{MUSIC MINUTE} “The Wheel of Fortune” by Kay Starr

Posted on November 30, 2016 by {theEye}

+

Oh, wheel of fortune

I’m hoping somehow

If you ever smile on me

Please let it be now

+

Billie Holliday declared Kay Starr “the only white woman who could sing the blues”, and there’s no doubt that while you are listening to this moody ballad of luck and love, you will know exactly what she meant.

She’s also sassy AF which you will totally get from this 1951 colour video of the singer crooning her song which became a Gold Record and made it to #1 on the charts in the U.S.

All the glitter. All the glamour. All that timeless cool.

Thought she was a useful spirit to inspire.

Hope you feel the same.

Until next time,

{theEye}

{MUSIC MINUTE} Jennifer Warnes sings “Easy to be Hard” from HAIR #LoveWins #PrayforOrlando

Posted on June 14, 2016 by {theEye}

How can people be so heartless

How can people be so cruel

Easy to be hard

Easy to be cold

In the wake of the tragedy that struck us early Sunday morning in Orlando, we were inspired to post this very moving {MUSIC MINUTE} in honour of those lost, hurt, and affected by this unspeakable crime.

To imagine that in 2016, we are still dealing with repression, bigotry, and hate to such a violent extreme saddens us beyond belief. It truly goes to show how important it is for us to keep being invigorated and reminded of OUR {PAST} in the {PRESENT} to help shape the {FUTURE}.

The nightmares and horrors of yesterday, are the nightmares and horrors of today, and the more we keep ignoring them, the worse our world will become.

Many of you know that we just finished a successful sold out run of the musical HAIR at Hamilton Theatre Inc. and what truly drew us to this show was its message of friendship, freedom, peace, and love; and through being a part of this iconic show, we truly feel that it is our duty to continue spreading the groovy revolution.

Before she was crooning “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” and “Love Lifts Us Up (Where We Belong)” in the 1980s (winning Grammys and Academy Awards along the way), she starred as Sheila Franklin in the West Coast cast of HAIR.

Here is her soaring rendition of one of our favourite songs whose message is ultimately timeless and true especially after the unforgivable terror that was imposed on a vibrant and loving community.

+ + + Requiéscant In Pace + + +

Until we meet again,

{theEye}

{Music Minute} Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan”

Posted on March 21, 2016 by {theEye}

In the spirit of the dunes we thought this timeless classic could definitely coincide. . .

This is an ode to Black Sabbath, the mystical heavy blues rockers from Birmingham who knew just the way to make their music crawl.

With the use of the occult and horror-inspired lyrics, and one-of-a-kind 1970s rock ‘n’ roll bohemian swag, we are definitely feeling a brotherhood with this unique quartet!

So let your spirit float to this one, kids. It is sure to take you somewhere…

Sincerely,

{theEye}

Pictures loaded by Graham Young, Birmingham Mail. The first ever picture taken of Black Sabbath taken in 1968 of Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, on a bank of grass close to Portland Road, Edgbaston. One hundred prints have been made at £495 each. Jim Simpson says: “If any one band can claim to be the originators of Heavy Metal, then that band is Black Sabbath. Strangely, Heavy Metal was not a term used in those days, though Sabbath certainly prided themselves on being heavier than any of their so-called rivals. In fact, their early publicity claimed, Black Sabbath, the Heaviest Band Around. Makes Led Zeppelin sound like a kindergarten house band. Quite how the Sabs changed from being a perfectly good blues band into the musical phenomenon that we all know and love is shrouded in mystery. It all started with Geezer Butler who contributed the bands name as well as many of the songs. Their music developed naturally from then and its hard to indentify exactly what directly preceded it. Hendrix, yes, to a limited extent, but that only partly explains it. Whatever, Black Sabbath are THE Birmingham Rock Band. Ask yourself this. Who is the worlds most famous Brummie? Without doubt, its Ozzy. Also loaded: Jim Simpson at the private launch of Jim Simpson – A Photography Retrospective, an exhibition at Havill & Travis showcasing Jim’s extraordinary collection of photographs from of pop, rock and blues stars from the 1960s. Jim was the first manager of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. He has run Big Bear Records in Edgbaston for 46 years (to 2014) and founded the 30-year-old Birmingham International Jazz Festival in 1984. Havill & Travis at 14 Lonsdale Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9RA. Tel 0121 427 5763. http://www.havillandtravis.com The gallery is a partnership between fiends Dave Travis (left), ex rock photographer turned concert promoter and Mission Print founder Gerv Harvill. Pictures loaded by Graham Young, Birmingham Mail.

AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO A TAILOR MADE SUIT

Posted on January 20, 2016 by {theEye}

So, you’ve decided to buy a suit but need some tips on how to approach it all? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Here’s my essential guide to buying a quality tailor made suit. Enjoy.

