Cocktails with Yvonna

I love stilettos and can't resist exquisite Manolo Blahniks or impossibly high heel Louboutins .  Real talk I only wear my priceless beauties if I am (a) getting in a cab (b) going into a bar, restaurant, gala where I can sit down.  Each season I always need two pair of boots  for walking comfort. They have to cost under $50 and $100 is my limit. I always buy a pair of Bearpaw boots. Everyone loves Uggs but I live for my fleece lovelies for ultimate comfort. Especially if I have been prancing and dancing around in heels all night.  If had a cocktail  or three and my judgement is impaired and the next day my footsies suffer. I need a combat boot for badassiness. I love the pair I  found at Forever 21 or as I call it Forever 40.   H&M has gorgeous leather boots for $99. Mmmm well I am gonna need three pair!   The big problem with comfortable shoes is you want to wear them all the time.

The summer of 77’, I came to Manhattan for a summer course at Parson School of Design . I had barely arrived  and went to the payphone in my dorm lobby  to call my Mom to send money and finance some new wardrobe purchases. I bought my first of many Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dresses at Saks Fifth Avenue .  Then a seventeen year old lady looking fabulous could  slip into a disco, order a Pina Colada or Black Russian and dance the hustle to Barry White, Donna Summer and The Bee Gees. My Uncle Ted and his girlfriend drove from New Jersey to see how I made it through the big blackout. I met them at the elegant Art Deco designed  One Fifth  for brunch of mimosa, Eggs benedict and capaccino.  As I entered the restaurant in my red DVF wrap dress and Charles Jo urdan sandals and clutch, they were stunned by my transformation to   a chic Manhattan woman.

When I first came to New York to study at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, Al Pacino commanded the stage in "American Buffalo". I must have seen that play three times to watch the master. Better yet a heavyweight in the ring  so organic and real was his performance. I think I have seen every play he has been in except "Salome". Here are  two heavyweight actors in the prime of their careers, Reg E.Cathey and Dylan Baker from my Huffington Post blog. "Shawshank Redemption" London Currently in the reoccurring role of Freddy, the owner of Freddy's BBQ, in Netflix' original series "House of Cards" and The Riper in ABC's "Grimm", Reg E. Cathey is an actor’s actor. His palette commands a range of characters from lawyers, veterans, drug addicts, historical figures, Shakespeare and homeless men.   He is known for diverse and challenging acting roles in stage (The Shawshank Redemp

I found myself getting out the house later and later.  Or I just curl up in my big comfy chair with a pint of Adirondack Creamery Cardamom ice cream and an iPad full of books and movies which doesn't help. I'll have some delightful evening planned but when I start to get dress I get more and more irritated. These dresses are too tight, my leg won't go into these pants and that skirt shows how big my but has gotten. Since I have been a teenager my weight will go up ten pounds.  I will take it off eventually but for now I go through my closet and get the sads . Then it dawned on me. I hadn't kept up with 'The List' The list of clothes I look great in no matter what I weigh. Years ago I found Dame Genevieve Antoine Dariaux’s book, “Elegance” in a thrift shop that is my bible. I highly recommend you get the book for her ideal wardrobe list. Here is an except: COATS: The smartest are the simplest, whose elegance resides in the quality of the materia

Merging     Silicon Valley with Hollywood these talented men are juggling active careers in     show business     and     founding social media platforms.    Leading the way   actor (“Two and a Half Men”, “No Strings Attached”), director (“Punk’d”), investor   and producer Ashton Kutcher ‘s Katalyst Networks launched   “utilizing “entertainment content, advertising, and online conversation that finds its audience via video, animation, Twitter, blogs, texts, and mobile. "  in 200 .     Ashton has been an early adopter of Twitter and with Grade A partners Ron Burkle and Guy Oseary   an  equity investor in social media   and tech companies (Skype, Spotify, Flipboard, Foursquare). Called by Fast Company as one of the "Most Influential Companies," Katalyst Network has a slate of film and television production. His Katlyst Media provides  award winning content to  a roster of blue chip clients   like Kellogg, Mountain Dew, Levis . Hip Hop artist, actor and

I am obsessing on what handbag to buy for Fall/Winter. Summer is easy. Straw/cloth/ canvas bag, flip-flops, cotton dresses, sunscreen and your out the door.   But soon very soon, like yesterday I’ll have to put them all away. So I am relentlessly searching stores and websites for a “Good” bag.   Now a good bag is very different but not exclusive of an “It” bag. An “It” bag donates status, wealth and power.     My friends Moon and Rae Kim came by with matching orange Celine handbags.   Sadly there was fawning and envy from me but not only because it’s an “It” bag but also a “Good” bag. The whole point of a “Good” bag is functionality. A “Good” bag has to carry my wallet, PDA, makeup, nail kit, gym lock, extra shoes, glasses (sunnies and readers), pens, stamps, e-reader, keys, passport, vitamin packs, water, pashmina, toothbrush, snacks, hair brush, pack of scrunchies (lose them all the time), perfume vial and maybe a yoga mat. Also I have to be able to spill coffee or wine

