possessing the characteristics of Byron or his poetry, especially romanticism, melancholy, and melodramatic energy.
Regarded as one of the most important English poets, as well as a leader of the Romantic Movement of the early 19th Century. . . he was a revolutionary in the Greek War of Independence, a politician, as well as a major celebrity of the time!
Indeed, before Beatlemania – there was “BYRONMANIA”, as described by his own wife Annabella. Self-aware to the max, and huge proponent of personal promotion- his celebrity was equivalent to that of a modern day rock star of the time.
As an Aquarius, it is no surprise that he was extremely odd and eccentric about certain things. He had a fascination for the macabre and stories tell of him having a coffin at the dining table of his family’s Gothic manor, as well as collecting the skulls of animals which he proudly displayed in an enormous shooting gallery. He also loved to drink out of a monkey skull turned into an elaborate chalice…so they say.
His antics were legendary, however, as much as he enjoyed the spotlight, he retired to a self imposed exile from Britain later in his life. . . how Byronic.
He knew himself a villain—but he deem’d
The rest no better than the thing he seem’d;
And scorn’d the best as hypocrites who hid
Those deeds the bolder spirit plainly did.
He knew himself detested, but he knew
The hearts that loath’d him, crouch’d and dreaded too.
Lone, wild, and strange, he stood alike exempt
From all affection and from all contempt:
“The Corsair” (1814) by Lord Byron
“I love not man the less, but Nature more”
-Lord Byron: George Gordon Byron {6th Baron Byron}
One of the most outrageous things the notorious playboy did in his life, you will get a kick out of!
Back in the 1800s, it was quite customary for lovers to keep mementos of their love of letters, drawings, even a lock of hair – however, Byron took this to the extreme and kept clippings of each lovers pubic hairs and kept them in labeled envelopes in his library for safe keeping…
Now that’s Byronic!
{also…AQUARIUS, much?}
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And in honour of LORD BYRON we’d like to highlight some recent acquisitions that absolutely conjure this unique style spirit from the {SHOP}
Below is a little style inspo gallery in the Byronic Hero fashion….
Treasures and Artifacts of Days Long Past: Allegory for the 21st Century
“Tis the perception of the beautiful, A fine extension of the faculties, Platonic, universal, wonderful, Drawn from the stars, and filtered through the skies, Without which life would be extremely dull”
-LORD BYRON
That man of loneliness and mystery,
Scarce seen to smile, and seldom heard to sigh— (I, VIII)
That’s right! On this day. . . January 8, 1953 a KING was born. King of so many things… King of Rock N Roll, King of Hearts, King of his own castle (GRACELAND which you can still visit today), and most definitely KING OF STYLE!
To this day, his classic American style has us all under his influence whether we know it or not. His looks are nonchalant, timelessly cool, and bold without making a fuss. Say it with a colour, a ring, a texture, a pattern, or better yet…a single look.
And that hair! It’s a god damn work of art. . . we can only dream. Elvis definitely appreciated the importance of looking good to feel good, and every once in a while, have some fun and take the plunge…
In honor of this KING OF COOL, here’s a sweet little gallery of some of his hot looks for your viewing pleasure and eternal inspiration!
That’s enough inspiration to get you through at least this next decade!
Not everyone is as bold or brave(or cool), however this Capricorn King was doing it with his eyes closed. Sadly, Elvis Aaron Presley died prematurely at the age of 42 on August 16, 1977.
He is remember today for his timeless music and style.
“You’ve got to follow that dream, wherever that dream may lead to.”
-Elvis Presley
Until next time,
{theEye}
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ELVIS APPROVED
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1: the reanimated body of a dead person believed to come from the grave at night and suck the blood of persons asleep
2a: one who lives by preying on others
Scorpio season is upon us (how are we all faring? Nothing too terrifying, hopefully), and this sign and season are well known for invoking the deep darkness within us all . . . it is a moment for clarity, to explore your shadows, and hopefully by the end of it all – come out transformed.
