Why Don't You?

       

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      "Why don't you wash your blonde child's hair with dead champagne?" This is just one of the many suggestions from major editor Diana Vreeland's "Why Don't You?" column, featured in Harper's Bazaar from 1937 until she absconded to Vogue in 1962, and a feature I shared frequently on the previous incarnation of my blog. Regularly decadent and oftentimes absurd, her suggestions were not for the faint-hearted or persons of little means. Taking a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of scotch at her desk each day, she is responsible for discovering Lauren Bacall in the forties, and for telling Manolo Blahnik he should design shoes. She is the original Isabella Blow, grand and outlandish, and always with a sense of humor. Here are some of my suggestions for this week....

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Find a little fashion inspiration in the September issues? I always thank my lucky stars I was born in September, the "January of fashion" as Candy Pratts Price so eloquently dubbed it, as it's when the thickest, fattest, most fantastical issues of my favorite fashion magazines emerge, just in time for NYFW. You'll be able to glean all the upcoming trends and find a few tips and tricks on how to update your wardrobe.

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Try your hand at painting? Nars Cosmetics has just releases Eye Paints, a 10 color collection of gels that can be used as either buildable eye shadows or as liners. I personally adore products like these as you have much better control over the intensity of application, whereas with a powder formula, color is less likely to be adaptable to your intentions.

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Throw a glass of red wine? No, I'm not advocating violence, but I am advocating adding a glass of red wine to your bath water. The resveratrol from the grapes will help improve your skin's firmness and elasticity. Not into wasting any of your beloved vino? Add a 1/4 cup of honey to your bath instead, to aid in moisturizing your skin.

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Step up your fashion education with a film? Learn more about the creator of this column by watching the incredible documentary "The Eye Has To Travel." It chronicles Ms. Vreeland's entire career, from Harper's Bazaar, to Vogue, to the Costume Institute. Bonus points for indulging in "Unzipped," "Seamless," and "The September Issue." My personal favorite is of course, "The September Issue." 

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Enjoy a room with a view? Take advantage of the straddle between seasons by indulging in a rooftop cocktail. If you aren't lucky enough to have friends in high places, (literally) look up local hotels that boast rooftop bars. There's nothing better than a little gin and a little sunset...