The Wham! Doctrine: Youth, Freedom, Work & Love (Songs For Various Stages In Life)

I 'CHOOSE LIFE'. And in this life, I've chosen WHAM! 

For too many who've loved this band, it's been easy to forget (or dismiss) the small but fruitful catalogue of musical contributions by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Cynics always wondered what Ridgeley ever really did to contribute to the band, since George Michael wrote, produced and sang every track. 

Without Andrew Ridgeley, guiding and prompting his best friend early on, there would never have been a band called WHAM! Or subsequently, a George Michael musical breakthrough. As it were, there was. Andrew Ridgeley is perhaps the most successful best-buddy-to-a-natural-born-star in the history of music.

Of course the majority of people DO love WHAM! at least once each year. 'Last Christmas' is a beloved staple at Christmastime. (As it should be.) And many do appreciate musical gifts (i.e. 'Careless Whisper') left to us by singer-songwriter George Michael.

For me, WHAM! is a way of life year round. WHAM! could even be a doctrine. Because for so many life stages, there is a WHAM! song. I'm leaving out a couple of songs (Come On & Love Machine) and going in order of appearance on their three albums.  

Note the high level of productivity from this band, releasing three solid albums in just three years.

ALBUM #1. FANTASTIC (1983)

BAD BOYS

'Bad Boys' is the first song on Wham!'s debut album Fantastic. It begins right at the first stage of life: 'Dear Mommy, dear Daddy, you have plans for me. Oh yeah, I was your only son." In the beginning, there's family. And the next stage: 'Dear Mommy, dear Daddy, now I'm 19 as you see, I'm handsome, tall, and strong. So what the hell gives you the right to look at me as if to say, 'Hell, what went wrong?'' At the age of 19, he's self-confident as all get out. But his parents protest and dispute his decisions, and they worry about him. As parents often do.

A RAY OF SUNSHINE

'Move it, move it, baby. Can't you see I'm ready to dance? Without this beat my life would fall apart.' A little bit disco, a little bit funk, a lot of 80's pop -- all in a perfectly balanced mix for one incredible song.

'Sometimes, you wake up in the morning with a bass line. A ray of sunshine. Sometimes, you know today you're gonna have a good time. And you're ready to go!' This one could be one of my top 5 songs of all time, by any artist –– because of how it makes me feel. 'A Ray Of Sunshine' is all about a natural burst of energy and enthusiasm for being alive. I feel enthusiastic when I hear the song. Nothing can top that. I've included two videos for this one because the video clip from the Lindsay Anderson-helmed WHAM! film 'Foreign Skies' is priceless.

WHAM RAP

'Do... you… enjoy what you do?' This one is at the post-adolescence stage of life when you're expected to: 'Get yourself a job!' Anyone who's ever been unemployed against his or her will knows it is not actually fun. But 'Wham Rap' is a song for those who choose unemployment. And who hasn't (at one point or another) denounced the idea of working a 9-to-5 office job? The Wham! boys were young and ready to take on the world. They didn't need no stinkin' job to bring them down. They do seem a little defensive with: 'Wham, bam, I am a man. Job or no job, you can't tell me that I'm not.' Well, who knows what kind of shade they'd been getting for wanting to have fun and perform––and get paid for it? Their refusal to pursue a more normal line of employment worked out very well for them!

CLUB TROPICANA

'Club Tropicana, drinks are freeeee. Fun and sunshine. There's enough for everyone!' The boys who wouldn't settle for taking ordinary jobs managed to find a way to enjoy both travel and leisure through their new jobs (as airline pilots) in the video for 'Club Tropicana'. Every now and then, we all hope to relax poolside in a tropical setting. When I've been lucky enough to do so, I immediately remember this song and video––both imprinted in my brain as an ultimate in tropical getaway fantasies. The song is great and the video is always worth watching.

BLUE

'Blue' appeared first as a B-Side to 'Club Tropicana'; the studio version was otherwise not released. Wham! included a live version of the song 'Blue (Live In China)' on their final album. It's another one of their lovely, relaxing songs –– the mood is full of summer breezes; the lyrics and George Michael's delivery are full of melancholy. But there is a greater significance to this early Wham! song. 'Blue' sounds very similar to 'Nothing Looks The Same In The Light' (below)––and in it, you can already notice hints of an enormous hit to come: 'Last Christmas'.

NOTHING LOOKS THE SAME IN THE LIGHT

With freedom from parents––and now a little spending money––you (or he, or they) can now go out and about to explore what this life holds. It's surely possible to meet other young, single people learning the ways of the world. It's even possible to spend time with someone you've just met until the wee hours of the morning. Will the light of morning be a harsh reminder that this situation only attributes to being young and foolish? Or will the rendezvous make sense the next day? That is what 'Nothing Looks The Same In The Light' is all about. And we've all been there.

YOUNG GUNS (GO FOR IT!)

'One, two, take a look at you. Death by matrimony!' This one is pretty clear: Our protagonist, George, tries to convince his friend not to settle down with his current lady love. In 'Young Guns (Go For It!)' he's very worried––and not only because he'd lose his friend. He also doesn't like the unexpected pressure of being that much closer to the responsibility of settling down himself. 

