Everyday {The Eye} scans literally hundreds of thousands of objects and images, and those which really “catch our eye” are featured here on The Eye of Faith.
We recently acquired some really sick classic 90s mens shirts that are perfect for a classic cool vibe this Spring / Summer! And weirdly enough, they all fell into this awesome blue palette which is super timeless and versatile.
We always gravitate towards that preppy ivy style but with a bit of a twist, and these shirts do that trick to give you that dapper playboy who still loves a little rock n roll!
Grab more details on these shirts, and more of our latest time traveled pieces! Also if you are in the Hamilton, ON area, we will be bringing some new pieces to our booth at the Hamilton Antique Mall {3RD FLOOR- 33E} this coming week, so definitely check it out.
Remember XIXIXI gets you 25% at the CHECKOUT, and we offer FREE SHIPPING in Canada and the U.S. – so don’t miss out!
In this image made available on Tuesday April 16, 2019 flames and smoke rise from the blaze at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. An inferno that raged through Notre Dame Cathedral for more than 12 hours destroyed its spire and its roof but spared its twin medieval bell towers, and a frantic rescue effort saved the monument’s “most precious treasures,” including the Crown of Thorns purportedly worn by Jesus, officials said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Thierry Mallet)
To say it was a shock to glance at the breaking news on April 15 to see Notre Dame engulfed in blazing hellfire. With the world already feeling so hopelessly derelict, seeing this sight was a surreal feeling…what is happening in this world?!
Oddly enough, this event has occurred at the beginning of Holy Week leading to Easter – the most important week for the Christian church, without a doubt. Interestingly, we also have Venus and Lilith meeting at the 23rd mark of Pisces on this day…Venus, the goddess of love, and Lilith, the rebellious first wife of Adam; who refused to be subservient and was cast out of the Garden of Eden.
Notre Dame quite literally means “Our Lady”, and its impossible to ignore the rise of female power in our society- in arts, politics, business, and with the Church imposing its patriarchal grip of society for thousands of years, perhaps this could be some fateful symbol we all may never understand fully.
On the flip side, it didn’t take long for France’s three richest families to raise money for its restoration post-fire; a whopping $700 million in total.
The three dynasties (LVMH, L’Oreal, and Kering) have an impressive portfolio of high end luxury brans that they own- being pretty much every high end fashion brand you can think of. For instance, LVMH headed by CEO Bernard Arnault has put forward $226 million! For the owner of an endless list of brands such as Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Fendy, Dior, Hennessy, and even Fenty Beauty by Rihanna to name a few, so it surely seems almost like it would be pocket change.
The other large donors were the Betterncourt Meyers family who control L’Oreal, and the Pinaut family who own Kering which control iconic luxury brands such as Gucci, Saint-Laurent, Balenziaga, and Alexander McQueen to name a few…
Surely, they are toasting over a glass of Veuve Cliquot over their charitable efforts, but this kind of thing is exactly what gives fashion a bad name, and doesn’t really help to battle the idea that fashion isn’t vapid, vain, and wasteful.
Granted, Notre Dame wasn’t just a treasure of France, but also the entire world. Paris is the number one tourist destination in the world, and the beautiful Gothic Cathedral with is iconic towers, and flying buttresses reaching out into the Seine, it is (or was) a marvel of human endeavour, engineering, and creativity, no doubt. 856 years, and a bit damage, sure, but its still standing.
With our world in the state of crisis (climate change, increasing poverty, always an imminent war) there couldn’t be more available resources to help those truly in need? A medieval church is one thing, but the fact that certain people in this world have every mean necessary to truly make a difference to people, is shocking and disappointing to say the least. Especially, that these brands uphold and sell a lifestyle that 99% of us could never afford, and only fantasize about being a part of – you begin to realize the illusion of luxury, and the many people whose backs these brands have been built on.
This is all a bit of what led us into what we do. Outrageous prices, bad quality, and who even knows what goes on BTS…for what? Just a knock-off a vintage style or design, when billions of pounds of textiles and clothing are put into landfills every year! If we can’t universally accept the concept of reducing, reusing, and recycling what we already have, the future could be grim.
Amazingly, 16 year old environmental activist, and recent Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, made a poignant statement regarding the fire, and the pledges that are being made to rebuild the monument whilst no changes are being pledged to save our own planet. Greta Thunberg’s thoughts on “cathedral thinking” are truly inspiring…
It seems like this is an event that may have opened up all our eyes a bit, and definitely encourages us to continue our own crusade! If fashion can save Notre Dame, could they switch gears to save the world?
