New Designers I Want To Hear Mentioned In "The Devil Wears Prada 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                             I am just counting the day, girls, which I am sure many are, but right now I would like to talk about designers.  I have heard that one of the red dresses MERYL wears in the film is by Balenciaga.  We already know that Emily Blum has Dior emblazoned on a shirt, and I am sure at some point Chanel will be mentioned.

                                But what about some new designers?  Here are some I would like to hear mentioned.

                                                                           

                            The first is someone I have been promoting for a long time on here--Chales De Vilmorin.  Look at that display of color.  Is there some way we can get him from Maison Du Savoir to the States?   How about a mention in the upcoming film?  Surely, that would help!

                                                                              

                                          Now, here is a classic creation from The Row.  They really do go in for some wonderful black and white creations, darlings, and I would not hesitate to recommend any one of them.  But, for me, you know, it is all about color.  The Row turns out some remarkable pieces and deserves a mention in the film!  Let's hope it gets one!

                                                                            

                               Oh, my God!  Darlings, look at this creation by Diotima!!!!!!!!!!! Classic and simple, but elegant, with just a touch of Cecil Beaton!  Who would not love wearing this?  I would buy it, sight unseen!  Hons, let's hope Diotima gets recognized in the film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                               

                                    Look at this creation by Altuzarra, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Who needs Lily Pulitzer with this?  I doubt Lily will get a mention in this film, but with this dress alone Altuzarra should get noted.  This is called a Lydia dress.  I call it simply exquisite, and Altuzarra is one name I want to hear mentioned in the film.

                                         Finally, a bright pastel color--orange or pink? --to liven things up.  This is by Gabriela Hearst, and with my hair color and skin tones, it is just perfect for me.  I can't wait to wear it this Summer, but I hope it is recognized in the fashion film of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          These are only a few of the designers that caught my eye.  I am sure there are others out there as worthy.

                                           May one of your favorites be mentioned, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                            

                                                                     

Something To Add To Your Home Decoration, Girls--Paste On Wallpaper Murals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Aren't these images striking, darlings?  The problem is where to put them.  I have some unusual ideas about that.
 

                             I think the first one should go in the bathroom.  The relaxed aesthetic, the animals, make it inviting for a place in which one can and should be ultimately comfortable.

                            Now, the middle one, for the bedroom, is fine, but, as I have other ideas, I think that one would be perfect for the living room.  Nothing like colors to liven up your place.

                           The third one is my most controversial choice.  Being a child at heart, I could not resist this design, which is what I would put in my bedroom.  It is warm and cozy, and sleep should be soothing, so this bedtime look lulls one into a sleeplike state even before stepping into bed.

                            Custom made, interior designers are invaluable, girls, but when not at hand, these suggestions, which can be done by all of us, can help.

                               Expand your home creativity, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What Are We Coming To, Girls!????????????????????????????

                            I majored in Journalism, when I was in college.  I never really found a job in it, but right now, I don't regret that, because with things changing the way they are, and AI, who knows if I would still have been in a journalism job?

                                All of us living in America today are aware of the above.  Hard copy has turned to digital, AI is a threat, but what I want to talk about relates more to Cancel Culture.

                                 Culture is not dead, darlings.  Au contraire.  Yet I remember a time when it got more coverage on TV, when critics like Stewart Klein or Pia Lindstrom would review the openings of movies and/or Broadway shows.  Do they even get a mention today?  No, because they are not considered worthy. The political scene we are in is covered, but too much time is devoted to sports.  Gasp!  I could be condemned for being un-American.  Listen, darlings, what little I know about sports comes from "Damn Yankees!"  And I would like to play Lola!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      The cultural landscape is vanishing from television and print journalism as well.  Look at the mess Bari Weiss has made of CBS.  And how about how the arts department of "The New York Times" has been shaken up, leaving good critics like Jesse Green in the lurch?