ALBUM #2. MAKE IT BIG (1984)

WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GOGO

The jitterbug. (Snap, snap.) 'You put the boom-boom into my heart!' Here, our friend has finally found love and joy in his relationship. So much so that he can't wait until they go out dancing together. Of course, he suggests it's also nice to stay home in bed. 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' might seem to be on the too-fluffy side, but our fellow has made real progress in his love life and he is ecstatic about it––as he should be. We've all been there. Or at the very least, we should all feel this good sometimes! And this one always gets extra points for the Doris Day mention: 'You put the gray skies out of my way. You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day.'

EVERYTHING SHE WANTS

'And now we're six months older.' Well, things have taken a sorry turn. Our guy has considered settling down for good with his beloved. Lo and behold, he's now working so hard that his 'back will break' just to give his money away to the most materialistic and sad excuse for a partner in the history of song. 'My situation never changes, walking in and out of that door. Like a stranger, but with wages. I give you all, you say you want more!' And he has no idea why: 'Somebody tell me, why I work so hard for you!' No wonder he resisted the notion of working in his Wham Rap days... In 'Everything She Wants', his worst fears have all come to fruition. 'My God! I don't even think... that I love you!!' (Get out of there quick, George!)

LIKE A BABY

After that rough previous relationship has ended, we find our hero resting his soul on vacation. He may or may not have set out on this journey alone. By the end of 'Like A Baby', we discover he is so deeply in love with someone he is left 'crying like a baby' at the prospect of their impending separation. He might also be hesitant to go back to his many responsibilities at home. I can't think of a song that evokes the mood of being out on an ocean, far removed from daily stress––possibly on or around an island––than this one. Just listening to the song (which is a relaxing instrumental until 1:40) is like taking a vacation. Reaching the end of the song leaves me crying like a baby, too. Kudos to George Michael for once again knowing how to evoke a very precise mood.

FREEDOM

Before the stunning Freedom '90, there was 'Freedom' '84. After crying like a baby, things must worked out on that romantic getaway. At least now our fella George is smitten by his new partner––so much that he insists he wants to be monogamous relationship. 'I don't want your freedom. I don't want to play around.' It takes a mature young man to open up this way. And the love of his life is now giving him a tough time. His friends tell him: 'Saw your lover with another and she's making a fool of you!' The tables have turned. Now his friends are trying to talk him out of getting too serious. But he is adamant. This one is worth it and he does not want his freedom anymore. (This Wham! video is also a classic, made with scenes from their historic trip to China.)

IF YOU WERE THERE

'If you were there, you'd know. If you were there you'd know... That I care.' The tables repeatedly turn. Despite his finding some level of maturity, his partner has gone from trying to make him jealous about her shenanigans to feeling worried about their relationship. Not very consistent. He insists that if she was there, she'd know (and figures he'll make her a tad more jealous, in the process): 'You ought to see how the other girls behave when you're not around. And only then you would know it's on your finger I'm wound.' So far, he seems to either go for divas or drama queens... Oh well. We'll see how long this one lasts!

CREDIT CARD BABY

Oh my! People and their patterns. 'People think you're just so sweet. But they don't know you quite like I do. I guess they think that I'm a lucky guy––but you're not fooling everybody." Looks like George is back to equating a money-hungry soul-crusher with 'life partner'. 'You can have my credit card, baby. But keep your red hot fingers off of my heart, lady! All I know is what I see. You're getting what you want–––and girl, it ain't just me!' Well, this one's on you, George. 'No matter how you cry, I'm not giving any love away. Do you think I'm crazy!?' Well, I do know. You should've known better after being with that 'Everything She Wants' gal who was breaking your back and taking all your money. When will you learn? Not all women are this way, I promise. (But I guess he gave up on ladies long ago! And perhaps he was in relationships with all the wrong ones for a reason? Hmmm...)

CARELESS WHISPER

The video tells the story of a guy who cheats on his fiancé with another woman. But I'll be honest. Here is where I believe George Michael officially came out. Not really, but this is how I see 'Careless Whisper'––in retrospect. In the narrative of the band, he and Andrew wrote the song together. Which may very well be true. But I always wondered what this 'careless whisper' might have actually been about. He feels so guilty about it: 'Guilty feet have got no rhythm. Though it's easy to pretend, I know you're not a fool. Should have known better than to cheat a friend, and waste this chance that I've been given.' Sure, this could be the run-of-the-mill relationship deception. But I think this may have been about George wanting to admit the truth about himself. He feels bad, he does love his lady friend––she's his 'good friend'. The pain will subside, and at least he can really be free. With 'Careless Whisper'––as with all of these wonderful Wham! songs–-–whatever actually inspired George Michael to write, sing, and produce such finely crafted pop tunes, everyone can relate to the moods and emotions he creates. I used 'Careless Whisper' for a ballet routine I choreographed and performed for ballet class school recital (in 4th or 5th grade) and it felt rather deep dancing to lyrics that insist: 'I'm never gonna dance again!'

