So you probably noticed that I’ve been quite the MIA penguin this week – and if you didn’t notice I was gone then you just don’t care, and we are now fighting.  I was in Las Vegas for the trade shows, showing my new Spring 2010 line and checking out all the new collections by my favorite designers.  You guys have 6 months to wait, but when Spring comes around you’ll be looking good in some of what I saw.

Dear Creatures

If you don’t know the brand ‘Dear Creatures’, you should.  It is the brainchild of one of my favorite sleeper designers, Rob Sinclair, who I first discovered through his last company – Brown Sound.  Dear Creatures has been around for a few years selling only Womens apparel, but what I saw this week was Rob’s first stab at a Mens collection for DC.  The whole brand has a retro, 1950s and 1960s feel, with piping details on fitted pea coats and belted jackets and dresses for girls.

More Dear Creatures

There is also an almost wartime aspect to the Spring ‘10 collection that shows military fits and Navy stripes and cuts for both guys and gals.  I love this look and think the line should do really well.  Check it out.

My good friend Drake just sent me this… and since I trust her judgment and her ability to spot things that she knows I will love implicitly, I had to post it immediately.  [Forewarning style sidenote on Drake: She is a West coast East Coaster.  She pops the collar of her polos, loves Ralph Lauren more than she loves her own family, and would sell her soul to the devil himself for a palatial spread in the Hamptons, New England, or anywhere on the Eastern Seaboard. So keep that in mind whenever I show you her picks.]

The summer sand is quickly draining from all of our hourglasses.  Summer is full of life and freshness, bright vibrant colors, crisp clean lines, and airy light fabrics and feels.  But that’s just it… as summer winds down in the coming weeks, don’t let go of it!  If you play your cards right, you can keep a summer feel year-round in your home.

image - remodelista.com

Ok ok ok… I know that yellow might not be for everyone, and maybe this is a little TOO much of a statement for some of you, but I think you get the point.  DON’T BE AFRAID OF COLOR!!!  If I walk into one more of my friends igloos to see beige walls with darker floors, maybe a gray accent wall, and all dark wood furniture… I am just going to snap.  Color is our friend.  It makes things more interesting, more eye catching, and most importantly… more fun!  Don’t be stupid with it though.  When my parents next door neighbors moved in to their house, the wife had the interior of the house painted top to bottom.  She did every room in a different color – and there are probably 10 rooms!!!  Walking through their home feels like you’re on a guided tour of the Crayola factory.  You want to do accent colors that catch the eye and change the whole tone of the house, like the yellow doors seen above which were done throughout the entire craftsman style home.  Maybe you can start slow with pillows, rugs, or drapery?

… and go to your public library!  We’ve all seen trends come and go in a few months span – but one that we just can’t seem to shake (nor should we) is reinvention of “cool”.  It’s clear that our current generation of designers is somewhat apathetic – designing with the notion that everything has been done already, so there is nothing they can try that is truly original, just reinvention of past looks.  But think about this… in 1899 (yes, almost 20 years before the Ford Model T and 14 years before the Wright Brothers airplane) the Commisioner of the U.S. Patent Office made the claim that “Everything that can be invented, has been invented”.  Ha!  This leads me back to “cool”.  It’s not a trend – its an aspirational way of living that will never go out of style.

Classic Rock Cool

A note to all you designers (and fashion savvies), stop looking at the monthly trends in your fashion magazines and go check out a few books at your local library.  The collage of images here is ‘classic rock cool’ and it typifies a 1960s and 70s era in the flashy world of popular music, butyou takeaway should be… this is what “cool” was at that time.  Its much looser than the cuts and colors of the clothes – it’s the feel and the energy of the look and the time that we, as designers,  should be looking to reinvent… and you, as clothing aficionados, should be looking to wear.  Maybe this is all too ethereal for a penguin on a Friday morning, but I’ve been beak-deep in designing my new spring line (hence my 2 day absence) and this is what I’ve been thinking about.