In “My Horizontal Life” Chelsea Handler chimes, “I don't know what it is about accents that makes me want to get undressed and high-five myself.” Now replace accents with handsome, sexy and talented Indian actors; Shah Rukn Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Naveen Andrews. If these names are not familiar except to their loyal Bollywood and “ LOST ” fans they should be. Shah Rukn Khan is “The King”of Bollywood. Abhishek Bachchan is Bollywood royalty. Master thespian Naveen Andrews was named as one of People’s 2006' World's Most Beautiful.  A definite see "My name is Khan"is a thoughtful film about prejudice after 9/11 starring Shah Rukn Khan. According to Anne Thompson in Indiewire , Shah Rukn Khan’s latest film “Chennai Express” has shattered that film’s box office record. Married to the world’s most beautiful woman, Abhishek Bachchan is part mogul, action star and hip hop artist. Abhishek’s father Bollywood legend Amitabh was in Baz Luhrman ‘s “The Great Gatsby”

New York Times bestselling  author  (“What Looks like Crazy on an Ordinary Day”, “Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do”)and playwright (“Blues for an Alabama Sky”, “Flyin West”), Pearl Cleage   and filmmaker (“Alma’s Rainbow”) Ayoka Chenzira   have teamed up to produce   the feature film adaptation of Pearl Cleage’s novel“, Babylon Sisters”. Single mother Catherine Sanderson has her hands full with her job helping immigrants, and a college bound daughter, Phoebe.     But when news journalist Burghardt Johnson blows into town, she finds her world turned upside down. Catherine impassioned, "I wondered if it was possible to be in love with a man and develop a vocabulary free of the responses that make every conversation a minefield of hurt feelings, half-truths, and dashed expectations." Not only do they have history, BJ enlists her help in a story on a female slavery ring operating in Atlanta.   Pearl Cleage fans agree with director Ayoka, “I love the flaws in the r

Oh I hope I  win a date with George Clooney .   Not only because he’s tall , dark and handsome but he’s committed to protecting   lives   and humanitarian aid in the Sudan   with the   Satellite Sentinel Project .   Inspired   by the paparazzo who trail his every move, George financed a satellite on Northern and Southern Sudan to watch   and respond to   human rights violations in the civil war torn   region . Did you know George donated his whole Nepresso paycheck to the Satellite Sentinel Project?   What a man!   The date begins with a stop at the Letterman Show and then you get to sashay with George down the red carpet premiere of his new movie, “ Monuments Men” . In W magazine George confessed that he hasn’t fallen in love.   So if I win I’ll BYOB the Limón cello after all it’s cuffing season .

At the end of his GQ magazine article, ”The New and Improved Leading Man” , Mark Harris asks the question about the movie “Magic Mike”, “ Remember the other guy in the movie? You know, the young guy who played...you know, the Guy? What’s his name?“ Well Mark we do.   AdamRodriquez . Joe Mangniello . These two gorgeous and talented actors should be bona fide Movie Stars.  The most important rule of being a leading man is best described in “Bambi vs. Godzilla” by the venerable David Mamet , “These men, and their performances, are characterized by the absence of the desire to please. On screen, they don’t have anything to prove, and so we are extraordinarily drawn to them. They are not sensitive: they are not antiheroes; they are to use a historic term, “he-men”. How refreshing.” Today’s movie going audiences have seen real men in the media, 9/11 first responders and Seal Team Six. John Wayne and Cary Grant were molded by a studio system but you believed they could lead

Sometimes I blog at the HuffPost here are two recent posts on my fav topic : Divas.     Delicious Diva Sasha Allen If your not watching the NBC’s “ The Voice” you are missing someone special, Sasha Allen .   Triple threat talent Sasha is a singer, actress and classical pianist who has honed her talent on Broadway (“Hair”), cabaret ( Joe’s Pub ) and backup vocals. Beautiful and talented imagine a mash up of Alicia Keys, Diana Ross and Whitney Houston, that’s her. Last week’s elimination show was a nail biter as major contender’s    stunning beauty Judith Hill belted out “The Way You Make me Feel” and Sarah Simmons showed her sexy side in a silver sequined fringed skirt with a powerful rendition of   “Mama Knows Best”. Rocking a crop top and spandex mini skirt mother of two, Sasha brung it with awesome vocals singing “Next to Me”. Kudos to the stylist of “The Voice”, one week modern day Lena Horne, Sasha sang “At Last” in a long white gown with a thigh high slit an

Recently two essays    on the dearth and death of romantic comedies produced since 2000 appeared, "Why are Romantic Comedies So Bad?" and "Are Romantic Comedies Dead?" .   A romantic comedy doesn’t explore the hardcore reality of grief, prostitution , mental illness, cultural pressure, familial relationships, class warfare, and racial and economic inequality. Methinks the essays missed the point that the genre is all about heighten reality where true love sweeps aside obstacles   for the hero and heroine to live happily ever after. The 2012 Best Picture Oscar nominee “Silver Linings Playbook” was mentioned as a successful example of the genre in both pieces.   Personally I love the movie but Bradley Cooper and Best Actress Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence    must be the two hottest people in Philly. If Bradley and Chris Tucker are typical mental patients, ladies go over to the nearest psychiatric hospital and sign out a guy today. That’s why the film is so enga

M y bestie called to ask me about getting back into show business. She has national commercial credits and was an Elite fashion model. But a    lot has changed from the days when we went on foot to agent’s offices, checked our answering machines on a pay phone and picked up sides in person.   (Wow I am old) Show business, the last of the handshake businesses has gone high tech. Everybody has a smartphone or you can’t compete.   An agent or casting director should be able to communicate with you ASAP. Your phone should also have your headshot, résumé in PDF, composite and reel on point.     Producers and directors look at reels and resumes for talent round the clock thereby a website and/or web page is essential. For “Full Metal Jacket” director Stanley Kubrick placed ads for actors to submit audition tapes.   This has now become a standard industry practice.   Having a good     HD     handheld camera for audition submissions when requested or to create your own content is