Wichita Eagle: Bonnie Bing

Orpheum audience was glad to see Craig Ferguson

By Bonnie Bing — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:06 CST

I usually see comedian Craig Ferguson late at night on my TV screen. I don’t watch long because he’s the host of CBS’s “The Late Late Show,” which is one too many Lates for me.

“You should tape it,” he told me when I asked for him to get an earlier time slot. I told him it’s just not the same as watching him late at night.

“I hear that,” he said, looking a little puzzled.

No easy answer on how, where to help the homeless

By Bonnie Bing — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:38 CST

My column last Monday brought a deluge of phone calls and e-mails. It seems many of us share the dilemma of when and how to help the homeless.

I heard lots of stories of past experiences. Many people said they’d given money to a homeless person only to find the story they were told was a lie, or that the person asking wasn’t truly in desperate need of money.

Everyone agreed that I should not give people rides in my car and, while I can’t promise I’ll never do it, I promise I’ll be very, very selective.

When is it safe to help people?

Bonnie Bing — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:38 CST

Something has been bugging me for days, so I’m going to dump it on you, then I can quit thinking about it.

On my way to work one very cold morning last week I stopped at Walgreens, ran in, picked up some photos, paid, and hurried out because as usual I was running behind. I was approached by a woman who asked me to give her and her husband a ride because their car broke down and they needed to get home to their kids. Her husband was standing several feet away. She pointed at a car down the way. She said they needed to go to 25th Street. We were on 13th. I told her I was sorry but I was already late for work. I drove a few blocks and thought I should have given them cab fare. I worried about their kids.

When I got to work my co-workers listened to my tale of woe and said they would have been mad if I had taken the couple home. “They could have killed you.” “They could have robbed you.” “They could have kidnapped you.” “Are you nuts, Bonnie?” I probably am because it seemed like giving them a ride was the thing to do. But I didn’t.

Tracking wild animals prepares hunters from Zimbabwe for shopping in Wichita

Bonnie Bing — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:41 CST

When two professional wild game hunters from Zimbabwe, Gavin Rorke and Anthony Howland, strolled into Bradley Fair’s Victoria’s Secret last week, they had that “fish-out-of-water” look.

Gavin is a hunter and director of Gavin Rorke Safaris. Anthony went through the rigorous four-year apprenticeship to become a professional hunter and is on Gavin’s staff.

Guess that makes them hunters out of the bush — and a blast to watch as they shopped.

House is bare but outlets no longer overloaded

By Bonnie Bing — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:19 CST

I asked my friend Sally to remind me next year when I’m dragging out the greenery and a ton of Christmas decorations how much I dislike taking everything down after the holidays.

“Well, quit doing all that stuff upstairs; nobody sees that.”

There is the problem. I decorate for us, for my husband and me. He finally admits how much he likes the holiday decor, and I am happiest when I’m overloading most of the electrical outlets in our old house. It’s great when other people say how they get in the spirit when they come to our house, but it’s so fun to walk through a twinkling house, guests or no guests. It’s a blast creating something different every year, adding to the collection of way too much stuff and stepping back to see the result of your efforts.

Supreme encounter shows dreams come true

By Bonnie Bing — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:29 CST

You never know what life is going to bring you, but it’s those fun surprises that keep us going.

Back in the mid-’60s when I was a big fan of The Supremes, I would never had thought for a minute that many decades later I’d be sitting and chatting with Mary Wilson, a founding member of the group and the one who remained a Supreme until 1977, when the trio disbanded.

I caught up with Mary when she was in Wichita for an appearance in conjunction with the exhibit “The Mary Wilson Supremes’ Collection” at the Wichita Art Museum.

Wichita Art Museum showcases Supremes' dresses

Bonnie Bing — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:32 CST

If you love fashion, if you loved the Supremes, and maybe you still do, stop in the name of love!

Stop in at the Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd., to get a close-up view of many of the amazing dresses the Supremes wore on stage. The museum guard probably thought I was having some sort of a fit as I oooohed and aaaaahed and circled the exhibit twice. I wanted to look at the exhibit before I interview Mary Wilson on Friday – yes, the Mary Wilson, a founding member of the Supremes.

