Cobblestone skies in SoHo. Just helps to make me see differently.... think differently.
Walking through the city yesterday, I saw the Fendi window. "Pretty nice". Then I started to examine the imagery a little more deeply. They branded the hell out of that window. I was thinking that if an individual were to were to be so 'forward' with the marketing of themselves, it would be really unattractive. The truth is, it is pretty gross and aggressive even when a company does it. The key is that Fendi (and other successfully branded corporations) pay a great deal of attention to making sure the Name, Logo, Slogan, Imagery of their respective companies are associated with quality and goodness. Whether this is true or not, it is about perception. For most, perception is reality. So how are we branding ourselves? The way we speak, dress, act & interact, are very much our marketing. Subtly and grossly, we are putting a stamp on everything around us. We often think it is unfair and that one should not judge a book by its cover.... yeah.... that is for you to do, morally and in your own assessment of the world. The way the rest of the world works, is that you are assessed primarily by your actions and your look, and once that assessment is made, it is damned hard to make people re-evaluate their ideas of you. I have learned to take note of how I am perceived. It is my brand. We are ALWAYS representing something or someone. Our families, our gender, our, culture, our religion, our race, ourselves! It is important to give a proper representation a GOOD representation. If it is important enough for companies to spend billions on, why wouldn't it be important enough for us to be conscious of? Be a good brand manager for yourself. Make your brand (and stock) premium.
Pana came to visit!!!!!
I personally feel like one should surround him/herself with inspirational motivated people. More than that... I feel like one should surround his/herself with great energy. Pana is that! She is the Owner & Creator of LaBellaMorenita; A place where she gets to curate a stylish experience for women. That being said... Pana is super low key and you would never know she is as dope as she is. She has a lot to share.... if you get close enough. Her circle is super small but if you get a chance, check out her site http://labellamorenita.com/ and talk to her.
Hey!!! Good morning.
I was putting on my favorite fragrance this am and I was thinking... "UGH! is that too much?" I am pretty conservative when it comes to how much one should wear, in so many ways.
I feel like it is so intimate. It is an experience that should be shared only with those that you are close with. If someone can smell you, you're either very close, or you're wearing too much. This is my philosophy on SO many things. Religion, relationships, etc.
With this huge surge in publishing one's life to social media, we have lost a sense of tact. It is sometimes inappropriate to share your inner personal details with everyone. You really have to assess whether you are sharing to inspire and help people, or is it self serving and "toot-age of one's own horn?
I once heard a beautiful story about our love for God.
In the morning, one puts on their (beloved's favorite) fragrance with the intention of seeing their loved one(s). It is for a specific intention. As they walk down the street, so many people will experience the fragrance. It is inevitable. You can't run up on people and say "NO!!! THIS FRAGRANCE IS NOT FOR YOU TO SMELL!!! CLOSE YOUR NOSTRILS!" That is just crazy. But in that regard, we really have to be sensitive about how much we put on. Is it offensive to those around us? Our intention is to please our beloved, not offend others. THIS IS HOW WE NEED TO APPROACH OUR SPIRITUALITY!
The way we interact with one another on a daily basis should reflect our relationship with God... and not be overwhelming or overbearing. No one should feel forced to accept your point of views! Because your points of view are just that, YOUR points of view.
The same goes for our relationships. The good, the bad, the intimacy... it's not for public consumption. It is a very personal thing. Those close to you can have access to some of that (if you want) but it is not for everybody. To many chefs spoil the meal.
There is a lot that should be reserved and intimate and somehow our society has neglected that.
I get it. It is a beautiful thing and you really want to share with the world!! But sharing and force feeding are two very different things.
Let's aim to inspire. :)
My brother Chris and the beautiful Rye came to visit and check out the space. So much to do. So many things are going to happen in this spot. I will keep you posted.
Winter is just about here and I thought I'd share some of my favorite coats. Please let me preface this post by saying a few things.
1. I have a serious problem that makes me excessively collect sartorial beauty.
2. This post is just to give you a bit of insight into my philosophy behind winter wear.
3. I REALLY hope this inspires people to put thought into their personal style.
So.... here goes....
I love oilcloth! More than that... I love oilcloth on coats. A technique that was primarily used for waterproofing luggage (mostly), applied to my coat is friggin genius. In the redesign of the Polo Ralph Lauren brand, cues have been taken from the more fashion forward labels within Mr. Lauren's empire. For this coat, the armholes are a bit higher & more snug, the silhouette is more refined and the lines are closer to the body.... All that to say, people will say "Wow I really like that coat. It's pretty badass" Trust me. PLUS it's belted (the best!!!) ...and a double zipper. I am always straddling the line between fashion and function. I also love a rugged masculine look. Can't go wrong here.
