Life Magazine, the photojournalism magazine, was launched as a weekly publication by Time Magazine owner Henry Luce in 1936. When I worked at People Magazine, which was started many decades later by the same corporate parent, I was based in the Time-Life building.
The weekly version of Life was shut down in 1972, but the magazine came back as a monthly in 1978 and continued till 2000, when it was shut down again. The brand survives on the Internet.
Some of the most famous photographs ever taken were first printed in Life, including Alfred Eisenstaedt’s photo of a sailor kissing a nurse in celebration of the end of World War II.
Given Life’s impressive history, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I recently saw a September 2008 Fashion Week photo of me on the website.
Maybe it’s meaningless. Maybe when Andy Warhol said, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes,” he meant to say, “In the future, everyone will be on Life.com and feel world-famous for 15 minutes.” If so, don’t tell me. Allow me to have my delusions of grandeur while you enjoy a musical interlude.
UPDATED TO ADD: In addition to the Wendy Brandes for Francis swear rings, I’m wearing my own Cleopatra necklace and my one-of-a-kind onyx, tsavorite and diamond skull ring. The dress is an Ossie Clark I’ve worn many times.
miss cavendish says
Great shot! What’s the Life magazine context?
Jennifer says
That is so fabulous. Now I can boast I have a friend whose photograph was in Life.
Stef M says
How perfect that you look gorgeous for your 15-minutes! And that you are swearing (well, sort of…)
cdp says
Hey, that’s so cool! And it’s a really good picture, too. Good for you, you’re properly famous!
KD says
Groovy! Congratulations!
K-Line says
What a super picture. You are immortalized!
Raven says
That’s awesome! Love the F*** ring.
I found out recently that Life has a bunch of issues on Google’s book site. Your post reminds me that I need to browse through it.
Sher says
Love that dress! Your necklace looks like it was made for that neckline. Congrats!
Isabel says
This is totally amazing!
Oh, and your expletive rings are boss.
La:Dolce:Vita Fashion Fix says
That’s so cool and you look amazing!
BeckEye says
That’s fabulous! I always got a kick out of a Google search result that came back for me once. The PR firm I used to work for repped The Chieftains and some girl from a college newspaper named me as their MANAGER. Don’t I wish. I certainly would have been to Ireland by now if that were the case.
Ah, my word ver is beyotch! Was that the special one you added a while back?
K @ Blog Goggles says
Haha, no, that totally means you’re famous! I love the Life archives – can spend days pouring through them. Plus, you look hot (love the dress!).
Leanne Pizio says
all I can say is, “rock on with your bad self!”
deja pseu says
Wow, that’s groovy! (My verification word.)
Seriously though, it’s a great pic!
Kristin says
I love this!!! That’s incredible! Congrats!
Alice Olive says
Fabulous!!
Ms. P and C says
Love it! Great pic of you – iconic even. The Ossie, the hair, the jewelry… It’s just completely YOU!!!
Vegetable Assassin says
I feel incredibly humbled to be in the web presence of such a famous fashion Life celeb such as you, Miss B. Plus that’s a smokin’ dress you’re wearing. And look at your shiny-ass hair. (Not shiny ASS hair, that would be unpleasant…)
Kristin says
I’m pretty sure were already famous lady. Icing on the cake!! Such a beautiful pic to boot.
Alicia says
I love how my captcha is “foxylady”
You are more than deserving of the title. And on the internets incarnation of Life Magazine, no less.
Freakin’ Sweet!
La Belette Rouge says
This is so cool!!! I am so excited for you!!!!
sharon rose says
Hi there-well if you going to be caught famous for 15 minutes on Life, its just as well it was in your gorgeous Ossie dress, you look stunning!
Make Do Style says
Fabulous and the rings say it all!!
rollergirl says
Ooh exciting! Excellent ring-work too!
rollergirl says
PS, I tried to get ‘faux-ny tai’l into a hair trends article last week but it got edited out. Boo.
Jill says
You look fabulous. The necklace is just so perfect with the dress. Wouldn’t a re-enactment of the iconic sailor/nurse photo make great Halloween costumes?!
pretty face says
I have a life hardback book. This is seriously impressive. I assure you your grandeur is compeltely non-delusory xx
jennine says
of course! what is life without you?
The Little Fashion Treasury says
Happy sweet weekend and HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Wendy!
Holy Moly… your look is so gorgeous: the dress and all your AWESOME JEWELRIES!!! Va…va…voom… here comes Wendy!
mai says
you look great in that photo (and all the time). also! i think you’ve got at least 14 minutes and 59 seconds left still.
Iron Chic says
Just watched that Anne B beheading scene.
I love a good, chilling beheading buildup.
Have you ever read any of Margaret George’s books?
Thumbelina Fashionista says
I love that you’re wearing that ring in that photo. It’s so you.
jennifer clancy says
what? this is not the first time that Time has recognized your beauty is it??
you look gorge!
Tanya says
Great photo!
Hope it’ll be more than 15 minutes!
Arushi says
Incredible! I love the Cleopatra necklace and the Andy Warhol quote. It’s the header for my blogroll ;-D
qin says
Lovely print 🙂
Rowena says
oOOOoooooooohhh!
Swear rings are still amazing….
Duchesse says
Iconic, or on the way! That must be a thrill!
hammie says
Slainte! xx
Gem Fatale says
That must’ve been so cool to stumble upon yourself on the website!
Amazing rings!
Danielle says
So fun!!! You look gorgeous, as always!
enc says
As far as I’m concerned, you’ve *always* been famous!
Lara says
What an amazing honor! I didn’t have time to comment when you posted this but I bet you’re still giggling over it! And those rings! So so great! You look fantastic!
hanako66 says
that is so awesome!!!
Lexie says
Not only are on you Life.Com … you look BEAUTIFUL! i know you just did a post about how you dont necessarily like to be in front of the camera and you only have one smile, but i think your smile is AWESOME! congrats girl!
ambika says
Congrats! That’s too cool–and such a great shot of you!
KayS says
I think I got here by looking for more on Moleskine notebooks, of which I am sure I have one. Maybe I’ll find it tomorrow when it’s lighter outside.
I live far from New York, feel a bit sad just now about that, even though I love my Santa Fe Trail area.
Reading just this post: Lady Gaga and jewelry shows, my response is just
Wow, like Wow, man!
Thanks.
Alya says
You lucky thing! It is TOTALLY A BIG DEAL!