Influencer or Influenza--What is Worse?

Here I am at my chic morning haunt, drinking my cappuccino and showing you my partially eaten pastry and my new Azzedine bag!  I forgot to bring my copy of Le Monde, but you get the idea...I'm CHIC!

Here I am with my all important out of season peonies, trying to figure out what jewelry to wear!

About last night...that's what we Influencers always say! Mine was about Rodarte!

I have the new Rodarte bag and you don't!

Here I am with my new candle and of course my peonies!

Next week we'll talk about taking SELFIES!

Little Missy Goes to the Movies

A Thanksgiving Tradition--Catching up on the movies you have been wanting to see!

Victoria and Abdul
Like many of Little Missy's readers, I am usually dazzled by anything to do with the British Royals, even when their most gifted filmmakers are attempting to humanise them, one might even say knock them off their pedestals.  Watching the brilliant actor Judi Dench, made up to look like an obese and ageing Queen Victoria gives one a start, especially as we must endure her slurping through her formal dinners, burping when she's not snoring.  When two young Indians arrive to present the queen with a special Indian coin, we are cheering the tall, good looking one on to wake her up.  Apparently, she hasn't lost all of her lively impulses, or else it's the chicken curry he has made especially for her, but all at once, the Indian called Abdul becomes her favourite--and the queen goes on an Indian fanaticism that lasts the rest of her life.  The story of Victoria's obsession with Abdul--he was with her nearly every day, teaching her Urdu and Hindustani, chatting about her family problems as well as the issues of the state--was little known until 2003, when Shrabani Basu was touring Victoria's Isle of Wight summer home and noticed several paintings and busts of an Indian made up to look like an aristocrat, not a servant.  Voila:  Stephen Frear's drama starring the aforementioned Judi Dench and Ali Fazal.  This movie is well acted and beautifully shot, and Little Missy gives it a pass because it brings to light a story we didn't know about Queen Victoria.  And because of that, it sheds new light on the age of repression we call "The Victorian Era". Nothing is as easy as a label. By now we must all know that.

Last Flag Flying
Leave it to filmmaker Richard Linklater (Little Missy reviewed his "Boyhood" a few years ago) to tackle a difficult and sensitive topic. The film takes place in 2003, just after the beginning of the Iraq war. Larry "Doc" Shepard, played by Steve Carell has lost his wife to breast cancer a few months earlier and now his son, a Marine, in Iraq. Steve, who served in Vietnam until an incident got him thrown into the brig for two years and thrown out of the Navy with a Bad Conduct Discharge, is truly the epitome of down and out. He seeks out his old Vietnam buddy Sal, played by Bryan Cranston, who is now running a seedy bar in Virginia for help.  Although the two haven't seen one another since the war, Bryan drops everything when Steve asks him if he will come with him to claim his son's body and bury him. The Marines have stipulated he be buried at Arlington, which already is giving Steve bad feelings.  The two pick up one more old Vietnam friend for this journey, Richard Mueller, played by Laurence Fishburne, now a Baptist minister. We learn that Steve doesn't want his son buried at Arlington, but next to his mother in New Hampshire. When the three friends arrive at Dover to claim Steve's son, they meet the son's best friend, Charlie Washington, played brilliantly by J. Quinton Johnson.  Quinton tells Steve what really happened to his son, which makes Steve go ballistic.  He insists on bringing his son home to New Hampshire, Arlington be damned, and the Marines insist Quinton accompanies the group to insure the son has a proper and dignified burial wearing his dress uniform.  My favourite part of the movie is when the three old warriors start reminiscing about Saigon, booze and prostitutes, and Quinton shuts them down by suggesting that prostitution isn't something he or his friends are into.  Hmmmm, a Millennial Moment???  Happily for this sad movie, the ending is upbeat.  The three inadvertently have done exactly what the son would have wanted them to do.  Full disclosure:  I would not have picked this movie, my boyfriend did--but I am glad I saw it.

