Her personality was flamboyant, her looks were striking and her taste was impeccable.
Now Diana Vreeland has been immortalized in a new biography, Diana Vreeland, by Eleanor Dwight (William Morrow, 320 pages, $50).
Vreeland, long-time editor at Harper's Bazaar and editor-in-chief of Vogue, is famous for helping first lady Jackie Kennedy create her often copied "Jackie look."
She transformed Vogue from a prim, conventional magazine into a daring one by doing such innovative things as sending models all over the world to be photographed on the edges of cliffs and in dazzling locales. Vreeland, who died in 1989, also fostered the careers of many people in design and show business, including photographer Richard Avedon, designers Mary McFadden and Issey Miyake and actress Lauren Bacall. Vreeland's shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute were the stuff of legend.
And her pronouncements -- definitive, funny -- refuse to go away. After all this is the woman who once said, "A new dress doesn't get you anywhere; it's the life you're living in the dress."
After Green comes Blue
Polo Green for men was the scent of the '80s. Now Polo Blue is aiming to become the smell of this decade.
Still sporty, the fragrance is a blend of cool fresh and warm spice scents and incorporates melon, cucumber and tangerine with basil and musk.
The collection costs $15 for a 2.6-ounce deodorant to $52.50 for a 4.2-ounce bottle of spray cologne.
Shopping options expand in center
Finding something to wear just got a little easier with the opening of a new Chico's at the Village of Cross Keys. Chico's sells comfortable but stylish women's clothing in rich fabrics and colors and fun, ethnic-inspired accessories. Chico's merchandise walks the line between the basic and the unusual. Located across from Talbots, the store opened in late September.
Another national retailer that opened at the North Baltimore shopping center is J.Jill, a women's clothing company that sells high quality women's apparel, accessories and footwear inspired by nature.
Other changes at Cross Keys include the relocation of Heirloom Jewels into a larger space next door to its original locale and coming this month, Ruth Shaw opens a newly renovated store.
The Village of Cross Keys is located at 5100 Falls Road.
White T's appeal is timeless
For the latest trend in street wear, look no further than James Dean, Bruce Springsteen and the Fonz.
The white T-shirt and jeans is back in Baltimore in a big, big way. An oversized plain white T -- we're talking almost to the knees here -- paired with baggy dark blue jeans is the hot outfit for young men spotted at area high schools and around town. For women, the T-shirts are more fitted and pair with jeans or a denim skirt.
The look is generic but classic, plain but stylish. One shirt we like is GapBody's seamless T because it's fitted and flattering, not to mention the fact that there are no itchy labels or unsightly seams. Available at the Gap for $18.50 in white, gray and black.