So, before you rely on the minute-to-minute trends for your next fashion buy… see if what you’re getting/wearing fits in to your personal, modern, today version of “cool”.  Forget the hot colors of the summer for a moment and decide if those skinny jeans you’re looking at have the right energy, ON YOU… an energy you feel good about and connected to.  That’s all fashion really is or should be.

Like it or not, big chunky jewelry (namely necklaces and chokers) are IN for Fall.

Chunky Necklaces And Chokers for Fall

Mrs. T

Personally, I tend to feel like these chokers are about to come alive, grow limbs, and start swatting the pretty girl in the face.  That’s honestly what I think about when I see a woman walking down the street with a necklace on that looks as though she needed the assistance of a man… with a forklift… to put it on and clasp it.  But that’s just me.  I’ll accept the trend like a good little penguin and keep my mouth somewhat shut to any designer friends who may be jumping on the chunka-chunka choochoo train with their accessories this season, as long as they stay away from too much gold.  Girls, realize that you can stay on trend here without “icing” out your collarbone until your friends feel the need to give you a rapper name and you join the likes of ‘Lil Romeo’ or ‘Weezy’.  Or until you’re forced to buy a cargo van and start the next A-Team, Mr. T.  Go easy at first and see what’s comfortable for you… and start with browns, earth tones, and soft colors – not metallics.  Also, keep your size and shape in mind.  We don’t want any of you 5′1″, 98 pound, tiny tots developing back problems because of a Fall 2009 fashion trend.  If that should happen – send your chiropractor bills to Sandra Bullock, she wore just under 1 ton of necklace to the premiere of ‘The Proposal’ and got people buzzing early on.

Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit it, but I’ve just now stumbled onto Chevingon Clothing.

Chevignon Clothing - French Take on the US 1950's

The French company has been around since 1979, and in the United States for about 19 of those 30 years.  Best known for their unique interpretations of American retro style, the brand was started with a take on the the “fights”, the bomber jacket worn by US Air Force pilots in the 1950s.  The inspiration of the entire brand is “The American Dream”, and you can clearly see how it’s communicated in every collection they’ve put out.

The look is something right off the backs of Josh Hartnett and Ben Affleck from the movie “Pearl Harbor”.  I love the current line, and wish it was more readily available here in the US.  The short cut of the outerwear pieces looks great on top of their neutral sweaters – and their merchandising with the hats really gives the line a fashion-forward street feel.

“Quality will be remembered long after price is forgotten.”

Founder Guccio Gucci

This is the long running Gucci Family Slogan, and I love it.  It’s true I can look at some items out there in the marketplace and, because I know how they were made and what the materials cost, I can say that they are grossly overpriced… but what Gucci said about quality is undeniable.  A well made, original, unique, classic piece of clothing is worth any price as long as you can pay it.

Last night was the New York premiere of ‘The September Issue’, the new documentary about fashion mogul, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and the entrance doors to the screening may as well have been a catwalk.

Sienna Always Looks Great

Imagine you’re walking into the premiere for a film about the most opinionated and judgmental person in fashion… and whose opinion may just carry the most weight in the industry.  You had to know Sienna was gonna stun ‘em, especially after a little tension between her and Wintour over a scene in the movie (and the trailer) in which Anna calls Sienna “toothy” and talks about her “unruly hair” in a photo for the cover of the issue.  Apparently they felt Miller needed quite a lot of photoshop work for the cover shot – I think using technology to make her look any better is just rubbing life in the faces of all the other women out there.  Rude.

Anyway, she looks hot.

Can someone sit me down and explain why I would pay $240.00 for a pair of all-over-print, elastic waistband, drawstring swim trunks?

Vilebrequin Trunks only $240.00!