ALBUM #3. MUSIC FROM THE EDGE OF HEAVEN a.k.a. THE FINAL (1986)

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN

Wham's final album begins with 'The Edge Of Heaven' and it's clear that the duo is feeling carefree. They released the album while being forthright about their intention to close up shop; this would be their last hurrah. The lyrics for 'The Edge Of Heaven' are a little racier than previous tracks: 'I would chain you up… But don't worry, baby. You know I wouldn't hurt you––-unless you wanted me to!' With his newfound creative (and maybe personal) freedom, George Michael suggests that since he's having so much fun, he might need forgiveness. 'Take me to the edge of heaven, tell me that my soul's forgiven, hide your baby's eyes so we can…'

BATTLESTATIONS

This song is a very honest one for our hero, George: 'I never had the guts to let you look inside. I don't think you'd appreciate the things that I hide.' This one is about that type of relationship where the couple fights incessantly, but then use that energy to have fun 'making up'. (I can't relate to this, but I'm sure there are plenty who can.) In 'Battlestations', the battling is becoming problematic: 'Now we spend more time in battle than we ever do in bed!' The song has a detached, eerie, sexy quality to it. Whether someone relates to the scenario here or not, there's no denying the greatness of the song.

I'M YOUR MAN

'I'm Your Man' is just bold, confident, fun–-–it's a feel-good song that cannot be denied. A relentless, steady beat runs through it. If you hear this song, you'll have to get caught up in it. 'Ba-by! I'm... Your... Man! Don't you know that? Ba-by! I'M… YOUR... MAN! You bet!' Here, George Michael sounds great, and his lyrics tell us he's feeling pretty swell, too. He's even far less needy with his partner. He just wants to have a good time, but even while calling the shots, and being cocky, he's still rather polite: 'I don't need you to care. I don't need you to understand, yeah. All I want is for you to be there, and when I'm turned on––if you want me––I'm your man!' And of course, there's the anthem: 'If you're gonna do it, do it right. (Right!) Do it with me!' Such a happy, brash tune. Forever infectious. And I love how much fun they're all having in this video.

A DIFFERENT CORNER

Here, we have a song that's much more mature and mournful than previous efforts. Again, George Michael shows his fearlessness and vulnerability in 'A Different Corner'. 'I'm so scared. 'Cause I've never come close in all of these years. You are the only one who stopped my tears. And I'm so scared.' He's definitely grown over time, as we all should. He's come to love someone deeply and that can be scary in some ways. 'Turned a different corner and we never would have met. Would you care?' This song is complex––it feels light and dark at the same time. George Michael proves yet again that he is singular in his skill at crafting pop songs that are pleasant to the ear, yet surprisingly deep. 'And if all that there is, is this fear of being used, I should go back to being lonely and confused. If I could, I would. I swear.'

BLUE (Live In China)

Here is 'Blue' again––this is the version more people have heard. It's a lovely song and worth a listen. It's also worth seeing the video. This live footage comes from the film 'Foreign Skies', and it's as close to seeing Wham! perform live as we can get.

WHERE DID YOUR HEART GO?

'Where Did Your Heart Go' provides more impression than truth. The song feels far less emotional than most of George Michael's efforts. When you get to this point, you can really appreciate his true talents and gifts as a songwriter over the course of his working in Wham! He's at his best when he is being honest–––or as honest as he can allow himself to be. Instead, 'Where Did Your Heart Go' could belong to anyone (or no one) and there is something detached about it. In this video, we finally get to see Andrew Ridgeley featured more prominently––singing. Which actually makes sense with my take on the song. It doesn't feel very personal for George Michael, nor would it to anyone who listens to it.

LAST CHRISTMAS

And finally, here's 'Last Christmas'. We know everyone loves this song. Because it's so universal, everyone can relate to feeling heartbroken around the holidays––at some stage in life. And the next year, you're sure to have some perspective over last Christmas. We can now watch the video and think about how much we miss George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley as a duo. In this video, we discover that George lost his lady love last Christmas––to none other than Andrew! Which would have made more sense in reality. I guess it's a handoff of sorts. George Michael is saying goodbye to the many illusions the public had about him. Let's revel in the the wonderful mid-80's ski trip visuals and the pop magic sound of Wham! And thanks for reading.

I'll sign off and leave you all with something very funny. Here is a Rolling Stone review for the first Wham! album, Fantastic––from Sept. 15, 1983, by music critic Don Shewey: "Probably the biggest problem with Wham! is that the group lacks a really distinctive vocalist. George Michael's earnest whine is as synthetic and overly familiar as the cheap keyboards so prevalent nowadays." Ha! Would you mind repeating that? (Music critics...)

Faux Fur Pioneers –– An Anti-Fur Campaign From Way Back In 1974

When will the fashion industry listen? This photo features Doris Day, Mary Tyler Moore, Angie Dickinson, Amanda Blake and Jayne Meadows wearing faux fur coats, looking up at a camera with hopeful smiles on their faces. The image was captured for an anti-fur campaign from 1974 for The Fund For Animals, an animal rights group that remains active today.

