MOOD BOARD

I think the first picture better sums up my way to spend a Monday!!! While I love what I do for a living, I suspect I will never be a fan of Monday mornings. It was a glorious weekend weather wise, and while the warmish temps continue, we have rain in the forecast most of the week, which will be a good jump start to give other plants the coax they need to spring forth. So much is ready to explode. Speaking of springing forth, the Lad stopped in for an overnight and left this morning. Probably why I'm tired. There is no rest for the weary.

The Miranda Priestly gifs certainly sum up my Monday looks.

Happy Monday kids. Thats all.

BLACK FRIDAY

 
It's here. The day Americans show their worst traits .... greed, shopping gluttony, and consumerism!!! And being suckers for deals they think they are getting.  I don't recall us ever really shopping this day when I was a wee one. We were often still in a food coma from the day before, and would continue spending time with family. This will be the first time in close to 29 years I don't have to work on a Black Friday!!!! And since I work for a huge furniture company in its showroom, Black Friday is not a huge thing for us, if any. It was left up to me whether to come in or not. And it was a NOT!!! So, it's a three-day weekend kids. Friends often ask if I miss doing visual display with department stores for all those years. And the answers is yes, some days I still do miss it, and seeing the people's reactions to your work, and getting the store and windows ready for holidays was magical and rewarding. Even though we weren't considered essential store staff, we were always required to be at the store on Black Friday's at 6am to ready the store, and be there to lend support, and be on hand in case something went awry with a display, or a mannequin would get stripped. It often meant very speedy visits with family, being in and out for a tasty dinner, before I'd have to hit the road to return home. I couldn't even enjoy a cocktail. Some of the worst 8 hours of my life. So, in that respect...it's a big fat NO, I don't miss that, nor do I miss witnessing all the grabby, spoiled, consumeristic cattle crowds and the "Oh I have to have that" attitude. Hell no!!! So, this new job has been great. I lucked out with working with a good, fun, crew of co-workers, and I can basically create my own schedule. And for that, I'm grateful. 

Let's get in the mood with some fabulous legendary gals, with the likes of Carmen Dell'Orefice, Dovima, Suzy Parker, Dorian Leigh and the stunning "Catwalk Contessa" herself, Marpessa Hennink

Enjoy your Black Friday!

ALL IN BLACK, FRIDAY

Ready for Black Friday?!?!?!

 'What-black-day?' -for those who live across the pond or in a normal county, it's a day here that a majority of people go nuts and run amuck for their Christmas needs and hopefully find them on special price, or they show just plain greed by buying things they don't need. I myself never par take in the madness and often don't even work?!?!?! WHAT?!? Tis true. Even though our store doesn't get crazy, we can't get much done on the floor, so we just take a three day weekend. Besides that, I most times shop local small business when I can. Hope most of you had a lovely Thanksgiving feast?! My family had a good reunion no fighting, griping or not getting along . No... we all drink! I was going to post some Thanksgiving photos, but simply can't handle another "Turkey/Thanksgiving' post at the moment~ my waistline needs a break from the 'thirds I had!!! I told you my aunt was a good cook! No more turkey for now at least. Anywayyy...In honor of the Black Friday, here is one of my favorite women. Carmen Dell'Orefice...a stunning woman who still models and did I mention she is 88!!!! Carmen was a huge supermodel, before supermodel was coined. Just a beautiful woman..strong, vibrant and not afraid to have some fun.

Meanwhile, the Mistress will be off til Tuesday off visiting the ancestral home, and then some friends I haven't seen in an age. I'll return next week after a short break..so have a lovely weekend!!!

What will you be doing this Black Friday?

Rosemary Clooney is Here........

 

My good friend the Dame Courtney has much to smile about, like Rosemary Clooney,  above, for today it is her birthday! Happy Birthday dear!!!!! So I just had to give her a birthday greeting and give her some of her favorite chanteuse , who she adores. Si I have conjured up some vintage Rosemary in honor of the Dame and her day!

 

Happy Birthday! 

 

Here is the Dame...snapped just today as she was leaving her town home. She looks great for 30, don't you think?

 

 

And here the Dame with some of her lovely staff. She too is a proper gal.

 

Like Rosemary Clooney, the Dame came to prominence in town with her trade mark saying, after the Clooney tune , "Come On-a My House", which made her very popular. As did her cock-a-tail parties.  And like Rosemary, both enjoy a killer frock, and a clean swept coiffure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And in honor of the Dame on her day, here is a little ditty from Clooney's movie, Red Garters...... it's like watching the Dame entertain while on a visit......

That's the Dame alright..." don't grab the package or touch the merchandise!" But I do have a feeling she dropped off more than her bustle south of Bufflo, but I digress. So I hope dear you have a lovely birthday today! And speaking of the Dame, at weeks end I'll be the guest of herself and the Master Russel for a weekend at their lovely town estate, which I'm sure will be bound to be entertaing. I just hope she has a tanker of gin on it's way.

We Endorse Carmen Dell'Orefice

We at the Casa du Borghese LOVE supermodel, and I mean that in every sense of the word, Carmen Dell’Orefice, who if you can believe it turned 80 this year. The style icon has been modelling ever since she got on the cover of Vogue in 1946 at 15 years old! Carmen is also known as the world's oldest working model, and she lost her fortune not once, but twice!!!!!! And gained it back. In the 1980s and 1990s, Carmen lost most of her money in the stock market. She was forced to auction off her famous modeling photographs from the 1940s-1980s through Sotheby’s. In 1994, with what little money she had left, and with money from boyfriend Norman Levy, she invested with Bernard Madoff. Levy died in 2005, at age 93, and Madoff was the executor of his will, which had $244 million in assets, according to Carmen. Madoff further used this money to lure in about 13,500 individuals and charities. She continued to regularly have dinner with the Madoffs after Levy’s death. In December 2008, a 68-year-old friend who invested her life savings with Madoff, telephoned Carmen to inform her that she too, had been swindled. Carmen said, “For the second time in my life, I’ve lost all of my life savings.” Well, she gained it back again and through all this, still kept classy and stunning as ever. Dames like this are a rare commodity. I endorse her for all her fabulousness! She seriously takes this queen's breath away.