When it comes to that all round suit that you can wear to pretty much any event (except a funeral), then you can’t go past a quality navy blue knit. It goes with everything, too – and is essential to any man’s wardrobe.

Fabrics

High-quality menswear fabric is quite a niche market when it comes to suppliers, so be sure to establish where and what type of fabric is sourced.

If your store offers a wide range of quality fabrics, then this will indicate a solid and established relationship between store and vendor. Generally, English and Italian mills should also be in the equation here

The Trim

In the tailor made suit business, it’s the little things that count the most; those nuances that stand out and provide real, long-lasting value.

Quality trims are essential and need to coincide with the fabric on offer. This includes buttons, internal linings and zippers. Other internal trim offerings also include chest and collar canvases, collar felts, sleeve heads and shoulder pads.

There will, however, be hard to establish until you’ve worn and dry cleaned your tailor made suit a few times. If it withstands the test of time, then you can assure you have been sold some quality trims.

Handmade

Nothing beats a handmade suit, particularly in areas like the lapel, canvas, sleeves and collar.

When a tailor adds their handmade touches to these specific areas, it adds another layer of dimension to the suit and allows for greater flexibility.

Like mentioned before, it’s those little nuances that will stand out and separate a good tailor made suit from an average one.

Number of Fittings

Some tailors will have a policy for how many fittings they will offer you as part of the tailored experience. Once that number is up, though, you will begin to incur additional costs.

Be sure to clarify this with your bespoke tailor before you commit to buying from them. Usually, this will depend on your body and how well you generally fit into off the rack garments as well as how well the tailor measures you in the initial consultation.

Post-Purchase

Alterations and guarantee are key. It’s super important that your tailor has some policies in place that ensure your tailor made suit provides long-term value.

With alterations, a good tailor should allow for natural body fluctuations that occur. If you lose or gain a couple of pounds then you should be covered. This is all within a reason, of course.

Lastly, a guarantee of some sort, either money back or 100% satisfied to ensure peace of mind is essential in the tailoring process. Experienced, skilled and customer focused bespoke tailors will usually have these post-purchase offers, however, it’s always worth checking out before committing to buying from them.

CONCLUSION

Buying a suit can be one of the most rewarding and life changing experiences for a man. After all, first impressions are everything in this world, and what better way than display your confidence than rocking the perfect suit.

Invest time in learning more about FABRIC and TRIMS, and be sure to research where HANDMADE bespoke tailors are in your neighbourhood, and once you get there, not to forget FITTINGS and any POST PURCHASE guarantees and alterations that are included with your new suit.

After all, life is too short not to be the best you yourself can be.

Who knows what could happen?

Let us know how you went in the COMMENTS below!

Shopping for Vintage Clothes : 4 TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

Posted on October 9, 2015 by {theEye}

If individuality is your thing and you can’t take any more of dressing like many others, vintage is the way to go! While you do need the confidence to match vintage outfits, if you pick the right clothes, you won’t have much to worry about.

Here are 4 tips to make your first vintage shopping spree a success.

Locate the Best Spots

If you know someone who dresses flawlessly in cool vintage pieces, consider yourself lucky and ask them right away where they buy their stuff from. If they frequent vintage garment dealers in your locality, you know where to head! In case they purchase items from abroad, ask them if they know any local dealers.

If you don’t know anyone you can turn to for help, try looking for local vintage dealers online. Additionally, do make it a point to visit estate sales, auctions, and flea markets.

Do ask your family members if they have any clothing items from the bygone years stashed away in their closets. Who knows, you may end up with some really amazing stuff!

Research Well

When you see something that interests you, take a look at labels and see what era it belongs to. If you want something from the 1920s, you don’t want to come back home with something from the 1960s.

If there aren’t any labels, ask the dealers for more information on the item you wish to purchase. Spending some time online to learn about different dressing styles before you go shopping will be a great help.

When shopping online, make sure you only browse and shop from reputed websites. Websites run by vintage experts can also be trusted. Check user ratings and feedback, and always read the terms and conditions before you splurge. A website with a secure payment system is an added bonus!

Don’t forget to check the measurements of items you wish to purchase. Further to this, don’t buy items with stock images; real images give you a clearer picture. If pictures aren’t clear but you’re keen on buying something, you may want to request the seller to upload better ones or e-mail them to you.

Be Wise with Your Purchases

You’re sure to find some outrageous stuff when looking for vintage pieces and you might get carried away and buy things you will never wear. So be wise when making purchases; sticking to classic cuts is advisable.

Furthermore, buy items in the style that you regularly wear. If you intend to purchase something offbeat, consider how you’ll wear it or what you’ll pair it with so that it doesn’t rot away in your closet. For example, a brightly colored vintage tie will go well with tailored suits, and a vintage t-shirt will pair well with a pencil skirt and a pair of heels.