Are you feeling intrigued?! We just added some cool new pieces to the {SHOP} and our booth at the Hamilton Antique Mall {233 Ottawa ST. N – THIRD FLOOR- Booth 33E in Hamilton, ON} so definitely check that out if you are local!
amAlso, for our Etsy shop…remember code XIXIXI always gets you 25% OFF at the checkout, and we offer FREE SHIPPING in Canada and the U.S.
So don’t miss out on your chance to own these unique finds, and let that special style spirit soar.
2018 was such an exciting year for us in fashion, and our collection “The Visitors” was the perfect way to cap it off, at the annual Supercrawl festival here in Hamilton, ON.
This collection was our most encompassing yet, with 13 looks on 13 models, rocking the runway in the hot September sun! We really wanted to go for a more eclectic party vibe this time around, and I think we really captured the essence of what we were looking to achieve!
The collection was inspired by the ABBA song “The Visitors” – a wicked disco jam, about the anxiety of having guests showing up at your home for a party! Strangers surrounded by your books, paintings, and furniture…it can leave you in a quite a tizzy.
Disco glamour, divas, glitter, and rock n roll definitely played a hand, and we really wanted to play off the idea of visitors – who perhaps could be from a different dimension; so, there’s also a bit of space and sci-fi moments happening throughout.
Each piece is one of a kind, handmade, and uses vintage fabrics and materials.
Styled by The Eye of Faith
Makeup Up by Janet Granados & Claudia Alaimo
Hair by Hexe Noire & Poison IV
Best of all, we got to end the show with our girl Amanda Lear’s “Fashion Pack”, who was another inspiration for this collection!
For more information on any of these pieces, feel free to email us:
November 22, 2018 marked the record for the coldest Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade of all time, and all around the U.S.A. record lows were recorded, but it didn’t stop Lady Diana Ross from looking glamorous and fabulous as ever!
When I think of cold Thanksgivings, I can’t help but think of one of our favourite films – “The Ice Storm” (1997) directed by Academy Award winning director Ang Lee. With an all-star cast that includes Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Allison Janney, Christina Ricci, Katie Holmes, Tobey Maguire, and Elijah Wood; this is a must-see film for an cinema aficionado, but most especially any lover of vintage style!
Taking place on a Thanksgiving weekend in 1973 in the upper middle class suburbs of New Canaan, Connecticut – this film is a poignant look at the American Family, and its demise to substance abuse and casual sex. There are so many iconic moments throughout this film- some include Christina Ricci boldly shoplifting from the local drugstore, Joan Allen being hit on by a bohemian pastor, a strange make out session involved a Nixon mask, a 1970s key party, and of course….the grand finale (which I shall not reveal).
Production designer Mark Friedberg (The Life Aquatic, Far From Heaven, Across the Universe) and costume designer Carol Odit worked closely with director Ang Lee to bring meticulous period detail to the film. Sourcing inspiration from catalogues, magazines, and photographs from the period.
Most notably is the beautiful earthy 70s palette, and the remarkable use of textures and graphics to create looks. The film itself is a feast for the eyes for knitwear, classic american sportswear, and an ice storm just wouldn’t be an ice storm without – incredible 70s outerwear!
We have been wanting to do a post on this film for a while, so very excited to get this up, finally. Here’s some {style-wise} screenshots for some classic vintage inspiration as well as your viewing pleasure.
?? Copyright 1997 – Twentieth Century Fox – All rights reserved. Titles: The Ice Storm Names: Kevin Kline, Joan Allen Characters: Elena Hood, Ben Hood Still of Kevin Kline and Joan Allen in The Ice Storm (1997)
Lets pray to the Gods that we aren’t hit with anything so strange and devastating, but with how the weather has been over the past few years – who knows what we could be in store for!
We couldn’t help but use this meme from another one of the film’s iconic moments!
Please enjoy, and don’t forget to visit our {SHOP} and use XIXIXI for 25% OFF.
We had the honour of shooting with Style Group for The City of Hamilton in a feature focusing on Hamilton’s burgeoning fashion scene.
Hamilton has always been known as a city of grit and steel, which is often why it ends up the backdrop for so many Hollywood flicks ( ie. Guillermo Del Toro’s Oscar winning picture The Shape of Water is literally littered in Hamilton, and there are so many more!), so its not exactly the first city you think of in Canada when it comes to fashion.
But, according to Statistics Canada, Hamilton is in fact in the top 5 hubs of fashion in Canada – so that’s pretty “eye” opening! We are lucky enough to be one of the city’s featured designers in a short video featuring some of Hamilton’s top designers including yours truly, The Eye of Faith!
Here’s a clip they made of especially for our designs! We were really inspired by a 90s Romeo & Juliet essence with this one and wanted to showcase two head turning looks that were from different worlds, but intrinsically connected. Our models Geoffrey William and Danielle Brandino capture the mood gloriously!
