Dollars For Scents

Summer fragrance -- the smell of fresh cut grass, flowers, the sea air -- exquisite.  Then, there's car exhaust, rotting garbage and sweaty strangers packed together in a subway car slipping against one another as the train jostles them around.  Okay, that wasn't meant to sound like a Danielle Steel novel, but if you want to picture Fabio, go ahead. 

heehee...

I'm not a fan of "The Fab," but there's never anyone even remotely romance "novelesque" squished up against me in that subway car!  Murphy's Law, I always get stuck with the smelly guy -- the one who needs to take a shower or the one who smells like he showered in Hai Karate or bathed in Drakkar Noir.  If you ever needed an excuse to start wearing perfume, summer in the city is a good one.  Just don't overdo it!  And don't wear the cheap stuff, spend a little more cash on something refined and subtle.

I particularly like Prada for everyday since I find it to be light and soft.  I wish it lasted a bit longer, but that could just be my personal body chemistry.  Speaking of that, I once had a guy tell me that I should bottle my scent because I'd make millions.  If anyone can help me figure out how to package and market it, I'd be more than willing to share the wealth!

Prada--blend of: mandarin, vanilla, rose absolute, labdanum, bergamont, tonka bean, bitter orange, and sandalwood

I also love Agent Provacateur, but I tend to wear it in the evenings as I find it a bit stronger than the Prada. The packaging is fab and their lingerie is even more fab, so how can you go wrong?  But, perhaps I'm just partial to it because Jospeh Corré (the founder) is the son of British designer, Vivienne Westwood and the late Malcolm McLaren.

AP purse spray

And since I'm a packaging whore fanatic, I still keep a couple of bottles of Bulgari around even though I don't love the scent (for me).  But, that doesn't mean they aren't sublime for someone else.

Bulgari Black and Bulgari Blue

(Bulgari "Bitch Slap" not pictured)

What are some of your favorite fragrances?  Men, you can play too!  I'm dying to hear from my amazing, beauty editor pal, Candice Sabatini.  Candice regularly attends Sniffapalooza and she has quite the nose! 

Bye for now taffetadarlings!  Smell ya later!  LOL

The Royal Wedding: Who Will Kate Wear?

It's nearly upon us.  The much talked about and much celebrated union of Prince William and "commoner" Kate Middleton -- we'd all be lucky to be that common.  The world has been waiting with baited breath to see the bride's dress.  Buckingham Palace has been very tight-lipped about Kate's decision (well, that's assuming it's actually Kate's decision to make), however, there has been quite a bit of speculation and rumor.  Will it be McQueen?  Apparently, Alexander's successor, Sarah Burton, has denied the gossip, but I'm not so sure there isn't some truth the the whispers.  We'll find out soon enough. 

Gareth Pugh, Spring 2009

Photo: Marcio Madeira via Style.com

Meanwhile, I posted a little poll to see what my taffetadarlings thought (please vote on the sidebar).  McCartney?  A very good possibility, plus her dad's a knight.  Westwood?  Maybe.  After all, she came back in 2006 to win British Fashion Designer of the Year after receiving it fifteen years prior.  She's proven that she's a contender.  Or, will Kate go with Diana's guy, Bruce Oldfield?  These are all obvious choices, but Middleton might surprise us all by selecting a frock by some obscure designer (who will inevitably rise to fame immediately thereafter), or by donning something avant-garde by Gareth Pugh, Victor & Rolf or maybe even Pam Hogg.  Maybe not.  Most likely not!

Victor & Rolf, Spring 2011

Photo: Monica Feudi/GoRunway.com via Style.com

Additional note:  I cannot believe how many horrible knock offs of the Royal Ring I've seen.... this one takes the Royal Wedding Cake -- for only $19.99 it can be yours!

"The Official Royal Wedding Ring" As seen on TV! 

(a.k.a. "Cheap Piece of Garbage") 

Wouldn't you rather have these incredibly detailed and exquisitely crafted pieces by Wendy Brandes? 

Matilda Sword Earrings by Wendy Brandes

White and yellow 18K gold

Two rose-cut diamonds

Four sapphires

$10,000

Matilda Sword Necklace by Wendy Brandes

18K white gold sword pulls out of 18K yellow gold scabbard

Two rose-cut diamonds

Four blue sapphires

$7,600

McLaren... The Original Anarchist

Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the U.K.

Over the past several years, I have become much more interested in karma, fate, destiny and the energy in the universe. I've never been a religious person, but I can definitely say that I am spiritual. I have experienced some strange and unexpected situations lately, so it's possible that I put too much stock into little coincidences.

Malcolm McLaren with the Sex Pistols, circa 1976

Photo Credit: mirror.co.uk

In any case, I found it a little weird that I had mentioned the entrepreneurial leader of punk, Malcolm McLaren in my post on April 7. I also talked about him in my post about Sex Pistols front man, Johnny Rotten (aka John Lydon) back on January 31 (Johnny's birthday). When I heard of McLaren's passing yesterday, I got chills. I know that I am, but a little speck in this big universe, so it would be unbelievably egocentric to think I had something to do with it, but I did find it odd that I had just mentioned him the day before his passing.

 

Sex Pistols in the trash

As if that didn't freak me out enough, I had just featured Vivienne Westwood in my "Happy Birthday" section of this blog because Ms. Westwood turned 69 years old yesterday. As most of you know, McLaren and Westwood were an item in the late 60's through 70’s. Strange that he passed away on her birthday, no? The couple have a son together, Jospeh Corre, who happens to be the founder of my favorite lingerie line, Agent Provocateur.