The dresses in the exhibit were made especially for the trio, and I must say the floor-length gowns they wore to meet the Queen Mother in 1968 are stunning. Mary told Wichita Art Museum executive director Charles Steiner that that particular dress is one of her personal favorites. The dresses weigh 35 pounds each and are heavily beaded with rhinestones, sequins and pearls, which means it’s worth every ounce.

Love of theater brings Wichitan home

BONNIE BING — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:45 CST

The good part about talking to Lauren Kadel on the phone is that she is so joyful she’ll make you smile. The bad part is not being able to see her bright eyes and big smile.

Lauren grew up in Wichita, but now can boast that she’s been in every state except Hawaii. She’ll be home when the show “Young Frankenstein” comes to town this week. She says it’s a real bonus when one of the shows she’s touring with comes to Wichita because she gets to see her parents, Shelli and Craig Kadel.

“It’s my favorite, and this time, I’ll get to see mom and dad every day and I won’t have to get up early,” she said.

Enter The Eagle’s $20.12 Outfit Challenge

BONNIE BING — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:35 CST

Since you’re going to be out shopping for something to wear for New Year’s Eve, you might as well take part in a very fun contest!

Are you between the ages of 13 and 100? Are you a super-duper bargain shopper deluxe? Here’s your chance to prove it.

Have you always wanted to do a fashion photo shoot? Here’s your opportunity to do one. Now really, who hasn’t wanted to be a Naomi Campbell for an hour?

Photo shoot turns into great fundraiser

BONNIE BING — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:22 CST

Sometimes things just click, and boy, doesn’t that make life easier? I can’t say there weren’t a couple of bumps in the road when we had a big holiday fashion shoot Nov. 13, but I can say we finished ahead of schedule. And, more importantly, we had some fun. The location was Wichita Country Club, where the staff did everything possible to accommodate the team of hairstylists and makeup artists, models of all ages, fashion assistants and the crazy woman.

That would be me.

I figured if we had those pretty people all coiffed, made up to perfection and dressed to the nines, why not do a fashion show, too? And why not make the show benefit a worthy cause? The event that evening was the Holiday Highlights Fashion Show, a benefit for Starkey.

Designer stays true to her distinctive look

BONNIE BING — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:08 CST

You know you’ve been a fashion writer for quite awhile when you interview an established, very successful designer for the second time and realize the first interview was in the early ’90s when she was just beginning to make her mark in the business.

Tracy Reese was at the Dallas Market Center as the honored guest designer Oct. 27. She still has the same charming, calm demeanor she had the first time we met. A 1984 graduate of Parsons School for Design in New York City, she got her first job at a small contemporary design firm, then quickly worked her way up to design director of the Women’s Portfolio at Perry Ellis. In 1998, she launched the first Tracy Reese collection. But that wasn’t enough, so she started her second line, Plenty by Tracy Reese. “I’m staying busy,” she said with a chuckle.

Now the Tracy Reese brand has expanded to include such products as shoes, home accessories and even candies. Four years ago she was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America as a board member.

Neiman is offering fountains, yurts, cars

BONNIE BING — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:58 CST

It appears butterflies are flying out of a woman’s head on the cover of the 85th edition of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. I look forward every year to discovering what the “His & Hers” fantasy gift is. Well, if you’ve ever stood at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and watched the dancing waters and thought, “Gee, it would be swell to have that in our back yard,” now you can have it. Perhaps not as big, but the gift being offered is a pair of dancing fountains from WET, the company behind many of the world’s famous fountains. And for a cool million bucks, Santa will deliver it.

