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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+MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE {SHOP}+
30% OFF SALE UNTIL 02/01/2020
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)
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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THANKS FOR READING! Remember XIXIXI gets you 25% OFF in the {SHOP}. FREE SHIPPING in the U.S. / CANADA
photo by Aaron Robert Duartephoto 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!
+ 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?
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,”
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!”
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…
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!
Are you feeling intrigued?! We just added some cool new pieces to the {SHOP} and our booth at the Hamilton Antique Mall {233 Ottawa ST. N – THIRD FLOOR- Booth 33E in Hamilton, ON} so definitely check that out if you are local!
amAlso, for our Etsy shop…remember code XIXIXI always gets you 25% OFF at the checkout, and we offer FREE SHIPPING in Canada and the U.S.
So don’t miss out on your chance to own these unique finds, and let that special style spirit soar.
2018 was such an exciting year for us in fashion, and our collection “The Visitors” was the perfect way to cap it off, at the annual Supercrawl festival here in Hamilton, ON.
This collection was our most encompassing yet, with 13 looks on 13 models, rocking the runway in the hot September sun! We really wanted to go for a more eclectic party vibe this time around, and I think we really captured the essence of what we were looking to achieve!
The collection was inspired by the ABBA song “The Visitors” – a wicked disco jam, about the anxiety of having guests showing up at your home for a party! Strangers surrounded by your books, paintings, and furniture…it can leave you in a quite a tizzy.
Disco glamour, divas, glitter, and rock n roll definitely played a hand, and we really wanted to play off the idea of visitors – who perhaps could be from a different dimension; so, there’s also a bit of space and sci-fi moments happening throughout.
Each piece is one of a kind, handmade, and uses vintage fabrics and materials.
Styled by The Eye of Faith
Makeup Up by Janet Granados & Claudia Alaimo
Hair by Hexe Noire & Poison IV
Best of all, we got to end the show with our girl Amanda Lear’s “Fashion Pack”, who was another inspiration for this collection!
For more information on any of these pieces, feel free to email us:
We had the honour of shooting with Style Group for The City of Hamilton in a feature focusing on Hamilton’s burgeoning fashion scene.
Hamilton has always been known as a city of grit and steel, which is often why it ends up the backdrop for so many Hollywood flicks ( ie. Guillermo Del Toro’s Oscar winning picture The Shape of Water is literally littered in Hamilton, and there are so many more!), so its not exactly the first city you think of in Canada when it comes to fashion.
But, according to Statistics Canada, Hamilton is in fact in the top 5 hubs of fashion in Canada – so that’s pretty “eye” opening! We are lucky enough to be one of the city’s featured designers in a short video featuring some of Hamilton’s top designers including yours truly, The Eye of Faith!
Here’s a clip they made of especially for our designs! We were really inspired by a 90s Romeo & Juliet essence with this one and wanted to showcase two head turning looks that were from different worlds, but intrinsically connected. Our models Geoffrey William and Danielle Brandino capture the mood gloriously!
On top of this wicked video, photographer Derrick Van Der Kolk took so many awesome shots that capture the vibrancy of downtown Hamilton, and the unique energy we hope to exude with our designs!
I would die for you
I would die for you
I’ve been dying just to feel you by my side
To know that you’re mine
– Garbage, “#1 Crush”
Here’s a taste . . .
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”
-William Shakespeare, “Romeo & Juliet”
Thanks for watching!
Until next time,
{theEye}
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NOTE: We will be getting up some of our original, one of a kind, handmade pieces from vintage textiles online for sale soon, so stay tuned!
Remember, to check out our selection of time traveled vintage styles in our {SHOP}. Use XIXIXI to get 25% OFF.
Can you believe that 7 years ago on this day, the fateful evening of 11/11/11, The Eye of Faith was born!!! I think it’s hard for us to believe it, and there’s definitely no way we ever could have dreamed of where it would have led us today, so feel eternally blessed!
Through thick and thin, we have always persevered and made sure to keep our passions alive. When they say, never give up – it really is true. And that has always been the founding voice of The Eye of Faith; which is an age old symbol of destiny, believing in your dreams, knowing that there is that symbolic eye in the sky watching out for your best interest, just so long you are in tuned with your own special energy.
We began as a fashion blog fusing our interests in vintage style, nostalgia, rebels, pop culture, the occult, esoterica, cinema, art, culture …our blog had once been described as falling down the rabbit hole, which pleased us beyond belief!!! From our very first blog post we never could have imagined that we would be featured on Refinery29 (alongside news of Lady Gaga & Beyonce!), and feature interviews with Patti Quatro and NIRVANA’s original drummer, Chad Channing!
From there, we began curating a modest collection of vintage clothes that we sold online, which led to our first ever real life Pop Up at the Junction Flea!!! Its insane to think that was our very first, and we felt so much excitement to get our vibe out there, and the excitement hasn’t ceased and we have since done so many pop-ups its hard to keep count!
{googling THE EYE OF FAITH VINTAGE!!!}
Then came our foray into fashion design which was encouraged by our friends at Blackbird Studios who had seen our vintage collection and style and pointed out that we should get our hands dirty and create our own pieces!
We took that encouragement and premiered our first handmade collection at Supercrawl 2015 with +HOLLYWOOD BABYLON+ , and have since shown collections +TAROT+, +NEW KINGDOM+, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, and our most recent THE VISITORS (which we will posting photos of soon!). This has been an awesome endeavour that allows for a new avenue of creativity that blends our passions for vintage styles, storytelling, theatre, art, music, and design. Using vintage textiles has also allowed us to continue our invocation of the {PAST} , {PRESENT}, and {FUTURE} and their symbiotic flow.
Now, on this fortuitous day, we embark on a new endeavour with a physical location for all our local friends and fashion lovers to visit and purchase some unique, E.O.F. approved, vintage finds as well as some of our handmade one of a kind pieces!
From now on, find our collection at the HAMILTON ANTIQUE MALL{233 Ottawa St. N – Hamilton, Ontario} in booth 33E on the THIRD FLOOR. And in case you didn’t consider it, how crazy is it that we established our brand 11/11/11 which coincidently adds up to 33! Also, the highest level you can make as a mason, and since we always had a bit of a secret society inspiration, it seemed beyond fitting.
COME CHECK US OUT!!!
So in the end, we are so grateful and thankful for everyone who has supported us, and encouraged us over the years, and especially to our readers and followers who help keep our passion stewing!
We wouldn’t be doing anything if this if it weren’t for that, so THANK YOU for 7 amazing years, and to many more!
Until next time,
{theEye}
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We will still be posting and selling online, so be sure to check out the {SHOP} for some wicked vintage finds!