If you don’t know it, Vilebrequin is a beach apparel company out of Saint-Tropez that’s been around since the early 70s.  They are an authority in mens swim trunks, and have kept an original and classic fit around while others strayed longer, bigger, elastic-less, and otherwise.  I’m aware that their trunks are made from Spinnaker Canvas (the material used in sailboat sails) which is novel and kitschy, but the price tag still strikes me as laughable.  I actually really like some of their artwork in the prints, but there’s no denying that the patterns they use walk a tightrope line between eccentric, and tacky as hell.  This is one of those boutiquey novelty brands that finds a niche to claim, jacks the price, and runs with it like O.J. in the Bronco.  I suppose I should be no more surprised by Vilebrequin now than I am when Louis V drops a two panel beach bag for damn near a grand… but these are trunks, hardly a daily wear. Perhaps I’m just jealous.  “But daddy, I want a 90% markup item in my line too!”

I’m not a thrifty penguin – if something is unique and well made, I will throw down for it. But these I cannot justify.  If you can, get them at Gilt.com for $80 today.  [again, email me if you need an invitation for membership.]

Where did this girl come from? I just looked her up on on imdb and discovered that she has racked up 22 speaking roles as an actress in the past 7 years (though many of these are films/shows you couldn’t be less familiar with) so maybe I’m just blind.  I might have noticed her in ‘Troy’, but I stayed away from the ‘National Treasure’s because… well… Nick Cage as an adventurous hero? However I stumbled onto her – I’m glad I’ve found Diane Kruger now.

This Inglorious Basterd is GLORIOUS!

This pic is from the recent New York premier of the new Quentin Tarantino film ‘Inglorious Basterds’, the cast of which includes Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, and B.J. Novak.  The dress she chose is just great for her – with a retro styling fit for a silver-screen starlet, and the simple but bright hair and makeup supporting the era statement.  Transforming into an updated 1940s-esque sex symbol works in perfect conjunction with the plot line and period of the movie she is promoting.  The sequins and reflective detailing contribute to the antique feel, but the cut of the dress brings it into modern times just enough.  I love that her hair is nearly undone, and her eyes have only noticeable mascara – the lack of color all around the rest of her face makes her lips and eyes pop.   She’s hot, in a classic way, which is pretty rare and really hard to do.

Office Pod

This is The Office Pod – - The Next Generation of Workplace.  An eco-friendly working environment for one that is built in the UK and being peddled to individuals and companies around the world as the next step in workstations.  Here’s their pitch:

To Businesses - The nature of the workplace is changing as the majority of office roles no longer require dedicated space in a central office 5 days a week. OfficePOD enables a company to provide a more efficient working environment with significant cost, employee, environmental and productivity benefits. For home use – A chance to cut down on commuting, to be more productive, to spend more time at home but at the same time keep your work separate. A major way to getting a better balance into your life

One thing is for sure, the Office Pod wipes the floor with any cubical I’ve ever seen.  I love the mid-century modern design aesthetic, though I’m sure it will be a bit of an elephant in the backyard/boardroom if trying to match the home or office decor of today’s American worker.  For office use, I think the Pod just kind of “eehhh” but for anyone who works from home, especially with a family in the house, I think this is a Godsend.

Can you see this Office Pod in your backyard?

The company has put a ton of effort into the “greening” of the Office Pod, making the entire thing from recycled and recyclable products wherever possible.  Furthermore, the pod can obviously make it possible for more people to work from home as opposed to commuting to an office.  An independent study showed that moving the average commuting worker from an office to a pod would reduce CO2 emmisons by between 46% & 67%.

It’s this kind of simple creation that will continually take small steps for us on the way to living like The Jetsons.

Recycled Dresser Drawers

Towards the end of last week, I showed you a creative option for recycled shelving from old tables and desks… and here is something along the same lines that I love.  This piece is the work of furniture design company SchubLaden, from the Berlin-Kreuzberg´s Graefedistrict of Germany.  The word schubLaden translates to mean ‘drawers’ in German, as the company is entirely devoted to the reuse of old, unmated drawers.  This is new furniture with old drawers, ready-to-buy or custom-made for you. It’s recycling just the same, but in a more creative and useful way.

