Next from the Fashion Library is BRILLIANCE AND FIRE: A BIOGRAPHY OF DIAMONDS by Rachelle Bergstein, author of WOMEN FROM THE ANKLES DOWN. Having a fondness for sparkly jewelry and having been born in the month of April, I was doubly excited to read about the industry. (I would go on to learn that the diamond was added to the birthstone list by jewelers taking advantage of the diamond boom.) Unfortunately, as I read along, my excitement was short lived. As with Bergstein's last book, BRILLIANCE AND FIRE is well researched and I would soon learn I knew little of the actual business.
Read moreBoardwalk Empire
New York City is one of my favorite places to visit and so with my last trip to the Big Apple, I took the train to spend the afternoon in Coney Island. The weather was nice, so I wore my Zimmermann Esplanade Flute Romper. The silk piece features long sleeves, ruffled trim, and a cutout back. It's from the Australian based brand's Spring 2015 collection. An esplanade is a promenade, a long open level area usually next to a river or a large body of water where people may walk. It would seem that wearing this romper was a perfect choice for the day. I usually don't favor a floral print, but occasionally they speak to me and I oblige and take them home.
Read moreThe Met Museum Of Art Manus X Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology
Every year I look forward to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual fashion exhibit presented by the Costume Institute. For the past few years, Andrew Bolton, Curator in Chief, has arranged exhibitions that are both fantastic and historical, taking extreme care to preserve the art of fashion. Several months ago, it was announced that this year's exhibit would be titled Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. I'd read that the show would explore the difference between the hand (manus) and the machine (machina), but more about the union of both. Being a lover of couture, I was excited about the possibilities of the topic and to view the pieces that would be included. On a rainy Monday in May, I could barely contain myself as I walked into the Robert Lehman Wing.
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