I like being a woman, even in a man’s world. After all, men can’t wear dresses, but we can wear the pants.
Whitney Houston
I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.
“A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is visible labor and there is an invisible labor. “
-Victor Hugo
New Wave just wouldn’t have been New Wave without this eccentric to pave the way through the 1980’s. With a penchant for pastels, and bold black and white stripes, we thank this latest E.O.F. Style Idol inductee for being part of a fashion revolution for men, for being fearless, and for using that pelvis for the good of mankind.
We would like to introduce you to William Michael Albert Broad.
Having grown up in Stanmore, Middlesex, England, amidst the English countryside with a background in proper Boys Schools, this rebel rocker would boldly defy convention and using peroxide to pave his way, he would come to be know as the one and only Billy Idol.
As a boy, Billy’s family moved to southeastern London, where Idol attended Ravensbourne School for Boys. Billy also attended Worthing High School for Boys in West Sussex.
In October 1975, Idol went to Brighton Polytechnic to pursue an English degree, and lived on campus (East Slope), but left just after Year One. Billy’s academic ambitions would be cut short, as there was definitely a change in the air…
The world was shifting and popular culture was rapidly changing; the squeaky boy bands of the past were begging for a make-over! Raw unbridled sexuality would be exactly what the doctor would prescribe…
“If your world doesn’t allow you to dream, move to one where you can”
– Billy Idol
The name Billy Idol was inspired by a schoolteacher’s description of the young Broad as “idle” – a bit of a slacker, non-chalant, “too cool for school”, as they say. But it was his music ambitions and talent for performance that showcased the young man as anything but idle.
The stage name was also a nod to the pop acts that came before him. Billy Idol looked to history, comparing himself to his own idols like Billy Fury and Elvis.
“We were saying the opposite to the Clash and the Pistols. They were singing ‘No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones’, but we were honest about what we liked. The truth was, we were all building our music on the Beatles and the Stones”
He then went on to join the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans; a loose gang that traveled into town when the band played. Billy could see similarities between himself and the motley punk troupe. He had a hunger for performing, and Billy knew he had to make his mark as an entertainer.
Billy first joined the punk rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees (before the band had decided on that name) in 1976, but soon quit and joined Chelsea in 1977 as a guitarist.
It wasn’t until Billy would step out from the background and take center stage as front man of Generation X that the act from across the pond would make a huge splash in international waters. This quickly ushered in the ‘second wave’ of British invasion acts during the MTV era in the 1980s.
“I love it when someone insults me. It means I don’t have to be nice anymore.”
-Billy Idol.
By 1982, Billy made a splash on the club charts as a solo artist. The single “Dancing by Myself” hit the pop charts like a comet! With a string of hits like “Rebel Yell”, “White Wedding”, and “Eyes without a Face”, as well as a hit cover of “Money Money”, Idol Fever hit America in a huge way.
With an electric look consisting of scantily clad chains and leather, with a gyrating pelvis and curling lip, only comparable to the King himself, Idol had the idol sex appeal like no other teenage dream, and successfully ruled the charts for over a decade.
In 1990, Idol was involved in a serious motorbike accident that slowed down the shock rocker, and nearly cost him a leg. He was also hit by a car when he ran a stop sign while riding home from the studio in Hollywood one night, requiring a steel rod to be placed in his leg. Idol would go on to speak about this accident and credit it for completely changing his life.
Having spent years partying and crediting much time to white weddings, Idol didn’t want to waste anymore time.
Due to the circumstance of the accident, Billy would have to pass on a movie role tailor made for the Prince of Peroxide.
Film director James Cameron had chosen Idol to play the T-1000 character in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and had drawn storyboards to resemble him. Unable to perform major stunts, Idol was replaced by Robert Patrick.
And did you know?
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)“, written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff, had originally written it with Billy Idol in mind, but the singer turned it down, leaving the song to Simple Minds, who made it a hit in 1985! The Breakfast Club would have been a very different film if the rebel-hearted singer had left his hand print on the flick.
Influencing youth to revolt to this day, bleaching one’s head peroxide blonde wouldn’t have the same impact if it weren’t for the one and only Billy Idol. And if you browse LOOKBOOK, or any other street style source, you will be finding kids rocking the edge just like Billy.