McLaren & Westwood, circa 1977

In 1971, Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood opened a shop in London where they sold clothing that they designed for theatrical productions. McLaren met the band the New York Dolls (yep, Buster Poindexter!) in NYC in 1972 and upon returning to London, he started to create costumes for the group.

New York Dolls

Photo Credit: bbc.co.uk

By 1975, McLaren had renamed the shop SEX, selling a variety of S&M style apparel. Original Sex Pistols bassist, Glen Matlock (later replaced by Sid) worked at the shop and McLaren started to manage the band (called The Strand at the time). When McLaren was introduced to the eccentric John Lydon, he recruited him to be the lead singer of the band and renamed them the Sex Pistols. In 1977, their first single “God Save the Queen” was released. McLaren was arrested after he arranged for the Pistols to perform outside the Houses of Parliament.

Johnny Rotten

MaLaren managed other bands such as; Adam and the Ants, Bow Wow Wow and the New York Dolls. Apparently, McLaren was interested in managing the group the Red Hot Chili Peppers and approached lead singer Anthony Kiedis in 1985, but was unimpressed with them after a live set. He proposed to reinvent the band and Kiedis and his mates rejected the offer.

Adam & the Ants

Bow Wow Wow

McLaren also had a solo career in the 80’s and 90’s collaborating with Jeff Beck, Bootsy Collins and even Catherine Deneuve. Then in 2004, his song “About Her,” based on the Zombies hit “She’s Not There” was used by Quentin Tarantino in his cult film, Kill Bill Vol. 2. McLaren was accused of plagiarism for allegedly copying the work of a French musician, but was cleared of the charges.

McLaren circa 1975 in front of his shop in London

McLaren spent his later years living with his Korean American girlfriend Young Kim between Paris and New York. Malcolm McLaren died on April 8, 2010 at age 64 of mesothelioma in a clinic in Switzerland.

UPDATE 4.11.2010 :  The brilliant WendyB kindly sent me this post that she did back in October 2007.  It's chock-full of McLaren info.  She also mentions him here.  What can I say, great minds think alike!  Or, at least they like the same music!!  Thanks Wendy... you ROCK!

London Calling!

Because I can’t be at London Fashion Week (so bummed!), I thought it might be fun to pay homage to a few of the early British designers who helped to establish London as a wildly creative fashion mecca!


Pam Hogg got her Masters of Art at the Royal College of Art in London. Later, she pushed her way into the London fashion and music scenes with her outrageous creations. Kylie Minogue and Siouxsie Sioux are loyal fans and have worn Pam’s cat suits on tour and in music videos. Hogg still has a very successful shop in London’s Soho.

Zandra Rhodes has designed for a range of famous clients including Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury. She studied printed textile design at the Royal College of Art in London. Her early textile fashion designs were considered extravagant by the traditional British manufacturers. In 2001, the San Diego Opera commissioned her to design the costumes for the opera, The Magic Flute. Rhodes is the founder of the Fashion and Textile Museum in London which was opened in May 2003.

Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, the manager of the The Sex Pistols , lived together and had a son. In 1971, Malcolm decided to open a shop - Let It Rock (also known as Sex, Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die, Seditionaries) where Westwood began to sell her brazen designs. Today, Westwood still owns this shop, which is now known as World's End. Her son Joseph (with McLaren), is the founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur.  Dame Vivienne Westwood is currently married to her former fashion student, Austrian-born Andreas Kronthaler. You go girl!!!

Johnny Be Good

John Lydon, otherwise known as Johnny Rotten the insolent front man for the Sex Pistols, turns 54 today. As a young delinquent, Lydon hung around Vivienne Westwood’s fetish shop called SEX where he met Malcolm McLaren who was working with the New York Doll’s at the time and looking to promote a new band. McLaren chose Lydon as the lead singer for the Sex Pistols because he was impressed with his ragged look. The name Rotten was given to him by band mate Steve Jones due to the fact that Johnny’s teeth were apparently – rotten.

Sid and Johnny looking stylish

In the late 70’s the Ramones went over to England to play at a gig with The Clash, the Sex Pistols and several other bands. Supposedly, Rotten was frightened of the Ramones and thought that lead singer Joey might beat him up! Have you seen Joey Ramone (not lately, of course)? Joey was freakishly skinny with a very sweet and passive demeanor. Johnny Rotten wasn’t so tough. Angry definitely, but not tough. He was genuinely concerned for his friend Sid (whose real name was also John) and his addiction to heroin. Johnny pleaded with Sid many times to stop and in the documentary The Filth and the Fury, Rotten is noticeably emotional when talking about his pal Sid.

Young Johnny.  I would totally wear this sweater today!

Rotten in a fabulous plaid blazer!

Obviously, the punk rock movement made a tremendous impact on fashion and the Sex Pistols were one of the leaders. The influence they had on fashion was completely unintentional. Bands like the Sex Pistols weren’t trying to make a fashion statement; on the contrary, they were with great effort making an anti-statement. Johnny and his mates didn’t use safety pins because it was cool; they actually used them to hold their threadbare clothing together since they couldn’t afford a new wardrobe. But, as with any performer, once they’ve established and a fan base, it’s inevitable that their followers soon imitate. After all, imitation is the highest form of flattery…

Johnny Rotten in the late 70's (left) / Rodarte men's 2009 (right)

Johnny on stage in a leather vest and leather cuff

me in menswear pinstripe vest (my own design), leather cuff and "swear rings" by WendyB

Today Johnny lives with his wife of 30 years, Nora, in Los Angeles.  He reunited with members from his band PiL which he joined after the Sex Pistols split in 1978.  They will be playing shows together in the upcoming months.