Scorpio is ruled by the Eight House (House of secrets, the occult, sex, birth, and of course, DEATH) and the planet PLUTO (the appointed ruler of the underworld in Greek mythology)…so the concept of vampirism + SCORPIO make total sense.
The seductive charm of the Vampire puts the victim into a kind of trance, not expecting the deadly bite that comes later. . . if you are dealing with a particularly dark Scorpio, you might just be in for a touch of psychic vampirism according to Dion Fortune, author of Psychic Self-Defense.
Scorpios do have a natural inclination towards dark pyschic voyages using their unique gifts for their own selfish gain(s). As she puts it:
“Now vampirism is contagious; the person who is vampirized, being depleted of vitality, is a psychic vacuum, himself absorbing from anyone he comes across in order to refill his depleted resources of vitality. . . We all know that, when caught off our guard, there comes a dark temptation from the depths of our lower selves, something atavistic stirs, and we think thoughts, or even do deeds, of which we would never have believed ourselves capable. We have heard the voice of the Dark Angel speaking. ”
As much as Scorpio is known for its dark side – with the dark, must come the light, and the emphasis on healing and regeneration must be highlighted during this time!
Transformation can be deep, but you could always begin by updating your wardrobe, so make sure to visit the {SHOP} where we will be posting many NEW time traveled treasures…
Jimi didn’t even know the thoughts he would conjure when he posed for that iconic shot of him dressed as a VAMPIRE! How perfect…if anyone knows who, what, when, or why that photo was captured please let us know in the COMMENTS.
Because, like so many things on here . . . it is a mystery!
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
-Henry David Thoreau
That is a quote by the great American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, and it perfectly encapsulates what The Eye of Faith is about.
ESTABLISHED 11.11.11.
In fact, The Eye of Faith is a timeless universal message of having faith in your destiny, and knowing that there is a greater force watching over that dream – always guiding the way.
It is a symbol as old as man himself; and one that we inherently can all relate to at the end of the day. The Ancient Egyptians , the Alchemists, The Freemasons, The Vatican, The Oddfellows (who we will be touching base on quite a bit in the near {FUTURE}), and dare we mention…..the ILLUMINATI!!!!
8 years ago today (EST. 11.11.11.), The Eye of Faith was born of a dream to explore the {PAST}, bring it to the {PRESENT}, and help shape the future! There have always been so many incredible moments to muse over that you rarely see brought to the forefront- so naturally, we took upon ourselves to do just that!
Explorations through time of remarkable people, places, and things that eternally inspire. . . we began as a vintage style blog, and could never dream the opportunities we would get in the meantime. Since then we have had pieces perused over and purchased by international artists, style influencers, television and movies, celebrities, and museums around the world!
1100 (coincidence?) POSTS, and over ONE MILLION VIEWS!
We’ve also been blessed to foray our knowledge into creating original designs that adhere to our principles.
‘Raging Bull” Supercrawl 2019, photo by Cyprian Estrada – all made using repurposed, reused, and found vintage fabrics and materials by The Eye of Faith.
Every year billions of pounds of clothing and textiles are put to landfills, and it truly is a travesty when with a bit of ingenuity and an open mind- anything can be transformed into something truly special…which is why, our original pieces are made primarily using vintage materials and fabrics that we have been fortunate to collect and acquire over time.
Our hunt for premium quality vintage pieces that are timeless and unique continues…and we will be posting more of these treasures in our {SHOP}. Remember, you are invited to use code XIXIXI to receive 25% OFF from any purchase, and most of our items are FREE SHIPPING in the US. Don’t be afraid…just something to think about!
The Eye of Faith: Celebrating 8 Years of Hard Work & Mastery!
Style is knowing who you are, what you want, and not giving a damn
-Gore Vidal
So in honour of 8 years of hard work and mastering the illusions of time, we wanted to take a look back at our 8 highest viewed posts that have provided inspiration not only to us, but evidently thousands of others around the world. Many thanks to everyone who has supported The E.O.F. over the years.
