I have been obsessed with Bill Cunningham for years. I worked at 57th and 5th and loved seeing Bill in action on the “Bergdorf Corner” where he would photograph fashionistas, for the New York Time’s Style Section. His book, Bill Cunningham: On the Street, Five Decades of Iconic Photography by The New York Times is this week’s Book Club choice.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The first published collection of photographs by the icon of street style, bringing together favorites published in The New York Times alongside never-before-seen work across five decades.
“A dazzling kaleidoscope from the gaze of an artist who saw beauty at every turn.”—André Leon Talley
Bill Cunningham’s photography captured the evolution of style, of trends, and of the everyday, both in New York City and in Paris. But his work also shows that street style is not only about fashion; it’s about the people and the changing culture.
These photographs—many never before seen, others having originally appeared in The New York Times and elsewhere—move from decade to decade, beginning in the 1970s and continuing until Cunningham’s death in 2016. Here you’ll find Cunningham’s distinctive chronicling of the 1980s transit strike, the rise of 1990s casual Fridays, the sadness that fell over the city following 9/11, Inauguration Day 2009, the onset of selfies, and many other significant moments.
This enduring portfolio is enriched by essays that provide a revealing portrait of Cunningham and a few of his many fascinations and influences, contributed by Cathy Horyn, Tiina Loite, Vanessa Friedman, Ruth La Ferla, Guy Trebay, Penelope Green, Jacob Bernstein, and a much favored subject, Anna Wintour. More than anything, On the Street is a timeless representation of Cunningham’s commitment to capturing the here and now.
For more information or to purchase this book click HERE on the Pittsburgh Mercantile site…
You can never have too many hearts or too much chocolate!!!! That is why I love Valentine’s Day. It is such a wonderful holiday to celebrate all the ones that you love. Here are a bunch of sweet gifts for all the special people in your life. I am planning in buying that pretty agate cheese platter and making a yummy charcuterie platter for my family. My daughter would love that waffle maker for treats for her and her roommates. I have heard only amazing things about the new Dry Bar round hair drying brush. The new Diptyque candle had been on my list too. Happy Heart Shopping!!
Coat//Brush//Cotton Candy//Waffle Maker//Candle//Backgammon////Zip Front Sweater//Heart Ring//Pearl Ring//Nail Polish//Heart Sweater//Candy Box//Loop Earrings//Cheese Board
I am still in the soup making mode here. I have been dying for a really good pea soup recipe. The other day I found Ina’s recipe and was so intrigued since people said that it is the best version yet! If pea soup is not your thing, I am including my Chicken and Dumplings recipe…it is a staple in our house and a favorite for everyone who makes it. Back to the pea soup, it is so easy to make. It’s quick and comes out so thick and hearty. The secret is letting it simmer nice and slow. Bon Appetit!!!
1 cup chopped yellow onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 cup good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups medium-diced carrots (3 to 4 carrots)
1 cup medium-diced red boiling potatoes, unpeeled (3 small)
1 pound dried split green peas
8 cups chicken stock or water
In a 4-quart stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions and garlic with the olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper until the onions are translucent, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the carrots, potatoes, 1/2 pound of split peas, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Skim off the foam while cooking. Add the remaining split peas and continue to simmer for another 40 minutes, or until all the peas are soft. Stir frequently to keep the solids from burning on the bottom. Taste for salt and pepper. Serve hot.
I found today’s Book Club choice, Wardrobe Crisis: How We Went From Sunday Best To Fast Fashion by Clare Press absolutely fascinating. A reader, who is living in London read it during this second lockdown and messaged me about it. I immediately bought it and started reading…
Who makes your clothes? This used to be an easy question to answer it was the seamstress next door, or the tailor on the high street—or you made them yourself. Today, we rarely know the origins of the clothes hanging in our closets. The local shoemaker, dressmaker, and milliner are long gone, replaced a globalized fashion industry worth $1.5 trillion a year.
In Wardrobe Crisis, fashion journalist Clare Press explores the history and ethics behind what we wear. Putting her insider status to good use, Press examines the entire fashion ecosystem, from sweatshops to haute couture, unearthing the roots of today’s buy-and-discard culture. She traces the origins of icons like Chanel, Dior, and Hermès; charts the rise and fall of the department store; and follows the thread that led us from Marie Antoinette to Carrie Bradshaw.
Wardrobe Crisis is a witty and persuasive argument for a fashion revolution that will empower you to feel good about your wardrobe again. – Amazon.com
For more information or to purchase this book, click HERE.
A recommendation for this week’s book, What Kind Of Woman by Kate Baer came across my email. This book is so unique because it is a collection of poems that are uplifting for all the roles that women’s play in today’s world. It is the type of book that my readers say that they keep on their nightstand and reread constantly….Here is the summary:
An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller
“If you want your breath to catch and your heart to stop, turn to Kate Baer.”–Joanna Goddard, Cup of Jo
A stunning and honest debut poetry collection about the beauty and hardships of being a woman in the world today, and the many roles we play – mother, partner, and friend.
“When life throws you a bag of sorrow, hold out your hands/Little by little, mountains are climbed.” So ends Kate Baer’s remarkable poem “Things My Girlfriends Teach Me.” In “Nothing Tastes as Good as Skinny Feels” she challenges her reader to consider their grandmother’s cake, the taste of the sea, the cool swill of freedom. In her poem “Deliverance” about her son’s birth she writes “What is the word for when the light leaves the body?/What is the word for when it/at last, returns?”
Through poems that are as unforgettably beautiful as they are accessible, Kate Bear proves herself to truly be an exemplary voice in modern poetry. Her words make women feel seen in their own bodies, in their own marriages, and in their own lives. Her poems are those you share with your mother, your daughter, your sister, and your friends. – Amazon.com
For More Information or to purchase this book, click HERE.
I recently discovered a really unique handcrafted jewelry company called Cosenza, NYC. Through their limited edition collections, they really captured the beauty of the layering necklace trend, which is still going strong BTW. And, at a very good price point. The designs are inspired by the sparkling beaches and ancient castles of the town, Cosenza Italy, where the founders, Mia and Maria’s family was originally from.
Cosenza offers a curated collection of everyday jewelry wearable “from the beach to the castle.” Available at a friendly price point, you can layer and style these pieces with almost anything, and not have to worry about packing them in your suitcase.
You can shop the entire collection HERE and they also highlight for you the many ways that you can mix and match all of their styles and pieces.