Sandro!!!! I cannot say enough about this menswear collection. A very european (specifically Parisian) look. Not too trendy and not at all boring. The cut of this coat is more 'straight' with a slightly cinched back. The real beauty of this coat though, is in the details. The Shearling, zipper hood is what made me almost run out of the boutique without even paying for this thing. The accents are all in a shiny silver finish which, I feel, adds SOOOO much. Plus it is black... I am on an all black (or close to it) kick for a while. Sliming and quite easy to pull off. With the hood on and a pair of you favorite winter shades (I will explain that next post) you are fashionably telling the world that you are no longer dealing with it's shit.
The STAPLE. I am going to have to do a separate post on 'The Parka'. It is the all purpose coat. You can wear one over your suit (just trust me, you can). You can wear it with jeans or sweats. You can smile like you're in a catalog ad *as seen above*,or go aggressively sartorial gangster in it. It is always appropriate (some exceptions may apply) This is another Ralph Lauren piece. You may notice a trend developing as I post more. Disclaimer: Of all the reasons I wear Ralph Lauren, at the forefront is that it wears so well that is looks just as good old as it does new. And I keep ,my stuff for a long time. The warmest of the bunch and it is belted as well so I never feel like the Michelin man.
I will post more ..... eventually but I Am just getting started.
Meanwhile... Which one is is your fave? I'd love to hear what you think. Hope you get some ideas for yourself or to gift someone. Then, tell me about it.
BLK.
s a n d r o
P A R I S
I am not even gonna start talking about the items I got.... But I WILL say, there is a new (ALL) Men's store on Spring street in SoHo. Please do yourself a favor. SANDRO-PARIS
K(eep) I(t) S(weet) & S(imple)
Jenn visited the studio a while back and I shot her. ...And the thing I loved most was that she wears light makeup. This is my personal favorite look for a number of reasons. It feels natural and fresh. It is clean and seems so simple, effortless. But most of all, when you kiss her on the cheek... your lips don't get all discolored. I wish I could express to you how upset it makes me to walk around all day looking like I was kissing cocaine and no one tells me. Then I get home and look in the mirror. There are no words. Also, I just think it is beautiful and shows a ton of confidence. I also think that makeup when done properly is equally amazing, I can just never be too close to you. #AshyLarryIsNotAFashionableLook
McKoy Deluxxe. The Brand is wearable art. Can't really put a price on that. Such a complex matter; art. How can someone assess the value of another's interpretation of life? This was my issue with art school. How can someone grade another on something that is subjective, objective? Technique, maybe, but even then, the essence of the creation is the expression itself. Emotion and passion on a canvass is what people truly buy. The energy of the artist. There is no way to put an amount on what the artist gives. In that regard, the artist can never be a great business man. Support the arts or they will be lost forever.
If they do not support your art, move on.
Liris stopped in!!!
...and why do we love Liris???
I remember first seeing Liris in the 90's, maybe '98 or '99 and thinking "where do they find these women? She was a really tall beautiful woman who kinda seemed unreal. We have always had mutual acquaintances but hadn't met in person. So I only had previous experiences with other people that fit her "description" (acting like tools). since that time, I have literally seen Liris all over the place. Campaigns, Television, Movies, etc. and one would think that this kind of success would go to the head. This is what separates Liris from others. The more we talk... the more I realize that she does not even know that she is a frikkin Supermodel. She is aware of her job and that she is really good at it, but as far as forgetting where she is from... Not one bit. Her 'Life of a Working Model' series (boot camps and instructional intensives) help people from all walks of life get an insight to what makes a woman a model. She does it with the models in mind. It is NOT a scam where she is just looking to get money. She is genuinely looking to help people. Like Tyra... Like Naomi!! Of plus sized modeling, she IS Naomi, and still... I recently saw her do a friend a favor and walk in her show. That is dope. That is inspirational! Isn't that the reason for models?
mod·el
ˈmädl/
a system or thing used as an example to follow or imitate.
I think that the fact that Liris pays it forward makes her one of my favorites. The fact that you can 'Facebook' or talk to her via Instagram speaks volumes. who else do you know that does that???
Go check her out!