2011 Fashion Year in Review

Who was the best dressed of 2011?  Who was the worst?  Who dazzled on the red carpet?  Who made us jeer?
It’s always fun to look back at the best and worst of things come year end, and 2011 fashion is no exception.  But as I started to build my own list, I discovered there were [...]

The Mystique of Coco Chanel

“You live but once; you might as well be amusing.”
– Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel lived a glamorous life with beautiful clothes, famous friends, and rich lovers.  She was the epitome of chic in her day, yet more than forty years after her death – and a hundred years after opening her first shop – [...]

Clothing and Accessory Idioms

Ever wonder how some of the most popular sayings about clothes – like being “well heeled” and “take the gloves off” – came from?  Some have been around for centuries, others not so long.  If you’re a student of etymology (the study of words), you’ll find this particularly amusing.  For the rest of you, store [...]

The Dangers of Size Zero

Like Diana, Princess of Wales before her, Kate Middleton has become a fashion powerhouse as the wife to an heir to the British throne.  Her clothing, accessories, and grooming are scrutinized and her “repeats” are dutifully noted.  But there’s one dark aspect of her person that’s creating a trend that’s not get very much press [...]

How Hermès Became a Fashion Powerhouse

Their scarves are considered collector’s pieces.  Their handbags have waiting lists that last for years.  Their saddles are coveted by equestrians the world over.  They’ve remained “in the family” for nearly 175 years.
Yet when Thierry Hermès (pronouced tee-airy air-mehz) moved from Germany to France in 1828, he had no illusions of grandeur.  No, he was [...]

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