Category Archives: FASHION

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Celebrating 8 Years: The E.O.F. Top 8 Posts!

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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.

8.  STYLE {WISE} MENS VINTAGE WORKWEAR INSPIRATION – “YOU BETTER WORK!” 

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.

{read more here)

This post is from our STYLE {WISE} posts which provide unique style wisdom to get your through the daze…

7. VINTAGE RED CARPET ROMANCES: BRAD PITT + GWYNETH.

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.

{read more here}

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!

6. E.O.F. STYLE DIVINITY : MAILA NURMI AKA {VAMPIRA}

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.”

                           -Maila Nurmi {read more}

This is a fabulous post full of dozens of wicked photos of this iconic legend. If you want to read more, click here.

5. GENDER BENDER: YOU’RE IN ANDROGYNY

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.”

-Steven Tyler {Read More Here}

4. E.O.F. STYLE DIVINITY : NEILE ADAMS AKA {WOMAN FROM THE SOUTH}

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:

1910s-20s: Slouchy, Simple, Graphic

1930s-40s: Athletic & Form Fitting

1950s-60s: Cut, Colour, Pattern

{read more}

2. E.O.F. STYLE IDOL – ALAIN DELON

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!

Number 2 on the list; it was so cool to find out that Alain Delon was receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cannes Film Festival this past year for his contribution to cinema. So, who’s gonna get him a trophy for his contribution to style? Man or woman – who doesn’t want to dress like Alain Delon?

Want more Alain Delon content from us? Click here for more!

 

Thanks for sticking it out to see NUMBER ONE!!!

But, first some honorable mentions:

BAD GIRL BEAUTY: VINTAGE MUGSHOT MAKEUP + HAIR INSPIRATION
{PHOTOBLAST} DO WHAT THOU WILT . . . [ 11.15.13 / VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHIC INSPIRATION]
{STYLE-WISE} DO IT RIGHT! VINTAGE DRESS THE PART – KURT COBAIN’S “HEART SHAPED BOX”

 

 

TIME FOR NO. 1

 

ANITA PALLENBERG: E.O.F. DIVINITY.

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.

{read more}

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!

Looking forward to many more…

If you haven’t already, be sure to LIKE US on Facebook and FOLLOW US on IG & TWITTER @theeyeoffaith

Until next time,

{theEye}

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25 WEIRD CREEPY VINTAGE HALLOWEEN COSTUME PHOTOS!

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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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IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN…MERCURY RETROGRADE!

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

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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{FLASHBACK FRIDAY} The Eye of Faith Meets The Beaches {2014} !!!

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photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte

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!

In fact, he can’t stop gushing about them….

photo by Aaron Robert Duarte

Great job!

+ 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?

Until next time,

{theEye}

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{MUSIC MINUTE} “The Devil is Loose” by Asha Puthli

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Well it sure has been a minute since we’ve had the chance for another addition to our beloved {MUSIC MINUTE} corner of our blog. Things have been really hectic and full, which is great, but with summer officially in full swing we are hoping to take the opportunity to put up more content here to ensure treasures of the {PAST} can be upheld here in the {PRESENT} and hopefully continue shaping our {FUTURE}…

Here we have a wicked piece called “The Devil is Loose” by one of those icons that everyone should know (but doesn’t) – Asha Pulthi! This song is from her album by the same name, and was her third of eight recorded albums.

Asha was born in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) February 4, 1945 and trained in classical Indian music and opera before falling for the devils of jazz which she infused into her traditional roots. After graduating from a public University in India, she received a scholarship to go to New York City and study with legendary choreographer Martha Graham (that aspect will make total sense when you see her moves in the video).

Her fate was setlled when her appearance on “Aint it Peculiar” by the Peter Ivers Band which was covered by major music magazines like Billboard and Rolling Stone. Her reckless abandon and joyful reverie was heard (and you can hear it too here– HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) and soon she had avant-garde jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman knocking on her door, or calling her phone? We may never know…but she would make the most prophetic and signature vocals for his out-of-this-world improvisational jazz album Science Fiction, and the rest is history!

She was signed by John Hammond who most famously discovered Billie Holliday, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen – so very good company indeed!

