This week, I decided to look up my 2021 "year in review" posts and was shocked -- not Casablanca-style fake SHOCKED but genuinely SHOOK -- to discover I didn't write any for the first time since 2011. No year-end Jewel of the Month wrap-up, even though I had conscientiously featured one of my designs each month last year. No "What Wendy Wore" extravaganza. While I hadn't blogged that content during the year, I could've sifted through my phone or the 'Gram. Considering that I managed a three-part WWW post in 2020 -- the first and most restrictive pandemic year -- it's safe to say that I was in ..read more

I’m always fascinated by the life stories of a wide variety of women. 12th-century empress? 20th-century fashionista? They’re equally compelling to me. Today was my lucky day in the 20th-century fashionista category. I’ve been interested in 1960s fashion designer/amphetamine-queen Tiger Morse since reading the Edie Sedgwick biography Edie by Jean Stein in 1986. In December... Read More » The post Throwback Thursday: Tiger Morse, Vikki Dougan first appeared on Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog ..read more

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 waited for a piece's "right moment." [caption id="attachment_44265" width="498"] Click my NYE dress to see the price tag.[/caption] I was disappointed that I didn't go for a literal heart theme for Valentine's Day in February, but looking at this photo, I'm so happy with this outfit! The red jacket is prac ..read more

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 Ossie Clark dress to the conference's opening night, but I neglected to post an outfit photo -- which I took after the event, obviously, because my co-star, Edward the dog, doesn't attend many conferences. He's got a busy schedule. What Wendy Wore Dress: Vintage Ossie Clark (prob ..read more

Last week, I attended the "Blue" conference held by Initiatives in Art and Culture, which included a talk featuring British designer Zandra Rhodes and American designer Anna Sui. I planned to wear my red and pink Zandra Rhodes chiffon dress to that panel, but at the last minute, I was inspired to go with a vintage Ossie Clark wool dress that was more appropriate for the season. It was also blue, befitting the conference's theme. At the same time, I felt like the dress paid tribute to Zandra's work due to its eye-catching print and the handkerchief points on the sleeves -- design elements that ..read more

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club celebrated the centennial of its founder, Ellen Stewart, at a fundraiser for its 58th season recently. Stewart was a dress designer when she started La MaMa in 1961 -- no experience in theater whatsoever -- but she became an icon of the performing arts in New York. I feel like there should be a dozen biographies of her available, but apparently Stewart "resisted attempts to have the story of La MaMa written until five years before her death" in 2011, at age 91. Ellen Stewart Presents: Fifty Years of La MaMa Experimental Theatre by Cindy Rosenthal tells the hi ..read more

I have searched high and low for this rare vintage Moschino "dripping chocolate" bag for over a decade ... and I recently found it on Poshmark. [caption id="attachment_43748" width="472"] Click to buy this for me. My birthday is in December! *Wink*[/caption] My first thought was that I certainly should not buy a very expensive novelty bag. My second thought was that money should be no object when it comes to a bag I first blogged about in 2007, back in my glory days of fish feet and latex leggings. Come on! I've waited 12 years for this and everyone knows it! Except ... I have scoured t ..read more

The hot color combination at the Emmys was pink and red, worn by, among others, Marisa Tomei. Embed from Getty Images People have said that I look like Marisa. What do you think? Obviously, I get Liza Minnelli more often. View this post on Instagram Someone asked me yesterday if I’ve ever been told that I look like @officiallizaminnelli ... the answer is yes. #lizaminnelli #lizawithaz #wendywithay #twinning #mullethairdontcare #andywarholdpolaroid #darkhairredlips #judygarlandfans #manytimesactually #allmylife #lifeisacabaret #oldchum #cometothecabar ..read more