No surprise with this one when looking at our site’s stats! In fact, this is exactly the kind of post The Eye of Faith was built to have inhabit it…a wonderful gallery of prime vintage workwear inspiration photos from actual photographs of the working man from the late 1800s to the 1940s, actual articles of clothing, advertisements, and details that all encapsulate that vintage workwear feel that is so popular at this moment, especially in men’ style!
Since the dawn of civilization, man has been hard at work building the great cities we live in, gathering the food we eat, and finding the resources we need to stay afloat on this mad wild planet. It’s never been easy, but someone’s got to do it. So next time you’re walking down the sidewalk, or taking a stroll down the grocery isle, save a thought for the hoards of men and women who have put their blood, sweat, and tears into making the vision of this world a reality for us all.
This one is a bit more surprising, but in an age of celebrity obsession, I guess it really shouldn’t be that much of a shock. These two were definitely the IT couple for a hot moment, and their matching hairstyles and 90s minimal cool definitely seem to have struck a chord and we can’t forget.
It’s like youth on fire with these two. Their energy is obviously contagious between the two, and they really seem symbiotic to eachother . . . . most of the time, at least. All good thing must come to an end, and it’s always best to leave the relationship at a high, we get that.
Keep meaning to do more of these VINTAGE RED CARPET ROMANCE posts (Julliette Lewis & Brad Pitt were another favourite, but just didn’t cut the Top 8) , and there are a few couples on the To-Do List, but please, if you have a suggestion…leave it in the COMMENTS below!
This one was no surprise, however! MAILA NURMI was destined to a be a part of The E.O.F. Style Idol & Divinity Squad, and to keep growing that section of our blog over the years. These posts are FIRE!
Especially, this one….Maila Nurmi or VAMPIRA, as most of us know her, was a pioneer; a groundbreaker of individuality and style. Can you imagine being a woman in the 1950s and living the life she did?! She was good friends with James Dean, was the first ever horror show host (and was nominated for an Emmy in 1954 for her work), and was an overall bad ass B . . .
“Vampira is a kind of entity (and you can call her a woman though she is androgynous) that survives in this world. I, Maila Nurmi, am not.”
We do always have our finger on the pulse . . . and its really no surprise to us that today on November 11, 2019 – the concept of androgyny is a hot topic and continues to shift the main stream perception of individuality and style.
No longer are the rules of gender as it relates to style so stuck. Concepts of unisex wardrobing is being embraced by not only street culture, but high fashion, as well.
This is one of our earliest posts, and a testament to the fascination our society has with gender and its role in our identities as people.
“As you know, I’m androgynous. I can wear a jacket that most guys wouldn’t put on. But you make it in guys’ sizes, and suddenly they’re wearing them. I think styles should get back to getting people to wear things that look so good that they don’t care.”
Such a good sign that Ms. Neile Adams made her way into the TOP 5 Most Viewed Posts…another E.O.F. STYLE DIVINITY – one who doesn’t get enough recognition in the mainstream, which is exactly why this post was made in the first place!
She was the long time love and companion of action superstar Steve McQueen, and an integral force in helping him make it through the wild rollercoaster of Hollywood. Born in the Philipines, she was an actress, model, and stylista in her own right!
So glad so many people found their way to her beautiful face. Make sure to check this one out!
“My life and times with Steve had spanned twenty-four years. More than half my life at the time of his death. They were over now. Gone. Finished.
That he loved me and that I had been the most important person in his life, I have no doubt. That I loved him and that he had been the most influential person in mine cannot be denied.
Good-bye, my friend. You are missed. It sure was one hell of a ride.”
Neile Adams {read more here}
3. {DO-IT-RIGHT} – HOW TO MEN’S VINTAGE-STYLE [SWIMSUIT INSPIRATION]
Of course, a vintage mens swimwear inspiration post would make its way into the TOP 3! We have had many of the years {check out our posts tagged SURF}, but this one seems to be the one that keeps people visiting year after year…amazing!
This is a unique post because we showcased some of our prime vintage photographs of dudes from the 1910s – 1960s in classic swim trunks and showed how the {PAST} has infiltrated the {PRESENT} in contemporary brands and their then latest swim trunk styles.