Katie Holmes Cruise [does she even go by that?] is the latest addition to the rapidly growing list of actor/model/musician-turned-fashion designers… God save us.  “Kate” has had quite the busy few years.  Since 2006 she has taken on motherhood, married her childhood crush, accepted Scientology, and now she will start her very own fashion line.  I honestly can’t decide which of these decisions I think is the most questionable.  But Oprah’s couch aside, let’s focus on fashion:

Katie Holmes Clothing LIne

The girl from The Creek with the killer crooked smile became a fashionista extraordinaire right around the time that she started getting a reported $3 million per year of marriage, and $25 million per child she births for Tom.  This financial thing is purely speculative, but her move to couture fashion in 2006 is legit, and documented in photographs.  Last year, Katie teamed up with her stylist Jeanne Yang to design a dress for the premiere of ‘Tropic Thunder’. Seen above-left in the picture where it looks like she threw shades and a jacket on her teenage brother and brought him to the movie for juju bees and popcorn… Katie’s first piece was a silk halter dress with a tiered bodice out of black leather.  Interesting and unique – great fit – looked great.  Most recently, Kate and Jeanne collaborated on a white strapless silk jumpsuit with a black long sleeved sheer lace top underneath, which Katie wore to her Broadway premiere of All My Sons.  The retro Chanel-style look is said to be indicative of the line she is planning to release this fall, and it looks great on her tall, slender frame.

The line, which is yet to be named, will reportedly include styles for women as well as children.  Holmes has said that the inspiration comes from baby Suri and Yang’s two little girls, thought it’s unknown how much of the collection will be directed at children.  It is believed that the line will be sold exclusively at the very high-end and overpriced boutique store on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles.

I always try to be environmentally conscious where I can – but normally this just means recycling plastic and aluminum cans, opting for online vs. print when possible, and carpooling on occasion.  To interior design specialist Isabel Quiroga, apparently recycling means something totally different.

Recycled Bookcase of Tables

Look closely at that picture – the floor to ceiling bookcase is made entirely out of used and antique tables.  Before you get huffy about the cost, notice that the wall fixture is made from no more than three tables, which were probably bought from a flea market or garage sale for a total of $60.  The tables are sawed down the middle and both sides can be used for the bookcase.  This is genius… it may get a ton of stares in your home (especially in purple), but that may be just what you’re going for.  Also, from where I’m standing, the easiest and most environmentally responsible thing we can do in these times is not add more ’stuff’ to the overpopulated planet we live on.  This concept accomplishes just that.

I’m going to the swap meet for some tables, you?

On Monday I wrote about fashion designer and illustrator Richard Haines, and then this morning I stumbled upon this video which was strangely posted the same day I wrote my entry.  In it, he is sketching the FW09 line for a brand called 3Sixteen.

It’s an awesome video exemplifying the greatness of freehand fashion illustration amidst a sea of digital renderings.  There’s something tangible about putting pencil to paper that I connect with in apparel design, and I loved hearing Haines’ perspective about sketching today.  He explains – “an illustrator is able to kind of exaggerate a shape in a way that a photographer can’t… I can kind of elongate. I can stretch. I can kind of manipulate things, very quickly, that I think photography can’t… I think illustrating it brings a different thing to the table, partially because I understand the details.  I understand how a garment’s made. I understand, you know, kind of how the fabric drapes and what’s important in the garment… so all of that goes into the sketch.”

It’s the age old question that’s been plaguing man (or woman in this case) for centuries… when the weather is hot, how do I keep cool while still looking great?  Ok, so maybe ‘for centuries’ was an exaggeration, but as we’re approaching the late August and September heat, it’s certainly on your mind now, ladies.  It’s relatively straightforward- the more articles of clothing you wear, the more interesting combinations you create… and the easier it is to play opposing or similar pieces off one another.  So, the scortching summer months that make you wish you had never stopped stripping after college so that your work attire would at least be comfortable and sweat-free… can have you screaming obsenities each morning and hastily serving your once-loved closet with divorce papers.  I thought I’d come to the rescue with some summer solutions that keep you cool while still looking put-together, stylish, and most important this time of year… carefree.