The Florida Project
If I had to say what movie had the most impact on me this year, I would have to say it was Sean Baker's "The Florida Project". The setting is a three-story poverty motel on the outskirts to Disney World.  It's even called The Magic Castle, but this is as close to Disney World the kids who live here are going to get. It stars Willem Dafoe as motel manager and it should get him an Academy Award. He is uncompromising but kind and humane to the down and out parents who are trying to make their rents each week.  He also looks out for the small kids while their parents are working, asleep or inebriated.  A six year old girl called Moonee, played brilliantly by Brooklyn Kimberly Prince, lives with her early twenty something mom, played by Bria Vinaite.  For Brooklyn, summer means endless stretches of time to invent games to antagonise neighbours, roam throughout the neighbourhood inventing fantasy scenarios, and never giving up or giving in.  In essence, this movie is about the resiliency of children, despite what may be going on at home. In fact, I've never seen a movie that quite captured the indefatigable bounce back kids can have in the worst of situations. I don't want to say much more, except do whatever you can to see this movie!

Woodshock
Last but not least, Little Missy is happy to say that Woodshock is available as a DVD.  Kate and Laura Mulleavy's breathtaking movie starring the luminous Kirsten Dunst is a must see.  It tells a story 100 per cent from a woman's viewpoint, something I don't think has ever happened in Hollywood. Like the movie "Days of Heaven", which was released in 1978 and is now considered one of the most important American movie, there is little dialogue and much gorgeous cinematography.  Allow yourself to be immersed in the redwoods while Kirsten takes her dark night of the soul journey. Stunning and unforgettable.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers!
Much love
Little Missy

Coco Chanel's Out of Date Advice

Throw It Away Now

Yes it's true!  She's dated.

"I don't care what you think about me. I don't think about you at all".

Advice to hand down to a daughter or a granddaughter?  I hope not!

"Dress like you're going to meet your worst enemy today".

Perhaps Mademoiselle may have written that when she was holed up at the Ritz in Paris with Nazi officers?

"A woman with good shoes is never ugly". 

Forgive Little Missy but What in the Hell does That mean?

"A girl should be only two things: who she is and what she wants".

God forbid she would ever think of anyone else!

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous".

For those of you old enough to remember, Helen Gurley Brown, the legendary editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine essentially had some of the most famous writers of the day re-writing this drivel, including Norah Ephron.  Gone with the wind!  It's too ridiculous to contemplate.

"A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future".

I guess it worked for selling Chanel No. 5 but who's buying into that myth now?

And last but not least because I think my beloved readers are getting the idea:

"If you're mad, add some lipstick and attack".

Utter rubbish!

Coco, your days of "chic advice" are over.  Little Missy never quoted you to her daughter and can't imagine doing so now.  My granddaughter would simply look perplexed, and ask why the lady (Coco) was so angry and why she wanted to play those games with lipstick and shoes.  This isn't 1910.  Little Missy says please stop quoting Chanel, stop the memes and the Pinterest boards about her "pearls of wisdom". Collect the costume pearls she created -- they actually have value and are skyrocketing every day.  Lay to rest the things she had to say and do to get where she got. It's a brave new world, women! 

#MeToo

Do You Want To Be  Bad Girl Or A Good Girl?

Paris Fashion After Christian Dior Died

Silk Shantung and Wool Crepe Bar Suit 1947

It was wonderful and only natural for a French fashion genius to bring a new look to women after the deprivations of World War II.  Christian Dior, the French fashion genius even called it "The New Look".  It featured an extreme nipped in waist and flared out skirts that almost swept to the floor. The skirts were lined in tulle and could virtually stand on their own. No more deprivation!  The war was over and fabrics were again available and men wanted to see women look like women!  That's what Dior designed and the fashion world did a topsy turvy!  Lots of women loved the idea of extreme usage of fabric as a symbol of youth and hope. But not all women.  When Christian Dior's designs arrived in Chicago in 1947, they were greeted by women carrying banners which said, "Mr. Dior, we abhor dresses to the floor".

1954 Dior Floral Day Dress

This did not stop Christian Dior, and for the most part, his popularity was legendary.

Added to his popularity was his unassuming nature. I urge all of you to read his autobiography, Dior by Dior.  His charm is natural and unforced and he comes across as genuine and lovable.

And full disclosure, Christian Dior designed Little Missy's most favourite dress in the world, the Junon.  It is such a special gown that it has its own glass case on a top pedestal in the Dior Retrospective at Les Arts Decoratifs in Paris, on display until January 2018.

