The Official Beverly Feldman Blog

Well not me, if anything exciting happens I will for sure let you know ASAP. I have not been here in about 8 years and they certainly have expanded, more of everything, but less Beverly Feldman shoes! I am on a world tour of building my brand back up, and the only way I can do it is meet and greet the customers with my stunning new fall 2012 collection, myself. They say no one can do it better than the boss, or in this case the Queen. So here I am with my 3 suitcases, for 5 days…

The trend girls, is back to sexy single sole high heels. The grotesque “furniture leg” shoes that have taken over the industry are going to be burnt in one big “that’s really over” fashion bonfire. Get out your sugar free marshmallows…

I have been watching the girls hobbling in and out of the hotels, short girls with mini dresses and shoes with 12 inch heels and 5 inch platforms. This is as bad as what the Chinese men did to their women 200 years ago, keeping their feet bound and deformed. I see these girls’ leg muscles pulled tight and think how really insane fashion is. Show it in a magazine and there it is, on the street, no matter how bad it looks. I mean 5ft and 2 inches and chubby is not a supermodel on the runway…

But let me give you a sneak peak into the future:  what is coming for fall 2012…

CALAMITY

I do not know at what point shoes and sex are replaced with shoes and food but it has to be at someplace where I am at now… Senior citizen discount at the movies and hotels. I will be happy when they start at the airlines (business class). How about senior discounts at Bergdorf’s? That would be nice. Or double points on your Amex card. I mean how many more years do we actually have to use that card anyway? We should be getting triple points and a bonus 100,000 points at every birthday. Show some love, Amex.

But I have officially reached the shoes and food stage. And I don’t need high heels to enjoy a great meal. So you know I live in Alicante, Spain. I have lived here since the days of Franco. If you do not know who he is, check Google. One of the original dictators. He was dictating even after he died.

Alicante has recently become the food capital of Spain. Lucky me as I know all the best chefs since they were in high school. Advantages of living in the same place for a long time. One of my favorites is Mari Carmen Vélez, of the restaurant “La Sirena”, in Petrel, Alicante. I love her, she made the New York Times…

From left to right: Mari Carmen Vélez and Lola.

My guests were 5 of Alicante’s high society; so the pressure was on to give them a touch of Glam Beverly Feldman America. I greeted them, at my home, with 7 poodles and a Cosmopolitan each. I told them this was the famous drink from Sex In The City… Of course the first to go down was me, Miss Dukan Dieter of 5 months. The drink hit me hard and I asked for another one immediately. Jesus, (common Spanish name) was our very elegant and perfect server, and another Cosmo appeared like magic. Each guest had a poodle and an assortment of exotic Mediterranean tapas to begin with.

Napkins were wrapped in BF handbag accessory that was also a little gift.

From left to right: Mary Carmen, Chus, Ema, Cuqui, Consuelo, Queen B.

The food was unbelievably fabulous! The service impeccable. I have to say one of the very best meals I have ever had, ever. A sexy sensation for my mouth without the hassle of the other typical sexy sensations…

From left to right: Chus, Queen B, Mary Carmen and Cuqui

All I can say it was a wonderful day, with beautiful food and new friends. Women who were brought up differently than myself, but today we are all living in the same world. The world has become smaller, the problems bigger, life faster, but ¨too much is not enough¨ still works especially with a good Cosmopolitan and a fabulous luncheon from Mari Carmen Vélez…

P.S.

Yes, I am going to the movies tonight, but I wanted to introduce you to my movie date, Sr. Pedro Chocolaté.

And the shoes I wear to the movies are from my new collection Glamour&Comfort… available soon worldwide.

Queen B and Pedro Chocolaté, sweet and eligible.

Style Zonne. Made in Spain!

Howie is my baby brother; you can still be the baby brother even if you are approaching the big six oh.

We had your classic dysfunctional Jewish childhood, except our parents were only married for 5 years, then they divorced. Quite an unusual event in those years, the Fantastic Fifties. They proceeded to fight for the next 15 years and probably should have just stayed married, and then boom, they both died. I was 22 and my brother was 17. I have been trying to guide and take care of him since. It has not been easy.

I have since found out, there is a certain universal resentment to older sisters and maybe we have spent a total of combined time of not speaking of maybe 2.5 years. But I have to say when I have had some of my biggest bumps in my road of life, my brother, Howie, has been there, either by plane, in 12 hours or just recently by Skype daily.

