Last days of Summer

Talula shirt, Skirt and belt from Hong Kong, Nine West wedges, YSL arty ring

As excited as I am for fall fashion, I'm sad that summer is coming to an end. To make the most of it, I've been living in skirts and trying to enjoy the lovely weather as much as possible. A field near Steveston in Richmond seemed like the perfect backdrop for a little western look with a tiered eyelet and lace skirt, and a tan ruffle belt. I had D&G Spring 2010 runway on my mind when I purchased these at a small Japanese-styled boutique in Hong Kong. The ensemble makes for a good berry picking outfit, except the "berry" I picked was inedible. The deliciously colored Yves Saint Laurent Arty oval ring was a lucky find in HK. I didn't expect to see the color I've been coveting in my size at the YSL boutique in Time Square. A suspended oval enamel stone in Coral set on textured gold metal gives it undeniable beauty. From it-girl Alexa Chung to bloggers likes Rumi of FashionToast, the ring has captured hearts of many including that of yours truly.








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August 25: Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus is 49 today.

Born in Flatwoods, Kentucky, Billy Ray hoped to become a professional baseball player, but after buying a guitar while attending college on a baseball scholarship, decided to move to LA and pursue a musical career.

Cyrus has released eleven studio albums and 38 singles since 1992. His biggest hit has been "Achy Breaky Heart", the first single ever to achieve triple Platinum status in Australia and the 1992's best selling single in the same country. The video of this hit, created a line-dancing craze.

From 2001 to 2004, Cyrus starred in the television show Doc. The show was about a country doctor who moved from Montana to New York City. In late 2005, he began co-starring in the series Hannah Montana with his daughter Miley Cyrus.

-- "Achy Breaky Heart"

-- "Some Gave All"

-- "Butterfly Fly Away" (Duet with daughter Miley Cyrus)

August 25: Walter Williams of the O'Jays, is 68 today.

The O'Jays, a soul and R&B group, began in Canton, Ohio in 1958 while in high school. Originally known as The Triumphs, and then The Mascots, In 1963 they took the name "The O'Jays," in tribute to Cleveland radio disc jockey Eddie O'Jay.

Released in 1973, "Love Train" reached #1 on both the R&B and the Billboard Hot 100 charts and was certified gold by the RIAA." Williams has been a member of the group throughout its history.

The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

Press links below to view You Tube videos:
-- "Love Train"
-- "Back Stabbers"
-- "Use Ta Be My Girl"

August 25: Mexican singer and actress, Thalia Sodi, is 39 today.

Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda - known simply as Thalía - began her music career at the age of 9. She is known among her English speaking fans for her song "I Want You" from her crossover album in 2003 which went to #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Thalía's name is linked to soap operas which have been watched by over 2 billion people in 180 countries. She has received more than 2000 awards throughout her career for both singing and acting and has sold over 25 million albums worldwide.


-- "I Want You"
-- "Dicen por Ahí"

-- "Seduccion"

 

 

August 25: Scottish songstress, Amy Macdonald, "This is The Life" "Spark," is 23 today.

Born in Bishopbriggs, Scotland, Macdonald is a self taught guitar player teaching herself on her father's acoustic guitar. She first starting performing on stage at 15.

Her debut album, This Is the Life, was released on 30 July 2007 and has sold more than 3 million copies. Her first single, "Poison Prince," was released on 7 May 2007.

Amy has been described as softly spoken but with a booming singing voice. Despite her Scottish origins, her singing voice is described as partly Irish and similar to Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries.

(Continued below video and Amazon portal ...)

HIGHLY Recommended (Press album covers for direct links to Amazon):

  

Her second album, titled A Curious Thing, was released on 8 March 2010. It was preceded by the release of the first single, "Don't Tell Me That It's Over," a week earlier on 1 March 2010. The single was released to UK radio on 11 January.

The album's second single "Spark" was released on May 10, 2010 on digital download format. The album's third single "This Pretty Face" was released on July 19, 2010.

• Amy  won Best Newcomer at the 2008 Tartan Clef Awards and Best Newcomer at the 2008 Silver Clef Awards.
• In December 2008 Macdonald was voted "Scottish person of the year" by The Daily Record.

 

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August 25: Singer, songwriter Elvis Costello is 56 today.

Elvis Costello - born Declan Patrick MacManus - in London, is of Irish heritage. He was an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the Punk/New Wave musical genre. During his career, his music has drawn on many diverse genres.

In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #80 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

He is married to jazz singer and pianist, Diana Krall.

(Links for viewing You Tube videos:)

-- "Alison"
-- "I Want You" (With the Imposters)
-- "She"

HIGHLY Recommended (Links to Amazon):

August 24: Back-up vocalist for Little Anthony & the Imperials, Ernest Wright Jr. is 69 today.

First performing as a doo-wop group named The Chesters, in 1958, after Wright and Anthony Gourdine, a former member of the Duponts, joined the group, they changed their name to The Imperials.

While playing their hit song, "Tears on my Pillow," D.J. Alan Freed came up with the name "Little Anthony." The flip side of "Pillow" was also a hit; "Two Kinds of People." The group followed up with "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" in 1960. In 1961, Little Anthony left to attempt a solo career but returned in 1963. The group then produced hit after hit including, "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)," "Goin' Out Of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad."

Ernest Wright left in 1971 to join Tony Williams' Platters. In 1992, Wright reunited with Little Anthony and other former members for a concert at Madison Square Garden. The concert was such a success, the group decided to tour together.

Little Anthony and the Imperials received the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award in 1993, were selected for induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006. On January 14, 2009, it was announced that Little Anthony and the Imperials had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

-- "Hurt So Bad"
-- "Going Out Of My Head"
-- "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop"