Remember, Girls:

When attempting a drastically new hairdo...



...there's always an element of risk involved.

They Walk Among Us

He's Just Our Bill

Who can blame them?

The Man Behind the Ball

"Listen, Ethel, next to sugar, Cuba's biggest export is ham."

With all due respect to the comedic genius that was uniquely Lucille Ball's, it is one of the overlooked facts that I Love Lucy wouldn't have been nearly as funny without Ethel, Fred, and particularly Ricky to act as her foils. With his big, shoe-button eyes and charming accent, Desi Arnaz brought something completely different to the standard 1950's portrayal of the sitcom husband: sex appeal. And even though his inadvertent mangling of the English language was often fodder for laughs (Ricky: "An' that's another thin'! You're always muckin' the way I talk!" Lucy: "That's because there's so much to 'muck'!"), Ricky Ricardo was perhaps the first ethnic character on television to not be a caricature, punchline, or punching bag. He was a a good provider, a loving husband and father, even a bona fide movie star ("You're doing lots of remakes, why don't you take one of your big hits and do it over for Ricky? Like Gone with the Cuban Wind? It Happened One Noche?").


More important, Desi was the brains behind his and Lucille's production company, Desilu, which he ran until 1962, when he sold his interest to Ball, by then his ex-wife. Even though their long, passionate, contentious marriage didn't last, Lucille and Desi, just like Lucy and Ricky, were inextricably tied to one another. Even though both had happy, successful second marriages, their bond was greater than any wedding vow. Five days after Desi's death from cancer, Lucille Ball was bestowed with the Kennedy Center Honor. At the ceremony, a posthumous letter by Desi was read, the conclusion of which was, "I Love Lucy was never just a title."

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III
March 2, 1917 - December 2, 1986

SSUWAT Endores

Full disclosure: we're thoughtful, charming, and concerned citizens, but we're also covetous, materialistic, and like pretty things. At the moment, many of the things we're coveting come from FelixInHollywood's Etsy Store. Felix, of course, has been a loyal friend to SSUWAT for some time - and his good taste in blogs extends to every other area of his life. The treasures he's offering for sale are always delightful and sometimes remarkable. Since it's really always all about us (see above disclosure), you can kill two birds with one stone by patronizing Felix's absolutely fabulous site, and gifting us with your purchase. Thanks ever so.


The Moderne Chrome and Bakelite Canape Tray (above, $26) would be the perfect thing to put into service at our next Arlene Francis- and MC-inspired dinner party.


Feast your eyes on this amazing Late 30's Schaiparelli Silk Scarf (below, $26).


It might look rather spiffy tucked into a certain someone's camel's hair sport coat, n'est-ce pas? We've never dabbled in drag before, but we'd consider it for Schiap. And Felix.


Do you know what's missing from our ensemble below?



While we're dipping our toes in the waters of travesti, we would use one of these lovely, Dazzling Two Toned Weiss Earrings (below, $29) as a lapel pin in the springtime. Just to be sprightly and gay.


This is just the tip of the iceberg, darlings. Felix has a well-curated selection of goodies for you to peruse and covet. Just keep us in mind when you do.