On its own, the image is misleading. And for anyone aware of the lifelong advocacy of two of the women –– Mary Tyler Moore and Doris Day –– on behalf of animal welfare and animal rights, it's surprising, and prime for speculation. The photo (separated from its original text) has managed to find circulation around the internet, posted by curious passersby on blogs and image-sharing sites like Pinterest. As is typical, the quick, haphazard sharing of content has skewed the actual meaning of what is being shared. Which is a terrible fate for a photo like this one, which holds such a greater ––and entirely opposed –– meaning. The truth can only be known with discernment.

Without the context from the campaign text associated with the image, which appeared in magazines and publications in 1974, it has begun to hold a distressingly erroneous meaning. Many who've shared it thought of it as a fun bit of vintage fashion, simply believing this is a photo of five once-and-still famous ladies wearing real animal fur.                   
Knowing a great deal about both Mary Tyler Moore and Doris Day and their respective lifetimes of advocacy for animals, my intention has been to share the reality of what the photo and campaign actually meant to say. These five women are decidedly NOT wearing real fur because they are actually advocating for an end to the wearing of real fur.

The heart-wrenching truth is that this level of hope, compassion, and possibility for real progress –– the ideal being to get humans to stop being so entitled, to see the suffering they've caused and to end it, finally –– has yet to be realized. Many decades later.

Doris Day, Mary Tyler Moore, and Angie Dickinson at an event for The Fund For Animals

This was a wonderful anti-real-fur/pro-faux-fur campaign. Again, it's from 1974. Why on earth can't the fashion industry stop using real fur once and for all –– finally, after all this time?

Here is the heading: "Five women who could easily afford any fur coat in the world tell why they're proudly wearing fakes." And then: "Fur coats shouldn't be made of fur."

Ideally, this campaign from 1974 should have worked. It would have easily worked for those who actually care about the welfare of animals and all that humans share the planet with –– it should have also worked for those who are simply affected superficially by the fact that these beautiful, rich actresses have stopped wearing real fur (for those to whom making some connection with wealth and fame are important and meaningful factors in their decision-making.)

It should have worked for anyone with a conscience, because the alternative is simply cruel. That this campaign did not work is definitive of how entitled humans have been, continuously, when it comes to decisions that affect others terribly. Other species have no choice but to share this earthly space with humans, and humans continue to be the cruelest and most dangerous animals on the planet. It is truly heart breaking.

People should evolve over time, if humans are as evolved as they tend to believe themselves to be, in that we have minds that absorb and differentiate information and make decisions based on previous experiences –– those of our own, and those of others. Why is this campaign/photograph such a sad indication of how little people really do evolve over time? It is terribly distressing for many reasons.

The fashion industry is at its core a creative industry, one that's ever-evolving while recycling from the past. At its core, it is also a business, and that is what drives many of its participants to do what they do.  But the decision to sell clothing people are willing to buy, without causing horrifying harm to other species, should be an easy one to make.

Why do so many high fashion labels continue the antiquated practice of using real animal fur when alternative synthetic materials that are just as beautiful and warm exist? Popular high-end designer labels like Burberry, Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Gucci still utilize real fur. Despite her own commendably strong stance against using fur and leather in her designs, Stella McCartney's parent company unfortunately is Gucci.

On the other hand, the Arcadia Group, which includes Topshop & Selfridges, has pledged not to sell fur. The Arcadia Group states in its Fashion Footprint FAQ's: "We are committed to not selling any items made of real fur. All our suppliers are required to sign up to our animal welfare declaration as part of their factory set up. In addition, our internet-based test report system automatically reminds suppliers of our animal welfare policy when they are asked to supply goods made from animal sources."

The long list of designers who continue to use real fur is disheartening, and their reluctance to stop the cruelty is both tragic and abhorrent.

Why would anyone choose cruelty and suffering for any reason –– but especially for no reason? It's disheartening to say the very least to see that this campaign from several decades ago did little to change something that's so simple to change. Stop using real fur, fashion industry, please and finally.

Speciesism is in no way more tolerable than racism. If one does not discriminate between species and is willing to look at the suffering of animals all over the world at the hands of humans, it would be made clear that theirs (all animals, apart from humans) is by far worse than any plight that has affected living beings in the history of the world.

Whether or not one chooses to see animals suffering terribly for no reason, these useless practices continue to exist. Whether the end result of that suffering is all that certain humans are willing to experience, the means still exists. And anyone who is willing to make fashion out of real fur, buy fashion made of real fur –– and wear fashion made of real fur –– is also entirely responsible for that very same amount of fur being ripped away from the body of an innocent, helpless & suffering animal who looks far more beautiful wearing it than any human ever could.

These days, some of the fashion industry's greatest ambassadors still plead for the most sensible move each and every label could make, and that's to stop using real fur. Twiggy Lawson, arguably the most famous fashion model of all time, who is also an actress, singer, and entrepreneur, attempts each year to get designers at London Fashion week to listen to this simple message against cruelty.

How many well-intentioned and heartfelt campaigns, and how many fashion plates of note or otherwise, must plead for this to change? And for how long? How many lifetimes of good service by animal welfare advocates will it take for the fashion industry to stop the cruelty?

