Excerpted from the introduction to my new book, Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition:

As we all know, nothing falls out of fashion like fashion. History has relegated thousands of adornments to the ash bin, from togas to bustles to turbans. Yet, somehow these "glad rags" always...

Front page photo by Lemmy Caution.

The holiday season always seems like a good time to spend some time with sassy grande dame Elsie de Wolfe, who, sixty years after her death, remains one of America's most influential interior designers.

Her ingenuity went far beyond...

They say it's the thought behind the gift that counts, but we all know that's not entirely true.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner - and many of us are cringing. Too many times over the years, we've been given -- or have given -- corny or perfunctory gifts,...

Editor's Note: Lesley Blume's piece below originally ran on the occasion of the Obamas' first White House state dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, for which Marcus Samuelsson was the guest chef. Rick Bayless guest-cheffed their second state dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon. (View Samuelsson's state dinner...

With special thanks to Kathryn Sumner, British Parlor Game Expert and Muse.

Last night, while snowbound by the massive blizzard that engulfed New York City, I watched Out of Africa, hoping to squeeze some warmth from the sultry African landscapes on the screen.

One evocative scene depicts a 1919 New...

First Lady Michelle Obama's support of the American fashion industry seems to know no bounds. First she showed us fashion's future by wearing dresses by American up-and-comers Jason Wu, Maria Pinto, and Thakoon Panichgul -- and now she is giving us a glimpse into our nation's fashion history.

In 2007, I launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has since celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

From zeppelins to sealing wax, from turbans to typewriters, from Auntie Mame to the Ziegfeld Follies, Let's Bring Back has covered a...

In 2007, I launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has since celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

From zeppelins to sealing wax, from turbans to typewriters, from Auntie Mame to the Ziegfeld Follies, Let's Bring Back has covered a...

*Scroll down for the complete slideshow from LIFE.com*

In 2007, I launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

Today Let's Bring Back will make its...

*Scroll down for the complete slideshow*

In 2007, we launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

On November 1, 2010, Let's Bring Back will make its debut...

*Scroll down for the complete slideshow from LIFE.com*

In 2007, we launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

On November 1, 2010, Let's Bring Back...

In 2007, we launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

On November 1, 2010, Let's Bring Back will make its debut as a book -- and in...

In 2007, we launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

On November 1, 2010, Let's Bring Back will make its debut as a book -- and in...

*Scroll down for the full slideshow of images. See the rest of the gallery at LIFE.com.*

In 2007, we launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities....

*Scroll down for the full slideshow of images

In 2007, we launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

On November 1, 2010, Let's Bring Back will make...

*Scroll down for the full slideshow of images from LIFE.com*

In 2007, we launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

On November 1, 2010, Let's...

*Scroll down for the full slideshow*

In 2007, we launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

On November 1, 2010, Let's Bring Back will make its debut...

*Scroll down for the full slideshow*

In 2007, we launched on this site a column called Lets' Bring Back -- which has, over the past three years, celebrated hundreds of forgotten-yet-delightful fashions, pastimes, objects, and personalities.

Let's Bring Back's readers have traveled to a world in which Marilyn...

*Scroll down for the stylish slideshow*

These days, there are few events for which New Yorkers truly dress up. The annual Costume Institute Gala -- co-hosted by Vogue -- is one of them. Opening night at the Metropolitan Opera is another.

I'd argue that the third fete in that...

*Scroll down for more photos of the collection*

If I were Tory Burch, I'd be a touch miffed at Marc Jacobs: after all, the 1970s is her thing, and has been for quite a while. After all, her signature 70s-ish tunic -- très Babe Paley -- made her famous, along...