On top of this wicked video, photographer Derrick Van Der Kolk took so many awesome shots that capture the vibrancy of downtown Hamilton, and the unique energy we hope to exude with our designs!
I would die for you
I would die for you
I’ve been dying just to feel you by my side
To know that you’re mine
– Garbage, “#1 Crush”
Here’s a taste . . .
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”
-William Shakespeare, “Romeo & Juliet”
Thanks for watching!
Until next time,
{theEye}
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NOTE: We will be getting up some of our original, one of a kind, handmade pieces from vintage textiles online for sale soon, so stay tuned!
Remember, to check out our selection of time traveled vintage styles in our {SHOP}. Use XIXIXI to get 25% OFF.
Can you believe that 7 years ago on this day, the fateful evening of 11/11/11, The Eye of Faith was born!!! I think it’s hard for us to believe it, and there’s definitely no way we ever could have dreamed of where it would have led us today, so feel eternally blessed!
Through thick and thin, we have always persevered and made sure to keep our passions alive. When they say, never give up – it really is true. And that has always been the founding voice of The Eye of Faith; which is an age old symbol of destiny, believing in your dreams, knowing that there is that symbolic eye in the sky watching out for your best interest, just so long you are in tuned with your own special energy.
We began as a fashion blog fusing our interests in vintage style, nostalgia, rebels, pop culture, the occult, esoterica, cinema, art, culture …our blog had once been described as falling down the rabbit hole, which pleased us beyond belief!!! From our very first blog post we never could have imagined that we would be featured on Refinery29 (alongside news of Lady Gaga & Beyonce!), and feature interviews with Patti Quatro and NIRVANA’s original drummer, Chad Channing!
From there, we began curating a modest collection of vintage clothes that we sold online, which led to our first ever real life Pop Up at the Junction Flea!!! Its insane to think that was our very first, and we felt so much excitement to get our vibe out there, and the excitement hasn’t ceased and we have since done so many pop-ups its hard to keep count!
{googling THE EYE OF FAITH VINTAGE!!!}
Then came our foray into fashion design which was encouraged by our friends at Blackbird Studios who had seen our vintage collection and style and pointed out that we should get our hands dirty and create our own pieces!
We took that encouragement and premiered our first handmade collection at Supercrawl 2015 with +HOLLYWOOD BABYLON+ , and have since shown collections +TAROT+, +NEW KINGDOM+, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, and our most recent THE VISITORS (which we will posting photos of soon!). This has been an awesome endeavour that allows for a new avenue of creativity that blends our passions for vintage styles, storytelling, theatre, art, music, and design. Using vintage textiles has also allowed us to continue our invocation of the {PAST} , {PRESENT}, and {FUTURE} and their symbiotic flow.
Now, on this fortuitous day, we embark on a new endeavour with a physical location for all our local friends and fashion lovers to visit and purchase some unique, E.O.F. approved, vintage finds as well as some of our handmade one of a kind pieces!
From now on, find our collection at the HAMILTON ANTIQUE MALL{233 Ottawa St. N – Hamilton, Ontario} in booth 33E on the THIRD FLOOR. And in case you didn’t consider it, how crazy is it that we established our brand 11/11/11 which coincidently adds up to 33! Also, the highest level you can make as a mason, and since we always had a bit of a secret society inspiration, it seemed beyond fitting.
COME CHECK US OUT!!!
So in the end, we are so grateful and thankful for everyone who has supported us, and encouraged us over the years, and especially to our readers and followers who help keep our passion stewing!
We wouldn’t be doing anything if this if it weren’t for that, so THANK YOU for 7 amazing years, and to many more!
Until next time,
{theEye}
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We will still be posting and selling online, so be sure to check out the {SHOP} for some wicked vintage finds!
As you might know, we host a Karaoke Cabaret every second and fourth Tuesday at The Casbah here in Hamilton, ON. It’s always important for us to give tribute to the Gods of Karaoke and this Halloween we are so excited to announce that we will be hosting a special Halloween Costume Karaoke at Sous Bas {145 Main St. E}!!!
NO COVER, FREE CANDY, and all the songs you can sing! Bring us a carved jack-o-lantern and you get a FREE DRINK!
Since its Halloween, we encourage you to dress up as the artist you want to sing!!! Here is a little gallery for inspiration of some pop culture icons and their best music inspired Halloween get-ups!!!
Of course, we always encourage everyone to be themselves, so do you!!! Come as you are . . .
Can’t wait for this night, so do come out if you’re looking to howl at the moon this Halloween!!!