More about The Fund For Animals' 1974 anti-fur campaign: http://www.fundforanimals.org/about/history.html.
More about Jayne Meadows: http://www.stevedalepetworld.com/print-archive/vintage-stories/animal-stories/359-jayne-meadows.
More about Amanda Blake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Blake

(Also published for Vintage Fashion at Examiner.com.)

Summer Reading For Vintage Fashion Aficionados

(Originally published for Vintage Fashion at The Examiner.)

Whenever summertime arrives, most of us have an inkling that we may coordinate extra time to sit back and read. If we can be so lucky, a sunlit porch, a hammock and a good book might be the sole items on our afternoon agenda.

In the spirit of sharing good reading experiences, I looked through my own bookshelf and picked a few past favorites. The result is a list of tried and very true summer reading options, selected especially for vintage fashion aficionados. 

Browse through the list to find out why you should locate each book, as well as the book's obtainability. Several titles are not only vintage in topic, but also in terms of their release dates. Therefore, some are harder to track down. All are worth the effort.

Whether you find hardback, paperback or eBook versions, any one of these will bring a little more cool to your hot summer days and nights.

Without further ado, in no particular order, here is my list of recommended (vintage fashion-themed) summer books. Happy summertime reading!

Cherie Currie 'Neon Angel: A Memoir Of A Runaway'

WHY: She was a teenage neon angel, the young cherry bomb who exploded onto the music scene with The Runaways.

Cherie Currie has extraordinary pipes and stage presence, with the rarest brand of raw talent. She is one of the bravest, greatest female front women in rock history -- and a genuine pioneer for female rock star fashion.

But her amazing bravery was never limited to her iconic style and stage presence. Reading Cherie Currie's story, as she tells it, is incredibly exciting -- and sometimes frightening. Currie tells us about her life with the same great courage with which she experienced events that shook the core of her existence.

Her strength of character is a credit to any or all women who endured the tough 1970's well enough to come out on the other side and tell us how it all went down -- while few, if any, have ever commanded the stage and took to the spotlight with the same ferocity as Cherie Currie.

Formidable singer and actress, survivor, loving ex-wife, proud mum, loving daughter and twin sister, a force to be reckoned with -- Cherie Currie is still all of those things. These days, she can be found wielding a chainsaw to create remarkable art pieces. Cherie Currie, the epitome of Renaissance Woman, remains a truly inspirational spirit.

OBTAINABILITY: Relatively easy; Neon Angel is available on Amazon.

Pattie Boyd 'Wonderful Tonight'

WHY: Surprisingly, Pattie Boyd's childhood/early years are as interesting as those more notable ones which had her living, twice, as a famous rock star wife.

The 1960's model and fashion plate was fascinating to those who knew her long before she became perhaps the most definitive and illustrious of rock-and-roll dream girls, twice a rocker wife, and muse for several of the most iconic love songs of the 20th century.

This is Pattie Boyd's story and there's a great deal to love about her, apart from being Pattie Harrison (inspiration for 'Something') or later, Mrs. Clapton (inspiration for 'Layla' and 'Wonderful Tonight'.)

Essential summertime reading for both fashion enthusiasts and classic rock lovers.

OBTAINABILITY: Easy. You'll find lots of options to purchase Boyd's Wonderful Tonight on Amazon.

Sheila Weller 'Girls Like Us'

WHY: If you love the 1970's, you already know why the legacies of artists like Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon should remain in tact in our collective minds.

Their music, experiences and personal styles defined their generation of women and beyond -- and in many ways, each one of these distinctly different women's experiences and lives were deeply intertwined with the other two.

Biographer extraordinaire Sheila Weller managed the seemingly impossible by weaving a tapestry, so to speak, with the lives of three different famous women of the 20th century -- in order to tell one complete and unique story about an entire era.

Girls Like Us is one of the most ambitious, inspired and flawless storytelling efforts by a music historian. It's a concept which in and of itself ties beautifully with the topic Weller covers, since this trinity represents the best female storytellers of the 1970's (if not the 20th century.) Note: There is also a great online companion to Sheila Weller's Girls Like Us, Girls Like Us: The Music.

OBTAINABILITY: Easy; there are many options to purchase Girls Like Us on Amazon.

Jean Shrimpton 'My Own Story: The Truth About Modeling'

WHY: The Shrimp, as Jean Shrimpton was known, was the face of Swinging Sixties London and the greatest international fashion plate of 1960's. Many have made claims to being the first supermodel -- while she's arguably the very first.

Along with her 'discoverer' and boyfriend, inimitable photographer David Bailey, Jean Shrimpton helped bring fashion to the masses. She brought mini-skirts into the public consciousness with the help of Mary Quant.

This is her own story, as she shared it back in 1965 -- while it was all going on. A fun time capsule, if you can find a copy.

OBTAINABILITY: Some stray copies of Jean Shrimpton's My Own Story: the Truth About Modeling are available on Amazon if you're willing to spend a little extra.

Peggy Lipton 'Breathing Out'

WHY: Peggy Lipton describes her life in exquisite detail. Barring any limits on what she wants the public to know, you will feel like you have gotten to know Peggy Lipton upon completing her book.


