I’ve had a hanging shoe rack inside my closet door for a long time. Since last month, the bottom few racks keep collapsing for no clear reason — they’ve done it even when there are no shoes on them. Towards the end of November, the bottom four racks fell down with a big bang, sending…
Year in Review: Jewels of the Month for 2019
The highlight of 2019 for Wendy Brandes Jewelry was a gem of a person! I am still madly in love with the photo shoot I did with Judith Boyd, aka Style Crone, because I’m always trying to show that jewelry is for everyone. When I did appearances this year, I decorated my booth/case with photos…
Year in Review: What Wendy Wore in 2019
I started out 2019 with a fashion choice that was simultaneously rare for me … yet typical. What was rare that I wore a dress that I’d never worn before. What was typical for me is that I’d owned the dress for four years before wearing it once. And this wasn’t even the longest I’ve…
What Wendy Wore: Nan Kempner Style
I always attend the conferences organized by Initiatives in Art and Culture. At last month’s New York Fashion + Design Conference, I met designers Anna Sui and Zandra Rhodes — and Anna admired my vintage Ossie Clark dress, so I was on cloud nine. CLICK TO SEE ANNA, ZANDRA, AND THE DRESS. I wore a different…
Throwback Thursday: Press Freedom Awards 2019
The International Press Freedom Awards dinner took place last month. That’s the annual fundraiser for the Committee to Protect Journalists — an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the right of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal. CPJ pressures governments into releasing journalists who have been arrested for…
Spend Time With the Obamas on Christmas!
On December 25, I normally wish my readers a “Merry Titmas” and bless them with a photo of vintage pin-up star Bettie Page. However, in light of the persistent right-wing lie about a “war on Christmas,” here’s a Merry Christmas montage from Barack and Michelle Obama. For contrast, here’s the supposed savior talking to a…
What Wendy Wore: Glittering for Tina Turner
I love molten-metal looks in clothes and accessories and even manicures — which makes sense for a jewelry designer, right? — so last month, I was transfixed by this Instagram post from vintage store Baba Yaga. I had to have this platinum look! View this post on Instagram Dripping in silver. 80s St.John Lamé top…
Jewel of the Month: Padparadscha & Paraiba for ANZA
I wanted to save this ring’s blog debut until I had its official portrait taken, but the piece was whisked off to the Kristen Farrell Gallery before I could get it to a photographer! So here is a casual snapshot of my latest creation for ANZA Gems. This one-of-a-kind 18K rose gold ring features a…
Purrkoy the Kitten: More Splendid Than Ever
One year ago today, Purrkoy the kitten crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age four, after suffering a massive stroke. Since then, I have thought many, many times about the outpouring of love and tributes from the people and kittehs of #Catstagram, which was a huge consolation for me. View this post on Instagram I’m convinced…
The History of the Nixon Protests, From L.A. Kauffman
Despite what you may read or hear, it is morally right and MEANINGFUL to speak out against a ruling party that commits crimes and undermines democracy. Any “backlash” talk is designed to keep you passive, even though there is ample historical evidence that appeasement is a failing strategy. That doesn’t mean that fighting back is…