Only I can tell my story...

Sarah Polley, commenting on her documentary, "Stories We Tell" said, 'That's part of who we are as human beings.  We tell stories as well as we can but generally kind of sloppily even when we're trying our hardest."
As a writer of non-fiction, I am always trying hard to recall the scene, see the players, 'listen' for dialog, feel the sensations of the moment, and still I fall short.  We sometimes recall truth in  a way that the very people in our stories have no idea what we are talking about or did not 'see it that way'. In the end it's our story to tell, we must be brave warriors and solider on, ignoring those editors who tap us on the shoulder as we write.

Keep writing, my friends, remember that perfect paragraph you wrote this morning - you only get so long to admire it - go for the next one.

Later~~

BIANCA JAGGER - STYLE ICON

Michelle Persad recently reported: ‘if you look up the definition of “style icon”, we think there should be a photo of Bianca Jagger next to the term.”

I so agree, I checked out her style evolution on line, just to see, one more time, that white wedding suit she wore when she and Mick married. A white fitted jacket, notch collar over a long white a line skirt, and the hat! A stunning wide brimmed picture hat with flowing veil attached – ‘The Lady in White’.

Married in 1971, the Nicaragua-born beauty became one of the top style-setters of her day. I remember another hat she wore in the early 70’s; and was thrilled to see a close up of her wearing the black fitted cloche with a black veil to her chin and the highlight: a stack of snow white feathers attached to the crown and sweeping down almost to her shoulder.

It was also interesting to watch her transformation from the young glamorous woman to the classic, always beautiful woman she is today.

She is astounding, maintaining her youthful glamour for decades all through the late 90’s and then watching the subtle changes as she matured into a classic beauty—an interesting evolution of a generous and giving woman, who is known for her philanthropic efforts and ‘good works.’

Stylish beautiful, glamorous women like Sophia Loren, retain their natural grace through the years because when they reach their 70’s and beyond, they let  nature deal with the years and their advancing age, instead of trying to turn back the clock, which usually ends with disastrous results. And why do younger men want to be with these older glamorous women? Because they are interesting, have tons of stories to tell and as my photographer friend, Carolyn Collins, tells it, they show exuberance, and a flirty wisdom.

And where am I going with this?   

Beauty really does come from within.  

Nancy Smith talks Dallas and J. R. Ewing

My invitation in the mail showed a picture of Nancy Smith and J.R. Ewing - The International Society / Dallas-Fort Worth hosted a wine buffet and presentation benefiting The International Society Scholarships. Guest Speaker for the event was, Nancy Smith, author, lecturer, and former Society Editor of the Dallas Times Herald and The Dallas Morning, who gave a spirited talk on the Glamour Days in Dallas. Included in her slide presentation were pictures of visiting Royalty, celebrities and the men and women who were helped usher in Dallas as an international city. Names like Caroline Rose Hunt, Jack and Nancy Hamon, the Brinker family, Stanley Marcus and dozens more. I remember her columns were filled with humor and style, not just reporting on events, but telling us stories about the people who made the news.  She has great charm and elegance and it always showed in her writing.  My career as a fashion model was part of all those Glamour Days and I loved seeing Nancy's smiling face in the audience, of course, it was always such an honor to appear in her columns, I still have the one where she told about my acting gig on one of the most popular television series in the world: 'Dallas'  We're going to have lunch soon, I'll bring it with me and ask her to sign it. Thank you, Nancy -     

Color, Color, Color Spring 2013

I usually start with Pantone Fashion Color Report, and I will get back to that later...
I want to start with Donna Karen's color pallet for Spring because the color descriptions are so, dare I say, colorful; really fun an intriguing!

butter is pale yellow
coral has a new name, it's passion
red becomes scarlet and Eve is her ivory/pink
light blue is called canvas but my favorite - Atlantic - for a dreamy dark blue
olive/gray becomes charcoal
Jazzberry is a beautiful fuchsia/plum and
Azurite a stunning blue gray

Colors and combinations of black and white for the new season are key.