Well, well, well...Dior suddenly died in 1957 and the brilliant young Yves Saint Laurent took his place.

Hmmm, what do we have here?  The "Chicago Ensemble"!  A badass take on Brando, James Dean and motorcycles!  Plus an incendiary nod to the badasses in Chicago who did not dig Dior in '47!

Of course, Saint Laurent got fired and went on to dizzying heights, completely in tune with what his generation of women wanted!  Bonjour Jeunesse indeed!

And of course Yves was a hippie!  I mean, HELLO!

So my point is (and I do have one)--a woman does not have to be a "good girl" or a "bad girl".  Just be an aware individual.  Select the clothes which suit you.  I see a lot of women today buying these awful Gucci and Dolce&Gabbana floral dresses and it makes me cringe!  But then fashion is cyclical and already the leading designers have stopped putting everything but the kitchen sink onto their clothes and accessories!  I take a leaf out of Yves' page...when in doubt, be a BADASS!
Love,
Lttle Missy

Packing for an Extended Trip

Little Missy Light
ONE SUITCASE ONLY

The original itinerary was two physics conferences in Florence and Belgrade.  One small suitcase with a couple of day dresses and some white jeans and tops to augment my travel ensemble of jeans and a sweater.  The weather in Florence is topping out at 95 degrees Fahrenheit every day and Belgrade is even hotter.  Then the plans changed.  Kate and Laura Mulleavy invited me to the premiere of their movie Woodshock at the esteemed Venice Film Festival.  So I talked it over with Bruce and we decided I should attend this once in a lifetime experience and cheer on Kate and Laura after our trip to Florence.  Then my daughter said, "Why don't you take a direct flight from Venice to Abu Dubai (Lexi has a research gig at New York University in Abu Dhabi part time). "And we can take Isold (my granddaughter) to see the Cirque de Soleil in Dubai one night".  Then my friends Livi and Yass from on aura tout vu called.  "We're doing a thing at Kensington Palace on the 15th of September and there's a dinner afterwards and we want you to come"!  And of course I want to come, so now it's Florence, Venice, Abu Dubai, Dubai and London, with side trips to Paris and Milan.

So!

I am taking four or five easy to pack lightweight day dresses from Rodarte, McQueen and Alaia, white jeans and tops, swim suits, a cover up, a red carpet gown Rodarte created for me (these two never cease to amaze me...they simply do it all)! Then I am taking a black Dior fall black Duchess satin cocktail dress to wear to Kensington with on aura tout vu accessories. And of course various shoes and sandal and handbags.

This dress from Dior except in Duchess Satin for Kensington Palace--and I sure am not wearing that stupid hat!

on aura tout vu Couture necklace which they created for an anniversary of my 30th birthday.

Oh dear, there seems to be an editing job here!

This McQueen dress is a hot look in Europe at the moment so it makes the cut.

I plan to work this Rodarte Tour de Force on the Red Carpet in Venice,
even if I am working it only for myself!

It doesn't look glamorous now, but just wait.  I've managed to fit a gazillion things into my Tumi two-suiter suitcase!

My friend, de Young's textile curator Jill D'Alessandro claims she marvels at my ability to pack.  Yes, Little Missy will pat herself on the back for that one.  Pack I can.

Florence, the Venice Film Festival, dinner at Kensington Palace and so on may be fun and grand and all, but being with Isold at Cirque de Soleil will be grandest of all!
Hope my packing story helps someone!
Happy Summer to my beloved readers,
Love Little Missy

SOULEIADO Chic with Little Missy!  Come visit the epicentre of a cherished French brand from the south which constantly reinvents itself!

This is the charming and deceptively simple town of Tarascon, the birthplace of one of the western world's most enduring textile houses, SOULEIADO.

Brigitte Bardot and Isabelle Adjani visited the museum in 2013 when the brand was reigniting. 

The dramatic styling of Souleiado.

A Visit to SOULEIADO Museum

This is a souvenir of our trip to the Souleiado Museum in Tarascon, France.  Anyone who knows me well knows of my fondness for the special toiles of Souleiado.  Please take a journey with me and I will show you a little of what I saw during  this visit.  SOULEIADO is a Provencal word meaning the strong sun that breaks through the clouds after rain.

