March 2026 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Reflections of Glamour

If you’re even remotely into glamour, camp, or show-stopping fashion, the Reflections of Glamour: Bob Mackie presentation at the Palm Springs Art Museum is basically a must‑see.

It’s not a giant retrospective, and honestly, that’s part of the charm. It feels intimate, almost like you’ve slipped backstage into Mackie’s world for a moment.

I was lucky to have met Mackie on three separate occasions here in Palm Springs. I’m a huge fan of his work, obviously. He was very pleasant in person.

The museum has pulled together five original gowns and costumes, plus a curated selection of sketches spanning the 1970s through the 2000s. It’s a tight edit, but every piece hits.

You get that unmistakable Mackie blend of humor, theatricality, and pure sparkle – the kind of work that made Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Carol Burnett, Elton John, and so many others look larger than life.

One of the funniest skits I’ve yet to see was when Carol Burnett wore this for “Went With The Wind.” “*Just a little something I saw in the window.”*

One of the undeniable stars of the show is the “Scarlett O’Hara” gown from Carol Burnett’s legendary Went With the Wind parody – yes, the one with the actual curtain rod across the shoulders. Seeing the sketch next to the real gown is a delight, especially if you grew up watching that moment and laughing every single time. I did. I used to watch the show with my grandparents.

Because it’s housed in the Jorgensen Gallery on the ground floor, the whole thing feels focused and jewel-box-like – a little shrine to the art of making people gasp.

The presentation runs January 26 – March 30, 2026, and it was created to coincide with the museum’s annual Art Party gala, where Mackie himself was honored – with Carol Burnett presenting, naturally.

The Female Form

Over in the Female Form exhibition, the mood shifts from theatrical sparkle to something almost startlingly intimate. The sculptures are so hyper‑realistic you catch yourself slowing down, leaning in, trying to figure out where the artist’s hand ends and the illusion begins.

There’s a quiet power in seeing the body rendered with that much precision – every fold, freckle, and gesture captured with a kind of reverence that feels both modern and timeless. It’s one of those shows where you think you’re just popping in for a look, and suddenly you’re standing there longer than you meant to, completely absorbed.

Female Form: Tom Wesselmann & Mickalene Thomas from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation

Reflections of Glamour: All works are courtesy of Bob Mackie. Special thanks to Joe McFate, Design Director for Bob Mackie. Exhibition support is provided by Revivals and DAP Health.

Photos: d. king

Art & Culture

AmDocs: Something to Entertain You

Where Art, Love and Magic Meet

What can I tell you about this artful documentary I just saw at the Palm Springs Cultural Centre? On the city’s largest screen, I attended the world premiere of Something to Entertain You, part of AmDocs – the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival, one of the largest and most respected documentary festivals in the country, featuring independent films and Academy Award-qualifying screenings.

The film celebrates the life and work of Karen and Tony Barone, two unforgettable creative forces here in the Coachella Valley. Their whimsical, larger‑than‑life sculptures are scattered along Hwy 111, on El Paseo (Palm Desert’s answer to Rodeo Drive), outside private homes, and even at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Even if you don’t know their names, you’ve seen their art. And once you meet them, you never forget them.

Filmmakers Jon and Mary Orlin spent years getting to know the Barones, and their documentary captures the couple’s world with so much heart. They reveal just enough of the mystery while still preserving the magic – a rare balance.

Mary & Jon Orlin outside the PS Cultural Center (used to be called The Camelot). Photo taken by Carla DeLuca.

I’ve been lucky to meet Karen and Tony several times over the years. I remember spotting them at Tropicale or at the Modernism Week Opening Party, long before I knew who they were. Karen, in particular, is impossible to ignore – a living work of art, effortlessly so.

The premiere exceeded every expectation. The theatre was packed with friends, fans, and familiar faces, and the film delivered more than a few surprises. I had no idea they once designed restaurants or created a one‑of‑a‑kind makeup line so unique that when Oprah walked into their SoHo store, she bought one of everything. Or that Andy Warhol invited them to lunch and couldn’t stop photographing Karen. To be honest, most people want to photograph her.

This was taken at the after-party at Il Corso – Palm Springs.

And then there’s Tony’s love for Karen – one of the most beautiful parts of the film. His admiration for her is deep, steady, and unwavering. He’s an extraordinary artist in his own right, yet he lets her shine without hesitation. It’s rare to witness a partnership like theirs.

Their life has been eclectic, bold, and endlessly creative…and it still is.

Something to Entertain You captures that spirit perfectly. The film just had a second screening here in the desert, and I can’t wait to see where it plays next. If you get the chance to watch it, don’t miss it. It’s absolutely worth seeing.

