Thursday truths: nudes

Thursday truth; nudes

I've been thinking a lot recently about nudes--not pornography though that definitely has its place but more the idea of the classical artists use of the naked body. This came up when I was working on ideas for the decor for our bedroom and I realized that I wanted to put something tasteful and attractive and--well--naked on the wall

This Screams Relaxing

I wondered if this was going to be a bad idea--if when we give tours of the apartment people would get all weird about it… If it would come across as flashing sex as opposed to coming across as something natural and calming and tranquil. There is something very freeing of nudity and that is an emotion I really want to work into my space. 

I Can Take This to One of Those Pictures to Paintings Places--Get an Oil version?

It just strikes me as odd that we as a society decided that anything involving nudity now has changed context and meaning. If you look in the world's top museums, well-made period piece television or film or even what was cataloged as desirable in ancient society--nudity had a place in public.

Now I'm not saying that I'm any better – – my great uncle had a large nude of a woman with great covering her va-jay-jay and I was fascinated by it as a child. I couldn't help but point and giggle however as I matured I'd like to think my taste matured as well....

I mean this screams sophisticated right? It's Roman classical art. Jeez

Start of summer

People who say Los Angeles doesn't have holidays… They have never been in the city in June. This picture is all about one of my favorite seasonal trend--the June Gloom.

It's probably the darker and more sarcastic side of my personality but I love these days that start out cold and  clammy but finish out bright and sunny. I'm sure it has something to do with marine layer or Santa Anna winds but I'm not the kind to look up science…

I just find it darkly interesting

Conflicted

Conflicted

This just looks so douche bag--like the unmade spin-off from the Entourage but.... I'm going to see it if only to laugh and be drunk in public and eat Pinkberry afterwards... Cause my friends will do that.

Where Are They Wednesday: Eric Lindros

Where Are They Wednesday: Eric Lindros

Not many people know this but I grew up in a huge hockey family... Like everyone plays hockey as a kid until they get old enough to disappoint their parents by not wanting to play so there is an entire season in youth league where you just drag a stick behind you forlornly but you eventually you do but your brother doesnt so you spend the best part of childhood feeling like a disappoint until you realize your brother was just being staged mom-ed by your dad.

And then you're okay.

So growing up I was constantly watching hockey, surrounded by hockey debates, in a house where hockey sticks were hung like art and hockey magazines shared space with the New York Times. Which was how I discovered this:

What Dafuq with Two Tone Hair? 

Eric Lindros was some kind of weird crossbreeding of Zack Morris and AC Slater--smart aleck mixed with jock, the kind of guy who would play rough but be gentle off the ice. Now honestly--is most of that true? No--but he was exactly the kind of guy my teenage self idolized.

I also think I thought it would be cool to date a hockey player because my dad would have to be more accepting of his son's gay professional hockey player boyfriend. Not that Lindros was gay--but don't tell my preteen scrapbook filled with pictures, stats and even still from ad campaigns. The heart wants what it wants.

As a player Lindros was a bad boy from the moment he skated into the NHL with his refusal to play for the first team that signed him--the Quebec Nordiques. They weren't cosmopolitan enough, not enough marketing potential and they were French Canadian so he just flat out refused to play. So yeah--he was a bad boy.

But he was also an amazing player--he was constantly 4th all time in points game for his first 5 years in the league, a big guy paying a small guy's game, known for playing on the famous Legio o Doom line for the Philadelphia Flyers... He may not have been the nicest player but man:

You Can Eat Crackers In Bed

Of course all good things come to an end--and a career filled with concussions didn't help--and in 2007 he retired from playing the game as a player. To his credit he did donate 5 million dollars to London Health Sciences Centre  before taking a job as the NHLPA obudsman for a little over a year... Since 2008 he has been basically retired with the exception of a handful of Alumni games
here and there.

He also got fat which I am not going to post pictures of cause I would rather remember him this way

This Might Have been my 6th Grade Book Cover

Obsession

So Pharrell is doing a limited collection with Adidas which has leaked some of the photos already... I'm sure this is going to be expensive as hell but I really want that jacket in jacquard 

I know that the full collection drops May 30th so I'm getting my internet shopping skills on fleek

Inspiration Monday: Grace Coddington

Inspiration Monday: Grace Coddington 

I love that they got Grace Coddington to do a picture for Natives of New York... She is the best part of Vogue magazine--just amazing and proof you can do anything you want with your life... she is so weird and striking and creative--just a huge voice in the world of fashion who does not give a fuck

Fashion File-All Thats Fit To Print

Fashion File-All Thats Fit To Print

As we roll into summer everywhere but Los Angeles--seriously it has been super cold here the last few weeks--every store starts to roll out it's attempt at a new fashion line. This season the Gap decided to try something new--for them--and took a departure from their usual mix of stoic yet solid shorts.

 And I'm in Love!

What I love about this line is how it sticks close to both the Gap brand--simple lines, quality material, a subtle color scheme but also goes off point with the ethnic, geometric and graphic prints. Nothing screams summer like fun clothes with multi-colors and this line delivers.