Standout moments and highlights: her quick rise to fame after being photographed with none other than Paul McCartney, when The Beatles were in town; her experience as a young model; being cast in the role of her lifetime as Julie Barnes in 'The Mod Squad' (and later as Norma Jennings in 'Twin Peaks'); relationships with men as varied as Terence Stamp, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lou Adler, and even The King himself, Elvis Presley -- before marrying Quincy Jones; as well as other great stories and experiences.

Despite her decidedly East Coast upbringing, Peggy Lipton came to epitomize the perfect California girl in the 1970's. She remains a truly lovely woman, with style, grace and beauty to spare -- and it's certainly evident that her beauty isn't skin deep. She is an inspiration.

OBTAINABILITY: Various copies of Breathing Out are still available to purchase on Amazon.

Dyan Cannon 'Dear Cary: My Life With Cary Grant' 

WHY: Dyan Cannon shares her story as wife to one of the most beloved movie stars of all time, Cary Grant, in a loving yet unbiased manner.


It is a credit to Dyan Cannon that a reader who loves Cary Grant can love him more after reading her book -- despite her very candid admissions about him and their life together.

There are a great many references to his (sometimes forceful) influence on her life, her style of dress and her career. But to learn about this very private leading man's passion for LSD and his deeply complicated relationship with his parents adds a dimension to Cary Grant that only enhances the former Archie Leach's credibility as a performer.

As seen through Dyan Cannon's lens, Cary Grant remains a leading man unlike anyone else before him, or since.

OBTAINABILITY: Easy; there are various options to purchase Dear Cary on Amazon.

Diane Keaton 'Then Again'

WHY: The ever fascinating yet down-to-earth Diane Keaton decided to share some aspects of her life, her history, and her family with us in 'Then Again'.

She has held our attention for decades with her unique blend of style and personality, so it's irresistible to learn a little more about Diane Keaton, apart from associating her to her films and her leading men. We also learn about the woman behind the woman, since Keaton largely introduces her mother to the reader in this autobiography.

A scrapbook of sorts, and not a typical autobiography, this one is good for those lazy summer days.

OBTAINABILITY: Easy: there are various options available to purchase Then Again on Amazon.


Mia Farrow 'What Falls Away'

WHY: Mia Farrow has lived a life that's far richer, more connected, more compassionate than just about anyone in history. In her autobiography 'What Falls Away' she tells her story with her own brand of readable and equally eloquent prose.

She was raised in Beverly Hills, but Farrow's becoming an actress was a practicality, a means, a way to support her large family of siblings and her movie star mother when they needed her financial help. Had she gone a different path of her choosing, prior to following in the footsteps of her Hollywood accredited parents, she would have become a nun.

She embodied youth culture and style in the 1960's. Along her incredible journey, Mia Farrow had friendships with the likes of Salvador Dali, Roman Polanski, and The Beatles. She experienced a most unique-for-its-time romance with her first husband, Frank Sinatra. And, as we know, that wasn't even her most lasting or publicized relationship.

Mia Farrow always wanted to help and nurture children. And she always has. Her own adopted family and her efforts to defend those who in need worldwide has been the most natural progression of who she is. Mia Farrow is the authentic in a world of people who try to be the sort of individual she actually is.

OBTAINABILITY: Somewhat rare, but there are some copies available of What Falls Away to purchase on Amazon.

Ali MacGraw 'Moving Pictures'

WHY: Ali MacGraw's experiences prior to her quick rise to fame were as illustrious, in many ways, as the events that followed. In 'Moving Pictures' Ali MacGraw tells her story from a cozy winter abode and her reminiscing is friendly in manner.

As she goes back in time to the beginning, the complexities of this beautiful woman quickly come to light -- as in the flicker of light from her moving pictures -- and the reader comes to realize that Ali MacGraw is talented, capable and exquisite in many more ways than she's been credited.

Ali MacGraw was assistant to Diana Vreeland at Vogue in the exciting days of late 1960's fashion, when Jean Shrimpton would breeze into the office. She found success as a photographer's assistant and a stylist before getting placed in front of the camera as a fashion and commercial model. She endorsed Polaroid cameras and Chanel bath and beauty products before her foray into movies even began.

Despite her Academy Award nomination for portraying the iconic Jenny Cavalleri in 'Love Story', her marriage to Robert Evans and then to Steve McQueen, Ali has always been a unique individual whose talents were at times misplaced and misunderstood -- so she has spent some of her later years finding out, again, who that individual was. Ali MacGraw is a lovely woman to rediscover, via her autobiography, this summer.

OBTAINABILITY: A rare book; it can be difficult to find copies of Moving Pictures at Amazon -- good luck and happy reading.

Mary Tyler Moore 'After All'

WHY: Fans of Mary Tyler Moore, Mimsie (the kitten), those TV shows, her various memorable film roles, her smile, her style, her charm -- and everything else that bears her formidable MTM seal of approval -- will rejoice to hear her share her story with the masses.

What's entirely worthwhile and unexpected for even the most passionate fan of Mary Tyler Moore, as an individual, is to find out -- by her own candid admission -- just how dark the delightful, beloved personality of the Mary we know and love actually is. Mary Tyler Moore is nowhere near as cheerful and smiley as her public persona has long indicated.

