Today was all about Ossie Clark. Ossie obsessives like gorgeous blogger Sharon Rose know that the late designer, who was never good with money, sold his financially troubled line to clothing manufacturer Al Radley in the ’70s. (A large percentage of the vintage Ossies floating around nowadays are from the Ossie Clark for Radley line.)…
obits
Yves Saint Laurent Dies at 71
New York Times obituary is here.My comments on a YSL documentary are here.The famous nude photo of a young YSL is here.
Katoucha Niane Tribute, Waris Dirie News
In November, I went with gorgeous blogger Bobble-Bee to see a documentary on Yves Saint Laurent. As I noted at the time, there were more black models on the runway in the old footage than we see nowadays. One of YSL’s favorite models was Katoucha Niane, called “the Black Princess” or “the Ebony Princess.” Last…
Author, Author
Brawling, boozing, bragging and child-begetting author Norman Mailer died on Saturday at the age of 84. Strangely, on Friday I’d been musing about the time my now-husband won dinner with Mailer at a charity auction. Mailer was already having health problems then; as I recall, he was using two canes. He looked cute and harmless…
More Mrs. Astor
A few more highlights from the New York Times obituary on Brooke Astor: “In her chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz, she traveled all over New York to visit the tenements and churches and neighborhood programs she was considering for foundation grants. Many times a welcoming lunch awaited her on paper plates and plastic folding tables set up for…
Brooke Astor
Philanthropist Brooke Astor has died at the age of 105. Embed from Getty Images Sadly, her last years were marred by poor health and questionable care at the hands of her son. According to the New York Times (registration required), she oversaw the distribution of $195 million to the needy, mostly in New York, and…
Isabella Blow in September Vanity Fair
The current issue of Vanity Fair (Gisele is on the cover) has an interesting article about Isabella Blow, the late, great fashionista and discoverer of Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy. The article goes into great detail about her depression and the suicide attempts that led to her death. For someone of my macabre nature, I’m…