Obsession: Ronan Farrow

He's a as smart as they come investigative reporter, a pop culture junkie, and a soothsayer on Twitter… There's a whole a lot to like about Ronan Farrow

But honestly he is also the best possible genetic mix of his parents Mia Farrow and Woody Alan – – I mean Frank Sinatra. I'm not sure who they thought they were kidding by pretending it was otherwise a.

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

Inspiration Monday: EVA

Inspiration Monday: EVA

Part of the reason I think I love vintage looks and eclectic uses of antique furniture is because my parents were borderline hippies--sure we still listened to Two Live Crew and got shaved haircuts after Sinead O'Connor--but we also spearheaded the community's first recycling center, water conservation movements and didn't eat meat...

Everyone was doing retro Hippie in the 90s

The only reason we weren't vegan is my parents had to feed their two kids something.

So when it comes to ideas to help the environment I am always in--and with the current California drought happening I found this to be amazing



I think  why I like the EVA so much is that it is "practical activism" as my parents used to call it--giving people something they really want but hiding something good and healthy in the mix. Like hiding medicine in hot dogs--the idea that my water will be a perfect temperature from the word go is amazing--but it will also save tons of water while I am deep conditioning my hair or shaving my toes

Why No--I'm NOT from the Shire--Why do you ask?

Wait--did I just say that?

Regardless--it's a good thing and the prices are pretty decent for the whole set up too..

Eva on IndieGoGo

(As always--I did not paid or laid by the products in this post--I just really like the product)

Making Room

Just making room in the closet for this new piece--from Forever21and new this week

Where Are They Wednesdays

Where Are They Wednesdays: Michael Schoeffling

Okay--this is a new column about those great boys crushes of days past--the covers of Tiger Beat, TGIF, Total Request Live--the boys who drove us crazy and leave a hazy memory or two of the perfect crush... And I'm going to go straight classic with this one--

Swoon Jake Ryan

I was totally obsessed with Michael Schoeffling from the word go--Jake was the perfect high school guy--between his looks, his kind of dumb yet puppy dog personality and a certain charm that took away the rough edges... And so I watched him in EVERYTHING

Why Yes That is A Faux Hawk--and A Half Naked Forrest Whittaker

I watched the biking movie Vision Quest for a month on a loop--it had that odd homoeroticism going on for a sport movie--I mean he leads a group fight in their underwear for no real reason... The fact that parents didn't figure out I was gay from this alone--yikes...

But Schoeffling wasn't just an actor--he was an in-demand model who did various campaigns for fashion houses such Missoni and the covers of magazines including GQ... You couldnt go anywhere without seeing him in the 80s fashion landscape--and I was able to print those pictures off the internet and hang them in my room.... This was when I told my parents I was learning to pose so I could become a male model

Because Hanging This Was Fooling Anyone

Of course--eventually Schoeffling got married, left the business and has two children of his own... He now owns and works as a furniture maker--I briefly debated putting a custom Schoeffling piece on my wedding registry but figured that might be a bit much for even me...

The funny thing is that he is so remembered for "Sixteen Candles" that some of his more interesting work is left out--his small interesting part in "Long Time Companion", the cult classic horse film "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" and the Melissa Gilbert classic "Sylvester" 

Though to be honest--in my old age I have discovered that my favorite role is him in "Mermaids"--there is something so firm and adult and sexy about him in that him. It helps that he and Ryder have a great chemistry and his role is all about his simple ease as an actor.

I mean come on--He made me want to join a convent

I am sure he gets this all the time but he was totally my first crush--I'm pretty sure he made me gay!

Obsession

Obsession

Okay--so I have been thinking of doing something drastic with my hair--going off the reservation and doing something really detailed and kind of high maintenance for me. And maybe I have been watching too much news or too much twitter but I have been getting more and more obsessed with Anderson Cooper which led to this idea getting stuck in my head

It's a combination of silver, white and gray colors intermixed with high lights and low lights and balayage--it is almost aging but anti aging when you do it with a baby face... The only thing holding me back is that it would be very high maintenance for the summer because I am pretty sure you cant spend your weekends in the pool without it turning brassy pretty quickly. 

If anyone has any suggestions or idea on how hard it would be to maintain--let me know. I'm very interested in this idea. I find it weirdly youthful and kind of romantic yet whimsical. 