Most importantly, buy items that fit you well. Of course, you might not find a perfect fit, but you can always get your vintage finds altered by your tailor! Even if you’re buying oversized items, make sure that they’ll look good on you when worn.

Refrain from buying items that require a lot of restoration work. Check the fit, and also examine garments and accessories thoroughly for tears, smells, and stains. Keep in mind that getting a good fit around the shoulders is a tough job even for experienced tailors, and that the best drycleaners may not always be able to rid your vintage finds of stains!

Do remember to pay attention to the condition of your vintage finds- you don’t want to purchase something that is too fragile. In addition to this, never purchase materials that you’re not comfortable wearing. As mentioned, read labels or ask dealers to help you make the right choices.

Don’t Get Duped

Not everything you see online or at auctions and flea markets will be authentic vintage. Don’t let this dishearten you though; just keep the following in mind.

Ask lots of questions! If the item is genuine, you’ll get satisfactory answers. When buying from a physical shop, you can also pay attention to the dealer’s expressions and tell if they’re bluffing.
Check care labels- these were introduced in 1971 so if the item you’re eyeing has one, it couldn’t be older than that. Knowing when other items like belt loops, zippers, and Velcro were invented can also help you narrow down the age of garments.
Crepe was a 40s’ classic, nylon wasn’t used for clothing until the 50s, and polyester was widely used in the 70s.

Measurements in the 40s and 50s used to be a lot smaller. Also, armholes used to be narrower and hemlines didn’t rise above the knee until the 60s.

Conclusion

Vintage shopping may seem like hard work considering there’s a huge possibility of picking the wrong things or things that you’ll never use. But now that you’ve read these tips on going about your first vintage shopping spree, you’ve got nothing to worry about.

With help from here, you’re sure to enjoy shopping for vintage clothing. What’s more, you’ll definitely choose the right things!

Happy shopping!

About the Author

Nicola Reynor is a passionate blogger who loves to blog about fashion, beauty, travel, health, fitness, wedding and lifestyle trends. When in leisure time, she prefers to spend time in traveling with friends and family. You can find more about her at Nicola+

Dandy “Dracula” [an Ode to Ishioka]

Posted on August 20, 2014 by {theEye}

“They say you are a man of good… taste. “

-Dracula, Bram Stoker’s Dracula

As fore mentioned in our last post, we are developing quite the affinity for a certain dreamboat of the dark side, and it seems like more and more of the masses have also come under the dandy wrath of Dracula.

With the passing of ultra-talented and internationally acclaimed costume designer Eiko Ishioka (passed on January 21 at the age of 73), we are finding our world more and more drenched with the dark nightmares and dreamscapes her fantasies conjured in designing for Coppola’s visionary 1991 film, Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

A nightmare fantasy realm of dark mystery, elaborate exoticism, blood, seduction, and intrigue which would not have been the same without the remarkable talents of Ishioka who would go on to win the 1992 Academy Award for Best Costume Design.

While her spirit will be missed, the designs she created are of constant value, for they provide much inspiration and insight into reinvention, and taking the reigns on one’s image. Choose a jump point, and really explore it.

That’s what we’ve been up to. Since we’ve been in this dark mode, and with Dracula on the brain, we pulled some pictures to explore OUR take on the Prince of Darkness explored in true E.O.F. style.

DEDICATED TO EIKO ISHIOKA [ R.I.P. 1938 – 2012 ]

Sincerely,

– The Eye x

Similar Stories:

DISCOVERED: {1936-1942} San Onofre Surf Memories by Don James

Posted on May 26, 2014 by {theEye}

Wave Warriors {1937 – San Onofre, California}

Don James

These beautiful snapshots were taken by photographer Don James between the years 1936 and 1942 on the shores of San Onofre, California. Whether black and white, or the gorgeously desaturated Kodachrome prints, each photograph is a beautiful lost memory of fun had, and good times past.

Check out the waves, and all them cool cats.

Don’t you think these pictures could have been taken yesterday?

I love turning to old vintage snapshots like these for a good luck at how people dressed, and how little has changed!

Especially now that the vintage surf look is in vogue, these photographs can provide some sunny summer inspiration for your days to come.

The Way We Dressed is the Way We Dress.

Who says you can’t repeat the past? Enjoy these gorgeous pics and have a blast today. Promise?

Until next time,

{theEye}

Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter
+
+
+++
{The Eye of Faith}
+++

Similar Stories:

{Music Minute} Ennio Morricone, “The Ecstacy of Gold”

Posted on May 13, 2014 by {theEye}

Conjuring up all you Ennio Morricone fans out there.

Every fan knows that this man’s music can make you soar – and if there isn’t one piece that can make one’s mind soar to the farthest reaches of imagination it’s this one. Makes for a great surge of power and might to kick ass out of any day you might be facing.