So to thank him I am dedicating this blog post to him. First this unbelievable home above is his. How that happened I don’t know? But it did. Designed by the world famous Bill Bensley, who is also the most handsome architect in the world (Yes, Bill, you know I just love and adore you, especially with your pith hat on).

It took seven years to build; I never understood during those seven years that my brother was the site manager, and also the general contractor. He was also the hi-tech wizard who designed the lighting and music system to be accessible at any point in the house by numerous magic keyboards, which 12 years later, I still cannot figure out.  Did you know when building a house, the first thing you design is the gardens? I can go on and on about the house, but unless you see it, you cannot believe. It was on HGTV for one of the 10 most romantic bedrooms in the world and I have to tell you the other 9 couldn’t even compare… and let me not forget a major feature in Architectural Digest.

So he builds it, entertains in it with royalty and the highest of society, and now decides, he is going to market it as a private hotel. In less than 3 months he has it listed in the DestinAsian Luxe List of the newest hotels of the year 2011. As you can see from the link, he is accompanied by some of the most incredible properties around the world. To see more images of the most beautiful private home and boutique hotel in Thailand click on this link: Villa Mae Rim (Contact Howie at Howie@HowiesHomeStay.com)

Ladies, and those gentleman who love my blog, if you want an exclusive vacation for one, two or a family, this is the place, complete with private antique shopping trips, the best restaurants, the most fabulous elephant ride thru the jungle and river, ( Tarzan just might swing thru ) and the possibility of actually tasting a real Howie Burger, this is the place for you. Of course in room massages, whenever you desire.

I always say never go anywhere, where you do not know anyone, So if you are planning on going to Thailand, go to Chiang Mai and see the city not as a tourist but as an esteemed guest of the Feldmans. That is Mr and Mrs Feldman. You may be lucky and also catch me there, as it’s the only place I go for my holidays. I appreciate beauty, privacy, and not fighting for poolside lounges…

When you go elephant riding in the jungles of Thailand or Ferrari cruising on the Riveria , the perfect shoe and bag could be:

Glamazon

Palm Bag

Space Aliens and The Leopard Queen B.

Home of My HSN Buddies. It was really fun. It was my first Halloween in the States in years and I was determined to get dressed up and go out. I saw myself as a leopard in a Dolce&Gabbana dress.  And my new improved Dukanian Body.

I know if a leopard could shop, Dolce would be there first choice. By the way if you want to read a great book with a new twist, get “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk” by David Sedaris. If you love animals, and who doesn’t? You will love this book. Super fast read. I could actually return it for the 50% refund, but it’s so sweet, I am holding on to it. And nice to actually hold a book and turn the page, especially when it’s about animals being very human.

Rhonda Shear & Queen B.

THE PARTY:  Given by Rhonda Shear and Van Fagan, attended by many of the HSN family including BobbiRay, my favorite makeup artist in the world Stacy Gillette, and the superstar of all women CEOs: Mindy Grossman. Yeah, Mindy. You looked so cool and looked barely a day over 17. Music, food, and party goers were all fabulous, but the effort put into decorating the entire house inside and out was really “Too Much”. Fabulous! I am so happy I went. I am already thinking about next year’s costume, I think I am going as a peacock. I can’t decide to body paint the feathers on or glue them on. By the way Ginny Dworchak hand painted my body. Took 3 hours, I love it so much I am sitting now at the Tampa airport with the leopard makeup still on, the day after, Sort of like being the girl with the leopard tattoo.

Mindy Grossman CEO of HSN & Queen B.

Queen B. & Bobbie Ray Carter

Queen B. & Jeremy Bassan

I wore my favorite black rose ballet shoes. Considering I just a bunion operation 2 weeks ago, that in itself was amazing. Although if I was a real leopard I would have been wearing two of pairs of my own Beverly Feldman stunning high heels like Devoted 2U of course in leopard print.

I just had foot surgery, I like to say it was cosmetic, it sounds younger and hipper than bunion. And my “bunion” was a baby bunion at that.  Not the monstrosities that I find my self looking at on the streets around the world, that I wonder how women let them get to be that awful.  I think its fear, but fear has never kept me from any cosmetic procedure……but let me not forget to say that beauty does have a certain amount of pain involved.  As Dieting as a certain amount of Sacrifice…

I do know that if you have a baby bump bunion, but if you do, it will only grow bigger, more painful, and eventually deform you’re your entire foot. For sure it is not going to go away.