The sculptures of Larry McLaughlin greeted us as we entered the museum.  His exhibition will be shown until mid-September.

Original dyes in the dye room, still vibrant.

Test cloth for colour.

A stack of 200 year old boutis.

Samples of boutis, the special hand worked quilts.  The fact that these red hues from years ago stand up to the red walls speaks volumes about the vibrancy of the dyes.

Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was the marvellous porcelain made at the beginning of the 20th century.

The divine intricacy of this tureen is a sight to behold.  The craftsmanship of this town was in full flower at the beginning of the last century.

How chic are these dancers on a tureen in a takeoff of Greco style?

                                               A table setting from the last century still looks fresh.

                            Above and below are ensembles Little Missy might have worn in the Eighties.

What is a Couture Moment?

Important Summer Solstice Thoughts!

This is a bona fide Couture Moment of Freddie Aranda and me in the Hong Kong food market!

One of my dearest friends, the great, late Andre de sa Pessoa of on aura tout vu once comforted me when I spilled a glass of champagne at a summer haute couture gala several years ago in Paris (where else, actually)????  "Don't worry, darling, you're just having a Couture Moment'".  Couture Moments came to mean laughing and crying within five minutes, klutzy behaviour, rips in clothes and the occasional wardrobe malfunction.  In other words, if you slip up, no problem!  It's couture!  Atelier style!  Still in the stages of experimentation!  We just make it look good!  We really don't know if it's going to work!  But we're almost 100% sure it will!  Still it might not!  So just laugh and call it a Couture Moment if something goes wrong!  And it might!  Maybe!

Here are some Couture Moment images, some very personal:

This Couture Moment went well for Yves Saint Laurent in Morocco!

This Couture Moment went well for the Queen of the Summer of Love, Jeanne Rose, in the hip huggers, and made me want to get into fashion!

Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Moment.  What no one knows is how much my feet hurt! (Photographed by Frederic Aranda).

I'm bringing my hardcore particle physicist boyfriend Bruce to the Paris shows in a couple of weeks.  He DOES NOT KNOW WHAT A COUTURE MOMENT IS!!!!  LOL!!!!  HE'LL LEARN FAST!!!  BECAUSE HE IS  FAST LEARNER!!!

Couture Moment Passport.  Don't try this with one of those passport photo machines!  Frederic Aranda took it!  And Mario Testino took Anna Wintour's!  And Cecil Beaton took Greta Garbo's!

Couture Moment Portrait with junk jewels from Harajuku shops in Tokyo.  Again, by Frederic Aranda (who else)?

Couture Moment portrait by Gladys Perint Palmer

Couture Moment with Livi and Yass of on aura tout vu and James Krohn of Neiman Marcus

When all else fails, put on some great clothes and lie down.  That's a Couture Moment, and Frederic Aranda caught this one.

Hope this has helped you to understand Couture Moments!  Because Enquiring Minds really do want to know!  Have a great summer!

Love, 

Little Missy

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http://myemail.constantcontact.com/San-Francisco-Social-Diary--Electric-Fashion.html?soid=1109765653664&aid=u7Ho2KkCuBY

If  You're Going To San Francisco

Be Sure To Wear Some David Austin Roses Your Hair

And if you're lucky Gladys Perint Palmer will put flowers in your hair in one of her beautiful portraits.

Do you think it looks like Little Missy?

Bruce and me at the Summer of Love themed Spring Gala at the de Young Museum.  I am wearing runway Alexander McQueen.

As it was shown in Paris-- I'm trying to up the ante during the 50th Summer of Love anniversary in our sweet city.

Here is Little Missy at a beautiful Neiman Marcus lunch honouring Johnson Hartig.  Last month Ken Downing told me that if I bought these sunglasses they would change my life!

Here is the person who changed my life---this is a now famous photograph taken in 1967 of Jeanne Rose (in the hip huggers) and her friends (including Janis Joplin in the poncho).  I looked at the picture as a young girl in the San Francisco Chronicle and had that epiphany moment when I realised I wanted to be in fashion and surround myself with arty, fun and fashionable people.  Now I am lucky to count Jeanne Rose as a friend!  Check out her beautiful clothes in the de Young's Summer of Love exhibition curated by my dear friend Jill D'Alessandro.