Happy Birthday, Jackie

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was born 83 years ago today. Thanks to @AssoulinePub for reminding me of these pictures (via @LIFE). I bet she'd still be gorgeous. Her sister Lee, four years younger than Jackie, certainly still is in this photo taken earlier this month.

Our Barbie Ourselves

Architect Barbie has arrived. I want one. Or maybe I secretly want to be one ...an architect, that is.

Jackie O was also a design and archtiecture afficionado, working with John Warnecke to design federal buildings in D.C.'s Lafayette Square, as well as JFK's simple, modern grave at Arlington; and then I.M. Pei to design the JFK Library.

That's Jackie and Warnecke looking at a model for Lafayette Square, which she saved from the wrecking ball. She was a preservationist to the core. Yes, that is the same famous pink Chanel suit she wore in Dallas.

Walking in her shoes

I wore these Jackie flip flops to the beach today. They were a birthday gift from colleagues. What I like about them is that no one knows what the image underfoot is -- except me -- when I am wearing them. Discreet, as Jackie would have liked it.

Meeting Middle Mojo

For years I occupied a little corner in the Living/Arts Department at the Boston Globe, covering fashion. I sat next to Joan Anderman, a rock critic who could interview Madonna like nobody's business. I always admired her ear for music, sense of people and ability to write -- and look cool in the process. She was also just fun to be around. We've both left the paper but it was great to catch up with Joan today over lunch about her new project: Middle Mojo, her quest to write songs, and understand the creative process at midlife. She and Jackie O, who turned a lifelong love of reading and writing into a profession at midlife, would have had a lot to talk about. Follow Joan @middlemojo.