I had the operation done by Dr. Greg Rock, it took an hour and next week I will be wearing a shoe. I can not continue to be the Queen of Sexy Casual Sandals and have my feet not look as good as my shoes. Vanity with a capital V.

So another thing checked off my list, so that the day I finally pass from this world to the next, every single thing on my body has been prefixed so I will have a happy life next time around. I will be saving a lot of money because of course a facelift in 50 years you can image will be so much more expensive than being reborn with one already in place…

I am going to be reborn with an overflowing bank account, and I will only buy 3 sweaters a year instead of the massive insanity of sweaters that I bought this lifetime. Well, I did live thru the evolution of cashmere of only being a luxury for the wealthy, till today, buying it at UNIQLO for $49.

I cannot remember when I even found out about cashmere? I certainly did not know about it growing up in Hopedale, Massachusetts in the 50s/60s. Now due to New York Local Warming, that’s when they keep every building so hot in the winter, you can only wear a cotton t-shirt. Cashmere sweaters are more for my road trips in Downtown Dongguan, China.

My new shoe design, is my big black post-operative shoe, but inside my foot is wrapped with a vintage Gucci silk scarf. I am wearing it in honor of Patrizia Reggiani, the former Mrs. Gucci, convicted in 1998 of orchestrating the murder of her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci, (who by the way divorced her and married someone a lot younger) who was just declined parole. She said she’d rather stay in prison than work. Well I can understand that, I mean you do get your meals served and your laundry done…

The perfect cuff of my jean in the photo, is the famous $9.99 jean from the new UNIQLO store on 5th avenue and 54th street. I was there 4 days after my operation, as nothing can keep me away from a retail shopping event as big as the opening of Planet UNIQLO Uptown… And seeing and experiencing this store, was just something I could not stay off my feet for.

My in store experience was remarkable, I was assisted by beautiful Hattie, who stayed with me for over an hour and carried my black mesh shopper. She was customer assistance. And I am telling you, with all my Olympian years of shopping around the world I have never had such a beautiful personal customer experience as I did that day at UNIQLO. I still have horrific memories of standing on floors of other New York Department Stores, stranded for unlimited minutes with not a sales person around. No one. Like entire empty retail swimming pools.

UNIQLO, where the prices are down to almost single digits, has hired 650 sales assistants for one store. Hattie wasn’t even a sales assistant. She was customer service. Her job was just to make the experience better for the customer. The line to check out was longer than immigration at Kennedy Airport. There was a boy at the end with a big sign that read, END OF THE LINE. Planned success. Hattie waited in the 20 minute line for me and then I was fast tracked to the cashier. I felt like I was in business class.

I went in originally to buy a $29 pair of pants that my friend was wearing, I couldn’t find those, but I bought an entire new mini wardrobe (for my new mini body) for less than $800. A white shirt, a long dress, a short jacket, 2 fantastic “cashmere” heavy sweaters, a turtle neck t-shirt, and the perfect pair of $9.99 jeans.  The jeans are some of the best I have. It’s nice to have a pair that are not ripped, studded, rhinestoned, jeweled or embroidered and fit perfectly……….

Thank you UNIQLO. Thank you Hattie.

And hows my Dr. Dukan Diet Doing? I am seriously thinking about the possibility of a class action suit against Weight Watchers for making me fat. I have lost a full size and now am  rapidly going down to the next size. 12 pounds in total since August 23.

A stairway down to thinness by just eating protein? Of course being in a sort of house arrest with the foot, I am not going out, I am preparing all my meals, and am just focused on this one project. My lifetime struggle of either trying to loose weight or having lost it, keep it off.

Well the highlight of my shopping in Munich was getting to a German supermarket. I finally found some yogurt 0% fat. Except this was 0.1% fat free. I wonder if the .1 % matters?
I bought 4 yogurts, some crème fresh, which I think is sour creme in the USA, but if you sweeten it with a diet sweetener it’s almost like frosting, and some broiled chicken, turkey slices, and a big grilled turkey breast. I passed on all drinks and appetizers at the party, which I think I would have passed on them anyway by the looks of them, and came home at 12 midnight and had my yogurts and turkey slices.
At 7 a.m. at the airport the following morning, I had the chicken breast and a big cup of coffee. (not Starbucks, which I hate) around 9 a.m. when I got to London, I had scrambled eggs and salmon. I have been in hotel rooms for a week and have not been able to weigh myself, so the big bang of this week is when I get to NYC and get on a scale. Dr Dukan writes me every day with menu suggestions, which are great if you are home, but running around the airports of the world, makes it a bit more challenging. Especially since I have been on a 0% fat free yogurt search in 2 countries and 5 supermarkets.

