

Hercules: the slave, the chef, the dandy and the free man.
What is believed to be a portrait of George Washington's Chef, Hercules.
"After a long day in president George Washington’s executive kitchen, chef Hercules hit the streets of Philadelphia with sartorial flair and a keen eye for late-18th century fashion. Atop his head, the enslaved cook wore a voguish tricorn hat. Bright metal buttons held together his blue velvet-collared coat, a pair of shiny buckles dominated his fastidiously polished shoes, and a long watch-chain dangle


What does the Playboy bunny, Mae West and the Mermaid have in common? Zelda Wynn Valdes
“I just had a God-given talent for making people beautiful”
~Zelda Wynn Valdes June 28, 1905 (Chambersburg, PA) to September 26, 2001 (NYC)
Illustration by Jeanne Detallante Zelda Wynn Valdes I cheated a little on my fashion Friday last week, since I was knee deep in taxes, but I'm back in full swing highlighting designers for Black History month. Born in 1905 in Chambersburg, PA of a Cuban father and an African American mother, fashion designer, Zelda Wynn Valdes was know


Philly Fashion makes it to the Grammy's
Rapper Tierra Whack wearing a coat designed by Nancy Volpe Beringer of Philadelphia and a dress with images painted by Philadelphia artist, Liz Goldberg.
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Rather than writing my Fashion Friday Blog last night, I was going through our credit card statements with my husband in the attempt to get our taxes out to our accountants in the next few days.
This morning, I was puttering around the kitchen, feeding the dogs and trying figuring out


Ann Lowe: She persisted
"I love my clothes, and I’m particular about who wears them. I am not interested in sewing for cafe society or social climbers. I do not cater to Mary and Sue. I sew for the families of the Social Register." ~Ann Lowe Fashion Designer
1898 to 1981 I could spend several Fashion Fridays on the work and life of Ann Lowe.
The great granddaughter of a slave woman and an Alabama plantation owner became the designer for predominantly white, upper class women for events that Ann Lo