                                        As one of my readers remarked, had Joyce Maynard been 18 now, and written her signature 'Times' piece, it would not have gotten nearly the attention it did in 1972.

                                         Thinking critically is being taught less in schools these days.  So, it should not surprise one that it is vanishing from journalism.  Opinions, objectives are all things of the past, or so it seems.  Everyone has to march in step, as though all one, devoid of individuality.

                                          I may not earn six figures, nor ever will, but I am proud my blog can do what much of journalism can't.  As long as free speech reigns, I will keep talking, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Journalism used to be called The Fourth Estate.

                                            Now, it has fallen I don't know where.

                                            Perhaps, like yours truly, we should become our own journalists!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Dog Day' Is No "Afternoon Delight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      Girls, where do I start?

                                     Let's begin with the August Wilson Theatre.  Over the past several years, it seems I have been in this Broadway theater more than any other.  Three times with "Funny Girl," and then once more with "Cabaret."

                                       And now "Dog Day Afternoon."  Let it stop there.

                                     For reasons understandable to me now, when we got home from this experience, David found the original movie, and we watched it.  What a difference.

                                       The stage adaptation of "Dog Day Afternoon" might have worked, had understatement and empathy been maintained.  And the leads better cast. Granted, no one could surpass Al Pacino or John Cazale, but Jon Bernthal as Sonny and Ebon Moss-Bacharach as Sal are unsatisfactory.  But they are not entirely to blame.  The playwright, Stephen Adly Guirgis (whom word on the street says was barred from rehearsals; I wonder why?) and Rupert Goold have conceived this rather touching story as a sitcom that eventually reverts to the Keystone Kops.  Are you kidding me?

                                           I am getting so tired of seeing movies of note and integrity transferred to the stage so unsatisfactorily.  I dread the musicalized version of "Beaches," because everything good about that film I expect will be missing from the musical.  Except an occasional hearing of "Wind Beneath My Wings."

                                             But back to "Dog Day Afternoon."  One interesting thing having been tweaked is the role of the Head Teller, a minor figure in the film, but who here becomes major thanks to the performance of Jessica Hecht.  Of course, she is playing......well, Jessica Hecht, but she livens up the show with her character's interesting back story--a Brooklyn career spinster with a bird and a cat!  Talk about playing bridge with old maid aunts!  Were it not for Hecht, audience interest would go quickly.

                                               Sadly, the most touching character, Sonny's wife Leon, for whom he commits this robbery to get money for a sex change operation, and who was played so devastatingly in the film by Chris Sarandon (who got an Oscar nomination) is played by Esteban Andres Cruz for laughs and camp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The actors are not entirely to blame--that rests on Guirgis and Goold.  They have taken a first-rate film and reduced it to trash.  What a difference one creative team can make!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   Lastly, I have to say, girls, that lately David and I have been seeing nothing but crap on Broadway.  Still, I am holding out hope, but come June 7, I feel there will not be enough new show nominees for the TONYS.  It could be all revivals.

                                                     Broadway has always been known as "The Fabulous Invalid."

                                                      So, start getting fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                       

Today Is The Feast Day Of Saint Bernadette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                             How ironic this day falls on the day after America's Tax Day.  I can still recall newscasts on the 14th showing people lined up in the post office, kneeling on the floor to fill out their forms, Of course, that has gone by the wayside, along with a lot of other things, which I will eventually get to.

                             Yes, today is Saint Bernadette's feast day.  Not Jennifer Jones, darlings, but the real Bernadette Soubirous.  We can all say, "God bless you, Bernadette," but, let's face it, girls, God blessed Bernadette on February 11, 1858, when he had His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, appear to her, and made her bring forth the Spring Of Lourdes.  Which continues to flow, help, and heal today.  

                               This is a day of remembrance of the life Bernadette lived, the suffering she endured, and the sanctity of her goodness.  She was a healer, and she continues to heal from beyond.