I did meet Fenella, in Waitrose in London. She was carrying a Beverly Feldman handbag and she could not believe it was me who was the brand inside her much cherished and very used bag. Covered in diamonds and Louis Vuitton shoes, I was very impressed with her taste… Also this is a good photo of me being out of Hollywood Drag. My first line of pants are big now, moving down the rack to the next size…Yippee! By the way if you do not fill in your measurements daily and answer the motivation questions and validate your statement, Dr Dukan sends you very nasty letters! So I am traveling with a tape measure in that now famous black mesh bag from the container store.

Here is Fenella’s email explaining how special her handbag is for her:

Dear Beverly

Thank you so much for the photo! I know you must be very busy and it was extremely kind of you to find the time and effort to send me the photograph!

I am so attached to your bag that I have carried it literally every day for the last 4 or 5 years. There was an incident a couple of years ago at Christmas time when doing a last minute shop in Sainsbury's. My mind was on a million other things when I loaded up the car with the shopping and then drove off. It was after 10 minutes that I noticed that my bag was missing and, with my mind in overdrive, I suddenly realised I must have left it in the trolley park hooked on to the back of a trolley. I raced back to the shop and, amazingly enough, some kind person had handed it in with nothing taken. However, I can tell you that I was far more relieved to have my beloved bag back than any purse or credit card!

I can tell you that your bag has been all over the world with me and I wasn't joking when I said that I am stopped endlessly (it must be well over a hundred times) by people admiring the bag. In Waitrose, I assumed you were yet another person fascinated by this wonderful handbag, so you can imagine my surprise and disbelief when you confessed to being the designer! After all, it's not just any old bag!

It was wonderful to meet you and many thanks again for the photograph.

You said you were about to go on a big trip so 'good luck' and I wish you all the best.

Fenella Ignatiev

From left to right: Horst Speier, Queen B., Ellen Speier

I went to a German cocktail party. A mini academy awards for the German shoe industry. My agents thought after 15 years, I should show my face, and let the clients actually see that I was still breathing. So I went with my Beverly Feldman from Beverly Hills Costume. I was wearing my new pair of Flamboyant. Especially made for me, (gee how did that happen?) man trappers. I kid you not and here is the proof. Go to any party, anywhere in the world and wear these shoes and you too will be surrounded by men. All ages, sizes, and shapes. Good old-fashioned sexy shoes always work, a la Marilyn, Ava, Lana, Gina, Brigitte and now Queen B. it can be “Queen U.” also. Why not add some glamour to your life? And be comfortable all night long. I put this incredible twinkly upper on a nice sturdy heel and padded sock and I was the starring attraction all night long.

From left to right: Stefan Frank (CEO of K & S) Queen B. and Mr. Zumnorde (Winner for best retailer of the year)

Meanwhile hot news flash I am on a British Airlines flight at 7:00 a.m., sitting next to a rather charming wine merchant and the flight attendant will not help the young woman next to me put her carry-on bag in the overhead carrier. She is about 4’9 inches, and a size zero and he tells her, that it’s against BA rules for them to assist passengers with carry-on luggage. I am shocked! And start to help her myself. Having just had a large dose of German coffee, I start in with her, that I never in my life ever heard anything like that. Oh he throws in the line, “if it’s too heavy for her, it’s too heavy for me” then he comes over to me and starts giving me the British Airway rules about helping passengers. I am saying to him rather loudly, stop talking to me, but he keeps talking to me. I counted. I said it ten times. He must have been hard of hearing also.

Floris van Bommel (Winner for most innovative design) and Queen B.

Getting back to shoes and men, a much more delightful subject. If you want to look tiny, always photograph yourself with big men. The ideal place for this is Germany. The men are the tallest in all of Europe. A good reason to go there. I would not suggest flying British Airways if you need help with your carry-on’s though.

