People

Marilyn Monroe

She had to be smiling in heaven — Marilyn Monroe that is. Marilyn’s ‘The Seven Year Itch’ dress sold at a Profiles in History auction for $4.6 million plus another $.9 in fees. It was estimated to bring between $1 and $2. Marilyn’s red ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ dress also rendered the estimates meaningless, bringing in $1.2 million instead of $200,000-300,000. Audrey Hepburn’s Ascot dress from “My Fair Lady,” carrying the same estimate, sold for $3.7 million.

The dresses were all owned by actress Debbie Reynolds, who began collecting them at a young age, when she was under contract with MGM. Marilyn Monroe is a superb example of a Smart Sensuality woman. You might be surprised to know that being taken seriously as an intellectual was a life-long dream of the Hollywood star.

Marilyn Monroe | A Smart, Sensual Blonde (includes old video of Marilyn being interviewed on ideas and her world view.)

Reflections on Female Sexual Desire: Anais Nin, Marilyn Monroe & Isabelle Allende Join Forces with Anne

Design

Brooklyn Launch LEIF

We have a nice Internet ‘progression’ story this am. Notcot delivered me to this set of mixed greens teaspoons, made in France and sold online and in person at a new shop in Brooklyn called LEIF.

Wandering over to their blog, we have a great example of a mix between content not sellling product and content that does. All the entries support the’ LEIF lifestyle’.

Now for the Big Love — no offence lovely French teaspoons.

If you look at as much fashion editorial as I do, you see Stella McCartney’s spring 2011 fruit print in your sleep. Much as I love it, there is a part of me that says ‘enough all ready’.

Unless it’s really creative, I’m over looking at the same oranges and lemons on fabric.

As for a cake — now that’s creative! Stella McCartney was so impressed that even she Tweeted about it, writes LEIF blog. Called the Stella cake, it’s a citrus cake with lemon curd filling and orange lemon icing.

Another visually arresting, great content mix blog Apollinas has many photos of her Stella cake and the recipe. The author is an attorney in Washington and began her blog as a form of ‘relief’ from her stodgy career. Smashing!

More reading on Stella McCartney:

Living

Laurence Graff, a major if not the biggest dealer in big diamonds, is not inclined to market his baubles on models.

“The people who wear Graff jewelry own it,” says Henri Barguirdjian, who heads Mr. Graff’s United States sales operation. “I think it is a bit of an insult to our clients who actually purchased our jewelry,” he adds, referring to the notion of non-owners wearing Graff jewels. “If you spend $1 million, that is a lot of money. Do you want a little model wearing it?”

With Gisele Bündchen, wearing diamond earrings from Van Cleef & Arpels to the recent Met gale honoring Alexander McQueen, the ‘little model’ reference may not ring true. Forbes lays out their argument for Gisele becoming the world’s first billionaire model.

When in Rome (and Everywhere Else):

Some people spend their summer holidays rappelling down mountains, windsurfing, parasailing, bungee jumping, spelunking, and indulging in other tame, dull stuff. And then there are the true daredevils: thrill-seekers who don a fresh sundress, a pair of high-heeled sandals, and set out to find the most seductive shops in their vacation destinations, searching for one-of-a-kind souvenirs, or even better, inspirations for the fashionable days ahead.

Several designers embarked on a similar course for their recent resort collections (at least in their imaginations). Michael Kors dreamed of Bondi Beach; Derek Lam was wowed by Bhutan and Phuket; Suno was gaga for Hawaii; and Altuzarra swayed to the rhythms of St.-Tropez.

Green Beings

Out of Sync With Nature

Ji-Young Jung, Sun-hwa Park & Sojung Yoon | Kim Je Won | ‘Spring Picnic’ | Singles Korea May 2011

If future generations spend no time enjoying nature, how can this be good for conservation?

Serious hikers and backpackers tend to become members and financial supporters of environmental and conservation groups, unlike casual garden picnic makers or woodland tourists. Over a decade after hiking or backpacking in nature correlated with a willingness to financially support any of four representative conservation organizations: the Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, the Sierra Club or Environmental Defense. The typical backpacker gave $200 to $300 per year, after the dozen-year lag.