Back in August, Sassafras posted on Facebook and Instagram inviting fans to the unveiling of Ligne, a new brand by up-and-coming Seattle designer Tanu Singh. This is how I responded: When I got there, I fell head over heels for this outfit: It’s hard to believe something so elegant can actually be practical too, but I ain’t …
Bewitched by a Vintage Dress
Who watched Elizabeth Montgomery play Samantha Stephens on Bewitched? Anybody else watch reruns of that show even today? (I do! I do!) Oh, how I dreamed of being a witch when I was a kid! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be able to clean their house with a twitch of the nose? Plus, the …
Blogger Meet-Up Proves Vancouver’s Got Talent
I’ve been watching old America’s Got Talent clips on YouTube recently. It’s been a balm to my weary soul in these darker times. The earnestness of the people on stage who make themselves so vulnerable draws me in like a moth to a flame. It soothes something deep down inside and gives me a glimmer of …
Transported in Reversible KFLY Dress
Cue up the Out of Africa soundtrack. We’re going on a safari. I don’t remember much about the plot of Out of Africa but I remember everything about how the costumes and the music made me feel. The tailored elegance and exquisite fashion filled my artistic soul. It etched in me a desire to dress just like Meryl Streep’s …
The Many Layers of Bartle B. Designs
Cruise season started for Seattle last week. Flocks of giddy passengers are arriving in town as I write this to take a dream trip up to Alaska for a week or so. I know this because I can see the tail feathers of a Norwegian cruise ship from my balcony. Cruise season means spring has …
Emulating the All-American Style of Lauren Hutton
Lauren Hutton turned 74 last year. Throughout her career, she has been known for her “All-American Style.” It’s timeless and chic and surprisingly simple. She perfectly balances feminine polish with masculine casual. She is one of my style gurus. That’s why, this week, I’m emulating one of her looks from from ELLE France. The Elements …
Instagram Files
One of those nasty cold bugs got hold of me a couple of weeks ago. It pummeled my body and left me to wither, whine, and cough up a lung for more than a week. I was in Phoenix at the time, there to spend time with family. The visit included my 95-year-old grandmother who …
Jumpsuit Mix Tape
The jumpsuit has so much history. It was originally designed by Italian designer Thayaht in 1919 to be a practical garment for sportsmen–hunters and skydivers. During World War II, it was used as a work uniform by men and women. Elsa Schiaparelli–one of my favorite designers of all time–saw its potential as a fashion statement …
Rockin’ Out in a Red Dress Debbie Harry-Style
When my friend Kelli was a little girl in the 1960s she told her mother she wanted to be a musician. Her mother pointed to the television set and asked, “Do you see any women in the orchestra? No? Women aren’t musicians. Women are secretaries.” About a decade later, Debbie Harry hit the music scene. …
Feeling Groovy in a Reverend Mother Go-Go Dress
Blessings and Glad Tidings to you, my dear readers. Now let’s get groovy. This dress is a handmade jobbie I found on eBay last year. It’s a simple shift dress that dates back to the 1960s. The gray color, the cream cuffs, and the modest long sleeves give it a Reverend Mother feel. I envision …