But if anything, Mary Tyler Moore is as ambitious as one should expect, given the fact that she pioneered the ideal of a working woman with her iconic character Mary Richards, as well as being career-driven in her real life. Her accomplishments are truly remarkable. Her 'The Mary Tyler Moore' show remains one of the most successful TV shows of all time -- and subsequently, her MTM Enterprises became one of the most successful TV production companies of all time, churning out hit after hit.

That a woman who started her career as a professional dancer should become the head of a large corporation, when women were hardly making their way in the workplace, is extraordinary.

Sadly, her success story came at the highest price imaginable. The fact that she's lived to want to tell about some of her dark thoughts and experiences is a credit to her strength of spirit. Those who love MTM will love and admire her more for her honesty and courage in admitting who she really is -- without expecting to be liked at all for those dark admissions. A surprising read, so be prepared.

OBTAINABILITY: Some copies of After All are available on Amazon, but it's a fairly rare book.

Rod Stewart 'Rod: The Autobiography'

WHY: For good measure, here's one of two male autobiographies on the list. Reading Rod Stewart's take on his childhood and upbringing, his various hobbies and musical career beginnings -- even his hair -- is more delightful than one could ever hope.

Rod Stewart is a funny storyteller. Despite having been raised in London and only discovering his Scottish roots when he had grownup, somewhat, Rod Stewart has decidedly Scottish humor. Which is to say: good humor.  His book is engaging, entertaining -- and a real pleasure to read. In fact, he dedicates a full chapter to detail the life of his famous coif.  A chapter dedicated to his iconic hairstyle? If only more female entertainers would take themselves so lightly!

If you'd like to read a breezy book about football (um, soccer), rock and roll, fashion, hair products, and beautiful women this summer, 'Rod: The Autobiography' is highly recommended!

OBTAINABILITY: Heaps of options to purchase Rod: The Autobiography on Amazon, so happy reading.

Andre Agassi 'Open'

WHY: Andre Agassi's 'Open' is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. If you love tennis, read this book. If you don't love tennis, but love great storytelling, read this book. Actually, if you're human and you have feelings about anything, read this book.

Andre Agassi might be one of the best and most iconic tennis players in history, but he's also extremely candid about having had personal battles with his playing tennis professionally. Throughout his career, whether he was winning or losing, he hated his life's work. Which is really quite something to admit, and to address. He also admits that for much of the time while his famous mane propelled his highly marketable image as a bleached-mullett-wearing-style-rebel, he had to wear a hair piece -- since he'd lost his actual hair.

Agassi explains that his romance with Brooke Shields was in no way the ideal one the public imagined. He also shares with us the heartwarming (and heart-stoppingly romantic) point in his story when he enters into a pure, honest, comfortable and loving existence with his now wife, fellow tennis icon Stefi Graf. With Graf, he enjoys a life full of understanding and giving -- even beyond their own family.

'Open' is superb summer reading, especially for lovers of Wimbledon and/or the various Opens. For tennis fans and well beyond.

OBTAINABILITY: There are plenty of options to purchase Open on Amazon.

Is The Curled Shag The 'Worst' Hairstyle In History?

Originally published for Vintage Fashion at The Examiner. (Warning: do not attempt this hairstyle at home.)

The curled shag and/or mullet is a high-maintenance hairstyle worn by almost every actress appearing in the first season of the The Bob Newhart Show, an MTM Enterprises series that began its run in 1972. In the first episodes of the first season of The Bob Newhart Show (and subsequently), the dubious hairstyle appears on: Carol Kester, Bob Hartley's secretary (played by Marcia Wallace); Emily Hartley, Bob Hartley's wife (played by Suzanne Pleshette); the Hartleys' neighbor, who frequently drops in; Bob Hartley's mother; and so on. But first, two important distinctions must be made.

Primarily, the curled shag -- or curled mullet -- is curled laboriously using a curling brush or hot rollers; it is not be mistaken with a naturally curly mullet, or a naturally curly shag. Secondly, please note that labeling this hairstyle as the 'worst' is based on how labor-intensive the hairstyle is to achieve, in direct proportion to the resulting look of the hairstyle -- and in relation with its lifespan, or later resurgence and popularity. To that last point, the curled shag/mullet is a hairstyle that has not been recycled or replicated since the 1970's, unlike nearly every style in the history of hair design. Reasons behind its inevitable demise, and its failure to reconnect with subsequent generations, are plenty.

The curled mullet is a laborious style to achieve, unlike other shaggy looks. The purpose of a shag or mullet is (and should be) that it's an easy hairstyle to wear and maintain. At the very least it should have the semblance of ease, even if there is a great deal of effort behind its carefree appeal. (See Rod Stewart's perpetually-spiked, admittedly high-maintenance mullet; he dedicated an entire chapter to his hair in Rod: The Autobiography.) 

There have been so many variations of the mullet. But whether it's a spiky, shorter Ziggy Stardust look, the Paul and Linda McCartney Wings-era wings -- or a longer, more metal version -- the mullet, shag, 'ape drape', etcetera tends to have a rock-and-roll edge. Even the Florence Henderson/Carol Brady hairstyle, which has gotten such a bad rap over the years, can make the right gal or guy look rocker cool. 