Summer Months - Keep Cool & Stay Hot

Since the option of layering waved bye-bye to you back in March, take the opposite approach and go head-to-toe with something great.  I’m talking one-pieces, they’re everywhere right now.  Whether they be retro, short, jumpsuits or overall dresses, pick a style and go with it.   A solid or print cotton dress (woven or knit) is always great for summer, but if you want to to express yourself a bit more this sizzling solstice, you’ll make the stretch into something that might be a new cut for you.  Let’s go left to right, shall we?

The always admired trendsetter, Sienna Miller might be the riskiest of these four ladies, so it’s no surprise she’s the one in the printed jumper and suede, heeled boots.  This look is fun with a capital F, but you must realize that you run the risk of being mistaken for a 4 year old… so do your best to accessorize with ‘grown-up’ goodies (ie. her shoes and watch).  Leighton Meester’s getup is actually two pieces, but it’s going after the same effect.  If you’ve never done a science experiment with your clothing to see how much colors actually effect heat on your body, it’s time to harness your inner Bill Nye and learn something.  You’ll be surprised what a difference this can make during a heat wave.  Leighton’s stone colored baggy, pleated shorts and sleeveless top are no doubt very comfortable.  Unfortunately they’re not right for her skin tone, but hey, that’s why she’s out there trying to get a golden tan.  If you are even a shade darker you’ll have no problem with this, or just go with white, white, white – I can’t say it enough this summer.  Rachel Bilson’s rocking the printed halter dresses… and a casper-like complexion.  I’m actually shocked she knows what to wear on a summer day because her skin looks as though she’s never been outdoors for one.  Nonetheless, a halter in solid or print is a can’t miss – but pairing it with laceless army boots and a cell phone is not advised.  This brings us to Rihanna and, more importantly, my favorite look of the bunch. This silk romper has a great color and pattern, and the neckline is cut just high enough that it runs no risk of looking like lingerie.  With retro fit and print, this outfit is spot on for this summer… and to me, it looks the most comfortable of these by far.  At first glance it looks like this piece has an interesting, halter-top + spaghetti strap neckline… but the halter strap is really a necklace with a similar pattern to the dress, and it works great!  Either way, I’d say you want to wear a necklace with this look.

There you have it – now go get dressed!

A loyal TSP reader wrote in yesterday to comment on a recent post about Converse & A Blazer, suggesting that I should maybe get myself a pair of Chuck Taylors.  And well, since I always listen to my readers…

The Style Penguin Gets Chucks

While I was at the mall getting the black high top Chucks, I picked up a fresh tie and some new shades as well.  I’m knee deep in designing my Spring 2010 line right now and the tangerine orange, banana yellow, and steel blue colors that I’ve been working with for initial sketches and layouts must have taken over my brain as I walked through the department store.

Aren’t my new sunglasses great?

The title of this post might make you scracth your head, but it’s actually quite straightforward.  You see… chic UK Department store Selfridges has teamed up with the Coca-Cola and the people at ABC/Ugly Betty for the release of Ugly Betty-themed Diet Coke bottles to be sold exclusively at Selfridges stores.  What’s more, the department store sales force was filled with Ugly Betty lookalikes on the day of the product’s release.  No, I’m serious.

Selfridges Ugly Betty Diet Coke

Like a tightrope walker pushing the limits or trying to break a previous record, this attempt in cross-promotion is teetering dangerously close to a misstep that spells death.  I’m having trouble making up my own mind whether this is smart or ridiculous.  In recent years we’ve seen more collaborative marketing campaigns than we can count, and the soft drink industry has been a major participant (think Sprite cans themes with a summer blockbuster movie, or Coke cans with American Idol logo in tow)… but this is not that.  This promotion is in the fashion world so I take notice immediately, but it’s exclusive to a single department store with only four locations: London, Birmingham, Manchester Trafford, and Exchange Square.  Running a promotion this grandiose for the benefit of such a small strata of people seems insane, but just might work.  If the Selfridges customer is Ugly Betty’s target demo, then it’s possible the ploy will stregthen those customers’ relationship to both paties.