Count on finding this rocker’s look mimiced in fashion magazines and on the backs of the style obsessed youth. Billy Idol is what every man fantasizes of being; a sexual being unrestricted by the bounds of society, a creature of vanity, insanity, and completely possessed by the spirit of rock n’ roll. He shows that it’s good to stand out from the crowd, and to be extraordinary.
With a touch of James Dean’s rebel ways, the natural class of Errol Flynn, and a wildly adventurous spirit, Billy keeps himself current to this very day, performing and touring the world over. We love this star decked head to toe with crucifixes and chains, or wearing nothing at all. One thing is for certain, he’ll always be our Teen Idol!
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{ Demi Moore’s Loft from “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1985) }
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No matter the day for us, we always like to set the mood for the day with a healthy dose of style, and with the release of Rihanna‘s “Styled to Rock” (finally; the UK version was the SHIT) in the US, we couldn’t help but feel the need to do what we do best: look back to the {past} for clues to the {present} to help us foresee and shape the {future}.
Rihanna always gets it done, and with the epitome of laid-back rock n’ roll sophisticated bad ass cool, Erin Wasson, hosting the gig, it’s a wicked hour of fashion meets music, and the basis for this wicked {Photoblast} of vintage style inspiration that explores some of our predecessors who knew how good life can be when you are Styled to Rock!
Dress to Impress, or Undress…
Until we meet again,
{theEye}
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{The Eye of Faith}
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We’re showing our appreciation for the red, white, and blue and everything in between those bright stripes and white stars that make us love Americana!
Amer·i·ca·na
noun plural \ə-ˌmer-ə-ˈkä-nə, -ˌmər-, -ˌme-rə-, -ˈka-nə\
Definition of AMERICANA
1: materials concerning or characteristic of America, its civilization, or its culture; broadly: things typical of America
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{theEye}
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[DON’T FORGET: XIXIXI gets you 25 % OFF this Summer in the {SHOP}]
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One of the things we are always using are our headphones, which are pretty much glued to our ears from the moment we take to writing anything for The Eye of Faith.
We love to hear the constant stream of music to get us into our groove, and zone out the surrounding world in order to write the hundreds of articles you have been reading here. It’s a necessary tool of production in our books, and especially if you plan to write abroad (at a local cafe, or even venture downtown to one), a great pair is necessary to invoke the spirits of creativity.
You literally see hundreds in a day. There are chunky plastic forms everywhere attaching themselves to the ears of many. It’s hard to find the perfect pair for someone who wants to stand apart from the rest. We’ve tried many a pair to no avail, but have been so pleased to discover the look and sound of LSTN headphones, and their wicked nod to vintage style.
LSTN headphones are hand crafted from real, reclaimed exotic woods, which naturally create a dynamic and beautifully warm sound to them. Crisp highs, full mids, and powerful bass -perfect to block out the noise of the everyday, and look stylish and sophisticated in the process.
Whether you choose the stunningly pure Beech wood, rich and seductive Cherry, or dark and mysterious Ebony – these handsome materials are a gorgeous invocation of classic tastes, and the slick contours evoke a mid-century vibe that will never be out of fashion. Indeed, for an individual of discerning tastes, these are a definite must.
But, as much as it is about looking good, LSTN has made it their initiative to also give back. For every pair of headphones purchased, LSTN helps restore hearing to a child in need through the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which couldn’t be a more wonderful cause. There are over 275 million people in the world who are hearing impaired, and 95% of children in deaf schools can be helped simply by providing them with hearing aids. So buy a pair of headphones, and change a life.
Powerful stuff.
We were pleased to receive our pair of buds just the other week, and have hardly put them down since, so why not check out the LSTN official site and learn more about their initiative, and grab a pair of wickedly handsome headphones slick enough for a fashion time traveller, and powerful enough to take us straight into the future.
Hope you consider, and be sure to tell your friends!
+until we meet again+
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{theEye}
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Where would we be without our friends?
Here at The Eye of Faith we are wise enough to know the importance of the people we keep close in our lives.
It’s a method that has been tried, tested, and true . . .
To only keep the ones that exhibit that simple true blue.
So, here’s a {PHOTO BLAST} for your viewing pleasure
(We realize it’s been a while since our last)!
We hope you enjoy!
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“Friendship . . . is not something you learn in school.