But take that shag and/or mullet, then take a curling brush and/or hot rollers and start curling each layer, then tease those curled layers up, then spray them in place and you're left with a time-consuming horror of helmet hair that has all the potential to be worn by an active, spunky 90-something-year-old lady. Even she would rather not wear her hair in a curled shag.

Indeed, there's nothing cool or fun about this hairstyle and it's unflattering on even the most beautiful woman. Case in point: Suzanne Pleshette, who was a stunning beauty, could barely pull off this hairstyle. 

Do you agree that the curled shag and/or the curled mullet is the worst hairstyle in the history? Or is there a less attractive, more high-maintenace, non-replicated and/or non-recycled hairstyle than the curled shag, or the curled mullet? Share your take on the curled shag and/or curled mullet in the comments.

Classic Endorsement: Jean Shrimpton in 1967 for Lambretta Scooters

Lambretta Scooter 1967 and Jean Shrimpton

(Originally published for Vintage Fashion at The Examiner.)

Italian motor scooters Lambretta (by Innocenti) were a popular alternative to the Vespa, also Italian, in the 1950s and 1960s. The ideas and principles that guided what the Lambretta would become were originally conceived in the pre-WWII era.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Gennaio/Febbraio|January/February

The scooter was designed by Corradino D'Ascanio, who was hired by Innocenti to create a motorbike that could appeal to both men and women. D'Ascanio's solution was a vehicle with a 'pass-through leg area design' to allow women wearing dresses or skirts to ride.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Marzo/Aprile|March/April

By 1967, Lambretta hired Jean Shrimpton to pose for their calendar to memorable effect. Jean Shrimpton was known for her beautifully balanced features, her great poise, and for being the premiere representative of Swinging London and mod fashion.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Maggio/Giugno|May/June

Shrimpton was the right model to globally endorse the Lambretta as a sleek vehicle of choice for the youth and mod culture of 1967. Shrimpton's stature in the fashion world drew attention to the elegance and design of the Lambretta.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Luglio/Agosto|July/August

The Shrimp, as she had been monikered, was styled in miniskirts and colorful ensembles for the Lambretta calendar. She posed next to each scooter as if she and the scooter were modeling together. Again, this pointed to the beauty of the Lambretta itself. Shrimpton's beauty and relaxed poses were well in synch with the elements of fun, freedom, and functionality inherent in the use of motor scooters as a mode of transport.  

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Settembre/Ottobre|September/October

Despite countless fashion shoots and magazine covers, the images of Jean Shrimpton posing with Lambretta scooters for their 1967 calendar remain some of her most iconic.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Novembre/Decembre|November/December

A Potentially Cruel Summer for Denim Overalls (a.k.a. Support Your Local Dungarees)

(Originally published for Vintage Fashion at The Examiner.)

Summer is quickly closing in on us. The first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere this year begins at 1:04 AM Eastern Time on June 21st. We're not quite there -- but at this time of year (the tail end of spring) it's especially difficult to hear Bananarama's 'Cruel Summer' without imagining hot summer days. And denim overalls.

The British trio filmed their iconic 'Cruel Summer' video in New York City in the summer of 1983. They filmed it in August, when it was over a hundred degrees. It was their first visit to NYC. People who've been in New York in August can attest that the humidity there can be cruel.

Summers are not as heated and oppressive in other parts of the U.S. In northern California -- specifically in foggy San Francisco -- summertime tends to be colder than spring. Therefore, summers in San Francisco can be considered somewhat cruel. Even natives have trouble accepting the strange climate in the city by the bay, despite being privy to it year after year.

The idea of wearing minimal clothing for three months is generally appealing, and what a 'cruel summer' is, in terms of climate, can largely depend on one's geographical location: is it cruel because it's too hot, or not hot at all?

This summer might also be a cruel one for denim overalls. An injustice of sorts has befallen the lowly overall, and here's why. Rompers have been a spring and summer staple for years, and denim overalls made a bold comeback more recently. This past winter, an almost overzealous case for denim overalls (for adult women) was being made around the globe.

In the UK, for example, denim overalls were already on sale in various shops by March. Citizens of Humanity denim overalls appeared (as worn by denim editor Kelly Connor) in Vogue's Jeanius series in April; Connor made a case for dressing hers up in order to be wearable and more grown up. Having received so much attention, and so early, denim overalls seem a little 'over' already. Otherwise, this would've surely been their summer.

All any pair of denim overalls asks of anyone is to be worn for a little fun, relaxation, or goofing around. Their origins are the opposite: denim overalls were work clothes. Manual work clothes, at that. So in the summertime, denim overalls long to be worn how Banarama wore them: like three rag dolls kicking, jumping, and slouchily skipping along -- after having been stuck in an oppressively hot city when everyone is away on holiday.

Meanwhile, willing participants in cooler climates feel the cruel irony of longing to wear those overalls the way they wish to be worn. Come June, July and August, remember: if you're able to wear a pair of dungarees just to kick back, you should. Loose-fitting overalls everywhere will appreciate the support.