How to Dress for Dinner: Elizabeth Taylor Gives a Lesson

I saw this photo on Habitually Chic today and I thought (as I am wearing my James Perse sweatpants and a Racquel Allegra top - in other words, dressed in extreme comfiness for the oncoming winter blizzard out on Long Island where, hopefully, the power will not go out) La Liz is giving a serious lesson on how one should dress when you go out for dinner.

Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Kennedy, Richard Burton and Ethel Kennedy at the Plaza 1968

How beautiful does she look?  Just goes to show that a lot of sparkle can go a long way.  More is more fabulous is definitely Elizabeth Taylor's style mojo.   I am going to be all about the sparkly bolero one of these evenings out and a pair of big ol' diamonds too - and is that a tiara... 

love, kisses and vintage,  Juliana

Happy Glamorous Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!  Celebrating a few glamorous Mamma's!

Elizabeth Taylor.  Photograph by Toni Frissel

Audrey Hepburn and son Sean

Anita Pallenberg

Patti Hansen

Emmanuelle Alt

Gloria Guinness and daughter Dolores in Balenciaga

Jacqueline Kennedy

If Elizabeth Taylor Can Caftan Her Way through the 70s, Damn It! So Can We!!

Elizabeth Taylor caftaned her way through the 1970s in a variety of caftans some by Thea Porter.  I love a gorgeous flowy caftan-esque dress as much as any Dame.  Really if I could caftan my way through every day I would... 

Richard Burton when he saw Vicky Tiel (yes that Vicky Tiel) in a transparent, white lace, thigh high mini caftan  (how fab sounding is that?!) said, "What do we have here?  A nightgown?  We must have one for the missus."  So Vicky made Elizabeth's first mini white caftan encrusted with pearls.

Now Elizabeth and I are not alone in our love of a good caftan: Talitha Getty, Lee Radziwill, Daphne Guinness, Rachel Zoe and countless other uber stylish women have embraced the comfy cool of caftan chic.  As did Yves Saint Laurent.

Aren't these gowns the ultimate in caftan gorgeousness?!

1970s Yves Saint Laurent Caftan Gowns in Lime and Plum

PURCHASE

INQUIRY

Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011

I was sad to learn that Elizabeth Taylor died this morning.  She was a screen legend, with a legendary collection of jewelry, a legendary love life and a legendary dedication to AIDS research.

Who else would be given a set of Cartier rubies and diamonds in a pool in the South of France?  I love this video and can not think of a better place to be given rubies and diamonds.

No one looked better in a slip

and certainly no one looked better in a swimsuit

or in a tiara

With her great friend, Rock Hudson, whom she so compassionately and publicly started the American Foundation for AIDS research after his death in 1985.

In 1999 Elizabeth Taylor donated an Edith Head designed periwinkle blue and violet gown she wore to 1969 Academy Awards to an auction at Christies benefitting the American Foundation for AIDS research.  It sold for $150,000.

Her assistant found it in a box marked 'dresses worn to special occasions'.

She will be missed.