Things I Don't Get, Vol. 18 -- Red-Carpet Fashion Obsession

Tonight's the night, readers!

It's the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, which coincides with the opening of the Institute's latest show, "Manus X Machine: Fashion in an Age of Technology."

Color Combining with Confidence -- Your Favorite Resources!

Readers, if there's one area where I would like to improve in my sewing, it's actually one that has nothing to do with sewing itself, but rather with color.

Calling All Redheads!

Friends, I have become a little obsessed of late with red hair.

Unnatural Hair Color's Senior Moment

In typical MPB ripped-from-the-headlines fashion, I present Helen Mirren at last night's BAFTA's ceremony in London.  Can this sexagenarian (not sextagenarian, I looked it up) rock pink hair or what?

"Oh, My Nose!"

Readers, today I want to discuss a somewhat sensitive topic, and I'm not referring to mucous membranes.  I want to talk noses: specifically the extent to which a -- forgive the slang -- outsized schnoz is considered to be a "problem" in our (Western) culture.

Whatever Happened to the "Natural Woman"?

Balsam.  Lemon.  Unscented.  Natural.

Friends, welcome to the world of early Seventies advertising!

How to Improve Your Color Sense

Cecil Beaton, "Unseen Vogue"

Readers, today I want to talk color.

If there were one sewing-related skill I wish I could master overnight, it would be my color sense.  I think mine is OK, sometimes even good.  But occasionally I see someone walking down the street in an outfit that knocks my socks off, not because of the clothes themselves but because of the wearer's use of color, and I wonder how they do it.

The Ugly Truth

 

Readers, think about it: when's the last time somebody really unattractive became famous?  Newt Gingrich?  He's been around awhile.  John Belushi?  He's been dead for decades.

It may be hard to believe, but in the early Nineteen-Thirties, comic actress Marie Dressler, already over sixty and with the face of an English Bulldog, was THE number one Hollywood box office attraction, which she remained until her death at sixty-five.  Watch an old movie of hers like Min and Bill or Dinner at Eight and you'll immediately understand why.  She was a powerhouse.

Eyebrows-a-palooza or "We're Plucked!"

Friends, I would love to write the definitive eyebrow blog post today.  I fear this won't be it, but rather a somewhat scattered stream of consciousness on this highly alterable facial feature.  It's such a rich topic.  Almost everybody has eyebrows.

On Male Beauty

Readers, do you subscribe to the belief that a man can be too good-looking?

Is Your Hair Too Long?

Friends, I know I'm not going to show up on anyone's best tressed lists anymore.  Those days are long gone and I'm OK with it.  Hey, I'm over 40!

Cosmetics for Men: Yea or Nay?

Women, do you ever catch your husband digging through your makeup bag to borrow your concealer?  How about your eye shadow and mascara?  Pay attention!

Is Glamour Dead?

I just borrowed what looks to be an interesting book yesterday entitled, "Glamour, A History" by Stephen Gundle, a British writer.  It's a study of the concept of glamour throughout history: its origins and its varying definitions during different eras (the 1930's and 40's in particular), up to and including the present.

The girl I want to be

OK, let's just get it all out in the open shall we?

When you're a man with a sewing blog and a glamorous identical cousin named Cathy -- people are going to make assumptions.

Do you have a "look?"

I do not have a look.  Or if I do, I am not aware of it.

I have always wanted a look but it never came naturally to me, which is strange since I was always interested in fashion.  I just lacked the energy to make it happen, I guess.  

Exercise tips for a snowy Thursday

 Don't let the winter weather keep you from your workout*, kids!

*click on photos to supersize and follow along.

Let's go to the movies!

This is the first in what will be a regular series here on MPB: Hollywood films prominently featuring the high fashion of yesteryear.

We'll skip the obvious: we've all seen "Funny Face" (Think Pink!) and slept through Miss Ross's "Mahogany" (Do you know here you're going to? -- I don't.)

Cathy's back!

Many of you may know that I love to sew for my identical cousin, Cathy. Cathy lives in London most of the time, but comes to visit me in New York whenever she can.