Fashion illustrator, author and designer Hayden Williams earns this Dazzler of the Day for not only talking the beautiful talk, but walking the beautiful walk, as evidenced his own sense of carefully curated style. His debut publication, ‘Hayden Williams: The Fashion Activity Book’ is available now, allowing all of us to color within the extraordinary lines of his designs and drawings. Check out his Instagram page here for further evidence of his brilliance.
Chronicling the world’s most fashionable, and spiritually wise, elders sounds like a dream job, and Ari Seth Cohen has been doing that in books, in print, on the web, and in his life with his ‘Advanced Style’ brand. That earns him the very first Dazzler of the Day crowning for 2026. The doyennes of fashion that he captures are an inspiration for all – and I’m almost in that age-bracket where gaining wisdom meets not giving a flying fuck. The awe-inspiring characters he finds exemplify living life to the fullest at all its stages. Bonus: he’s no stranger or shrinking violet when it comes to personal style and pizzazz, and he has yet to meet a hat that was high enough. That’s a hero.
Check out the Advanced Style website here.
A major component of the magic that is the land of Oz in the ‘Wicked’ movie universe is wondrous work of costume designer Paul Tazewell, who won a rightly-deserved Oscar for the first film, and continues his enchantment in ‘Wicked: For Good‘. This post marks the return of our Dazzler of the Day feature, and Tazewell more than merits the celebratory nature of this post. His costumes are the stuff of high art – exquisite of style and enchanting of detail – and they manage to be effortlessly whimsical while telling their own story to accompany those of the characters.
“Fashion has always been a vocabulary for me, a way to express myself to you and to myself. The artistic practice of fashion is a daily act of self invention. An opportunity open to every one of us to recognize a garment as a paintbrush on the canvas of self. We are, each of us, the art of our own design.” ~ Jordan Roth
Fashion impresario Jordan Roth earns his very first Dazzler of the Day crowning thanks to that impeccable sense of cutting-edge style and brilliant genre-smashing courage. The substance behind the outrageous style is found in his Tony-winning theatrical accomplishments as producer, in shows such as ‘The Book of Mormon’, ‘Spring Awakening’ and ‘American Idiot’. Check out his impressive website here, along with all its wondrous portals for more.
What am I even doing in this photo?!
Coquettishly covering my mouth like some coy geisha?
Channeling Bette Davis ferociously puffing away on some cigarette?
Blowing a kiss to an imaginary arena of adoring fans?
Preparing the world for the sassy express about to depart from Track F as in Fabulous?
Who fucking knows.
I will say that I would still wear this outfit if it came in my size, and I would rock it just as hard as I rocked it way back then. Despite a world that seems intent on destroying one’s inherent spirit, I ended up living my life in surprisingly unabashed ways, often because my own sense of fabulousness eclipsed the whispers and derogatory remarks that floated around me. Sometimes they got through, and sometimes they stung, but every attack built me up in some way.
When I look at this picture, it fills me with pride, because it took guts to be who I was when the world was telling me to be someone – anyone – else. Sometimes it still does – and on those days I just put on my sassiest pair of pants and keep marching.
Air kisses!
Pride season is upon us, and with it comes the need for entertaining t-shirts, sweatshirts, jewelry and LGBTQ+ flair. Producing all of that and more is the Wicked Fabulous! company. Founded by David and Marc, a Massachusetts-based couple who have been together for 24 years, this small business managed to take hold during the COVID epidemic in 2020. Offering a wide array of witty apparel and an extensive jewelry selection that is perfect for Pride season and beyond, they also just revamped their website here – same great spirit, with even more sparkle and pizzazz, and a super-easy shopping experience.
There is an extensive selection of shirts and slogans that gets updated regularly, and an equally-impressive line of jewelry that incorporates gemstones and crystals for a Zen-centered bonus.
Best of all, this is a small homegrown company that courageously supports inclusivity and equality at a time when the current administration is dead-set against our basic rights. I will always give my support (and money) to a business that stands behind decency no matter the cost (we still see you, Target). It matters, and it makes a difference. It helps that I also happen to love so much of what they have on offer.
If you’re looking for some Pride gear, a fun and witty statement shirt, or a few pieces of exquisite jewelry, consider everything at Wicked Fabulous!
(I found the ‘Openly Gray’ t-shirt I’m wearing in the bottom of this post at Wicked Fabulous! It remains a favorite.)
You can find the new website for Wicked Fabulous! here.
See also their social media links:
Madonna returned to the Met Gala in tailored and fine fashion this evening, and I am here for all the elegance, softness, and quieter tones. It’s a lovely addition to her Met Gala look-book. (I still think I enjoyed her Louis Vuitton bunny ears ensemble best, so I’ll include that throwback pic at the bottom of this post.)
Way back when…
Two scarves and an electric pink coat are all I need for a happy spring outfit.
Well, pants and shirt too I suppose, but who’s going to be a stickler for those details?
‘Tis the damn season for some bold color choices.
A pair of worn blue jeans, a pair of Calvin Klein white briefs, and a basic white t-shirt: the standard uniform of a classic gay that runs back to the 80’s and beyond, and a reminder that what is simple is often what will last. Withstanding the test of time is important to those of us approaching the half-century mark of life on this earth, and as the world reels from the events of the past few months, I retreat to what is simple and true.
It started with the otherwise-drab and dull notion of cutting back on spending. Yawn, yawn, yawn, I know – but the opportunity for something exciting is there if you allow your perspective to shift the slightest bit. In my case, that means embracing the idea of being creative in the re-using and repurposing of clothing, one of my main expenditures. For all of my life, I’ve been highly susceptible to advertising and shopping traps – even when I didn’t need something, if I wanted it in the slightest way, I’d find a way to get it.
