind Robertson — former radio and television announcer, policy analyst, design enthusiast, fellow squishy face cat owner and one of my online friends from Canada — visited New York City last month. We and our husbands dined at Lincoln Ristorante at Lincoln Center. Over dinner, I presented Rosalind with her new, gold-plated, WENDYB by Wendy Brandes swear rings.
Rosalind shows off her rings after dinner.
Rosalind’s blog is The DIY Couturier and she lived up to her reputation by DIY-ing a jacket to go with her new rings. And look at her boots!
Look closely at Rosalind’s hand on my shoulder for another shot of the swear rings.
I like to ask customers what attracts them to a particular design. In this case, Rosalind is passionate about swearing. She wrote me:
“I’m really sweary. Some people breathe. I swear. It started a bit as a dare, when I was in TV and radio and around open microphones all the time. … I should have copyrighted FucketyFuck.”
She continued:
“And speaking of copyright … no sooner had I started coveting your swear rings than, lo and behold, that bastard company started knocking them off. Suddenly they became important and full of meaning. Independent small designers are being abused by these giant companies — it’s not like you can make up for it in perfume sales while you send a team of seventy LVMH top lawyers to beat the crap out of them. It’s not like they don’t have record profits to pay you for the design. Having the real deal became really important to me.”
As you can see, Rosalind really understands the issues involved when a big company knocks off an independent. For more on that issue, here’s a 2010 Wall Street Journal story by Christina Binkley that I’ve linked to before.
I’m glad that Rosalind is happy with her new jewelry and has already picked out her next purchase:
“They’re amazing. I can’t keep my paws off of them. They’re heavier than I had expected, and much smoother. I’m tactile and a fidgeter and I love the feel of them. I also love that I can pop the F off if I’m in, erm, Mixed Company. Or wear them one at a time. Now I have my eyes on the IDGAF necklace, because you had it on and it was so subtle and so flawless… Next trip. Of course, if there is a lottery win, I want the whale.”
Having fun with Rosalind and her husband, Vijay, took my mind off my displeasure with my outfit that night.
What Wendy Wore
Top: Akris (2013)
Skirt: Vintage Todd Oldham (probably purchased from eBay; date unknown)
Shoes: Prada (2010)
Purse: Sonia Rykiel (2009)
I’ve previously worn that rainbow skirt with a black t-shirt and it looked pretty bad. Earlier this year, in an effort to get out of the black t-shirt rut, I looked for a neutral to match one of the stripes. The Akris shirt matched perfectly, so I got it even though I wasn’t crazy about the boxy cut. I liked the top with shorts in the summer, because the shorts added some sex-ay-ness, but I felt totally dowdy in the skirt outfit. It should be impossible to feel dowdy in a rainbow skirt, but I managed it. I think a thin black belt would have helped. Unfortunately, I don’t have one. This is why I don’t like “separates.” They’re so damn needy all the time. They always need a belt, or a very specific shoe, or an extra layering piece. Get over yourself, separates! You don’t deserve that much attention. I prefer dresses, suits and anything I can wear with jeans. So much easier.
Rosalind looks fierce in her rings. And I love that skirt of yours. So much color! Maybe a tight, low cut cashmere short sleeved sweater in one of the colors would work? I’m partial to the blues and greens, myself, but maybe I’m being influenced by the background art in your photo.
Fuzzy, touchable cashmere would up the sex-ay factor. MrB would like it, I’m guessing.
The question is, would the sweater still want a damn belt?!
I adore that skirt. Don’t give up on it!
bisous
Suzanne
I will persist!
She looks fabulous, as do you always! That skirt is so beautiful!
It’s a skirt desperately seeking the right top!
Love the skirt – & the rings. I’m thinking fitted red jacket-y shirt with a peplum….tough one.
I do love peplums! And red….
Rosalind is awesome. I’m really sweary too! Wait, I suppose I should say that she is fucking awesome!
Love the rings in gold color.
Also love how your outfit matches that giant blue — palm tree??
There was some interesting public art in the Lincoln Center plaza that night! They should do that more often.
I love that skirt – the outfit, uh….not so much. What about a very fitted corset-y black jacket with no top up top? The rings on the skirt at the hip remind me of corsetry and then that leads to thinking Gaultier – fitted. Its a curvy skirt, visually. The boxy top is fighting that.
I also like that Canadian – I love those rings of yours too.
Yeah, I hate the boxy top with this. It would be nice to have a jacket like that but again that means shopping just to find something that goes with the skirt … this is why I hate separates. Each one is like a long-term project unless you’re lucky and get both pieces at once!
I always enjoy your customer of the day posts. Rosalind looks awesome wearing the swear rings. Her whole outfit is cool.
You don’t look dowdy!
Loved Rosalind’s ensemble!
I hear you re separates! too needy- give me a DRESS!
Am I right or am I right?
Separates need to get some damn therapy.
Wendy B perfume is kind of a neat idea. Many of the great scents are from jewelry houses and in some cases are better known than the baubles. Wendy’s wit and style could be expressed olfactorily. I would totally save my pitifully small beauty budget and wear it, unless it were shower fresh!, a watery floral, or a sickly sweet fruitchouli. Of course, those are the perfumes that sell, which is the whole point of launching a perfume. Wendy has not mentioned perfume here that I have noticed, so I assumed it wasn’t an interest.
The times when I’ve managed to cleverly combine separates I’ve felt very stylish, but I too have had that feeling of being unintentionally dowdy in public. Nothing beats a good dress.
I have bad allergies and most scents bothers me! Too bad because I enjoyed them for a couple of years.