But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
– Muhammed Ali
Until next time,
{theEye}
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This artist we’re bringing to you today has a wondrous sensibility to style and passion, cultivating his own hip pulse alongside Elvis himself. Rockabilly style sensationalism must be in the air, because we’re tripping off of this pretty-boys badass look.
Born 1940 to the name Ronald William Wycherley in Liverpool, England, where winning a talent show as a kid would lead to a life showcasing the goods he was born with. Born with an abundance of talent and a weak heart, he was destined to leave behind a big handprint.
Wycherley fronted his own group in 1955, but simultaneously worked full-time on a tugboat and later as a stevedore. By 1958 had started composing his own songs. When he was signed he was such an immediate success, new management would rename him ‘Billy Fury’.
However, his early sexual and provocative stage performances received censure, and he was forced to tone them down. But we have to attest, the world was changing in a big way, and sex is exactly what people wanted!
With a whiney twang, and a pouty quality to his style of sound, he is a forgotten idol of the changing pop culture through the 1950s.
Having spent decades making career choices based on health, and having to pass on many opportunities and tours, ‘Billy’ would be found on his hotel room floor in 1983.
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{The Eye of Faith}
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Growing up, television was always a major past time, as it is for any teenager or kid, and growing up in the 90s had us watching many strange and addictive shows that perhaps transformed us into the style savvy/mystery obsessed people we are today. We know that the nineties are all the rage these days, so we thought it would be fun to look back at the shows that really made an impression on us.
So here’s six of them that we highly recommend, and with some help, we hope we can revive the ones that have been in a coma for a while, because each and every one of them stand out in their own right, and many of them excel exceptionally in the 90s style department, which we know everyone is a big fan of these days.
So let’s get your inspiration on, shall we?! These are hand-picked journeys to other worlds, that most of time seem very close to home, which only makes them that much better.
Let’s take a look at what we’ve got:
SO WEIRD ( 1999 – 2001 )
So, we’re talking late 90’s here (even a bit into the millenium), but it began in the nineties nonetheless. Judging from most of the costumes on lead characters Fi (Cara De Lizia) and Clue (Erik V0n Detten), there’s definitely that late-90s styling going on which is neither a good thing, or a bad thing. What really stands out with this show is the subjects it tackles.
Fi is a brash sort-of tough tom girl who runs a website about the paranormal called SO WEIRD, and every episode takes her, her brother, their surfer sidekick Clue, and her mother (played by MacKenzie Phillips), who happens to be a famous rockstar, to new locations where they are forced to confront situations which could only be described as “so weird” by the end of them all. I was always jealous of her early use of wifi technology. Rockstar kids- they got it all.
Check out this one entitled “Rebecca” which deals with the idea of immortality, or at least people suffering from an extremely slow aging process. This one always stood out in my mind because of the enticing storyline, which includes a world class freak out by the girl whose age is in question. Really made me think, and even taught me about a lost civilization.
“So Weird” is like that. It’s both entertaining and educating, which is more than can be said for the show Disney produces today.
This one lasted two seasons, and by the second they had replaced Fi with a prettier, blonde actress, which was kind of sad, considering it was Cara De Lizia’s rough, raw, bad ass voice that really made you think that this was a different kind of young female they were portraying.
The theme song is also kind of addictive, so be warned!
{WATCH ALL EPISODE HERE ON SoWeirdTV}
THE ODYSSEY ( 1992- 1994 )
The only thing that sucks about this show is that you can only find up to the eighth or ninth episode on youTube, making this Canadian produced sci-fi dream fantasy show kind of a lost gem. It was the kind of show that you would look forward to every week for the next chapter of Jay on his journey through Downworld, an imaginary alternate reality existing in Jay’s mind as he works his way out of a coma.
The show is expertly conceived, and its hard to think of a kid show quite as well thought out and imaginative. The Downworld is an absolute treat, as they portray a world without adults run by the ominous “BRAD” as a urban wasteland.
The costumes are over-the-top and highly detailed, and are completely one-of-a-kind. They show off many different aspects of this world which include crazy militants, bag girls, fortune tellers, the book club, a cult of archaeologists run by Devon Sawa . . . each episode faces Jay with a new challenge to face, while in the waking world his family do everything it takes to try to awake him from his coma.
Mysteriously the writers of the show never went on to do anything else, and after three seasons the show ended. It’s a wild ride of a show, and is highly recommended. If you want to splurge a bit, you can buy the entire series on DVD here.