Bright and Still Preppy

And while the pieces can run a little safe--the company is in a huge tailspin currently when it comes to their look--it's a nice step out of the box that is copying too much of J. Crew or Urban Outfitters. It is their aesthetic--easy enough for the grandparents to wear yet on point enough to be styled by your hipster child. That has always been what works best for Gap--versatile options that are a good value.

But these are my favorite--risky yet still masculine--something to be rocked this memorial day weekend!

(As always I was not paid or laid by any of the companies in this post--yet)

Obsession--napping nooks

Obsession--napping nooks

I really want this bohemian daybed--something to just throw myself on without all the mess and fuss of a chaise lounge... I really just want more places to nap in all honesty 

Fashion File: Art of the Month

Fashion File: Art of the Month

I have never been a fan of Uniqlo. I know that it has strong word of mouth but the plain-if well made-designs were too simple for me and felt too derivative of the late 1990s GAP. But I only knew this from their website--they didn't have a local shore in my area until recently so I hadn't seen the product in person.

Turns out I was wrong.

They have been doing an ongoing collection with SPRZ NY and MOMA (Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art) to do clothing and accessories inspired by/designed with various collaborators and estates... They add new artists each month and have run the gauntlet from Keith Haring to Robert Mapplethorpe .

In love with this Warhol bandanna 

The pieces are reasonable priced for men, women and kids--they are high quality and really inspired. There is really something for everyone right now--and the collection will continue to grow as they roll out more and more artists.

Obsessed with this Michael Brannon Sweatshirt--Which is already sold out

This is my favorite!!!

Honestly-this collection is a great way to upgrade your t-shirt for the summer. Nothing is classier than a love of art and these shirts really kick it up a notch. I'm glad I was wrong and gave Uniqlo a second chance--well worth the effort

(As always--I was not paid or laid by the store, artist, or persons mentioned above)

Met Ball Madness

Met Ball Madness 

I love the Met Ball--the drama... The madness... And that's just the party pictures

But seriously--here are my favorites. 

 

Amal looks gorgeous on George's arm

The insanity that is Sarah Jessica--Kween!!!

Uma looks flawless in this!!!

Lady Gaga? More like Empress Gaga

My dream team for a Hocus Pocus sequel... It's just their aesthetic 

This is just flawless--perfect fit and fashion 

This is poorly fitted but classic Chloe and I die at the beer maiden meets mandarin 

And here is the sexiest motherfucker of all... I would die for Ansel Elgort... Sexy

Obsession: Boots

Obsession: boots 

I'm totally obsessed with this latest look in the Pharrell/Channel advertising campaign--boots and riding gear are some of my favorite things... But I don't know if I can pull off green riding boots.

Book Whore-Gates of Hell by Calder Willingham

Book Whore-Gates of Hell by Calder Willingham

This collection of short stories was actually picked out by my book club--rare, hard to find and out of print at least for the physical copy. I had heard of Willingham before--he worked in Hollywood as a prolific if somewhat forgotten screenwriter--his projects included "Bridge on the River Kwai", "Spartacus", "Rambling Rose" and "The Graduate." But I didn't know much about his fiction--even though he was considered highly among peers such as Tom Wolfe and William Faulkner.

And reading this collection of short stories I can see why.

Willingham's short story work is amazing--finely crafted tales of humanism that are definitely effected by the post-war mentality that took over during the 50s. His stories run the gauntlet from 50s style domestic drama to well-crafted dark comedies about suicide and racism--he has an economy with words that is both sparse and spirited.

And even when he indulges in the most 50s tropes; faux science articles, space age oddities and somewhat lax gender relations--Willingham continues to have a strong sense of voice and tone that is uniquely his own but also seems to have inspired writers who came after him.

A great read

Where are they Wednesday

Where are they Wednesday: Tommy Page

I have always considered myself a music buff--and I have a collector of the masters of the 80s/90s including Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, New Kids on the Block, and of course – Tommy page…

He was known for his sensitive songwriting and piano playing--he was also the type of nonsexual pretty boy that your parents wanted you to be into at that age… His album cover was a combination church boy meets gap model/shot by a decent Bruce Weber but with clothes on.

He wasn't going to get your daughters pregnant that's for sure…

He had a few minor hits--"I break down", "When I dream of you", "Paintings in My Mind"--but who can forget his number one duet with the New Kidds on the Block?

Where's the Hohay AKA Where are New Kids?

And then one day he disappeared

Actually it is not all that dramatic--turns out that Page did really well overseas so when his third album didnt really land here--he just turned his focus to Asia.

Seriously Big--Like Still Touring and Recording

But that's not it--he also became a huge part of the music business by working as an A&R executive for Warner Brothers Records with groups such as Green Day, Michael Buble and Josh Groban before he left there to become the publisher of Billboard!

Sexy Suit--They Need Him on Empire

And finally he works know at Pandora as Head of Music Partnerships--like he is a really big deal well beyond Japan... And he is still performing overseas--though he hasnt been in the American market for a while--I think I would just have to see him,

I'll Be His Everything--Sorry Husbear