On the TV ... today!

I just found out that I'm on the History Channel today on a show called "The States". It airs nationally at 2 pm...so be sure to tune in!

From what I've been told (the show originally aired in June), I'm only on for a couple minutes--if that--but I had a lot of fun taping the segment. I met the producer when I was visiting my friend Jeri Callahan (aka the Houseboat Lady) on her houseboat in Lake Union last July. She was filming a bit for them about houseboat living and when they met me and heard about The History of the Skirt, they invited me to contribute to the show (I'm sure the fact that I was lounging around in a bikini had nothing to do with it!). We met the next day at Top Pot Donuts and they set up this elaborate filming area and we chatted about my fabulous life working as a freelance writer in Seattle. All in all, we taped for about an hour, so I'm anxious to see what was included!

The States, 2 p.m., The History Channel

Update: My scintillating "segment" aired for a mere 3 seconds not 3 minutes and none of it was about my book! But as my friend Dave pointed out, all of Eastern Washington hit the cutting room floor and I got 3 seconds, so I didn't do too badly.

Tune in July 1!

This Sunday July 1 at 9 pm EST (6 pm PST) I'm a featured guest on "Inquiry" on 90.5 WICN, a public radio station in Boston/New England, and you can go to their web site and listen in. (Or tune in, if you're in the area)

From the WICN website:

Inquiry struts down the catwalk this week with two conversations devoted to fashion. First, Ali Basye takes us through the ups, downs, and ever-quirky designs of the skirt; from hobbles to poodles, to the mini, midi, and maxi. Then Cheree Berry uncovers the amusing history of the brassiere with her brand new, you guessed it, pop-up history book. At 9 p.m. Inquiry talks with fashion and travel writer Ali Basye about the ups, the downs and the ever-quirky design of the skirt. From panniers to bustles, from hobbles to poodles, the mini, the midi, the maxi and even the micro-mini, Ali talks about them all in her book "The Long and Short of It: The Madcap History of the Skirt."

The caveat is you need to download Radio 365 to listen but I think it might be a pretty interesting show so it's worth it, right? Seriously, this interview (recorded last month) was one of my better ones, primarily because the host Mark Lynch was really engaged and asked interesting questions. He actually read the book and even better: He liked it! I myself am looking forward to hearing how the segment shaped up--should be a fun one!

Long and Short picked for American Profile Magazine!

It's been a while since I posted but The Long and Short has gotten a ton of great press lately: my hometown paper The News Journal, my college alma mater magazine, a bunch of other newpapers, and a number of terrific radio stations had me on as their guest. Another cool thing: I'm seen on the History Channel's program, The States, that aired on May 28--just a tiny little segment but an appearance nonetheless. And this week I'm happy to report that American Profile Magazine picked The Long and Short as one of their "Our Picks" reading reviews. You can see it here

the first ladies of skirts

Today I was a guest on a terrific radio show, Conversations with Kathleen Dunn, on Wisconsin Public Radio for a full HOUR talking about the history of skirts. It was really cool, with a lot of interested guests calling in with very challenging questions about skirts. I'm working to archive the segment on my web site. Or go ahead and listen to it here with Real Player:

One caller (who was unable to get on the air) told the show's producer that she wanted to ask me about a first lady she had read about who died or was injured when her skirt caught fire. I've never heard this story and feel remiss that I included a side bar about the first ladies in my book and had never heard of this story. I spent a few hours researching it today and nothing turned up--has anyone heard this story before? If so, I'd love to hear about it!

I'm surprised how many people are interested in hearing about the First ladies of Skirts. I admit that that section of my book was a sidebar that was added as an after-thought. In retrospect I would have spent more time on it, making the content more extensive and more detailed. Maybe this is an idea for another book?

