Violet Eyes

Liz is gone… another icon from the era of the big Hollywood studios has died. I suppose to many succeeding generations this will mean little and go unnoticed . I for one grieve for the loss, I remember well the influence that these megastars exerted on the culture of the 50s and 60s. It was not only her beauty that made her renown, it was also her blatant casting off of husband after husband. Elizabeth’s two stormy marriages to Richard Burton were fodder for the tabloids for decades. A woman with her own mind.

My mother was married in 1952 two years after the “The Father of the Bride” with Spencer Tracy was released. The film had an immense impact on the style of weddings. I recall years later once telling my mom how her wedding dress looked just like the one Liz wore, she replied, “Of course it did we all wanted to look like Liz” Despite the 50’s mania for blonds, Liz made brunettes just as “de’riquer” a fact that my Mom reveled in.

I suppose most of you know that Ms. Taylor also had a thing for men of a certain persuasion . Her long relationship with Montgomery Clift is legendary, as well as her long friendship with Rock Hudson. It seems to me that she found a bond in her ties to gay men that she could never find with her husbands.[although she did score the Big diamond] Taylor’s advocacy of the fight against AIDS at a time when no public personalities would dare “speak the word” is proof of her self-less understanding of the magnitude of the AIDS epidemic.

As another icon of my life passes from the scene I say,Good for you Liz…. thanks for sharing a life well lived …. we will miss you.

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American; The New French

Moi

As hundreds of Philadelphians crowd this years flower show,"Springtime in Paris" Paris is embracing all things American. I will freely admit that I am an old school Francophile, I have always loved all things french, as do a great many others here in Philadelphia. I see the reason for this has to do with our three hundred year history,all the way back to Ben Franklin's special relationship with the court of Louis and his popularity with the Parisian ladies. The second reason has to be our mutual support through our respective revolutions. The final reason may well be a shared mistrust of the British, [although Phila has plenty of Anglophiles as well, the frustrated loyalists] The French have always had a passion for our American frontier,cowboys,Indian chiefs and DENIM Americas greatest fashion contribution besides jazz music. Rue St.Honore the most venerated all fashion retailing districts has of late become home to many American designers. Michael Kors,Ralph Lauren [which is strange considering he is such an Anglophile] and of course Abercrombie and all the rest of the teenage temples of fleeting style and novelty.

Preppy is back in a big way with the French. An ironic twist considering our dependence on looking to France our fashion cues du jour. Oui Oui they say to madras shorts and ribbon belts [the uniform of Philas mainline] The following article from the NY Times will fill you in on all the details...VIVE LA PREP!New York Times

The Mighty Will Fall

Dior had no choice but to fire John Galliano. His drunken attack on an innocent bystander was inexcusable. He exposed an ugly side of the fashion industry that still exists [sad to say]. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. His comments have put an end to his career, I doubt that he will regain his place among the elite of fashion. In his defence I will only say that the highly competitve design fields exert a level of pressure unknown to mere mortals. It's ironic that those who achieve the highest level of recognition are at times the ones who are least able to handle the realities of the business. It is clear to me that Mr. Galliano thought himself infallible, [which comes from believing others praise of his talents]. It is very difficult for the creative persona to remain grounded in the face of fame and immense success. His thoughtless comments just cost him his career and fashion has lost a great talent.

Read more in the New York times

Don't worry the coffee table book will survive

Books...All this talk of books becoming obsolete is simply not true. Nothing can replace the thrill of high quality reproductions on beautiful expensive paper. I prize my library beyond most of my other possessions. All the electronic pads that Apple is flooding the markets with will never replace the feeling of sitting down with a favorite book and absorbing  each plate for detail that one might have missed in a previous session. Publishers simply must rethink their marketing strategies. I have been cross merchandising books into clients displays for years.Perfect example, the success of relating a book on the subject of the Japanese tea ceremony is a sure sale when displayed with the tea pot itself. There are endless possibilities to this method of selling REAL books. the following article relates the rise in this marketing trend. Don't despair all you bibliophiles out there, real books will not become obsolete any time soon.
  here's the link     The New York Times