Hair like Jesus wore it, hallelujah I adore it
Posted on March 4, 2015 Leave a Comment
I used to be a print media hog. I subscribed to at least 30 magazines. The postman would give me the evil eye whenever I’d see him in our building lobby. I was the guy that made his sack heavy. Now, I’m just a data hog. I haven’t spent more than 2 minutes perusing a printed magazine in years, with one exception – the Bergdorf catalogue. Twice a year it arrives in our mailbox bringing with it the most beautiful clothing and fashion photography. Read More
The art of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Posted on March 3, 2015 Leave a Comment
There’s nothing that brings me back to my childhood more than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Another food that returns me to my childhood days is a juicy cheeseburger. I turned my back on the PB&J for years when I discovered more “sophisticated” foods. In fact, I hadn’t had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich until I became a vegetarian about five years ago. I was in search of protein sources, as is every vegetarian. Read More
Perfection – live as if
Posted on March 2, 2015 Leave a Comment
I’ve heard the word perfectionism several times in the last few days. I’ve been a struggling perfectionist my whole life. I’m always looking for the secret formula that will make life perfect. Sadly, there is no secret formula, no recipe that can improve what life is.
I have a close circle of friends that are actors, artists, singers, songwriters and writers. This post is for them and especially for you. It’s time to stop classifying Perfefection as a disease. The world we are living in and the lives we are living are perfect – right now. Read More
March is a magical month for Apple
Posted on February 28, 2015 Leave a Comment
Where were you in March of 2010? You can’t remember can you? Well I was at the Apple store in the meatpacking district in NYC waiting patiently for the first generation iPad to arrive. The device changed the world and was Steve Jobs’ crowning achievement.
Apple has released product in March regularly for years. So, March’s release of the Apple Watch this month is not only a nod to its founder, its magical marketing mojo. The game changing device will arrive sometime this month and start appearing on wrists across the planet shortly thereafter. To assure that the watch receives the fashion world’s attention, Apple has purchased a 12 page spread in Vogue. Take a look at all its gorgeous glossy goodness here.
The Prime of Miss Whomever
Posted on February 27, 2015 Leave a Comment
I’m blessed to be surrounded by beautiful women of all ages that inspire me every day. But, this week I heard someone say, “She’s past her prime.” I was reminded of the Academy Award winning movie The Prime of Miss Jean Brody where actress Maggie Smith plays a controversial private school teacher in her sexual prime. She ignites controversy by planting sexual ideas in her young students like pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, etc. She’s relieved of her duties by an older head mistress named Miss McKay. In one scene Miss Brody says, “You couldn’t understand, Miss McKay, you are not in your prime.” Read More
Jonesing for the red dot
Posted on February 25, 2015 1 Comment
I can get addicted to anything and everything- – that goes for Haagen Daz to heroin. I have to remain ever vigilant, making sure that I don’t put dangerous addictive substances in my body. As a result, I’ve become one of those drug free, sugar free, non smoking, vegetarian people. I know it’s crazy, but trust me, you wouldn’t want to meet the alternative!
Once an addict, always an addict. I’ve learned to transfer my addictive tendencies to other things like exercise, music, shoes, the stock market and especially art. Ok, I’ll admit it, I have a serious art habit. Art is dope to me! Read More
Live in present time – #now is all there is.
Posted on February 25, 2015 1 Comment
Do we ever really live in present time? Aren’t we distracted with instagram, facebook, tumblr and twitter? As technology moves closer and closer to our hearts, we’re sacrificing a bit of our consciousness for the sake of connectivity. The other morning in meditation an idea past across my mind like a delightful cloud going by on a lazy summer’s afternoon. Live in present time. That’s what was written on the big fluffy cloud floating through my brain. Live in present time.
The cloud and the thought past and as I’ve trained my mind to do with years of meditation, I brought my focus back to my breathing. The idea faded into the ethers as I returned to meditative bliss. The experience wasn’t anything new. I have similiar experiences every morning during my daily meditation.
It wasn’t until I was on my way to work that the thought reemerged from deep in my subconcious. I was sitting quietly on the ferry traversing the Hudson from Weehawken to midtown Manhattan. Spotify was playing on my iphone as I scanned my instagram feed – listening, reading, posting – tweeting my morning away. As I looked out of the boat’s window over the sheets of ice that had taken over the Hudson’s surface, a flash of light reflecting off the water caught my eye. Then a small piece of ice broke from a larger sheet as the boat made it’s way across the river. The smaller piece slid across the frozen river like a hockey puck. It reminded me of my youth and cold winter hockey games on Blachford’s pond. Live in present time. There it was again – that idea that I’m missing out on life’s most precious moments because I’m distracted by the lastest technology. Ice on the Hudson is a rarety. In fact, every moment is rare. The thought you just had or the person you just saw, may never pass your way again.
Since that experience on the Hudson, I’ve been stopping, breathing and experiencing moments of divine beauty. Every moment comes fully loaded with more beauty than we can ever imagine. It’s our responsibility to engage in the now and taste each exquisite morsel that life has to offer.
Live in present time. Now is all there is.
Does Teddy Roosevelt represent the New American Dream?
Posted on February 24, 2015 2 Comments
Back in the 70’s my grandfather had a big brown Cadillac. My cousins and I would pile into it and drive up to Olana, Frederich Church’s home overlooking the Hudson. We’d roll a joint and get high while Billy Joel’s working class anthem Movin Out played on repeat on the 8-track tape. Joel sang, “He traded in his Chevy for a Cadillacacac, you ought to know by now. If you can’t drive with a broken back, at least you can polish the fenders.” Read More
Mimicry + Mediocrity = Clone Harmony
Posted on February 23, 2015 Leave a Comment
Happy #musicmonday! Before we talk about any great music, let’s ponder another idea….
I was in a room the other day and there were at least 6 twenty something guys wearing the same plaid shirt. Ok, it wasn’t the exact same shirt. There were variations in the width of the plaid and there were subtle differences in colors. But, basically they all went to their closets and picked out the exact same shirt to wear that day. What’s that all about? Read More
Sunday Scorcery
Posted on February 22, 2015 Leave a Comment
Gareth Pugh Fall Winter 2015 – photo credit style.com
Fashion needs a little sorcery. Let’s get real for a minute. There hasn’t been anything exciting happening in fashion since John Galliano was dethroned from Dior and Alexander McQueen hanged himself in his closet. We’ve been in the fashion dark ages since 2011. All that changed with the Gareth Pugh show in London on Saturday night.
Pugh showed in the Victoria and Albert museum which is where the McQueen Savage Beauty exhibit will open shortly. Let’s just say the fashion Gods were in the building. Pugh hasn’t designed anything that will change the world —yet! But, he’s on a roll. His show moved back to London to celebrate his 10 year anniversary. It’s clear that he is ready to claim his place as fashion’s next genius. It’s also clear that he dabbles in sorcery. Webster defines sorcery as “the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining : necromancy.” Can’t you see the signature of the dark force in Pugh’s designs above? Wasn’t there a dark force in McQueen and Galliano’s work? Didn’t Chanel work a little dark magic?
We live in a world of contradictions. We need the dark to see the light. It’s high time we have a little black magic in fashion. The cookie cutter, H&M loving clones may run away and hide in their studio apartments, but, it’s high time for Sorcery. Let’s celebrate the return of fashion. It’s time for a fashion renaissance.
Read what others are saying about the Gareth Pugh show.
Culver McCall 