Like I mentioned, this is from her third album of the same name (“The Devil is Loose”). Sadly not much is written about this album at all (at least in English) since it never saw its release in the US. But throughout, her vocals are sultry, soft, sweet, soulful and mysterious… her voice vaguely reminiscent of Diana Ross and then at other times as great and grand as Aretha Franklin.

Unfortunately for Asha, the money men at CBS London found an easy way out of hoisting her up and getting paid her proper dues when she became pregnant which effectively brought an end to her escalating royalties.

But before they could stiff her completely, performances on British television  would ensure her the right to negotiate royalties that only major acts such as The Beatles were able to obtain at the time- 14%!!! This and coupled with her pregnancy, Asha was shipped off to Germany much the same way The Beatles had been shipped to Hamburg.

However, unlike The Beatles, this choice by CBS London essentially hindered her career much more into obscurity and  allowed for artists like Donna Summer to build their brand off what Asha had rightfully developed.

She herself claims that Donna Summer, alleged Queen of Space Disco, copped her style- not only vocally, but literally too!

According to Asha, during one of her performances in Germany in the early 1970s she was approached by Ms. Summer herself.

Donna was in this moment “belting out songs” according to Pulthi, rather than the subdued dreamy vocals of Asha, inspired by her Hinduistic classical training, which gave that otherworldly style that would become the virtual sound of any major Munich disco…and would soon be adapted by the now famous Disco Queen that EVERYONE has heard of.

Not only that, Donna Summer allegedly approached Ms. Puthli backstage asking where she could find Asha’s custom made dress, to which Puthli would not oblige.

Donna, unbeknownst to Asha, went ahead and asked designer Bill Gibb to which he refused. Them’s the breaks, I guess.

“A lot of people say that this album [The Devil Is Loose] and the other album are templates that later on Donna Summer, Pete Bellotte, Georgio Moroder all ripped off from my sound. Now, remember I’ve mentioned to you that I was suspended because I was pregnant. So at that time was when they jumped on the bandwagon, apparently. This is what I’m told by people in Germany, in the industry. Because when they called me up they said, ‘We want to work with the real McCoy,”

-Asha Pulthi {source: Red Bull Music Academy}

Nonetheless, she is more and more recognized in importance and relevance for her ethno-fusion cosmic disco avant-garde synthy soul vibes, her out of the world stage presence (her moves have also been centred out as a major influence to Kate Bush), and undeniable individuality. A rebel spirit through and through.

Her first album “Asha Pulthri” was shot by Mick Rock who was David Bowie’s official photographer (she would also go on to hire Pierre LaRoche, Bowie’s iconic makeup artist), and was admired by art influencers such as Richard Avedon, Manolo Blahnik Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Diane Vreeland, and even headlined at Studio 54.

Her style was always changing and was always an eclectic mash up of her heritage, the {present} day (for her, {past} for us), and the unknown frontiers of space and time….So, how about that Donna Summer?

She most notably also made an appearance in the obscure Merchant-Ivory art film “Savages”, as one of the three wild women leaving very little to the imagination.

Her music was even literally blasted into space in 2009 from the Goonhilly British Satellite Earth Station on the 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing. Why, you ask? Well

“{her music is} a form of free-floating, ultra-sexualized intergalactic disco that matched hyperventilating time with erotic electronics and surreal sonic environments. Puthli has gone so far out that she has space walked into inner space.”

As well, she has been sampled by the likes of P. Diddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Redman, 50 Cent, and Dilated Peoples. She even owns writing credits to “The World is Filled” by Biggie Ft. Too Short and Puff Daddy…so yeah!

SHE’S A BOSS

 

Nowadays the notion of a globalized pop star like Asha isn’t too uncommon. Artists like BTS get millions of fans around the world; or take for instance, K-Pop Girl Band BLACKPINK who just performed at Coachella…even the song ‘Jai-Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire went on to win both an Academy Award and a Grammy!

That is NOW…but back THEN, artists to cross-over these racial boundaries were even rarer which is why still today, we can look back in awe on the incredible artistry, bravery and honesty Asha put forth to just be who she is!