Wow, this summer was a wild ride for us!!! From manning the Supercrawl Pop-Up Shop right in the heart of Downtown Hamilton, helping rep local fashion artists, as well as creating our most exciting collection to date, “The Visitors”, using some flashy vintage fabrics we have accumulated over the years (pictures to be posted soon)!
But, as you know, there is no rest for the wicked and we have quite a few things simmering this Fall!
We were honoured to host a Spice Girls / 90s Karaoke at Toast Wine Bar in conjunction with the screening of “Spice World” for the AGH BMO World Film Festival. Of course, we continue our Karaoke Cabaret residency at The Casbah every second and fourth (October 23) Tuesday, and we have a very special Halloween karaoke on Oct 31 at the legendary Sous Bas! So if you are in Hamilton, ON, and need to let loose on All Hallow’s Eve, be sure to stop by!!!
Now, of course, we have some really cool fashion events coming up also. This Sunday (October 28), we will be participating in the Hamilton Vintage Community Pop-Up at The Spice Factory, with 40+ vendors, drinks, and loads of vintage shopping !!!
We can’t wait…we will have a unique assortment of vintage mens, vintage womens, and some of our one of a kind, handmade pieces made using vintage materials. We will be bringing some wicked pieces priced as low as $5, so don’t miss out!
Also, we have a very exciting fashion presentation for the Hamilton Film Festival at the Zoetic Theatre, where will be a presenting in a show inspired by “Darkness” – which couldn’t be more up our alley! Our looks will be showcased to film industry professionals who hopefully will take a liking to our designs!
After all, just a few years ago; Guillermo Del Toro filmed his Academy Award wining film “The Shape of Water” right here in our city, so you never know!!!
Always put your best foot forward, in life . . . which leads us to our next project, which we will save for another post. A GRAND ANNOUNCEMENT . . . stay tuned!!!
So, apologies that we haven’t been able to sit down and share some of the cool vintage musings and memories we have been collecting in a while, but as you can see, our life has been pretty hectic, but rest assured, we will be getting back into the swing of things once the dust has settled.
Thank you for checking us out, and for those who have followed us for years, thank you so much for your support! It means EVERYTHING.
We just uploaded about 30 new pieces in our {SHOP} last week, so be sure to check those out and use code XIXIXI for 25% OFF.
Since the beginning of time (or at least, the beginning of our blog) we have been saying there is a definitive relationship our collective {PAST} plays into the {PRESENT} – always influencing and helping create what inevitably will be known as the {FUTURE}!
Well here we have a case of {PAST}, {PRESENT}, {FUTURE} featuring the notoriously infamous billionairess Kylie Jenner and her new man, Crown Prince of Rap, Mr. Travis Scott on the latest cover of GQ causing controversy for being a “cheap rip-off” of a now forty year old photo shoot of iconic French couple of cool Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin shot by Helmut Newton.
It is absolutely undeniable, and I don’t think they were trying to be chill about the inspiration, or rather recreation, but who is to judge her for that. If anything, I find it strange that Paola Kudacki, the photographer, would feel comfortable putting her name on such a mainstream copy of the work of a great artist like Helmut Newton! Now the controversy has flooded the internet, but then again, for the right paycheck these days, a little backlash isn’t the worst if it pays the rent.
Obviously, inspiration from the past is one of the cornerstones of our beliefs, but being 2018, it might be nice to have a fresher interpretation of the past than just a flat out copy. Where’s the fun in that?
Take the past, and turn it on its head. Blend one influence with another. Go on a ride through the past and bring me forward into the future…
And if you take a look at the original photo series shot way back in 1978, the rawness, sexiness, and coolness really shines through! How can you be a rebel if you’re trying….Serge and Jane are just so relaxed, irreverent, and thereby: BAD ASS!
Needless to say, Jane and Serge will always be on top in most versus situations, so….sorry Travis and Kylie- maybe next time. And maybe next time, just be yourself!!!
I know Travis and Kylie have turned a few looks, but Jane and Serge really TURNED LOOKS! Just a few below!
FRANCE – AUGUST 28: Premiere : “Slogan” by Pierre Grimblat in Paris, France on August 28, 1969-(16555) Serge Gainsourg, Jane Birkin and Pierre Grimblat. (Photo by Yves LE ROUX/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
We need more originality these daze . . . be inspired, but make it your own! That’s half the fun of life.
Not the most creative choice, but different strokes for different folks! Definitely appreciate her bringing to a whole new generation the beauty and boldness of Serge & Jane (who are definitely due for a {STYLE IDOL & DIVINITY} post or a {VINTAGE RED CARPET ROMANCES} story) … that is a really cool thing.
We know this story is all over the internet right now, but still wanted to give our E.O.F. P.O.V. on the whole situation.
So, let us know what you think in the comments section below!