In the meantime, keep an ear out for my upcoming radio interviews:

Wednesday, February 28, 2007
CHED: Cheryll Gillespie Show
Edmonton, Alberta
10:00 AM to 10:23 AM PST
*TAPED Interivew

Friday, March 23, 2007
WLIU-RADIO
In The Morning
New York
6:40 AM to 6:55 AM PST
LIVE
Promotional giveaway

Tuesday, April 3, 2007
WICN-FM
Boston
8:00 AM to 8:30 AM PST

February 12 - Health & Beauty Revolution

I just finished a pretty great interview on WS Radio.com on The Health & Beauty Revolution with the host Patty Kovacs. Patty was so gracious and complimentary about my book and said every woman should buy it--wow!

It's interesting now that I've done a few of these shows to hear how badly women want to know WHAT they should wear, as if there is a one-skirt-fits-all out there that will solve their wardrobe dilemmas. I keep saying fashion should be fun, not stressful, but good clothing is clearly challenging and shopping is not fun for a lot of women. Women should strive to find clothes that make them feel confident and comfortable, and sometimes that means getting rid of all your ill-fitting clothes (donate them to Goodwill; don't throw them out!) and taking the time to shop at different stores until you find the right clothes for your body and personality. Of course A-line skirts look good on everyone and make calves look slimmer. So you can always get a bunch of those. The Gap or Banana always has that style in stock.

I updated my web site this weekend, adding a few magazine clips to the Clips page and will keep adding more as I get savvier on the computer. Tonight I pre-record a show for "Making Waves," a magazine-style show on WJFF Radio Catskill that will run next Monday. Be sure to tune in to KOPB-FM this Thursday at 1:05 to hear me on Oregon Public Broadcasting. It should be a fun one!

Thursday, February 15, 2007

1:05 PM PST
KOPB-FM (91.5)
Portland, Oregon


Monday, February 19, 2007
5:30 p.m. PST
WJFF Radio Catskill
Making Waves with Sabrina Artel


Tuesday, February 20, 2007

6:30 AM PST
NATIONAL Interivew/giveaway
CABLE RADIO NETWORK
AM Show
Los Angeles


10:00 AM PST
WFPL
Louisville, KY


Wednesday, February 21, 2007

8 a.m. PST
WPR: Wisconsin Public Radio
Kathleen Dunn Show
one hour interview

2:44 PM to 2:56 PM PST
WKCT-AM:
Drive Time with Alan Palmer
Bowling Green, KY

Friday, March 23, 2007
6:40 - 6:55 am PST
WLIU-RADIO
In the Morning
Southampton, NY

Tuesday, April 3, 2007
8 - 8:30 AM PST
WICN-FM
Inquiry
Boston, MA

Welcome, February 10, 2007

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog, where you can find news about my goings-on, as well as updates on my first book, The Long (and Short) of It: The Madcap History of the Skirt. The launch has gotten off to a great start, thanks to my amazing publicist at HarperCollins, Rachel Elinsky. I've done several radio interviews to coincide with fashion week, with even more interviews to come. Check out my radio schedule below and please tune in! Also, if you haven't picked up your copy of The Long (and Short) of It, you can link to Amazon.com through alibasye.com, or contact Harpers to order copies to sell in your shop.

Monday, February 12, 2007

10:45 AM to 11:00 AM PST
NATIONAL Interview
wsRadio.com
Health & Beauty Revolution
San Diego, CA


Thursday, February 15, 2007

1:05 PM PST
KOPB-FM (91.5)
Portland, Oregon


Tuesday, February 20, 2007

6:30 AM PST
NATIONAL Interivew/giveaway
CABLE RADIO NETWORK
AM Show
Los Angeles


10:00 AM PST
WFPL
Louisville, KY


Wednesday, February 21, 2007

2:44 PM to 2:56 PM PST
WKCT-AM:
Drive Time with Alan Palmer
Bowling Green, KY


Thursday, February 22, 2007

8 a.m. PST
WPR: Wisconsin Public Radio
one hour interview