Fashion File Fridays: A Star is Worn

Fashion File Fridays: A Star is Worn

So the Husbear, my friend Joy and I have been on a mission to slowly and surely work our way through the Barbra Streisand cinema collection--from Funny Girl and down the line. This is honestly their bag more than mine--I know nothing about her films and thought that "The Mirror Has Two Faces" was the one were she plays a therapist helping a Nick Notle through a sex crime--which is why I was disturbed that they both said it was one of their favorite films by her

But I digress

So we finally got to the 1976 classic "A Star Is Born"; a classic in the campiest sense because this movie isnt just off the rails but it never knew the rails existed. It makes me almost want to see the the Judy Garland version to see if that storyline is always as bad or if the 70s just coked it up.

But I loved the clothes in this movie--LOVED THE CLOTHES!!!! It is so mid-seventies and on the verge of the late 70s disco look-it is hippie and Los Angeles and beach and possibly ethnically offensive. I just get it--like how can you not love this:

The perm, the lace, the light makeup, BABY'S BREATH in the hair! It is so hippie and commune living and I love it. Honestly I don't like many flowers but if I had seen this film before my wedding I would have scattered baby's breath in my pompadour before the ceremony.

And while this look might be dated--there is a lot of the film that is on fleck for today's fashion--it embraces patterns and colors along with a healthy love of accessories and statement jewelry. I mean-cannot you not see this on Alicia Keyes, Project Runway or next season's Empire:

Though I suspect there would probably be a bra anywhere else but this movie--somehow they seemed to not have budget to support the girls as it were. But there is something so high end and yet effortless about the fashion--its what I think of when I see the LA look and something I can take ideas for a guys wardrobe from. And it is a simple look:

This is just a white cardigan worn as a shirt--nothing underneath it--and it is so simple and clean and easy but the sweater itself is so boho that it makes it into something you might see on Alexa Chung. I like that she just looks like she might have been topless sunbathing and need to come to the store or maybe the night breezes picked up--but it was unplanned and yet so perfect.

And then movie wasn't afraid to bring in cultural references which was also very 70s:

And while the kimono is a bit of a stretch in this picture--when she wears it with jeans, boots and a belt it is a fun, interesting look... But really this second look with the serape style top, the cowl neck shirt and the turban is a perfect re-imagining of various ethnic pieces and is a look that could be recreated right now at Free People, Urban Outfitters and Forever 21. It's just on point.

I mean--this movie really did have a very good California esthetic when it comes to fashion--and it has a lot of details and ideas I can try and play forward into my summer wardrobe. Except the kimono--that's a bit too much for me

Eclectic Etsy

Eclectic Etsy: HAREMDESIGN

So I have a thing for tattoos--not for myself because my fear of needles makes me blackout whenever they are in my presence whether TV, film or medical procedure. Like fall on my face and knock myself out out.

Nightmare on Elm Street 3 could have ended just here and I'd be scared for life

But the quandary for me is that I spend a lot of time at my job looking at, studying and finding more about tattoos--it's one of the perks/cons/weird things about doing a prison/jail show is the amount of effort spent on body art...

Yes--Sometimes the gentlemen do look like this

And after spending so many hours looking at this stuff I start to think that maybe I could do some ink... And then the boss suggests I watch some YouTube videos of tattoo and I am back where I started--because NO

Which is why I love this piece

This piece by HAREMDESIGN is a necklace/bib made of lace--meant for the ladies and shown in gold--but I couldn't help thinking it looked like a nice piece of tribal ink work... I  thought about maybe getting it in black as something to wear under an open button shirt--for like a party or night of dancing.

And as I explored the store--I found that the designer does all types of lace jewelry--smaller necklaces, cuff bracelets. I am a bit doubtful of the lace collars that look a little too lace doily for my taste but she really thinks outside of the box and some of these pieces could be very unique. Add to this that she will custom color some pieces and I think she is a great find

Honestly--I am debating getting something like the lace bib custom made black just because of how cool it will be on and then no tattoo the next day! I'll let you know when I bite the bullet--its better than going under the needle for me.

(As always--I do not receive any payment or endorsement for my Etsy columns--I just like stuff.)