Either way, they have people talking so that’s a positive campaign already.  And they’re certainly getting a lot of press in the UK so perhaps the promotion has served its purpose… but how bizarre.

So I may be late to the party on this guy, but I’m just glad I was invited!   A good friend recently turned me on to artist Richard Haines’ blog -  ‘What I Saw Today’.  Haines tags the blog as “A visual record of cool stuff guys wear…and other things that inspire me.”, and it is exactly that.

What I Saw Today - Richard Haines

The man has an awesome sketch style – one I’m partial too because it reminds me of a much, much, much better version of my own fashion sketchings.  Haines lives in New York and makes it his business to roam the city with his eyes open, recording what he sees today, or what he sees every day, on a sketchpad and then on his blog.  Over the year, he has worked with some of the top designers in the business – most recently doing ads and inserts for J.Crew.

J Crew Announcement

Haines does sit-ins at retail stores and fashion heavy locations on a regular basis… sketching what he sees in the store, and what he sees on the people who enter while he’s there.   His style is just so much fun – an impressionist approach to fashion illustration that is considerably less abstract than your standard designer’s sketch.

I love it – it’s already inspired me to go back to sketching more for the development of my upcoming line.

When I say the word “Harvard”, I’m sure your mind is immediately filled with thoughts of brick buildings, leather bound library books, old men in sweaters smoking pipes, and fashion apparel.  Wait, what??

Harvard Yard Clothing

Harvard University, the nearly 400 year old Ivy League school in Cambridge, has collaborated with private label tailored clothing manufacturer Wearwolf Group to develop a new men’s clothing line called Harvard Yard.  The prep-inspired line is a revolutionary effort, as Harvard is now the first non-fashion school to create a full apparel line with intentions for retail stores.

Before you freak out like I did, know that the brainiac students and professors at the prestigious Haaaarvard will not play one iota of a role in designing the line.  Wolfwear Group has licensed the school’s name and designed the pieces themselves, basing the look of the collection on photographs of former students lounging around the Harvard Yard in the 1960s.  The style is classic and East coast conservative with a flair: seersucker shorts, sporty knits tops, plaid and madras patterned jackets (all in modern, tailored fits)… and anything else that they can make look good with tassled loafers.  Maybe pricepoint reserved for alumni as opposed to students, pants will retail for $195-$225; wovens for $165-$225, and sport coats up to $495.

Writer, producer, director, John Hughes died yesterday of an apparent heart attack. Some of you younger readers may not fully appreciate the influence that Hughes had throughout the 80s and 90s, but I hope you all have seen his classics like:  Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  Each one of these important films centered around a small group of kids who were somehow set apart from the rest of their peers, and often times the individuals were very different from one another – therefore sporting a wide variety of wardrobe choices.  The fashion of the 80s was already underway when Hughes got his start, but his iconic characters no doubt fueled the fire for teased bangs, oversized unstructured outerwear, and loud prints.

Pretty In Pink Style

At the time, John Hughes movies helped create and hone a sense of style that was permeating throughout a generation… and looking back now, his characters and their fashion typified an entire era.

The Breakfast Club

Whether you were a bully from the wrong side of the tracks, a goth-ish introvert, the BMOC school jock, prom queen, or a bonafide dweeb… John Hughes showed you what to wear and how to look.  These movies stand the test of time and the styles they represent will keep coming back around and around and around.  Mr. Hughes, we salute you.

Related Sidenote: Here is an awesome story about John Hughes’ time as a penpal to a young girl in the 80s. We’ll Know When We Get There – Sincerely, John Hughes

The Sartorialist doesn’t always claim to be shooting great fashion choices… just noticable ones.  Here  is an example of someone stretching to reach and barely making it… and only because… look at this guy… he can wear whatever he wants.  But 99% of us would do this get-up much less than justice.