At this point, I really don’t need another coat or bag or bottle of cologne, but the temptation is always there. With every online pop-up ad comes a visage that is perfectly curated by any basic algorithm to speak directly to my heart’s desire. Lately, however, with the intent to curb spending and realign priorities, I’ve been saying no. In my case, it is a willful and intentional change of direction, one that takes some thought.
Every time I see something I want, I rack my brain and sometimes my closets to determine whether I have anything remotely like it. 98% of the time, there is something that is extremely similar, as my closets run deep, and when I find that item in my home, I delete it from my online cart and push it out of my head.
(There has only been one instance where I’ve regretted not getting something: an ombre coat from Louis Vuitton circa 2005/2006, which had shades of deep fuchsia and transitioned through gold into an exquisite shade of deep blue, and which I called the New York flagship store to inquire about – they told me they had it in stock in my size and could hold it, but after a week I said not to bother as it was $2300 or something. To this day, that coat haunts me, but it’s the only instance where not buying something has led to regret; all the more common is the regret I get from purchasing something I never really needed.)
These days, I find myself recycling old clothing (assuming it still fits, but that’s another post for another time) and returning to the basic classics of jeans and a t-shirt.
For the longest time – at least ten years – I’ve been putting a leopard tote bag on my birthday and Christmas wish lists, to no avail (see this one from 2012 and this one from 2019). I understand why – the specific ones I favored started at the $1500 price point, which is admittedly ridiculous for a bag. Well, gift-givers and patron saints of my 15th anniversary and 50th birthday – both coming up this year – here is a relative steal from the folks at Reformation, and it dovetails with this particular bag.
Most of the versions I’ve found in the last ten years only offer bags with a front pattern and the back in black or something else, or mess it up with wonky gold hardware or chains. This beautiful piece is precisely what I’ve had in my dream mind, so it feels like the universe has finally aligned to make this happen. It’s available from Reformation here before it gets sold out. Just saying. Just wishing. Just hoping. Just deserving.
With luscious locks of hair to rival Beyoncé (and that similarly never met a fan that didn’t adore them and set them into glorious flight for every photo) Law Roach is one of the most celebrated stylists in the Hollywood scene. Witness the fabulous lewks he was integral in conjuring for Zendaya’s promotional appearances for ‘Challengers’ and ‘Dune 2’, as well as Celine Dion’s comeback last year. This marks Law’s first Dazzler of the Day crowning, and it definitely won’t be the last we’ll hear from him.
What makes a man?
Time & cuff links.
Just kidding – I’m not about to answer that question in any in-depth way today. It’s far too cold and there are far too many awful things happening in the world to offer much more than distraction and respite. We won’t be getting that serious.
We’ll get serious in another way.
Whenever the world threatens to overwhelm, when it bears down just a bit too hard to carry on, I tend to pause and take stock of the things over which I have any semblance of control. That immediately removes an enormous amount of mental clutter, because too much space is consumed with dwelling on what-ifs and could-haves and should-haves. Even the been-theres and done-thats can be boxed up and shipped out. Decluttering the mind is as important as decluttering the dwelling space (if you’re a Virgo like me that means a great deal).
And so I stop and sit very still while an icy wind menacingly surrounds the house.
I notice how shallow my breathing is, and slow and relax it. Narrowing the windpipe and elongating the breaths, there is instant relief. My shoulders relax, my gaze softens, and the years of practicing meditation immediately set my countenance to calm.
Now I can go about tending to the simple task at hand: selecting cufflinks (a gift from a friend – thank you Paula!), a timepiece (a gift to myself after a promotion), and a vibrant silk scarf for a possible office outfit (a dash of color for a week of gray). This is what I can control, and these little things will bring me simple joys.
Trifling worries, and more substantial concerns, are pushed out of my headspace for the moment, and in the relief that ensues I’ll be better able to handle them at a later time. Some will fall away by then because they never really mattered in the first place. This is how mindfulness works its magic.
Oodles of ruffles, powerful colors, and layers of talent are hallmarks of Christian Siriano and his impeccable fashion creations. Siriano has done the impossible and made a name for himself by designing for some of the biggest stars in the world; it comes from a place of unique beauty, sumptuous style, and an eye for art that lends each of his creations something incredibly special. He easily earns this Dazzler of the Day for years of pushing the boundaries of what fashion can be – check out his website here for a collection of beauty.
For this year’s Met Fashion Exhibit “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” (the actual impetus for the Met Gala), the dress code was officially announced as ‘The Garden of Time‘ – both of which sounded extremely promising and almost too easy, which usually means people let me down. At the time of this initial writing, that has already happened, but before the disappointment, let’s point out what was spectacularly right, starting with Co-Chair Zendaya, who absolutely ate in this on-theme ensemble that wows in all the best ways.
Jennifer Lopez was also a Co-Chair, and she sizzled per usual.
Bad Bunny was there early, and seemed to think that holding a few black flowers would forgive the general lack of color from his ensemble.
Personifying beige and tan, and all the bloody-boredom-inducing blandness of this ensemble, Chris Hemsworth would have done better to show up naked as he did here.
Far better was the over-the-top magnificence of what Gustav Magnar Witzoe chose to wear in an effort to make the boldest statement – which looked stunningly riveting against the garden-themed backdrop.
An indication of how an easy theme can fall quickly apart, Anna Wintour wore this. I’ll leave review and judgment to the viewer.
One more of Zendaya to cleanse the palate.
Honorable mention goes to Sarah Jessica Parker, who knows how to Met Gala better than just about anybody.
PS – Was Nicki Minaj my favorite outfit of the evening? Possible… very, very possible…
