spill the beans. When you spill the beans, you give away private information. If your friend warns you not to spill the beans, it means he/she doesn't want you to tell anyone his/her secrets.
It's sort of an old fashioned phrase because I have not used it or heard anyone else say it in ages... Suffice to say I think it's best to keep some of your thoughts, memories or desires to yourself... but I'll get back to this later.
I'll start with a little about style and attitude through the ages...
From Medieval times through the age of Renaissance Man many (but not all) men lived by a code of honor in their manners and fairness and truthfulness that translates now to "you should not have to try too hard... your brilliance, manner and style should seem effortless."
To the Regency and Victorian beliefs of not being too ostentatious translated in style and manner to be eloquent as well as elegant.
By today's standards it does not seem that this was an era of laid back style and easy elegance... but for this emerged softly tailored suits, Fair Isle knits... as this was a time when members of the aristocracy were always dressed with military precision and formality.
By the 20's a new sense of freedom and casual style emerged and an exuberant attitude absent before the period and for the first time included more than the upper class... although much of the fashion of this period is related to the rich as best exemplified by F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby.
I feel Hollywood had the most impact bringing style to the masses for the first time people all over the world could see films and learn to emulate their heroes... even if you were not tall dark and handsome you could learn to talk the talk and walk the walk and thanks to mass marketing emerging your could find the clothes or a copy that you could afford.
This was really the period of time that anyone who was willing to put a little effort in what they wore, how they moved and behaved could join the club as it was not just for those to the manor born. As a little side note to this... in case you did not know... Warner Brother stopped distributing pictures to Nazi Germany in 1935... MGM, Universal and Paramount stopped in 1940... it's just one little life lesson of doing the right thing at the right time because money and profits are not always the most important business consideration.
Probably one of the most influential people then and now for style and image is hands down James Dean as his look is probably the most emulated and demeanor and attitude the most coveted and copied.
From then until now the man of today's generation has become a global phenomenon the world over from New York, Paris, London and Tokyo, he blogs, tweets. updates his status on social media... however when it comes to determining taste, style and especially manners and grace... for me the verdict is still out as to the extent of his influence. I think there is a lot to be said about a hand written thank you note as opposed to a text with an emoticon expressing his thanks or whatever it is he is actually feeling or not feeling for whatever reason.
Back in the mid 90's I was invited to a book signing to meet Isabella Rossellini for her book "Some Of Me" I was as charmed and bewitched by the title and idea of the book as I was with meeting her... somewhere between the crowd and the Champagne my autographed copy got mixed up with someone named Luigi... so I'm assuming he has my book since I have his... but the book was as enchanting as I found her in that she revealed some of herself without giving everything away... and I think that's important whether you live in the public eye or behind the scenes (I've done both)
Sometimes I hold something back because quite simply it's private and I want my memories and feelings about certain issues and some of the things I've done in life not to be common knowledge.; part of this stemmed from being raised to not boast or brag about who you know, what you know, where you've been and what you own (an outdated idea in the new gilded age mentality of many people these days)... another part of it is sometimes I just don't think certain aspects of my personal life are anyone else's business... You don't have to tell everyone everything about yourself. I have probably told and shared more to my other half about me and my life than anyone else alive... and that is the beauty of finding your soul mate because they won't judge or question or hold anything you say against you.
I've told everyone who reads this a great deal about myself but it dawned on me I do hold things back... you may remember when I wrote about going to The Troubadour in Now & Then Part 2 I did not share the fact that I actually performed as a back up singer for someone who was an opening act once and later when he was headlining... he is probably more than anyone else I have ever worked with responsible for the success I've had in the music industry and who I am as a fair and decent person... and no I'm not telling you who he is... but in reminiscing him it remained me...
See you in two weeks!
