First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

What the Well-Dressed American Woman Wears

I’ve been vicariously enjoying the gorgeous clothes on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition, American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity. Check out the gowns, shoes, headpieces and ready-to-wear (love the Tweed Toga!!) from the 1890’s to the mid-twentieth century. This 1955 black evening dress, above, was designed by Norman Norell, credited as the the “father of American high fashion,” who paved the way for Halston, Bill Blass and James Galanos. Here are more of my favorites: Continue reading »

When It’s Time to Call a Plumber

I put off home repair. Do you? For months, I listened to my leaking faucet, felt guilty about wasting water (in an arid L.A.), but didn’t move into action. Then the handle on the water faucet got wobbly and hard to turn, but still I procrastinated. The slow drain in my bathroom sink was an annoyance but I could always use the one in the kitchen. Today, the toilet backed up, and I finally picked up the phone. Plumber on the way.

Update on If You’re 50 and Unmarried, Are you Gay? Columnist Ruth Marcus tells us that her friend Elena Kagan is definitely straight, and expounds on why it’s hard to find a husband when you’re the smart one. Read here.

Image: Painting by Yago Hortal, 2009. Acrylic on Paper

Cat and Mouse Game

On Saturday, I take Lily (visualize air quotes) to “Club Med.” Or at least that’s what I’m telling her. Instead, she’s being carted off to The Best Little Cathouse in L.A., where she’ll be boarded, cage free, in the “Lavender Group Room” during my trip to Italy. Lily is the first cat I’ve owned, and the more I know her, the more her behavior seems like so many men I’ve dated. Nestling close, purring in my ear one minute, and the next time I try to pick her up, she acts as if we’ve never met. And yet, like always, I keep coming back for more.

Image: Three Cats, 1913, by Franz Marc

If You’re 50 and Unmarried, Are You Gay?

When the Wall Street Journal inserted this photo of Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, on their front page, they were accused of playing the gay by insinuation card. Rumors have been flying since Ms. Kagan first appeared on Obama’s short list, because, let’s face it, if you’ve reached the age of 50, without marrying, and have cropped hair, there’s only one conclusion to be drawn. Lesbian. Continue reading »

How to Pack for 10 Days in Europe

I leave for Italy next week, and I’m trying to figure out my wardrobe. I’ve abandoned the idea of a carry-on, though how great would it be to stroll right from the plane to customs without anxiously waiting for luggage. (The friend whom I’m meeting in Rome had to make do for four days before his bag finally showed up. OMG!) With variable spring weather, it’s hard to be concise, but the thought of dragging my suitcase around airports and trains, is enough to warrant some discipline. Keeping the shoes down to a minimum is the hardest part. Here’s some surprising advice from a flight attendant who really knows how to squeeze things in.

Image: How Do You Get There, 1941, by H.A. Rey at The Jewish Museum.

The Unmarried Women of the Supreme Court

An excerpt from Ruth Marcus’s column today in the Washington Post:

(Elena) Kagan’s nomination raises another, somewhat uncomfortable question: what to make of the fact that, assuming she is confirmed, two of the three women on the court will be unmarried and childless. The obvious inference is that marriage and motherhood are not particularly compatible with the relentless career path required to achieve that level of success.

Read the full column.

Legendary Lena Horne, 1917-2010

Lena Horne on how World War II made her a star, “Of course the black guys couldn’t put Betty Grable’s picture in their footlockers. But they could put mine.”

Succumbing to Dancing with the Stars

With women dressed in tacky lingerie, and men parading around like strippers you’ve hired for a bridal shower, DWTS is a weird idea of family entertainment. But it’s a ratings juggernaut, pulling in almost 20 million viewers each week. I tune in every once in awhile, and get to linger in yet another way that I feel alienated from mainstream culture. But Olympic gold medalist, Evan Lysacek, is the real deal. A disciplined athlete and graceful dancer, he makes it almost worth fast-forwarding through the abundance of crap. Or better still, catch up with him here.

Fudgy, Chewy, Cakey Brownies

This is the recipe I turn to when I’m looking for a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s super easy to make. It’s from a really good, basic cookbook, The Perfect Recipe by Pam Anderson. The hardest part, and this is true for most baking, is knowing when to pull the pan from the oven. As a general baking rule, I always start testing for doneness at least 5 or 10 minutes before the recipe suggests.

Image from Handmade Font, a design company with the coolest fonts, based in Estonia.

Continue reading »

When Lust Can be a Good Thing

Last week, to celebrate my birthday, I dined out almost every night. When the last rich morsel was gobbled up (banana caramel cream tart), what I really longed for was a light salad plopped in front of the TV, wearing my sweats. I’d reached my fill of elegant food and atmosphere, and at least for the moment, they’d lost their value. Maybe you can’t have too many Chanel purses (I’d be thrilled for even one), but it’s possible to consume too much of a good thing, and begin to take it for granted. So I don’t begrudge longing. I take pleasure in dreaming about a Chanel handbag, lusting after it, imagining it in my arms, and then, if the day comes when I actually own one, really appreciating its specialness.