                                  For years, I have been wearing a Saint Bernadette medal, which I got in the gift shop of Saint Louis Cathedral, in Jackson Square, New Orleans,  It only leaves me during MRI'S.  I carry it with me at all times, feeling as though she is with me.  And when I sing with my choir, at those times I do feel closest to God and Bernadette by offering up something God gave me--my voice!

                                   I ain't no Bernadette, but, hons, who is?  All we can do is live our lives the best we can, and be the best we can be.  I try to do that every day.

                                   With lots of help from Bernadette, whom we honor today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It Is Time To Talk About Diabetes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               I have type 2 diabetes.  I don't talk about it; I live with it.  The thing is, darlings, I never thought I would get it.  Oh, I know, it is in our family, but with heart problems and seizure disorder I did not need another health issue heaped upon me.  Or did I?

                                Now, I wonder if youthful indulgences, or not pursuing them, would have made a difference in whether or not I would have gotten type 2 diabetes.

                                 I can't say I was a sweets junkie, but like any kid, I would occasionally eat Trix, put sugar on my Cheerios or oatmeal, and enjoy the occasional candy bar; my two favorites being Three Musketeers, (I knew it was a candy bar before discovering it was a novel!) Mounds and Almond Joy. I drew the line at Lucky Charms; I tried them once and they tasted awful. Better to put Kraft Mini Marshmallows in Cheerios, if one wanted the Lucky Charms experience.

                                  When I was single, living on the edge, and not having AC in the Summer--although I had a floor fan, that I would put a container of ice cubes in front, replicating Blanche Du Bois--I often had sleep issues.  So, certainly not every night, but, at least, once a week, I would have a container of Hagen Dazs Vanilla, and I would sleep like a baby.  Had I not, might I have avoided the disease?

                                       I suppose I will never know.  But I do know this.  As I finished the decade of my Fifties, I thought I was free of ever getting diabetes.  But guess what?  It emerged in my early Sixties, and here I am today.  I manage it as well as I can, and there have been no problems, but I am on all kinds of meds, and there are some side effects to taking all this stuff.

                                         I just want to notify others, especially the young, who think it cannot happen to them.  There is also someone in my family who needs to know this, but, alas, I am sure he does not stop to consider all this.  I worry for him.

                                          Having diabetes does not mean stop living, having fun, and enjoying what you eat.  It means making better choices.

                                            I have always had a craving for black and white milk shakes.  Now, I am lucky if I have one a year.  I don't miss them as much as I thought I would.  And my weight has come down, and I have kept it off.

                                              I know, girls, we all want our comforts.

                                             But at what cost, darlings????????????????

                                        

This Is My Biggest Worry About Seeing This Film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             I know, girls, we are all anticipating the arrival of this film.  I am, of course, anxious about what new designers will be referenced here, but I will save that for another post.  The fact I cannot see it on opening day is disconcerting to me, but I am, after all, committed to my love and my David, so off to Shady Maple I shall go.  No, something much bigger worries me about seeing this film.

                               What the hell should I wear??????????????????????

                                I mean, darlings, I can't go in rags!  This must be approached as if I were going to a meeting with ANNA!  I mean, suppose ANNA is in the theater I am attending?  The odds aren't high, but the possibility does exist, so OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                What am I going to wear?  Something pink, and either blue or my beige pants, but what color shoes to wear?   Is red too garish?  And some of the others the opposite.  What am I going to do, darlings?  I may have to go on a shopping spree!

                                   I also cannot wait to see Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton.  I relate to Emily.  I have an inner Emily in me, and I know it comes out, and always has, when I have done theater, especially stage management.  Believe me, when I called "Places!," every actor made sure they were there!

                                   Maybe when I see the film, I will have myself photographed in my outfit for all to see!

                                   In fact, when all of us go see it, we should have apparel and ANNA in the forefront of our minds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     "Go forward," as ANNA might say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!