I was not encouraged to do my own songs. They wanted me glam, more Shirley Bassey than Joan Baez. I insisted upon including at least one of my own songs, just one. They (the CBS record producers) already thought I was difficult because I wouldn’t change my name. There is a cognitive dissonance when you have a name like mine….They gave me suggestions like Ann Peters, Ann Powers. I said no as I had already won the Down Beat at that time and had a fan base in India. As Asha Puthli!”

Asha Puthli @ The Grammy Museum  {source}

Oh, how wonderful it is just to be yourself!

Some people might even blame THE DEVIL…which I’m sure is why she created this cosmic disco masterpiece.

See for yourself below:

HOW EPIC WAS THAT?!

{the dress, the moves, that audience, the song…EVERYTHING}

Luckily, so much of her music is resurfacing so we hope this post will help in the manifestation of her glory. Please enjoy “The Devil is Loose” and let us know what you think in the COMMENTS.

If you are intrigued, Red Bull Music Academy has a wonderful interview with this legend published just this last February, 2019.

We barely scraped the tip of the iceberg with this one, so don’t let us down! Go check her out, channel her spirit, and play those funky cosmic disco sounds hard into the night…

+E.O.F. STYLE DIVINITY+

It’s official.

Until next time,

{theEye}

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Cannes Honours Alain Delon {STYLE IDOL} to the MAX!

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Alain Delon was one of our first ever {STYLE IDOL} posts on The Eye of Faith, and quickly became and remains one of our most popular delves into classic timeless cool vintage style. It’s not a surprise – this guy just oozes bad ass nonchalant elegance, sophistication, and beauty!

He is always portrayed as a dangerous type, a rebel, a bad boy, a beautiful bad ass . . . but still very clean cut and classic.

So this year when we found out that the French bad boy would be honoured (and justly so) at this year’s Cannes Film Festival we were thrilled!

For his “wonderful presence in the history of film” the award is definitely  just, but delving back into his timeline of wicked looks over the past 50+ years it is impossible to deny his presence in the history of style, as well!

So, in honour of this God of Style we delved deeper into our archive of looks from an icon who is on the level of James Dean or Marilyn Monroe. We are fortunate enough to have him with us still today!

Not all the rebels die young…in fact, you can watch his acceptance speech here (it is in French):

We checked out this brilliant list of 12 of his best cult classics from DW to find some super vibes we hadn’t picked up on in our initial post 7 years ago (yikes!). From baroque to gangster, from dapper to scuba, modern playboy to Victorian dandy…he does it all!

One thing’s for sure …

No one rocks a cut on their face quite like him!

Bless his soul

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What’s your favourite Alain Delon look? Let us know in the COMMENTS below!

Until next time,

{theEye}

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E.O.F. NEW PICKS: Rhapsody in Blue!

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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!

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Until next time,

{theEye}

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{STYLE IDOL} Omar Sharif: A Look into Old Hollywood Glamour as an Outsider.

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Living in todays social media obsessed and tabloid fuelled society, often we forget being a star used to mean more than having a rugged beard and blue eyes (Bradley Cooper) or Magic Mike abs (Channing Tatum).

Unfortunately, we live in a modern climate where divisive tactics keep underdogs down as most studios hail the white movie star. We finally see a rise in black driven stories and characters but is it enough to truly change how the major studios cast roles?

Movies with diverse casts (Crazy Rich Asians, Black Panther, Get Out,  and Us etc.) are selling tickets to movies globally, but there is still a lack of true diversity within how the screening system works.  We will be taking time exploring some stars of yesteryear that made a splash being different in a time when being different wasn’t as widely accepted.

A prime example of this is the late, great, Omar Sharif!!!

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I want to live every moment totally intensely.

-Omar Sharif

Here’s the back story on Omar Sharif, who went from a supporting character and evolved into being a icon in his own right.  Born Michel Dimitri Chalhoub in 1932, this Egyptian actor of Lebanese origin began his career in his native country in the 1950s appearing in both English and American productions over the course of his career, landing large parts in such pictures as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965) and Funny Girl (1968).

OMAR SHARIF in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) B35965 ||rights=RM — Image by © 90061/dpa/Corbis

His break through to the mainstream was 1962.  David Lean casting a lesser known and foreign actor in such a big budget film as Lawrence of Arabia was considered a risky move as the supporting role was ‘one of the most demanding supporting roles in Hollywood’.

