Stamp Collecting: Oscar, Gee's Bend, Wonder Woman, and Audrey

Today at the post office I couldn't resist these new stamps celebrating Oscar de la Renta and his storied career.

 And then I saw these, featuring Wonder Woman, in a variety of Power Poses, 

so they came home with me too.

They joined these stamps commemorating the quilts of Gee's Bend from 2006,

and these of Audrey Hepburn, which I bought in 2003.

I once had these stamps featuring Grace Kelly, from 1992,

and actually used them. I won't make that mistake twice.

Miss C on Delpozo's Lunar Resort Collection for Selvedge Magazine

It's been a lovely week of spring break, and just when I'm thinking about returning to the classroom, I see a new opportunity to travel: Josep Font for Madrid's Delpozo has designed the prettiest collection based on Georges Méliè's Voyage dans la lune (1902).

I've written about it for London's lovely Selvedge magazine, and share the pages here. The issue is called "Trade Winds" and is the May/June issue, to be published later this spring.

And the film!!!

Marion's Trench Coat

No one wears a trench coat like Marion.

So forget about an off-the-shoulder look or a jaunty hat. 

Forget about going classic

Or accessorizing with a beautiful woman.

Marion's got this all buttoned up.

Comma Chameleon: Understanding the Oxford Comma

Audrey Hepburn could pose like a comma.

The Oxford comma (which I usually call the "serial comma") has been in the news this week. The lack of it in a sentence is, apparently, the key to winning or losing a lawsuit in Maine.


As someone who was born and bred in Canada, works as a copyeditor (and literature/journalism professor) in the United States, and writes for a (gorgeous) British magazine, my understanding is this:


In Canada and Great Britain, the Oxford comma is NOT used. In the United States, it IS used, EXCEPT in journalism.


It's confusing. Fortunately Boy George wrote the song "Comma Chameleon" to help us out (wink):

A Tale of Two Cities: Montreal and London (and Meghan's Beautiful Erdem Dress)

I was cheered when I saw Meghan Markle wearing Erdem to a wedding with Harry Wales, because I think it's perfect for her.

Meghan, who lives in Toronto but dates an Englishman, wore a dress by designer Erdem Moralıoğlu, who was born in Montreal and now lives in London. 

I've written about Erdem before, most recently in my Selvedge story on dark florals, of which Meghan's dress is a lovely example. It takes this dark print:


and applies it to the dress above, right.

I also write about Erdem here, in my Selvedge story about Jenny King, master embroiderer.

Of "Supermodels," Horizontal Hair, and Waking up for $10,000

I was pleased when India won this season's title of America's Next Top Model (ANTM). I thought that her photographs were stellar and consistently beautiful, like this one, which references some favourite 1970s looks with its horizontal curls, monochromatic palette, and platform shoes.




I adore horizontal curls of the Studio 54, 1970s vintage. Here are a couple of authentic--and throwback--images:

And speaking of "horizontal," I couldn't help but think of Linda Evangelista's infamous, cheeky pronouncement to Vogue in 1990 that she (and Christy) "don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." Evangelista's intent behind that pithy quote has been analyzed, discredited, and spun, but I'm drinking it neat: a model of Linda's caliber can command whatever she wants.

Plus, she never called herself a Supermodel. That would be too-too.

However, on this season of ANTM a new panelist was quite vocal as self-identifying as a Supermodel. Ashley Graham, who's done Sports Illustrated, is currently in Vogue, is the face of Prabal Gurung's Lane Bryant collection, claimed the Supermodel mantel for herself throughout the show. Martin appears to be supersmart, superconfident, and superbeautiful, but Supermodel? I don't think that a true Supermodel would announce herself as one. She'd just be one.

That said, old school model Eva Herzigova could add Supermodel to her CV and I wouldn't bat an eyelash. She ruled the Bottega Veneta runway, despite being twice the age of current runway favourite Kendall Jenner, whose career had a speedier trajectory than the javelin her dad tossed during the Olympic Games. I loved seeing a woman in her 40s pretty much stop a show with her beauty.

A future Olympic Equestrian, peut-être?

Swim Coach; or Sharks on a Sweater

OK; just one shark on a sweater, but still.


In its continued whimsical creature theme (remember the T-Rex on men's wallets this winter?), Coach has knit a T-Rex into a pistachio sweater (Rexy) and a Great White (Sharky) into a Bright Red cashmere.


It does, of course, reference JAWS, but this shark's toothy vibe seems cartoony rather than menacing.

In fact, you could say it's a watered-down version of Christopher Kane's trailblazing open maws from 2009--both his gorilla ready to wear:

and his Topshop crocodile collection:

Selena Gomez has tipped off her fans to a photo of her in Sharky. Here we focus on her mouth and teeth, not his.

Sharks aren't new to fashion, certainly. Here's Jerry Hall riding the waves on one back in the 1970s:

My feeling is: No matter how edgy Coach tries to make this sartorial shark (and it's trying really hard in the styling below), Sharky's more suited to the goldfish bowl than the deep blue sea.

Gentlewoman Collars (Part 1)

I am not usually fond of shirts with collars; they interfere with my hair (and putting my hair up reveals too much of the collar, making the shirt too prim).


This spring, though, appears to be the season of the gentlewoman collar, with props to Tennessee, and I am especially loving this look from Prada: with a cocktail dress over a shirt.


We've seen the look before: Julia Roberts wore a strapless dress over a shirt to the Golden Globes:

and I blogged about another combination here.

Prada's offering is extra special because of its genial use of feathers and its (to me) indigo-inspired shirt, which reminds me of a favourite from my twenties:

If this gentlewoman collar knocked, I'd answer the door.