Not into dampness? Then perhaps you’d prefer a Dream Folly customized yurt where you can lounge and eat grapes, or whatever a person does in a yurt. By the way, a yurt is a tent, but you knew that already. This one, however, is $75,000. The car being offered this year is a Neiman Marcus exclusive edition of the 2012 Ferrari FF. Better hurry on this one. They’re offering only 10 of them. Just think of the speeding tickets you could get in this 7-speed, 651-horsepower, V12 sweet ride that jumps from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. But here’s the best part: You get a set of beautiful luggage that matches the interior. Guess how much it costs? Nope, higher. Higher. It is $395,000. Order today, but you won’t get your new car until spring.

Supreme entertainment

Halloween should be princesses, not chainsaws

Bonnie Bing — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:40 CDT

Today is Halloween. When I told my co-workers I don’t like Halloween, they asked “why” almost in unison.

My answer: Life is sometimes ugly and scary enough without dedicating a whole day and night to scary. But I was really scared when I saw the horrific costumes some kids are opting for. Some children are choosing costumes based on movies they aren’t allowed to see. The Chain Saw Murderer costume is accessorized with a plastic chain saw painted to look like it’s covered in blood. Wouldn’t it be more fun to give candy to Superman or a ghost, a bumblebee, a princess – well, most anything but a murderer?

The good news for those of us who aren’t fans of Halloween: Before we know it the real holidays will be here with glad tidings and snowy weather.

Learning to write on new computer system: It’s all ‘bad’

BONNIE BING — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:39 CDT

Do you wonder how it is that some people “get” this whole technological thing and some don’t?

I don’t.

What I mean is I do wonder, but I don’t get computer-type stuff. And I don’t think it’s all about my age. But I suppose those of us who didn’t learn to use a mouse before taking our first steps are at a disadvantage.

Avid knitter creates her fall wardrobe

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:42 CDT

Sara Lloyd learned to knit when she was 8 years old. So when she announced more than a year ago that she was going to knit her 2011 fall wardrobe, no one was surprised.

Except Sara.

"It was one of those times when you say something and you don't even know for sure where it came from, but it was out there and I wanted to do it," she said.

Wichitans shine in spotlight, on runway

BONNIE BING — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:44 CDT

After covering fashion for three decades, I still enjoy learning about people from our fair city who have had extraordinary experiences in the fashion business.

Last week, I talked with three multitalented people who are extremely nice and well-mannered. And their good looks have led to some big adventures:

Maria Bradley

It's so nice to read nice things about Wichita

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:08 CDT

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Well, except when it comes to the subject of Wichita. Then, if you're opinion is disparaging, keep it to yourself.

I try to be a pleasant person, but if someone bad-mouths my town, there's no hope.

I get ugly. Fast.

Target Corp. strikes retail gold with its Missoni lines

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 05:50 CDT

The Target company should name its little mascot dog “Missoni.” Designers such as Isaac Mizrahi and Zac Posen have been somewhat of a draw when they did collections for Target at an affordable price point. But Tuesday when the Missoni collections went on sale, there were lines outside the door and a shopping frenzy that pretty much cleaned out the merchandise in record-breaking time.

Fred Rains, a manager at the Target store at 21st and Greenwich, said he was very surprised at the response. Rains says the company isn’t going to restock.

“But more product will be trickling in for the next few weeks,” he says.

Learning to cook in Italy: That's amore

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:07 CDT

Isn't it great when something you've always wanted to do turns out to be more fun and memorable than you thought it would be?

I've always wanted to take a cooking lesson in Italy. Nothing too difficult or fancy, just some tasty basics.

While strolling through Certaldo Alto in Tuscany, I saw a sign for La Cucina Giuseppina cooking school next to a platter of tomatoes drying in the sun.

Getting there and back is not half the fun

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:07 CDT

After a month of vacation, re-entry into the real world is tough. Digging through a tall stack of mail, sorting through e-mails and jotting down voice mails — a person just has to keep thinking about the great memories made during the time off. And the things you learned or remember from your last trip.

For example, fall — not summer — is the best time to go to Italy. We knew that, but we had to work with our granddaughter's school schedule.

Many shop owners take their vacations in August. And because they take their "holidays" very seriously, they close up shop and go. Yes, they lose income because it's tourist season, but that doesn't seem to matter as much as taking time off. Maybe they have the right idea.