MC Hammer Shorts (img•thesartorialist.com)

I applaud his effort though… and I do think elements of this look are on their way back in, but cutting off a pair of Shaquille O’Neal’s Hammer Pants at the knee and turning them into nickers does not a fashionista make. The collarless neckline of the tee is great – I think that will have its place in the coming year.  I also like the pleats in the pants… and reverse pleats at that.  We’ll see this style coming back in new and different ways for men, with volley shorts and walkshorts – most guys should stay away from it in dress slacks for now though.

When it comes to fashion, the clashing of worlds (within reason, of course) is always a source of attention.  It’s the bright purple printed tie set against the otherwise simple, clean, black  suit.  It’s the jeans and white v-neck with a pair of bright yellow Sperry Topsiders.  It’s any hint of flair contrast amidst a sea of what is otherwise expected.  Once you know that, you can understand why I love this guy:

Converse & A Blazer - (img•sartorialist.com)

He’s wearing an unbuttoned white dress shirt under a black blazer with shorts and… here’s the kicker… Chuck Taylor Converse High Tops!  The combo of a dressy shirt/jacket with a pair of short pants was a shocking contrast at one time but is now commonplace, though still very fashion-forward.  What’s unexpected in this look is the dingy old high tops on our man’s feet.  The cuffed shorts are a little out of “I can pull that off” range for many of us, but when paired with the high Chucks, I think it’s just over the top enough to work.

The Key to a look like this = Confidence.  This guy is wearing the hell out of this outfit and no one’s asking any questions.  You do the same.

When I read this morning that Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler had fallen off stage and was rushed to the hospital with injuries… it got me thinking about whether he’s fallen off in more ways than that.

Steven Tyler Falls Off Stage

Tyler was in South Dakota performing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, where he was promoting his Dirico Motorcycles line. Apparently the accident took place during ‘Love in an Elevator’ when the sound system failed and Steven had to entertain the crowd by dancing in silence on the stage’s catwalk.  At some point amidst the bandanna-flowing moves and leather pant squeeking shuffles, he wobbled and fell backward off the stage.  People seemed shocked when it was reported that he received minor head, neck, and shoulder injuries.  THE MAN IS 61 YEARS OLD!

This brings me to a point about his style… maybe it’s fallen off-stage as well.  There’s something to be said for having a unique, kitschy, flair that consists of women’s scarves and tight leather pants with no shirt… but maybe it’s time for this look to evolve a bit.  He’s got his thing (ie. “that’s my thing”) and that’s great – but when you’re in your 60s and falling off stages, maybe your thing has become more of a characature of your old thing, than it is a style all its own.  Ya dig?  Look at someone like Mick Jagger.  Granted, his fashion was never as costumey as Tyler’s, but Jagger has developed his look into something more sophisticated over the years, while remaining edgy.

I think the difficulty for me is that Steven Tyler’s get-up floats right in the middle between Kiss costume and straightforward clothing, so I’m not sure how to view it.  I think at 61 you have to choose one way or the other… and God help us if he chooses the other.

I LOVE these guys style!  This is just insane – I’m going outside right now to make one out of ice!

Naomi Sims • Life Magazine

Naomi Sims, often credited as being the first African-American supermodel died earlier this week after a battle with breast cancer.  A major influence in the “Black is Beautiful” movement of the 60s and 70s, Naomi appeared as the first black cover model on the cover of Ladies Home Journal in November of 1968.  This groundbreaking achievement sparked a vibrant modeling career, as she would go on to appear on the covers of Life, Cosmopolitan and Essence before stepping off the catwalk to pursue other opportunities.  Naomi became an entrepreneur in the world of style and fashion, creating a company that sold wigs for African American women after recognizing a lack of these products available to women of color.  She would go on to expand her line to include cosmetics and fragrances, and later, to write the advice novels “How to be a Top Model” and “All About Health and Beauty for the Black Woman.”

The world of modeling may not have always been in the same limelight as movies or music or sports… so use whatever analogy works for you here.  What Ella Fitzgerald was to music, what Sidney Poitier was to movies, or what Jackie Robinson was to baseball… Naomi Sims was to fashion modeling.