Later ~ for the Pantone Report

Donna Karan Saves The Day Again

                         

At a certain age some women begin to feel the glamorous part of their life is over—Nonsense!

Women/Glamour

The two words can’t be separated.

And I reject the following notions that women tend to fall into as they get older...

As in:

* Must appear sensible and responsible at all times, dress conservatively, don’t be daring, alluring, sensual etc. etc.

* You can wear that, you’re tall

* I’m too old to wear my hair long…although, I personally consider it a worse crime for a first time young mother to cut her hair because she now has an infant… My question: “Is your husband REALLY okay with that since he fell in love with you and your long beautiful gleaming hair?” I’m just askin’.

* Skinny jeans? Oh, I couldn’t do that

*I can’t wear hats

* False eye lashes? Come on!

* Dresses that actually fit the curves of my body…too scary

* Thigh high hosiery for me, for him? WOW

* What? Get rid of all my control top pantyhose? Really. What about my tummy?

Stop it. I am talking about the way your bottom looks in control panty hose. Let me try to explain…to be harsh about it if you stood in front of a three way mirror to check your back side in your trousers/jeans/slacks, it appears as though your bottom is miss-shaped.   In addition, your bottom has flattened out and its natural line is obliterated.

Burn them; shred them all, never to cover your beautiful derriere again—

Donna Karan sheer, toe to waist, panty hose in a nude color if  you must have a nude leg look, but do not want a bare leg.

Solution to that tummy of ours: waist cinchers and support undergarments can be found in every store.  

Stay well.

                                         See you next time…

The Amazing Karl Lagerfeld!

I had the privilege of viewing Chanel's 2012- 2013 collection on film from Linlithgow Palace in Scotland.

I found myself holding my breath when the camera would come in for close ups on a model's wrist wrapped and cuffed in pearls, sparking beads, lace and chiffon. Embelishments at the throat, bodice and hips, billowing sheer white sleeves, mixed patterns in georgous wools appeared in jackets, skirts, vests, knickers, tights; and then...long, lush white gowns and matching coats, with trailing scarves.

How proud his models must have felt modeling some of the most beautiful clothes in the world at that
palace in Scotland!

One of the highlights in my modeling career occured when Neiman Marcus booked me for a Chole fashion show at the historic Majestic Theatre in Dallas. A circular stair way was installed on the stage and each model opened at the top and glided down the stairs to the stage floor - a very dramatic presentation. Mr. Lagerfeld stood just inside our entrance checking each of us for a stray thread or a missing belt and all the while he prepped each of my changes, he told me how lovely I looked and how beautifully I showed the garment. A wonderful gentleman, but I did not expect anything less. 

Everyone of the internationally noted designers I modeled for through out my career exhibited a warm, generous spirit. Professionals working with professionals coming together to create memorable events.  

Beware of The Body Changer

I’m a writer and being a writer is all about re-writing—first draft, second draft, re-configurating the time-line, throwing pieces of text out, re-placing, out of thin air, I might add, with something else, re-constructing and re- fitting the pieces; inserting, perfectly, each piece of the puzzle, in other words, revision-hell…editing, re-styling the format, doing leg-work and spending time on researching background material…

That same dread, doubt, frustration, vexation, wishing to be some place else experience, occurred during my fittings and re-fittings for a gown I purchased.

Never, never order a knit sheath gown if you are over 22 years of age, even if you have the top expert seamstress/alteration professional at downtown Neiman Marcus at your disposal. Attention: An unlined knit, full length, long St John’s gown has no place to go except to follow the lines of the body it falls over!

Gosh it looked so beautiful in the picture, jeweled neckline, long narrow sleeves, tight at the wrist, covering the models hand just to the top of the fingers; I love that sleeve look—Snow White and all the mythical princes wear that sleeve; waistline defined, cut low in the back, the gown falling to the floor, allowing a smooth flow and movement as one walks, created for a model’s figure. I wanted that look again; my models’ look one more time…

But alas, I had forgotten about the dreaded ‘Body Changer’ – the monster that stalks women of a certain age, moving our body parts around at will…sideways, back and forth, and up and down at the same time as in raising my upper hip line into my waist area and re-arranging what once was a smooth lower back into perfectly placed pleats!

