I’ve got the perfect necklace for the folks at US Airways, who sent out a tweet that personifies the meaning of “Not Safe for Work.” If you haven’t seen the photo, you can cautiously approach it via this Buzzfeed story. To give you a hint about what you’re going to see, Buzzfeed says the picture…
In the News
Recommended Reading and the Week in Review
The New York Times Magazine this weekend has a fascinating story on one man’s search for information on two female blues singers of the 1930s: Elvie Thomas and Geeshie Wiley. There are fewer than 10 surviving copies of their three known record releases and you can hear one of the songs on the New York…
Gone Too Soon: Kurt Cobain and Peaches Geldof
Twenty years ago today — April 8, 1994 — the body of 27-year-old Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was discovered in the greenhouse of his Seattle home. He had killed himself with a shotgun on April 5. April 8 was a Friday. I was working at the Wall Street Journal at the time, and my work…
From Gloria Steinem to Miley Cyrus in One Day
It wasn’t on my bucket list but, in hindsight, it feels like it should have been: “I want to irk Gloria Steinem and cheer Miley Cyrus in one day!” Imagine telling someone that! I’m sure the response would be “Not a chance.” Despite the odds, on Saturday, I managed to achieve both of these things….
Wendy Brandes Jewelry in Inside Weddings
A big thanks to Inside Weddings magazine for including my Marie Antoinette earrings in the Spring 2014 feature on purple gemstones. Remember, this is the year of Radiant Orchid! The story says: “Top off spring bridal styles with luxurious violet-hued jewels and gemstones.” I think that’s a great idea. Color livens up a traditional wedding…
Kimye on Vogue: I Approve
Cancel your subscription to me if you want, but I think putting Kim Kardashian and Kanye West on the April cover of Vogue is the most interesting move the magazine has made in a long time. This is a much more newsworthy choice than, say, an actress who is shilling her next movie. (Did anyone…
RIP, L’Wren Scott
I’ve been so troubled by the suicide of designer L’Wren Scott that I’ve been tongue-tied for days. Also, I didn’t know her; I don’t even know anyone who knew her; and I don’t want to presume to know anything about her state of mind. However, other people have no such qualms and some general misconceptions…
Shakira the Cover Girl, Plus Other Recent Press
Hip-shaking cover girl Shakira is wearing my rose-quartz Venus ring in a feature in the April 2014 issue of Women’s Health. Exciting! Ah, I remember when Shakira’s video for “Whenever, Wherever” came out in 2001 — I couldn’t take my eyes off her! I’ve never seen her in concert but I did see her perform…
The High Price of Oscar Jewelry
In my paean to Elizabeth Taylor’s relationship with jewelry, written after the star’s death in 2011, I mentioned that celebrities today are sometimes paid to wear jewelry, unlike Dame Elizabeth, who owned her own diamonds. March’s Vanity Fair — the Hollywood issue — has more information on the price of red-carpet representation. Here is a…
What Wendy Wore: Katie Couric at Columbia Spectator Dinner
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m the chairman of the board of alumni trustees of the Columbia Daily Spectator, Columbia University’s student newspaper. Every February, the Spectator has a big awards dinner. We always have high-profile keynote speakers. Recent ones have included Arianna Huffington (Joan Didion presented an award at that dinner as well); Julius Genachowski,…