Material Girl

Big hair, leggings, sky high shoulder pads…it was the decade of decadence. Wall Street was flying high and so was everyone’s taste for the good life. Consumer culture reached a peak to the tune of Madonna’s “Material Girl.”

Though over 20 years have passed since we said goodbye to the 80s, the style influences continue to infiltrate modern fashion. The spring runway, like that of Ronald van Der Kemp's couture collection, was full of padded shoulders reminiscent of Melanie Griffith in “Working Girl”…the only thing missing were her white sneakers.

Charming Charlie

From the streets of London to the royal palace, hers was the story of rags to riches.

"Nell Gwyn" by Peter Lely, 1675

Nell Gwyn started her career as an orange girl at London’s King’s Theater during the Restoration period of the mid to late 1600s. As she wound her way through the crowds and enticed audience members to indulge in a sweet orange, Nell learned to use her wit and charm to win over the theatre-goers. It wasn’t long before she found herself on the stage and was gaining fans as an actress. Soon to join her fan base was none other than the King of England.