Alexander McQueen collections, no matter under what House, inspired and moved the whole world of fashion. Bless him, our L’enfant Terrible. Rest in Peace.
His clothes and presentations spoke to a whole generation. I mean the costumes, the music, the hologram of Kate Moss! Wow. I’ve never wanted to wear anything, as much as his clothes.
I’ll post inspiring videos and images on FB.
RuPaul’s Drag Race is the best un-guilty pleasure that I have been thoroughly enjoying!! And I want you to enjoy it too! Season One has ended, followed up by the Reunion show. Yes, Loca, it is soooo ahmaazing…(Ms. Nina Flowers, you just kill me so good, with your ponytail swinging ways!)
I have the utmost respect for RuPaul. She put everything into her craft. She has influenced countless women, who are famous entertainers today. Now she, finally, gets the spotlight with her own spawn.
I have a soft spot for queens and I’ll tell you why… When I was still 17, fresh to Seattle, there was a hair salon across the street from my apartment. After numerous occasions sitting on my stoop staring at it, I finally, had the nerve to go in, for my 4th haircut that week. ( The first three, from other salons, went from bad to worse and, always, shorter. I didn’t cry. I was determined to have it “fixed.) I’ve only had hair short enough to make me look androgynous two times in my life and this was one of them…maybe, they found it funny or me, a project.
But, this salon became my second home, from that point on, with my main barber, and the other stylists never minding my loitering. They nursed me back to cute, took me all across the color spectrum from purple to orange, taught me glamour, when they were preparing for that evening’s drag show at Neighbor’s, took me dancing, and, even, helped me mend my first broken heart!
Short of breast-feeding me, these Stylists and Queens, took the best care and left a great impression on me, despite it being over a decade later, and the salon is gone. I really missed my Drag moms, when I moved to L.A., as a lost and poor cosmetology student, feeling more vulnerable in my twenties than I did when I was seventeen. A hairdresser from Nashville who sometimes moonlighted as Patsy Cline, took me to Mickey’s to see the Dream Girls in West Hollywood. Every week, Miss Kiwi’s fierce performance, kept me in good spirits to get through that rough time.
Basically, Queens have inspired me and helped me dance and laugh during the hardest times. I love everything about these Artists! I like them punk, glam, short, tall, big, small, in a glass and on a jar.
Go to Logo and catch up on the first season. Part Deux is premiering in February. They have a great calendar download for fans!! COVER GIRL, PUT THAT BASS IN YOUR WALK! L.A., you can work it with some Divas at La Cita on Moustache Mondays, DOWNTOWN.
CONGRATULATIONS VIDAL!!! Vidal Sassoon received A Commander of the British Empire Medal from the Queen of England!
I am so happy for him and feel so proud that he was honored for all his hardwork. Without him, who knows where I would be with hair?
Hat’s off to you! Thank you so much Vidal!!
Michael Gordon of BB fame is putting the final touches on his documentary about Vidal. How extraordinary that he and Vidal were in England, visiting the orphanage and neighborhoods where Vidal grew up, and he gets called upon by the Queen to be knighted, simultaneously at the end of filming! Incredible! Want to see the movie!!
Sometimes, it happens. Sometimes, everything happens on the same weekend: events, parties, shopping excursions, dinners, etc. And, sometimes, everything new that weekend is more than awesome across the board.
I was lucky enough to have such a weekend. We started off Friday with a photo shoot, then LAX for sister, dropped by LACMA and saw Peter speak about Audrey, followed by “Roman Holiday.” Dinner at La Poubelle, because we love it and that’s where we were last year when Tad and I ran off to the courthouse.
And as fate would have it–it got better…
Saturday, Vivian and I went on a vintage hunt for her Halloween costume. She wanted to be a hippie…why not be a stylish one? 
Trolling around Echo Park we stumbled in on a cute house-like shop that “Shut It Down.” 
She got an outfit head to toe including shoes and accessories and me, this cool headband. It’s called Sirens & Sailors. It’s a staple in the area for great vintage (owner used to buy for Wasteland) and clothes from local designers. You can, also, shop online.
Around the corner, we saw Spitfire Girl and had to walk in, 
because Vi spotted an owl pillow. This place just opened and is great for gifts, pillows, figures, etc. I got this wooden book for her to start her sketching. They’re having a Grand Opening Party on Sat., Nov. 7 (6-9pm) and it looks fun!
And wouldn’t you know it? Outside of the JANM, for the 
GR event, there was a Nom Nom truck!
A traveling truck that has banh mi, Viet tacos, and Vietnamese iced coffee!!!! Wahoo!!! $5 for a 12 in. I tried the Lemongrass chicken tacos, Grilled pork and BBQ pork sandwiches. There are vegetarian options. Kogi, I heart you, but sometimes I need a baguette sammy.
This put us in the perfect mood to go head for the fun Halloween costume party at our friends. I’m still in a daze.
Spitfire Girl 2203 Sunset Blvd., Sirens & Sailors 1104 Mohawk St. (off Sunset) The GR exhibit is up until January. Make some time to go. The history makes you reverent and the art makes you inspired! You can stay updated with twitter.com/nomnomtruck to get your banh mi fix!
The LACMA is doing screenings of Audrey Hepburn classics this Friday Oct. 23 and Saturday Oct. 24 (around 7:30 and 9:30) for a chill price!!!
What girl doesn’t love Audrey Hepburn and wish she could insert herself into the myriad of fabulous scenes? To this day, I still use her as inspiration, when my lovely clients want that classic and beautiful look. Her fringe i.e. “bangs” in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is still imitated–never replicated. Hats off to that talented hair stylist!
Friday night is great, as Peter Bogdanovich will be giving the introduction. A legend in his own right, it makes it more enticing! On a sentimental note, the second show of Peter’s film, “They All Laughed,” also, stars the late Dorothy Stratten and John Ritter, alongside Audrey. They bring such charm to this film!
Richard Avedon is synonymous with fantastic portraits in photography.
It is rightfully so!
Here is a quote that appealed to me from Mr. Avedon in 1988:
“I believe in maniacs. I believe in type A’s. I believe you’ve got to love your work so much that it is all you want to do. I believe you must betray your mistress for your work, you betray your wife for your work, I believe that she must betray you for her work. I believe that work is the one thing that never betrays you, that lasts. If I were a politician, if I were going to be a scientist, I would do it everyday. I wouldn’t wait until Monday. I don’t believe in weekends. If you’re headed for a life that’s only involved with making money and that you’re hoping for satisfaction somewhere else, then you’re headed for a lot of trouble. And whatever replaces vodka after 45, is what you’re going to be doing.”
Intense, huh?
Valentino: The Last Emperor
When I went to see this in the theatre, I wanted to jump into the screen! I was upset and went through withdrawals, immediately, during the credits.
This is a beautiful glimpse into a devotion and into an era of fashion that will never be again. All I can say is “that was one hell of a party!”
Buy it. Watch it. Watch it again.
by Bernard Safran