Just another testament to keeping it classic…you’ll never have to worry about a thing when it comes to getting dressed each and every day. With a world full of stresses…who needs anymore?
By looking through dozens of vintage photographs, advertising, fashion plates, and magazines we were able to sum up certain elements that characterized each era:
America had James Dean…France has Alain Delon. Bad Ass to the max. Handsome AF. Stylish doesn’t even cut it when explaining this savant of style, which is exactly why we have worshiped this idol consistently for years, and apparently you do too!
There hasn’t been a single day since posting this that someone from around the world hasn’t perused this post about the iconic and divine – Anita Pallenberg!
“I’d wear that [second-hand red fox fur coat] to modelling jobs with just my underwear, boots and a bag because you couldn’t leave your clothes lying around. The other models would steal them!” -Anita Pallenberg
A model in the early 60s, Anita made her way into movies and rock and roll. Starring in such cult favourites as Barbarella, Performance, and Candy. We love her spin as the great tyrant in Barbarella, where her voice is dubbed yet her appeal cuts through the screen. This exotic alien villian is the perfect yin to Jane Fonda’s yang in the 1968 cult classic.
Style maven supreme, rock goddess, bohemian queen – this is the internet’s best look at the ultimate E.O.F. Style Divinity. This post was designed to showcase some of the best Anita Pallenberg content this planet did ever see…so check her out ad take in her wild energy!
So, there you have it! 8 TOP POSTS for 8 YEARS of THE EYE OF FAITH!!!
Over ONE MILLION VIEWS and over ONE THOUSAND POSTS!
We could never have done it without you, so thank you so much for your viewership, your support, your contributions, and your faith!
This is a repost of one of our most wildly popular posts of all time! Thanks for visiting THE EYE OF FAITH and visit our {SHOP} section to see what time traveled pieces we have in store...
HAPPY HALLOWEEN !
We are getting psyched up here, and in true E.O.F. tradition we wanted to spoil our readers with a weird and wonderful stash of creepy vintage halloween photos we have collected from scouring the depths of the interwebs…
It seems, sometimes the sheer simplicity of some of these costumes make for the creepiest outcome…although, a murderous clown will always give you the creeps especially standing behind an innocent baby bystander.
Perhaps, you will even get a little inspiration for your own costume from these crazy odd balls…
Hope you enjoy! Want to share your creepy costume with us? Email us at the.eye.of.faith@gmail.com // we would love to hear from you!
Until next time,
{theEye}
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Rememeber when we used to do these every day?! Lucky for us, I know some of you do. Special thanks to those true ride or dies that have followed us through the years!
Your continued support and recognition means the world. So for you, here’s a special {August 20, 2019} edition of E.O.F. SNAPSHOT OF THE DAY. This one from the backlogs of our infinite library of manic musings of the vintage kind.
Science is a land where the truth of our reality (whether space, the earth, our bodies, its cells, of time and reality…the list goes on) is seeked and summoned by lonely hermits determined to find the answer to it all. And there have been many!
Alan Turing in a way also because he he found the truth of his soul and desire…that for which of course he was medically castrated for being queer, and soon thereafter took his life from an apple he had poison himself (a la the Witch in his favourite film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves).
I guess there really is a mystical aspect to the art of science…tapping into the unknown is not easy for most.
So that these minds could reach the very depth of their own humanity to unsource some unbelievable triumphs for humanity forevermore.
Click here to read more about the top 5 spiritually mystical scientists 🤟
Let us know what you thought in the COMMENTS below !
We have featured other spiritually mystical folks on our blog including Jack Parsons, and the notorious L. Ron Hubbard so get lost down the rabbit hole of the true {past} that has made our {present} which propels is into the unknown {future} 🔥🔥🔥!!!
Well for some. If you’ve been cleansing your soul and sorting out aspects of yourself that haven’t always agreed with you and folded them up and labeled them for safe-keeping then you should be OK. Partner that essential me-time with burning some white sage and a few protective crystals then you should be doing alright…I mean nothing is ever certain.
Mercury retrograde definitely gets a bad rep. It is often blamed as the cause of many disruptions on our little blue planet.
