I personally like old musicals, including, of course, the Sound of Music, West Side Story, Porgy and Bess. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. What I like about most musicals is the characters. People aren’t just Austrian nobles, governesses or river boat men. They’re always more, and they build memorable personalities. The classic Hollywood musical is also a showcase for female leads – and their costumes. Just think of the famous canteen scene from Carmen Jones . That was about the best red pencil skirt I’ve ever seen. And for pure glamour, who can beat the pink gown that Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. What’s so much fun about musicals is that they’re determined to go over the top. They don’t dabble with reality, they go straight for the fantastic. They’re meant to lift you out of the ordinary. Read more…
We’re having a little party in celebration of Edwin Herbert Land’s 100th birthday. He was born on May 7, 1909 – and he lived to the ripe old age of 81. His father owned a scrap-metal yard and he went on to attend Harvard.
Among other things, his fertile imagination gave us the polarizing film that revolutionised the manufacture of sunglasses. Land created the world’s first synthetic polarizing light filter, a film with millions of micrometre-sized polarizing crystal that were perfectly aligned to screen out the horizontally reflected glare that interferes with vision. Polaroid Polarized Sunglasses still use a development of this technology today – it’s what makes our sunglasses so special – they exceed international standards for polarizing efficiency and block glare. Read more…
Getting the right sunglasses is a challenge. But take heart. The advice on the site is a good starting point.
There’s another part of the equation that also plays a huge role – your personality. Are you the life of the party, dancing till dawn on a beach or on top of a table? Then don’t be shy when it comes to picking out your sunglasses. Go large with one of Polaroid’s masks like Honolulu or try one of our great new plastics. Facet and Plummy spring to mind. Think about how much fun you’ll be having on holiday, and all the great places you’ll be visiting. Read more…
These days most moisturisers come with an SPF of 15. And, most of us won’t let our kids leave the house without slathering them with factor 20 cream. When we go on holiday, sun cream is the first thing we pack. The risk of skin cancer seems to be a topic we’re all very aware of. And rightly so. Skin cancer is common, often spreads quickly and, unfortunately, can be lethal. Read more…
I got a head start on the project by going to the V&A in London to have a look at Hats: An Anthology (I had a meeting in London as well, so I can’t be accused of wasting my time).The exhibition continues through May 31st and it’s a wonderful example of the V&A collaborating with a great designer – Stephen Jones. Definitely worth a visit. Read more…