Queen B. and Timo Leinweber (co-owner of AKTIV SCHUH)

A Tattoo Good Enough to Eat

London: First stop.
Met two charming men, on my two connections. One from Argentina, who had just spent a few days at the now famous Sha Spa that is 20 minutes from my house. He is associated with La Prairie Spa in Switzerland, which by the way does not use La Prairie products in case you are planning on going anytime soon. The second flight brought David next to me, young international lawyer, flying from Madrid, who was recently involved in a super secret international sex scandal case. He was representing a very high profile client of his firms. My lips are sealed or I may be kidnapped. David was great, as he carried all my bags right to the taxi. The taxi driver, Billy, will forever be my favorite taxi driver in the world. My black nylon mesh bag that carries all my essentials, like my Channel mirror, my 3 lipsticks, my change, Splendor, and on this occasion, a pair of gorgeous diamond flowered earrings. In addition, my lucky HSN vintage 50s earrings that I wear on every show, was left in his taxi. After looking for it for an hour in my room, I reluctantly went to diner with my friends, just convinced that I had once again lost another piece of jewelry.
Courtesy of Amex, I am insured for each trip. But each trip something is now lost or stolen. Last trip was a box of Chanel costume jewelry, after TSA broke the lock. Now I travel with practically no jewelry, only what I wear. The earrings were the only extra piece and an old daytime Hermes watch……..
I came back from diner and the sweet concierge at the Pelham Hotel, 15 Cromwell place, Jamie (who is straight by the way) said Billy left you something… and there was my little black mesh bag from the Container Store for $2.99 containing my irreplaceable Diamond earrings.
I am doing the Dukan Diet. You must of have heard of it. It’s the rage in Europe. Everybody has a friend that has lost 20 pounds; I want to be that someone’s friend.
I first heard of it this summer from a part time housekeeper that I had in august. Well I discounted that immediately. What does she know? Then I heard it again a month later in Milan from my friend, who is a fashion editor. So fashion profiling? I guess so. I immediately signed up, and immediately lost weight. I was desperate, nothing fit. Weight Watchers was no longer working and I had spent the entire summer counting points and swimming daily to the extent that some days I was negative points and I still gained 3 pounds. All I wanted was to loose 3 pounds. Modified from my life long 10 pounds…

The best thing I saw on Portobello road. Mitzie kissing her owner.

I became a certified Dukanian when I lost 8 pounds in less than 2 weeks! It works. Its not easy girls. You have to really want to loose weight. But that’s all I have wanted all my life, plus have everyone wear my shoes as I think they are the most beautiful and most comfortable in the world. So I am now in my third week and traveling every day. A challenge.

The Russell & Bromley Team. From left to right: Stuart Bromley, Roger Bromley, Howard Brennand and Queen B wearing style Fatal. So if you wear a pair of Beverly Feldman's Fatal you will be surrounded by tall, handsome men of all ages. Some very wealthy!

Travel Tips London: The Pelham Hotel
Vintage Shop: Vintage with extreme editing at great prices . Rellik, Golborne Rd. London W10 5NW Tel +44 20 8962 0089

Second stop: Today I am in Munich. Selling shoes. Breakfast was oatmeal that I have brought with me and delicious smoked salmon from the hotel…

The sexiest shoe designs: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com

I was not having a contest until this photo came out, but now we are. Second place prize will be a $250 shopping gift certificate on BeverlyFeldmanShoes.com.

Contest: Best House Cleaning Outfit Wearing Beverly Feldman Shoes.

Of course if you can top this, we can make Gundi our European champion and keep the doors open for an American First Place Winner at $300.

All photos are subject to internet publishing, so be careful what you send. I, by the way took this photo. It was extremely hot, and it was the only way Gundi could clean, so she said. Shoes by BF, of course

And this is just how life is in Ibiza. Crazy and Wild. I just came back. And I spent another wonderful week with my friends and fans. The beautiful and famous, who wear my shoes.

From left to right: Queen B, Helmut and Mucky Braun, Interior Decorator

Mucky Braun, the super woman constructor and proprietress of Casa Munich and the very hip Nassau Beach Club. Beach beds at 100 euros. One of Ibiza´s Beautiful Elite. Movers and Shakers. A long time BF fan and friend, wearing that night a new pair bought at my one and only store in downtown Ibiza.

As you see can lingerie is a big look in Ibiza. Mucky and I belong to that very special club of looking 40 but having the knowledge of many centuries. And who is that cutie in the middle? Helmut from Berlin, my designated driver for the week.  He looks 30 but was actually 50 something. Almost past expiration date. We are all having dinner at the News Café at the New Port, and then we went across the street for café at 2 am to the VIP’P restaurant and gentelmens´club… well it was the closest place for a café. I passed on the café but had a dessert; I couldn’t figure why all the gorgeous girls were wearing red tube dresses…Oh la la.

Mucky’s favorite shoe, and it when so well with her summertime lingerie look.