Tom Tierney Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Paper Dolls

Artist Tom Tierney has created a meticulously researched and beautifully rendered paper doll collection of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (1929-1994). There are five dolls, along with two figures representing her husbands John F. Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis. Accompanying the dolls are 27 costumes. The book captures Jacqueline's superb style and elegance. Of particular interest is the part of the book dedicated to the White House years and the beautiful reproduction of some of Oleg Cassini's gowns.

The Wonderful Art of Smocking

It's always amazing to see smocking transposed to more "modern" clothing (in this case, a 1950's girl's dress). This simple and decorative form of embroidery was introduced in the 13th and 14th century English countryside and used by farmers who smocked their clothes to create extra warmth and promote freedom of movement across the back, chest and arms. Practical and pretty too, the early smockers adorned their clothes with symbols that indicated where they were from and what role they played. These garments proved to be unpractical and dangerous with the introduction of machinery and were no longer worn on the farm but adapted to women's garments as a fashion element. Generally, done by hand, smocking machines were finally invented in the 1940's and have been used, more so, on children's clothing.

When in Doubt Wear Bill Blass

The timeless fashions of Bill Blass are worn by those who can even feel comfortable and up to date in his creations from thirty and forty years ago. An enduring symbol of American taste and style, his clothes set the standard for upper-class American cool that other designers would follow. Charming and personable, he was the first designer welcomed into the chic drawing rooms of New York and manoeuvred successfully through the decades expanding his line to include everything from sunglasses, jeans, fragrances, Lincoln Town Cars, furniture, linens and chocolates. Blass passed away in the year 2002, but his name and designs remain synonymous with classic good taste. This photo is a suit from Vogue Pattern Magazine 1988, a feminine uptake on classic menswear styling, clean and impeccable with modern styling and so very wearable today.