An hour with Bonnie Bing took me on a journey from the excitement of a newsroom with electronic type writers, phones ringing off the hook and an energy so electric a case of Red Bull couldn’t touch to the fashion streets of New York where she has interviewed style greats such as Versace, Diane Von Ferstenburg, Marc Jacobs and more.  I got the dish on how she left a career as Assistant Athletic Director at WSU to her unexpected beginnings at the Wichita Eagle.  Not to mention, an admitted personal fashion oops during the 70’s, celebrities she would love to dress and insight as to whose  ‘naughty or nice’ in the fashion world. As I chatted with Bonnie, I soon realized this stunning woman has a down-to-earth attitude with a high-end heart and is one of Wichita’s true class acts.

How did your career go from Phys Ed to fashion and how long have you worked as the Eagle’s fashion reporter? After 6 ½ years as a physical education teacher for 7^th, 8^th & 9^thgrade girls, with a Masters in Education, I moved on to become the Assistant Athletic Director at WSU for the next 4 years.

At that time the editors at the Eagle were looking for someone who knew lots of people in Wichita to write the social column. Through the referral of a friend, we were introduced. During lunch, they asked me what I thought of the social column and I let them have it. Their reply was to offer me a job. I laughed and said, “I don’t know how to write.” And one of them told me, “If you can talk, you can write.” So that’s when I decided to give it a shot.

At the end of the first month, they needed someone to interview a designer who was in Wichita that day. There wasn’t anyone else available so they asked me to do it. I’ve been writing the fashion column ever since.  (28 years)

Does it ever feel like a balancing act of having one foot in the fashion world and the other staying grounded in what really matters? “Of course. It’s clothes we’re talking about here. We’re not curing cancer. It’s a way to cover our collective asses.”  “Don’t get me wrong, I love the beauty and freedom of clothes but also know what’s important.”

Is there one trend or style that is an all time personal favorite? I absolutely love clothes from the 20’s.I’m a sucker for the beautiful chiffon, beading and draping fabrics used then. Suits from the 40’s are also an all time favorite.

What is your biggest personal fashion oops? A caramel colored jumpsuit I modeled for Signature Wichita. I thought I had to have it and wore it several times.

If there was one celebrity you could style who would it be and why? Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow. Either could pull off any direction or look.

Will you tell me what famous designers stand out in your mind as “naughty or nice?” David Yurman. I interviewed him years ago and really liked him. He is VERY nice, sweet and welcoming. Now when I go to New York I call him and his wife and we will meet up.

Versace. He was so nice. He looked you in the eye. He was a true gentleman.

Betsey Johnson. She’s absolutely nuts! Crazy fun. At one of her runway shows all of her models wore flower pots on their heads.

Marc Jacobs. Super Moody!

Bonnie shared with me a revelation she had at one point in her career in regards to her writing. “In personal stories I realized the more I liked someone the harder it was to write. I never felt the words were doing them justice or showed off how truly great they were.”

Although this statement took me at first by surprise, I believe I now know what she’s talking about. I hope this glimmer of Bonnie Bing will fan into flame a desire to read more of Bonnie and her fashion column in the Wichita Eagle! You can read her column every Monday in the Eagle and sign up for the Bonnie Bing Tuesday fashion newsletter at: www.kansas.com. Click on Home, then Newsletter, register and sign up for the Bbing e-mail newsletter.