This came off as a ‘authentic move’ for the studio, seeing how his ambiguous ethnicity allowed him to lean into playing many backgrounds it couldn’t be better casting. Sharif spoke English, French, Italian, Greek, Spanish and even Arabic.  Admitting this himself, Sharif noted he could ‘play the role of a foreigner without anyone knowing exactly where I came from’.

Landing such a high profile supporting role came with it’s own hangups. Omar had to sign a seven-film contract with Columbia.

Not only did this worked out in Sharifs favour as he was received Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, and a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination; he also shared a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year proving he was a box office hit and critical sensation, as well as being a part of one of cinema’s most iconic entrances of a character.

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While filming the wildly culturally inappropriate Genghis Khan, Sharif heard about a upcoming project of Doctor Zhivago, an adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s 1957 novel, which was a landmark in his career.

Omar was a fan of the novel and pitched himself for one of the supporting roles, but in a strange twist of fate was casted as the lead, Yuri Zhivago, a poet and physician.

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Like his adopted surname, meaning ‘noble’, it had been remarked that Sharif’s eyes reflected reality, which then became the ‘mirror of reality we ourselves see’.

Undeniably handsome with his dark features he had qualities of the ideal leading man, but also a certain exotic quality which made him sought after for a string of roles throughout his rise to stardom and icon status.

Our readers may know we have a love for a rebel; his looks alone made him suited to pull off an array of high end ornate costumes but in the end always sustained a dark bad-boy image. It is even alleged that he smoked 100 cigarettes a day!

I don’t know what sex appeal is.

-Omar Sharif

Another stand out role for Sharif was his portrayal of Nicky Arnstein in Funny Girl, along side Barbara Streisand in her first film role.  But in true bad boy style,  this decision to take part in this production angered the Egyptian Government as Streisand was Jewish . The country condemned the film.

It also was ‘immediately banned’ in numerous Arab nations.  Streisand herself joked “You think Cairo was upset? You should’ve seen the letter I got from my Aunt Rose”.  Maybe the heightened social tensions added to the chemistry between the two actors as they became romantically involved during filming.

Sharif admitted later that he did not find Streisand attractive at first, but her appeal soon overwhelmed him: “About a week from the moment I met her”, he recalled, “I was madly in love with her. I thought she was the most gorgeous girl I’d ever seen in my life…I found her physically beautiful, and I started lusting after this woman.”.

As the years went on Sharif staked his claim in an otherwise white washed leading man landscape of the industry.  As time would go on, his career veered into television in the 1970s, and even had his own clothing line!!!

This icon is definitely worth the mentioning on The Eye of Faith, as he was a pioneer in the industry at a time when segregation and racial discrimination was very real, and just having dark features alone could alienate you amongst your peers and society.

Plus, like we said, we always have a soft spot for the rebel who marches to the beat of his own drum!

Using the power of diversity for good, and breaking the mould in an otherwise unbreakable industry, we thank you Omar Sharif.

Until next time,

{theEye}

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This Just In!!! New Picks for Spring 2019 @theeyeoffaith

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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.

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Until next time,

{theEye}

 

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{STYLE IDOL} Jack Parsons – The Original Rocket Man!

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Scientists often go unrecognized in the realm of style, and there’s definitely no one more deserving to be added to our roster of Idols & Divinities to worship than the original rocket man- Jack Parsons.

Like we always say, style is more than the clothes you wear, its how you carry on your life with purpose and integrity, and Mr. Parsons definitely didn’t hold back! Devilishly handsome, in tuned with his own special brand of spirituality, and ridiculously intelligent – he is definitely an idol worth worshiping.

His story is a strange one that verges on being absolutely unbelievable. Often referred to as the ultimate mad scientist, Parson’s research in the field of rocketry basically gave birth to NASA, and allowed for mankind to release itself from the atmosphere and deep into space.

