Five Things That Made Me Happy This Week
Wherein I Share Some of the People, Things, and Ideas That Turn Me On Right Now
Oscar night dresses.
I thought the Academy Awards red carpet was safe, but beautiful. That’s the thing about modern awards show dressing: everyone uses a stylist, which makes Do’s a dime a dozen and Don’ts a thing of the past. The carpet is no longer a crapshoot. While this takes the frisson out of the game for carpet watchers (bad dresses make for good copy, you see), it does mean that everyone is going to look great. And, from a humanist perspective, that’s never a bad thing.
My top looks at both the show and Vanity Fair after party (note: most stars change into a new look to attend) were: Sandra Huller in Schiaparelli (intentionally off-kilter vintage is perfect for the new face of Phoebe Philo); American Ferrera in Versace (I don’t think she’s ever looked better); Cary Mulligan in Balenciaga (a ‘50s archival piece remade for her to stunning effect); Zendaya in Versace (I’m obsessed with what she and stylist Law Roche do together); Lupita Nyong'o in Armani Prive (she’s always exquisite, but never so much as in this color blue); Pamela Anderson in Oscar de la Renta (including her here is as much for the bold statements she regularly makes with her played-down, no-makeup look as it is for the gown, which I love for its own merits as well); Chloe Sevigny in Simone Rocha (bow down to this downtown NYC punk turned Hollywood sweetheart); and Margot Robbie in vintage Thierry Mugler (if you look under “going for it” in the dictionary, this image is what you’ll see).
The Spinster Sweater by Batsheva.
I feel seen. It’s about time those of us who find ourselves alone in mid-life reclaim and redefine this once derisive term. (Also up for a revamp: old maid.) I’m going to be 54 next month and I’ve still not found my partner. It’s not that I haven’t had the opportunity, but because I wont settle for anything less than the real thing. Until that person comes along (and I really hope they do!), I’m going to revel in my spinsterness and enjoy where the solo life takes me. I might even buy the lovely Batsh
eva’s sweater to keep me warm on the journey.
I Am Shelby Lynn at 25.
This album has been in heavy rotation in my home since it came out in 1999 — I even have it on cassette! Shelby, who I now call a friend (her sister Allison Moorer, a celebrated singer/songwriter in her own right, is one of my BFFs), won a Best New Artist Grammy for this collection of ballads and grooves (the opener, “Your Lies,” with its Wall of Sound production, fucking slays me), even though it had been a decade since she released her debut record (Grammies be lagging, y’all). Last week, I went to see Shelby perform the album in its entirety (with Allison and Ashley Monroe singing backup) during an anniversary show here in Nashville. There was so much love for the songwriter and the songs in the room that night, and for good reason: Shelby’s a star. Congrats, my friend!
Cool new books by familiar faces.
I’ve got a lot of on-their-game writers in my personal and professional circles. Three of them recently published new books that are well-worth checking out:
American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs Are Bringing the Art and Business of Making Clothes Back Home. By Steven Kurutz.
Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss and Family Recipes. By by Chantha Nguon, with Kim Green.
My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music's Black Past, Present, and Future. By Alice Randall.
Sequined bunnies and eggs.
Yes, this ornament making thing is not going away, for a couple of reasons. First of all, I love to do it. The process is both mindless and incredibly creative — a rare combo that I feel lucky to have in my arsenal. Not only that, it’s a great sub-income stream that is supporting some very cool home projects I’ve been wanting to knock out.
While Christmas will always be the big push, several winter/spring holidays have iconic symbols attached to them that make for some very adorable ornaments (I have also been calling them talismans — beautiful things to keep close for good luck — for those who can’t wrap their heads around shiny orbs hanging around throughout the year..
This month, I am pimping out bunnies and eggs. They’re made to order and can shipped nationally or picked up locally. The bunnies are $150 and come in white, grey, black, and spotted (spotted! I’m dying). Eggs are $85. Shipping is a flat $12.
Be in touch if you’re interested in making a purchase.
But wait — that’s not all! I’m also offering make-your-own-ornament classes. Classes start at $1,000 for groups of up to eight people. Sessions are two and a half hours. Each attendee will leave with an ornament of their own design using a wide range of materials that I supply.
If you’re interested in buying a pre-made bunny or egg, or want to book a class, email me: libby@thecallaway.com.