Here’s a previous Art + Fashion Blog Post I did on the Barone’s – it ties everything together:

https://girlwhowouldbeking.com/2023/03/06/monday-mood-art-fashion-with-the-barones/

STYLE

MAXimum Impact

Inside the Rise of Fashion’s Youngest Breakout Designer

Max Alexander told his parents he was a dressmaker at age four. At seven, he broke a Guinness World Record. At ten, he became the youngest designer ever to debut at Paris Fashion Week, showing at the iconic Palais Garnier.

Lindsay Jay wearing Max Alexander at Palais Garnier.

By now, many have heard of the boy barely tall enough to reach a cutting table yet bold enough to turn the fashion world on its heels.

At just ten, Max Alexander isn’t playing dress‑up – he’s drafting patterns, sculpting silhouettes, and constructing garments with the instinct and precision of someone decades deeper into the craft. His studio is a whirl of fabric, sketches, and ambition, where childhood imagination meets couture‑level discipline. What he’s creating isn’t just clothing; it’s a glimpse of a future designer whose vision arrived early and fully formed, leaving an imprint far larger than his years.

Max didn’t come from a family of fashion designers, but he grew up in a home where creativity was encouraged. Surrounded by art supplies and room to explore, he gravitated toward making things long before he understood what fashion design was. While other kids were stacking blocks, Max was shaping scraps and tape into early versions of garments. What looked like play quickly revealed itself as something more intentional – a fascination with how clothing is built and how ideas become real.

His parents recognized the spark and gave him the tools to follow it, but the drive was entirely his.

He showed 15 dresses at Paris Fashion Week on March 3, with 90% of the collection made from biodegradable, recyclable, or dead stock materials – leftover fabric companies would normally discard. His newest bag sold out in 24 hours. He has nearly six million Instagram followers.

The daughter of a friend here in Palm Springs happens to be Max’s muse. Gorgeous Lindsay Jay closed the show in Paris wearing a corset that took Max more than ten hours to construct, crafted from an upcycled French luxury-brand duster bag. The skirt was made from a vintage French military parachute he’d saved for just the right moment. Lindsay’s mother, Lynn, told me the two share an incredible bond. Sensing their similar spirits, she introduced them three years ago, when Max was only seven.

I asked Lynn how she first met Max. She had interviewed him on her radio show, The Coach Lynn Show – a program syndicated in more than 100 countries, with podcast versions on iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Deezer, and all major streaming platforms. “He reminded me so much of my own kids,” she said. “I mentioned that my daughter was a model in L.A., and they invited her to a photo shoot. As they say, the rest is history.”

Photos of Lindsay wearing this dress have been used in Vogue (in 3 countries) Cosmopolitan, Allure, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and many more.

Max has designed for Sharon Stone, spoken at the United Nations about fashion waste, and shown collections in New York, Denver, and Aspen.

Fern Mallis, the creator of New York Fashion Week, sat front row in Paris. “He’s one of a kind. I think anything is possible.”

Max is a fourth grader from Los Angeles who plays pickleball and piano. He dabbles in Robotics. His dream: becoming a couturier in Paris. His dream became a reality earlier than most people can figure out what they want to dream about becoming.

So dream on – and dream bigger. Max Alexander is proof that sometimes the future arrives early.

STYLE

The Ultimate Ballet Flat

Foldable, Flexible, and Fashionable

My mom used to have these amazing pairs of fold-up ballet slippers. I remember borrowing them on occasion because they fit into a purse – and because I never wore flats, they came in handy to be slipped on after taking off my heels at the end of a long night of dancing.

They were also really cute and came in a few colors including gold and silver. The only down side was that they were not very well made and you couldn’t count on walking in them for long.

I often wondered what became of them as I became more sensible with shoes. They probably fell apart. But I do remember how convenient and comfortable they were and I’ve never come across anything like it again.

Until recently when I discovered a website for a company that makes ballet flats called Tieks.

First off, I couldn’t believe how many styles and colors they have – over 70 Prints, Patents, Classics, and more. It made it hard to choose only one pair to find out if all the hype on their website was real.

What sold me is that Tieks are considered the most versatile flats in the world. Made of the finest Italian leathers that are foldable and wearable all day, every day. Excellent for traveling. I’m definitely taking them on my next trip as they take up virtually no extra space in a suitcase or carry-on bag. They go with everything from jeans to dresses and even office wear.