You might experience delays in travel (unless you drive a starship equipped against such forces), your car could break down, the text you sent a few hours ago still hasn’t been received, an email got lost somewhere in the internet, or you start receiving many wrong numbers over its course. So, be well prepared for about a month of potential chaos (retrograde ends August 2).
Since the retrograde is also attributed to trouble with technology such as computer, we felt it vital to get this post up before it’s too late!
Mercury in Roman mythology is a version of the Greek god Hermes – messenger to the Gods, and a divine trickster. He loves to prank mortals when they least expect it for his own amusement. He also has influence over business, financial gains, and is described as a bringer of good luck (at least in the Illiad by Homer, anyway). Searcher of lost things, he also served as your personal guide to Hades (the Underworld)…so not that bad right?
I guess the thing to take in account is there are elements in this world that are beyond our control. Like an important meeting cancelled last minute, the slideshow you prepared is faulty during presentation, or your train is experiencing a major delay, your phone breaks, miscommunications to loved ones…whatever it is; it is important to remember these events do not shape who we really are.
Where things may get messy is when Mercury, seeker of truth, speaks to you and forces you to unearth shit you maybe wanted to keep under wraps from not only the world, but yourself. During this period, you might feel these tensions escalating.
Here is your moment to look that energy in the face and tell it to fuck right off! No retrograde will get you down, especially if you stick by our motto:
CONCISIONEM STYLO, ACCURATIUS CORDE, IUDICARI VITA
Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.
-Victor Hugo
YOU are in control of your destiny. YOU are in control of your emotions. And most of all, YOU are in control of your life, who you are, and how the world sees YOU. Be the best version of YOU that you could imagine, or better yet, the best version of YOU that you couldn’t even imagine!
We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: Style is more than how you dress. It’s a way of life. Here’s another motto that always struck a chord:
Style is knowing who you are, what you want, and not giving a damn!
-Gore Vidal
That being said…if anything in your life feels like it’s going out of style, now’s the time to ask yourself the hard questions. What needs to be sorted? What needs to be rearranged? What could use some nurturing? What feels missing? and most importantly: What or for many of us, WHO, should we delete?
Time for some serious “Bye Felicia!” moments, because coupled with the solar eclipse at the beginning of the month and the upcoming lunar eclipse…the choices we make within this period will be essential to the rest of 2019.
I have a feeling if you are reading this you are in tuned with your spirit, so are probably sitting pretty, looking pretty, and feeling the abundance the Universe has offered those worthy. Those who haven’t sorted their shit, are sure to experience a (or a couple) dark nights of the soul. Toxic people. Toxic energies. Toxic choices…before we even know it sometimes, our world has been polluted with so much darkness, and it feels like there is no way out.
Best to get out of the shadow and bask in the light.
I only worry for the general sense of anxiety and tension that is sure to reside in the collective for the next few weeks. . .but again, we know what’s up! So, them’s the breaks!
On top of it all it is Cancer season so emotions could also be like waves crashing on the rocks of a shore. Hopefully not too many tears…
They often say don’t make big decisions, however, sometimes life can’t wait for a Mercury retrograde to pass to put the pedal to the metal. After all, the retrograde effect Mercury seems to take three times a year is but an optical illusion based on the position we here on Earth see Mercury in the sky (approximately 48,000,000 miles away), and since the planet whips around the Sun almost three times the velocity it does Earth, three times a year we witness what looks like the tiny planet moving backward in the sky.
Not everything is always as it seems….Be kind to yourself. Rest, and enjoy life: after all, it’s summer!
In honour of the hilarity of this new Mercury Retrograde (July 7, 2019 – August 2, 2019) we’ve compiled a hilarious and sometimes savage collection of the ultimate retrograde memes and gis courtesy of the INTERNET.
So remember, back up your shit (just in case,) and reflect on everything life has shown you, and be open to receiving new information you may never have dreamed to receive. The retrograde doesn’t have to be all so bad…it’s what you do within that matters.
