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[TWE NEWS] Summer Unplugged/Karan’s Ode to Barbie/Stacey’s Orange Obsession/Tasty Tart or Torte?
Published about 1 year ago • 3 min read
July 3, 2024
Hello Reader,
If there ever is a time of year to be unplugged from heat and the news, this is it! Temps are now over 110°, so it's time to seek higher ground here in Phoenix. And that I did by going north to Prescott, AZ, known for its cowboy history, historic downtown square and eateries filled with welcoming musicians, playing everything from banjo to honky-tonk to bluegrass.
Pam recommends Grama's Bakery for tasty treats in Prescott, AZ.
Hope you are able to unplug over this long weekend and enjoy new sounds and surroundings!
Karan Feder with Stacey Gualandi in the black and white stripes of the first Barbie.
Finding fun along with unplugging is our theme for this July 4th week, as exemplified by Karan Feder. She's a leading costume historian in endless pursuit of fabulous fashion, and has authored a new book, Barbie Takes the Catwalk: A Style Icon's History in Fashion.
I couldn’t wait to visit Barbie: A Cultural Icon Exhibition, her curated showcase at The Phoenix Art Museum, to see this amazing collection of over 250 dolls dressed like "miniature pieces of art" as Karan says. Many are in original outfits and compared to fashion of the time that highlights their cultural significance.
From the Barbie Exhibition and the "We Can Do Anything Barbie Campaign"/1985, to inspire girls to dream without limits.| Credit: P. Burke
As I enjoy following the history of fashion, I was excited to meet Karan and invite her to podcast with our host Stacey Gualandi, a fashionista herself.
It’s a fascinating chat about how Karan was able to assemble this unique collection with Mattel and move it across the country. You will enjoy hearing about costume preservation as well as how Barbie's style became so popular.
Karan’s coffee table book Barbie Takes the Catwalk is a tour de force of fashion and beautifully laid out. Whether you like Barbie or are interested in her history, it’s an captivating study of the effect this doll had on fashion—how she followed it and, in many cases, lead it.
In continuing with our quest to have Fourth Fun, we want to share our fashionista and podcast host Stacey’s obsession with the color orange.
I didn’t realize the extent of it until I met her in Burbank, CA recently when I stayed at the Tangerine Hotel. Stacey visited me there, arriving in an orange outfit, in an orange car with an orange shag steering wheel cover and orange purse.
Stacey and Pam at the Tangerine Hotel.
I finally realized her unique obsession after seeing in person this orange-tangerine display. Take a look at our Fun Stuff piece and you’ll understand. We'd love to know if you obsess about color. Just reply to this newsletter and let us know.
Check out our TWE Collections of interviews with inspiring women—some known and less well-known—who are creating change in their communities and around the world! Read their stories and learn how they did it!
🚨 From Filmmakers, Journalists, Authors and War Correspondents to Women Creating Homes, Schools, Support and Services for Orphaned Children, Grieving Widows and Moms, the Homeless, Inner-City Kids, Caretakers and more! 🚨
A torte is not a tart and visa versa. As I understand it, a torte is a dessert, torta meaning cake in Italian. A tart is an open-faced pie with no layers. Since this is a week to celebrate, have picnics or cookouts, and perhaps a parade, I wanted to share a favorite torte recipe from the New York Times I make for festive occasions like this.
They say it’s one of the most requested in the history of the newspaper and I can see why. I call it my Torta Fabulosa and fill it with festive fruit (they use plums, I use all kinds of berries) and top with a light dusting of confectionary sugar.
It’s classic, quick and a snack for all occasions. I have jazzed up this one for the holiday. Hope you like!
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