The company was founded in 2008 by Kfir Gavrieli in Los Angeles, now based in Beverly Hills. The manufacturing process of every single pair involves three days of a highly detailed process with over 150 steps, resulting in a flat with unparalleled comfort, flexibility, durability and style. They feature a unique split‑sole and flexible midsole that molds to your foot and moves with you as you walk.

The shoes start at $210 for adults. While they’re an investment, buyers find them worth it because of their durability, versatility, and long‑term comfort. The reviews I’ve read are excellent.

I noticed that the back is cushioned rather than elasticized to ensure they’re not too tight on the heel. The advanced foam cushioning makes it comfortable for long-term wear. They have a thick non-skid rubber outsole to provide traction and shock absorption.

Another thing that sets them apart is the hand-stitched turquoise‑blue stripe running up the heel and the matching blue rubber patches on the sole. It’s similar to the iconic Prada red line (especially on the America’s Cup sneakers and some accessories). These color accents act like a visual logo that you can spot from across a room. Gives them an extra oomph.

Overall, ballet flats are a timeless wardrobe staple, rather than a fleeting fashion moment. I don’t expect that they’ll ever go out of style.

The last thing I want to mention about the company is that they have a foundation dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs around the world.

The women they support come from all kinds of backgrounds and industries, and the website even shows photos and stories of each one – where they’re from, what they do, and how their businesses are growing.

Tieks partners with a non-profit micro‑lending platform called Kiva to fund these entrepreneurs. Kiva allows everyday people to lend small amounts of money to women who don’t have access to traditional banking. Loans can be as little as $25, and when they’re repaid, the money can be lent again. It’s not charity – it’s zero‑interest lending that helps women build businesses, pay school fees, buy equipment, or stabilize their households.

Since its inception, The Gavrieli Foundation has become the single largest lender on Kiva worldwide, contributing over $10,000,000 to more than 55,000 women in over 70 countries, including the U.S.

Knowing that Tieks supports women entrepreneurs around the world made me love the brand even more. It’s rare to find a company that not only makes a great product but also invests in helping women build their futures.

I chose these which I’m wearing in Palm Springs and taking back to Vancouver.

Click here for the little flat that fits everywhere and goes with everything:

https://tieks.com/boutiek

inspiration

March Musings…

It was too darn hot! Here in Palm Springs we don’t have to worry about shovelling snow, but when the weather creeps above 95 degrees, it’s just too hot to think straight. There were several days in a row of sitting in air‑conditioned rooms. It’s just starting to cool down before it begins to creep up again in the next week or so. Then it’s time to get ready to leave. Overall, I cannot complain, but there are only so many clothes you can take off – and then what?

As usual, the time escapes me too. It’s always like that when it gets close to departure, but for some reason this season seems to have gone by especially fast.

This season was more about enjoying the small moments. There were a few big ones, of course, but overall I felt no pull to chase after anything or insert myself into any circle. By giving things room to unfold on their own, I’ve started to understand what actually feels right for me. Stepping back and letting life move at its own pace has shown me what truly fits. It’s interesting to look at things from the outside in. So far, this is working for me.

I’ve had some really lovely chance encounters this season. A few may grow into lifelong friendships, and a few will fade out naturally – and that’s perfectly okay. I don’t want to force any relationship, whether friendship or something else. I’ve seen less of some people I used to see all the tiime, and more of the ones I’m just beginning to know and slowly growing to appreciate and enjoy.

I look forward to a monthly forecast from a website I follow called The Power Path. Every month they share a new word that sets the intention for the month. The theme for March is Upgrade. That feels perfect, because I sense I’m getting a personal upgrade too.

In order to upgrade anything, you must first release what you’re upgrading. If it’s a piece of furniture or an appliance, you move the old energy out of your life to make room for the new. The same is true for inner upgrades – your thoughts, emotions, attitudes, self‑esteem, personal power, and confidence.

You can only upgrade if you unstick yourself from where you are stuck.

An excerpt (link to full article below): The most important is the upgrade of your thoughts, emotions and beliefs. This may require further release and completions of old patterns, cycles and behaviours. If you are not proactive in doing so, spirit will do it for you by bringing in something unexpected that forces you to make a necessary change.

I believe moving forward is the only way to better yourself. I’ve experienced the unexpected – good and bad -that pushed me in uncomfortable directions. But I’ve also learned that the discomfort at first almost always becomes growth in the end.

Speaking of growth, as March unfolds I’m looking forward to longer light (especially since I just found out that British Columbia is moving to permanent Daylight Saving Time – Yay), fresh energy and the first Spring flowers with the gentle reminder that things bloom in their own time.

I’m ready to see what blossoms next. How about you – What are you looking forward to this Spring?

March, 2026 Monthly Forecast

Header image: d. king