TWIN PEAKS ( 1990 – 1991 )
Perhaps this is the only show that doesn’t need help in bringing back to the forefront. For over twenty years now, Twin Peaks has been an absolute obsession. It’s kind of the show that started it all, in a way. A small town where nothing bad happens find their beloved homecoming queen dead on the banks of a river, and from there all secrets are slowly revealed of the small town that has many things to hide. It’s a show that took pop culture by storm when it was on, and continues to spread its weird Lynchian legacy every turn it takes.
Japanese tourists flock each year to the town they shot Twin Peaks for a chance to check out the waterfall, the diner, the hotel, the woods, the mountains – they want to see it all. Hipsters unite in conversation over who their favourite characters are between the Cooper or the Log Lady. And fashionistas note the synergy between the late 80s/early 90s styling and the nostalgic 1950s twist designer Patricia Norris infused into each scene.
Yes, indeed, there is a plethera of ideas, knowledge, and inspiration brought to the forefront in a show like “Twin Peaks”. Just saying its name rings true as though it were a secret sacred mantra, more than the name for a TV Show. But lucky for us, it is, and we can always enjoy it on our Gold Edition Twin Peaks Box Set (which was definitely worth the splurge)!
Would the world be the same without it? Not a chance.
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? ( 1991 – 1996 )
This is classic stuff, here. Anyone growing up in the 90s, knows theres no way you could have missed this show when it was on. At least once, you must have caught it on TV. That ominous theme song, the hand holding the match, that creepy ass clown! For years we have been ruled by that legendary phrase, “Submitted for the approval of the midnight society”, and even after all this time, nothing has changed! The show still ignites great joy whenever an episode is delved into.
There are many seasons to choose from, but the best are the early ones with all the classic stories: Zeebo the Clown, “The Tale of the Pinball Wizard”, “The Hungry Hounds”, “Super Specs”! The list goes on forever. You can also find a host of teen celebs like Neve Campbell, Jewel Staite, and even Ryan Gosling. It’s even rumoured that M. Night Shamaylan took inspiration from an episode to create his breakthrough film, “The Sixth Sense” (Go AYAOTD!).
What was so great about the show was the theatricality, and drama of it all, as well as the wide variety of different stories. “The Tale of the Doll Maker” where a peculiar dollhouse traps unwitting young girls and turns them into dolls, or “The Tale of Watcher’s Woods” is particularly creepy when it comes to facing the three ragged souls of the sisters who lost themselves in the woods a hundred years earlier. “Apartment 214” where a young girl befriends the ghost of an old lady – “This was the DAY I DIED!!!”
Classic. Too good. I say you just sit down with the episode list, and get at it. Best of all, the show is actually creepy. No blood and gore or anything like that. Instead the stories underline the supernatural, and perhaps things we cannot as easily explain, to keep you awake at night hoping Quicksilver won’t make his way through your wall!
4/4 EYES Up!
TALES FROM THE CRYPT ( 1989 – 1996 )
Where there are no blood and guts in an episode of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”, this HBO hit series more than made up for it, with almost every story being some kind of disgusting gore fest that was actually really really scary. The kind of scary that kept you up all night annoying the hell out of your older cousin who though it would be a good idea to watch it. After all, it was right before Saturday Night Live – that should lighten the mood thereafter.
Hardly ever worked. “Tales From The Crypt” was just too legit to quit when it came to delivering the goods on Horror. They knew what real horror was made of, and visiting the roots of the comic strip, the writers often found devilishly delicious stories to make come to life. You’ll also find a ton of Hollywood stars in the cast list, which make it a real treat if you’ve never seen them in this kind of show before. Everyone from Demi Moore to Mariel Hemingway made their turn in the show, so don’t expect the show to fail in the acting department, because if anything, its one of the best!
A shout out has to go to the Crypt Keeper, who you really come to love and respect by the end of it all. He really has a knack for words, and a charisma that is unmatched by any other ghastly ghoul in the industry.
EERIE INDIANA ( 1991 – 1992 )
This has to be the piece de resistance of the entire list; a show that remained only as a half memory in our minds before finding a jackpot of episodes online. This show was all the rage when it first came on TV. It had a weird day spot, just after school, but from the very first episode it was hard not to be entranced by the show.
