"Vintage Fashion Accessories" A Book With A BRILLIANT Forward!

DAHLINGS -

In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess that I wrote the forward to this simply amazing book.



And while my forward is breathtaking in its wit and conciseness, once you have finished gasping in amaze at my brilliance, you will find that "Vintage Fashion Accessories" by Stacy LoAlbo(Krause Publishers, 2009) actually lives up to the forward. It is a guide on how modern women can add accessories to their existing wardrobe.


Modern clothing accessorized with vintage hat and jewelry


1950s Rendezvous compact with movable hand that indicates daily activities!

The photography alone is breathtaking: real women of all ages (including Ms. LoAlbo and her daughter!) modeling luscious vintage bags, shoes, jewelry and many other pretties along with modern clothing. (My favorite section is on vintage hats--you have never seen such an extensive collection of wonderful chapeaus!)


1950s pink straw hat with velvet ribbon

Stacy LoAlbo writes knowledgeably about her topic--it is not for nothing that she is called "The Vintage Maven"--even about men's accessories. She owns a vintage store called Incogneeto and sells online as well.


The author

This book is delicious eye candy for the vintage lover and educational for would-be vintage lovers and fashionable men and woman everywhere.


1920s Art Moderne rhinestone and blue stone bracelet

"Vintage Fashion Accessories" is available directly from the publisher, where you can save 34% on the cover price and receive FREE SHIPPING to U.S. addresses when you order direct at Shop.Collect.com. Use Coupon Code RV1209 when ordering, to receive your savings.

Here is the link: http://shop.collect.com/product/vintage-fashion-accessories/?r=RV1209&p=RV1209

Buy it for my forward, and stay for the rest. It is well worth it. And it makes a perfect gift for the stylish women on your list!

Ciao,
Elisa & Bucky the Wonderdog


1950s cream satin cocktail hat

Back from Washington, D.C. With Alec Baldwin, Sort Of

DAHLINGS -

Don't misunderstand the title, I'm certainly not in bed with anyone interesting. During the Inauguration I caught the most miserable cold, which is why you have not heard from moi all of this time. (Donations can be sent to your favorite charity.)

It is hideous...I lie here, sneezing and coughing and shifting Bucky constantly off of my legs. He gets overly protective at times such as these. And I have so much to prepare for! I am supposed to be writing a book, dahlings, but I cannot think straight with all of this bacteria in my system! And Fashion Week--my god!

Your faithful correspondent was already sick on the flight back to New York. I am ashamed to confess that I sneezed violently on Alec Baldwin, my seatmate in First Class. And on his dinner. And on his suede jacket. He was quite the gentleman about it, considering, in fact he hardly noticed, he was so busy talking with his assistant back in New York. "What else?" he kept saying. However, he did agree to my picking up the dry cleaning bill for the jacket. But now I know any chance for romance with Alec is shot. Damn. At times like this I wish he still drank, then I might have a chance some evening. But no, sober people always remember when you've sneezed on them.

Oh, dear, I must stop. This has been entirely too much for me, but it was my love for you, my wonderful public, that made me sit up in bed and dictate this to my assistant. More than that, one cannot ask, n'cest pas?

ACCCHOOOO!!!!!

Damn.

Elisa & Bucky the Wonderdog

Dateline Washington DC: The George Bush Farewell Party

DAHLINGS -

It is going to be SO COLD tomorrow when Barack Obama is sworn in...the wind sweeps across the Mall like a knife, but the glow of good cheer from the crowd (plus the sheer numbers) should help keep events heated up.

Last night I let myself be dragged to the George Bush farewell party at Glen Echo Park in Maryland by some Republican friends who hoped that proximity to the soon-to-be-ex-president would help their deep despair. It didn't.

For one thing, the party was colder than The New York Public Library during February Fashion Week. There was no heating in the building! We had been warned to bundle up, dress casual. One felt that one was at a slightly better clad NASCAR rally.

The guests huddled in overcoats, mostly in gray and black, which suited the funereal mood. There were occasional pops of color in the form of cheap fleece jackets; I suppose the outgoing administration must watch their pennies from now on. And of course, funny hats, mostly the foam kind.

Not even copious amounts of Budweiser and barbecue applied to the wounded psyches of the guests made a difference in the temperature. It was held in the Great Spanish Ballroom...why they could not have dragged in a space heater or two baffles me. But perhaps the Republicans are past caring. Many of them were planning to leave town the next day, not to return until well after the inauguration, if at all. One woman confided to me that she and a number of others had taken a house in Palm Springs. Shivering, holding my (ugh) paper plate of ribs, Palm Springs seemed like a delightful idea at that moment.

Fortunately, I had the excuse of work calling me, so I could make my escape early in the evening. Never have I been so happy to return to a warm, stuffy workroom filled with idiotic panicky staff!

Ciao,
Elisa & Bucky The Wonderdog

Dateline Washington DC: Inaugural Scrambling!

DAHLINGS -

I am back at the fabulous Willard Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, a mere block or two away from the White House, along with an entourage of assistants, makeup artists and hair stylists, helping the women on Washington get ready for both the Inauguration and the Inaugural balls on Tuesday. I am absolutely EXHAUSTED, but when money talks, fatigue takes a holiday. My apologies if that metaphor made no sense, but I had only a second to snatch to dictate this blog-thing. Bucky had to be put in his special extra-large dog carrier (made by Louis Vuitton to my specifications). One cannot take the risk of my little beloved sinking his fangs into someone with legislative power. Or even a lobbyist.

WHAT? WHY ARE YOU INTERRUPTING ME? DON'T YOU REALIZE I'M DICTATING? AND DON'T YOU GIVE ME THAT LOOK!

Oh, damn, a conservative politico is having a meltdown over the idea of showing cleavage at an Inaugural Ball. It's Alexander McQueen, for goodness sake, what does she EXPECT????



Oh, all right...tell her we'll put the top fastening back on.

A Fashionista's work is never done. It was hard enough to convince her not to wear St. John. I am sorry that the confidentiality agreement I signed does not allow me to tell you who the frump is.

The ladies of the Secret Service on this floor are very happy with their shapely uniforms, as redesigned by moi. They can only wear them on special occasions, but a woman likes to feel like a woman, if you know what I mean.

Passez un bon temps ce soir, mes chers lecteurs, wherever you are. I will do my best to check in before then.

Ciao,
Elisa & Bucky the Wonderdog