My body line is the same, long legs, narrow hips, my bottom is still nice, but now I’m suddenly short waisted, and have a tummy for all to see AND I chose a fitted knit dress. As Johnny Carson said to Hugh Grant when he was caught in a compromising position or he might have asked the Princely Prince the same thing when he chucked his knickers, “What were you thinking???

I look great in my clothes because I understand the concept of balance and design and I am a master at the art of camouflage. 

But there would be no stoles, no wraps, no asymmetrical dropped belts this time, I had nothing, I was on my own, there was nothing else to do except to shift into serious battle mode…

So, into the closet to pull out every spanks in every size that I had ever purchased and never worn; I have small, medium and large in most styles; padded bras, no-pad bras; waist cinches  with bones, with out; high waist  spanks that fit to just below the bra—when did I buy that thing? Keep in mind, the garment cannot flatten my bottom. Do I even have a merry widow, or did I get rid of that beauty? I pulled out all sorts of body suits, with long stays, in small, medium and large, thong styles, but the edge of the bones poke through  the gown in the small and the fit is too loose in the medium and large…back to the lingerie department for more styles, variety of styles, on and on…three fittings later and then the perfect piece from Nordstrom’s. A black satin waist chinch with hidden bones and a separate perfectly fitted bra in a 36 B. By the way, my breasts are still fantastic, I’m just sayin’…

By wearing the chinch, regular sheer panties, and my smooth perfectly fitted bra, I’m thinking: ‘this may work’, and as the dress fell over my body, I settled in, posed, peered in the mirror and the silhouette I wanted appeared; one could see the slight outline of the chinch, which looked like a bustier and therefore, part of the dress, another mythical princess look.

Several times, during the worst of times, I was on the phone with my dear friend from Houston: super chic, ‘Best Dressed Award’ recipient, encouraging me, guiding me, reminding me about my posture and to work my model’s walk.

Where are my patent high heels? My most comfortable shoes with a small platform, open toe and sling heel, in the most amazing eggplant color with black heel?  Got ‘em!

I was back in my fashion model mode.

The time: 2:00 PM. Hair dressers: 3:00 PM.

 My date is coming in from out of town for the event and would be at my house when I returned home at 4:30. My finger nails and toe nails had to be painted; I chose a deep rich red and did the deed at home.

One final check for make-up; oh my gosh, what about ear rings? My accessories are displayed within easy reach in my closet/dressing room, so I opened my earring trays, and quickly chose the black jet drop earrings I purchased years ago after a fashion show at Marshal Fields in Chicago.

1960’s, that makes them vintage, right?

We were ready, my date dazzled in his Armani tux with the most amazing white embossed stripped pattered fabric Italian designer shirt I have ever seen.  

“My gosh, my love, how much did that shirt cost you”? 

“It’s a $600.00 shirt; I got it on sale for half”. Amen.  

We looked spectacular; I had accomplished the look I wanted. The Helen Martin look when I had walked the catwalks those shinning, glimmering years ago. I walked my model’s walk into the black tie dinner event, and felt “new” again. Posture perfect; one has no choice, really, cinched in like that.

Sitting at dinner, I felt so alive and alert, I know my overall visage glowed. All my movements were fluid; rising from my chair, walking over to greet someone at another table…feelings of weightlessness and lightness in my limbs, my happiness knew no bounds.

Could all these positive feelings come about with just the right undergarments, under a sensational dress? YES!

My next step is to join a Zumba group, to dance and jig some inches off my waistline, so next time, I won’t have to be all cinched in and I can have some wine and actually dine at these events.  And if you believe that, then, the check is in the mail…

Beware of the ‘Body Changer’