Starring a young Omri Katz (of “Hocus Pocus” fame), the show featured a string of bizarre and weird circumstances happening in the small town of Eerie Indiana, and with the help of his best friend (played by Justin Shenkarow, “Picket Fences”) they attempt to take on the mysteries and document them in a huge collection of artifacts that prove Eerie’s strange happenings.
Omri is such a young star, and for once in a show, his 90s styling is right on point (with light washed jeans, sweat shirts, graphic Ts, that long Kurt Kobain hair, and an oversized military coat – how can a kid look better?)! Don’t know what happened to the show. It must have just fizzled out, which is a shame because it was actually really fun, really weird, and really well put together. Other than some stretches of the imagination here and there, this was a show that instilled that want and need for something out of this world even in this most mundane of places.
One of the best shows there is, waiting to be brought back to life! So enjoy this, the Pilot episode!
You can find this episode and more on Youtube for those moments in between when you need to focus on what makes you happy. Or just plain old simple distraction from the everyday. Hope you enjoyed our rundown of our favourite TV shows from the 90s – you can see how they might have inspired us here at The Eye of Faith.
What were some of your favourite shows? I’m sure we forgot a few on our list (Of course, X-FILES!), so we’d love to hear them!
Just trying to keep the past alive one TV show at a time . . .
Until next time,
{theEye}
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The best fashion is timeless, so no surprises here at the Eye of Faith we are always trying to reinvent the classic’s through modern interpretations of the best basics! We love to pick out different era’s and reference those ‘era-descent’ influences in our current looks. We are so happy to see the latest runway shows from around the world are straight up our alley!
From London-town, to Paris and Milan, there is an undeniable 80s influences in most of the shows from this coming Spring 2013 Season.
Weather it’s through unconventional Metallics or lace, or acid washed hair, dyed to perfection. We love when we can see the past turn it’s cheek and rock it’s way into a jagged-edged future.
A wise man once said “Everything’s already been done”, but we hate to think there isn’t room for anything new at all! We aren’t talking about reinventing the wheel here, but we do miss the days of David Bowie’s gender bending orange head of hair, and Billy Idol’s undeniable sexual swagger.
The greatest idols of the 80s are back in a big way, and all their razzle and dazzle is back on display though the Spring 2013 Menswear season (Through you’d swear this might be 1983).
Staring with one of our all-time favourites, Burberry Prorsum is always classic at it’s finest, with Christopher Bailey at the helm, we are always captivated by his modern spin on tradition. Described as an exercise in contrasts, this Spring collection has a bit of everything—matte versus shine, traditional versus tribal, strict versus oversized. Mylar-esque metallic trench coats and shiny silk shirts play off the brand’s fitted wool suiting. Classic outerwear pieces evolve as well, with Bailey interpreting mac jackets in the new fabrications and turning the classic bomber into a cropped cocoon, worn over a business suit. Bailey explores new territory, while keeping one well-burnished foot firmly planted in the house’s heritage.
Anne Demeulemeester always kills it for us, with a spin at modernist edgy, and classic vampire fashion. What’s more nostalgic of the glam decadence of the 80s than gothic-chic suiting, and lush fabrics fit for Royalty. Running the gamut from solids to stripes to prints, and relaxed silhouettes, Ms. Demeulemeester’s spring collection seethes with a dark-prince edge—indeed. From Prince to Keith Richards, any rock star, past and present, would rock these looks on stage.
Comme des Garçons always has been an absolutely innovative brand season after season, so no surprises here that they would take influence straight from the Laboratory. So maybe the nod to 90s cartoon Dexters Laboratory isn’t so totally 1980s, but you can’t deny us the bold black and whites and orange coloured hair are straight out of a 80s hair catalogue in the best possible way (Annie Lennox anyone?!). Every look included matching trouser-and-shirt combos with topcoats: in sterilized white, pinstriped, with toggles, or with doodled print panels, with a slender silhouette billowing down below the waist. Menswear at it’s finest, Dexter’s Laboratory‘s eponymous kid genius would be proud.
After that, we want to run out to the nearest vintage store, and try to scrounge up some pieces that will elevate us to an 80’s icons level! If you need us we’ll be Dancing with Ourselves, and watching every season of Jem and the Holograms.
We hope you’ve found inspiration in our recap of the latest show’s, with a touch of the past. Remember even if it’s ‘been done’, we know it can be done better! The 80s wouldn’t of been possible without the emblematic era’s that came before. Honour the past, present and future!