A true Hollywood boy, Parsons was born on Oct 2, 1914 in Los Angeles and quickly became fascinated by rockets inspired by the many pulp sci-fi magazines he would read as a young boy. It is also said that as a child he would perform rituals to manifest the devil in his bedroom…

This obsession grew and grew over time, and after graduating High School, the young man alongside his best friend Ed Forman linked up with Frank Malina, a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology- forming what they would call “The Suicide Squad”…

Whilst the idea of rockets were perceived as nothing more than sci-fi fantasy, him and his peers moved forward with their experiments and research, proving that Parsons was a natural genius when it came to developing chemicals and mixing them in exactly the right amounts that these reactions could be explosive, but controllable. This knowledge was later used by NASA….

Of course, with this knowledge, came questions and queries of who exactly was Jack Parsons, and what the man had uncovered was shocking beyond belief.

While Parsons was pioneering rocket science, he was also an avid follower of occult circles in Hollywood. He was an attendant of the Ordo Templi Orients, and took part in meetings led by the father of modern day occultism – Aleister Crowley. He was even appointed West Coast leader of the OTO by Crowley himself.

Through the money he was making in his rocket business, he bought a mansion in Pasadena which became a party house to facilitate occult rituals and orgies.

 Frank Malina’s wife said that the mansion was “like walking into a Fellini movie. Women were walking around in diaphanous togas and weird make-up, some dressed up like animals, like a costume party.” Malina shrugged off his partner’s eccentricities, telling his wife, “Jack is into all kinds of things.”

These stories led to Parsons being a bit of liability to the government, and he was paid out his shares of Aerojet, and was cast out from the field he had himself developed!

This led to a further delve into the occult. In 1946, he would host a series of ritual rites which he called the ‘Babalon Working’ which he performed alongside Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The ritual was performed from January to March in effort to manifest a incarnation of Babalon- a divine feminine spirit described by Aleister Crowley in this 1917 novel Moonchild.

After the first series of these rituals, Parsons was introduced to Marjorie Cameron who he regarded as the manifestation they were attempting to summon. An unsuccessful attempt was made to conceive a child through sex magic (which Aleister Crowley himself regarded as foolish), but nevertheless Cameron was regarded now as the Scarlet Woman / Babylon and the two quickly married.

You can spot Marjorie in Curtis Harrington’s “The Wormwood Star” and “Night Tide” starring Dennis Hopper. She also plays a pivotal role in Kenneth Anger’s 1954 art short “The Inaugaration of the Pleasure Dome” and is renowned as an influential and groundbreaking artist of her day.

His alienation from the world of rocket science, led him to work on explosives for the film industry, while the FBI still paid close attention to his movements.

On June 1952, Parsons was killed by an unplanned detonation in his home laboratory. He was 37.

Cameron and others who knew the man doubt that this genius would ever have made such a fatal mistake. A U.F.O. sighting above Washington D.C. just after his death, led her to believe this was Parsons making communication. Unfortunately her mental state began to deteriorate, and in 1952 she gathered a small clique of practitioners to create a cult called “The Children” whose aim was to create a mixed-race society of “moon children” who would be devoted to the Egyptian god Horus. 

A new series on CBS All Access called Strange Angel starring Jack Reynor was just released last year, and attempts to bring this fascinating story to the world. We haven’t had a chance to delve into the series, but it looks like it captures Parson’s dapper charms, the mysterious underworld he treaded through, and the science he developed that changed the world!

I find it very interesting that this story is coming so strongly out of the woodwork, and being explored by a major mainstream network like CBS. Perhaps they are telling us something . . .

STRANGE ANGEL – Pictured (l-r): Bella Heathcote as Susan Parsons; Jack Reynor as Jack Parsons; Rupert Friend as Ernest Donovan. Photo Cr: Frank W. Ockenfels III/CBS ©2018 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Parson’s work in science and the occult are fascinating because they are usually regarded as in opposition of each other. However, it seems like Parsons was able to tread the line between the two, and realize the two are related, if not the same.

Parsons will be known for being a true rebel, a playboy, a genius, and one of a kind of spirit that still permeates today. If there was anyone who represented Hollywood Babylon, it is most definitely him! 

Check out these pieces from our {SHOP} to conjure the dapper and mysterious vibe of Jack Parson: the original rocket man!!!

Click here if you like what you see, and browse our other time traveled pieces!!!

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Until next time,

{theEye}

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