So let’s give it up for the A-holes, douchebags, and also the heroes and mentors in your life, and everyone in between!
Happy Mercury Retrograde!
Until next time,
{theEye}
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If you were in South America yesterday {July 2, 2019}, you may have been blessed to observe the glory of a total eclipse of the Sun by the New Moon in Cancer. Even if you weren’t able to observe the moment the moon was able to cover the face of the Sun, its affects and energies permeated everyone, and will continue to do so.
Cancer is a cardinal sign of the zodiac – an initiator of action. Cancer being a water sign ruled by the moon (a bearer of shadows and introspection) will be sure to have waves of emotions crashing into the shores of our understanding.
It is a great moment to reflect on life, and let go of any frustrations or worries. If this is hard, maybe it is beneficial to ask yourself why you have these frustrations and worries and act accordingly.
This could lead to certain aspects of your life that aren’t serving you to be eclipsed. Death can only bring rebirths – so expect many new beginnings, and perhaps even old endings to resurface. Focus on the pieces of the puzzle that bring you emotional fulfilment like true friendships, love, family, creativity….major ME time.
Ancient people revered moments like this, and how could you not? What a glorious spectacle. So for the next few weeks leading up to the Lunar Eclipse (July 16-17) take time to reevaluate and make sure you are lined up with your path of destiny for the remainder of the year.
Remember to always have faith…
^BFrench solar eclipses of 1724 and 1912.^b Historical artwork of people watching the total solar eclipse of 22 May 1724 (upper left) and the annular solar eclipse of 17 April 1912 (lower right). Both eclipses were visible from Paris, France. In both cases, the observers are using darkened glass with which to view the eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, as seen from the Earth. When the Moon is slightly further from the Earth than normal, an annular eclipse takes place. Total solar eclipses usually occur less than once a year, and can only be seen from a small area of the Earth’s surface. Centuries can pass before another total solar eclipse is visible from the same location. Artwork published in 1912, in the Parisian daily newspaper ^ILe Petit Journal^i.
This song has always been up there, but for the first time it struck that this song is about a total solar eclipse…and if you listen to the words in this context you can gather so much more meaning from it.
I just assumed a Black Hole Sun was some sort of weird 90s grunge baseless aesthetic thing – like some cool term a bunch of stoner guys had come up with around a bong being like “thats rad”. But I should have been wiser seeing as the 90s were undeniably bringing esoterica to the forefront of the mainstream.
Enjoy this jam, and hope you are able to gain some insight and clarity into your own personal well-being.
Style is more than just what you wear. Its how you live…
This was way back in 2014 for Supercrawl here in Hamilton, ON. James Street sure was the shit back then – still kind of is, but it definitely had a bit more grit than you might find nowadays.
It was the year we also had the opportunity to style Mr. Charles Bradley after his luggage was lost on his way into the city. Remember it being so sad to hear that this legend of soul passed back in 2017…we will be forever grateful for that opportunity and being in the pure presence of this legend!!!
Fatefully we would also have the pleasure of running into the stylish foursome – “The Beaches” whose lead singer walked away with that smashing shiny black PVC trench coat (made in Switzerland if my memory serves me correct) and wore it for their kick ass performance, which I was privy to watch, as well as sneak some behind the scenes takes.
The Beaches kicking ass in The Eye of Faith! photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
So lets give it up for Jordan, Eliza, Kylie, and Leandra for all their wicked success since! As well as winning Best Breakthrough Group at the 2018 Juno Awards, the group has also been centred out by an extremely prominent rock n roll rebel icon … Sir Elton John!
+ Thank you ladies for keeping it classy and not assy +
Too many thots in the mist…
Just a thought.
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Love how they always sport a bit of a vintage edge like any cool Toronto girl would, and of course should! Check out their videos below.
Their latest, “Snake Tongue”, which is an epic ballad for the young millenial woman (“Stop sending me all your dick picks They are boring me to pieces”) followed up by the song that caught the attention of Elton John – “T-Shirt”! Love the video for that one since they do a cool throwback to 70s television music showcases.
Lets give these bad ass ladies some love, shall we?
