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Latest Crush
Latest Crush Tuesday
10Jun
Eccentricity Abounds
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 12:46AM 
Ever since The Luxe Chronicles posted about Simon Doonan's latest book Eccentic Glamour, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. Luckily, I have a Jonathan Adler store within walking distance of my apartment, so I trotted on over for a copy...ahem, a signed copy, ladies and gents.
Then, in the way that the blogosphere has for generating its own kismet, my friend Alice (who has certain professional connections I won't begin to divulge here,) got La Doonan to guest-post a list on her Circle A Line blog. Suffice it to say, that post has been my singular favorite over the past few weeks - I keep going back to re-read it again and again. Too much fun! Especially if you have any care or appreciation for classic rock or kitch. I do, and I immediately looked up Yma Sumac on iTunes, bought her Mambo! album and have been enjoying it immensely. Why not? The Black Eyed Peas have sampled from it, so there's something to be said for old school, n'est ce pas?
So, yes, entertaining, clever, funny, diverting, transporting, witty, goofy, and a great bus-read. Simon Doonan is a font of witty rejoinders and obscure cultural references, (Zizi Jeanmaire - bonjour!) and he knows practically everyone worth knowing in the entire creative world.
That being said, while I do absolutely adore some of the folks in the style profiles in the book such as Dita Von Teese and Isabel Toledo, I'm not so keen on taking style advice from Lynn Yaeger. I just don't think the blush would really work on anyone else. Thank God he didn't interview Anna Piaggi!
I did love Doonan's style arcetypes, organizing virtually every woman of any chic in history within three convenient categories: The Gypsy, The Socialite, or The Existentialist. He even is so kind as to provide chosen designers that fall in line with these attributes. For instance, if you like vintage Ossie Clark you're probably a Euro-glam Gypsy. Wendy Brandes, what say you?
I will probably need a re-read to determine what archetype I am, but I think it probably is a healthy mix of all three, with emphasis on the Existentialist. I've been known to wear both Hermès scarves and vintage circle skirts, so I cannot write of either the Socialite nor the Gypsy. I'm a riddle wrapped in a conundrum, apparently. But I'm sure Simon Doonan would appreciate that.
The whole point, of course, is for the reader to find their own look, their own stylish voice and the gumption to express it. Partnering with Doonan's humor are the style profiles which are full of their own wit and wisdom from those that have boldly gone before. One of my favorite answers came from Iris Apfel, who said this when asked "Do men think you are hot?"
"At eighty-five I'm lukewarm. When I was younger I always had lots of offbeat gentlemen callers. The good ones were not turned off by my look. And now I have Carl. Fifty-nine years together. He's cute and cuddly and he cooks Chinese. What more could a girl want? And he's a gentleman. He wouldn't take anyone's eyeballs out for a buck. And we laugh. You might as well be dead if you cannot have fun."
I think that's really as simple as it needs to be. Maybe it's just me, but I've always had a fondness for those who use the term "gentlemen callers" - I use it every so often, but most don't know the reference so it's wit falls on uncaring ears. Sigh. The perfect gentleman caller will know what it means to be one!
Doonan celebrates trend-bucking, individuality and non-conformity, encouraging even those with downright fear of anything subjectively outlandish to step out and become their own Andy Warhol, Marchesa Casati, or Diana Vreeland - rouged ears and all. If anything, this book is an entertaining jaunt that recharges one's stylish creativity and generates some interpid experimentation when considering one's closet contents. This proves that many many glamorous eccentrics have gone before you, and despite your fear you are more than likely "small fry" on the scale of crazy style, so why not just go for it?
You never know where you may end up, and that's why Simon Doonan wants you to give it a go...
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