We found this 80s vintage mens cardigan a couple months ago, and are still reeling for this piece’s unusual and unique qualities! It really couldn’t be more perfect for The Eye of Faith {Vintage}, so we knew we had to provide the opportunity for some stylishly discerning individual out there to rock this in the real world.
Apart from the wicked palette and the beautiful color blocking throughout, this cardigan features cool design features such as classic ivy style brass buttons, and a collection of really wild screen printed patches all in a preppy ivy league motif that include a pair of converse sneakers, A dapper bouffant gent with sunglasses who features another dapper gent as a shirt? , an ivy league track team, H.O.T. and my favourite . . . “OH YEAH!”
We have always promised to purvey unique and unusual pieces that can totally compare to and outmatch even current style standards, and this cardigan is no exception.
Super rare, and in MINT condition, so if you are tickled be sure to check out the listing in our {SHOP} before its gone!
We love photos like these that go to prove the notion of ‘cool’ is absolutely timeless!!! We might argue that these guys bring ‘cool’ to a level that we barely even reach these daze. . .
We’re all consumed by our social media accounts, and the latest trend – meanwhile, these boys understand true camaraderie, having fun, looking good, and not taking life so seriously!
It’s fun also to imagine the in’s and out’s of these boys life outside the frame. They are, indeed, a very eclectic bunch, and who even knows what this photo was taken for?
We believe its some kind of class photo from a prep school, and judging from the wear on the photo, and their clothes – taken sometime in the 1930s. The handsome devil in the striped sweater vest in the centre of the group is obviously the ring leader. Love his buddies chilling on the stone orbs flanking the stairs.
Its photos like these that make you wish you could dive right into these photos and experience the moment – lucky for us, we have a singular moment captured forever with the magic of sunlight and silver.
We picture this framed for your home or workplace, or simply as some true style inspiration . . .
When it comes to achieving that legendary Ivy Style, one shouldn’t have to think too much at all.
When we came across this simple spread from 1955 we were struck with the straight forwardness of the editorial, as well as the run-down on how to achieve that Ivy Look.
The article was so fascinating and perfect, we had no choice but to share and feature it with our readers here at The Eye. Knowing the ins and outs of the Ivy Look is essential for any style enthusiast, so it was only right we help educate and relate!
The key really is having those classic and timeless pieces in your wardrobe so that you’re not really having to worry so much about how it’s all coming together. You take your hand, and you touch that sports coat or shirt and all the sudden it is fused to your being for the day.
Sometimes it just feels right. The best part about it is, you can see that it’s not necessarily about being some kind of perfect specimen, at all. In fact, it is much more about pairing the unexpected, and contrasting patterns and textures in curious ways to make those around you take that second look and say “Whoa! That guy has got it together!”
At that, my friends, will make you feel damn good.
So, what’s that acronym again they are always saying? K.I.S.S….You don’t have to do much but be yourself, be comfortable, and show off a little.
If you’re looking for horror, sex, and a little intrigue look no further than this incredible cult classic from 1964: Hiroshi Teshigahara’s “Woman in the Dunes”. This art house film that could would garner Teshigahara an Academy Award nomination for Best Director in 1967 (he was beat by Robert Wise for “The Sound of Music”).
It’s a strange story, one first told by Japanese author Kôbô Abe (who also wrote the film’s screenplay) in the hugely successful novel by the same name. This is 1960s cinema at its finest and absolutely darkest. It’s also the kind of film that you wish was made now; a film that is provocative, lingering, sexy, intellectual, and above-all screams style!
So if you enjoy films with a core, and our thirst for the strange you’ll definitely appreciate this one. There’s little blood, and definitely no ghosts, but there’s definitely something creepy that lurks with you long after the movie has ended. Trust us on this one and grab a copy from Amazon today!
“The most frightening thing in the world is to discover the abnormal in that which is closest to us.”
Here in Southern Ontario things are getting grimmer by the day. Not that we don’t like Winter – you know us boys love the comfort of a slouchy silk shirt or a easy breezy Hawaiian, but Old Man Winter just won’t stop peaking his nasty head out to remind us we’re on his turf!
So, we’ve put together an eclectic gallery of vintage fall/winter menswear inspiration that you can use to muse, since there’s no point of running!
Sometimes a little inspiration goes a long way . . .
A model wears an “Arctic Long” mink coat in this Women’s Wear Daily photo. Feb. 7, 1973. Morgue01
Soak up the inspiration! Classic looks never die. We make them new by adding our own unique spirit, so don’t ever be afraid to add yours!
The “wayward wasp” from New York City was born to wealth, coming from an aristocratic family (his great grandfather founded the Great Northern Railway in 1857; his grandfather, Pierre Lorillard III, a tobacco heir) – he could have had any life he could dream of.
So, after graduating from Yale with a degree in art history (mentored by art greats Josef Albers, Vincent Scully, and Richard Lindner), and a membership with the Scroll & Key (secret society bro), he chose to escape the jungles of the western world for the true wild of Africa.
I like to hang on to things and see the sea changes, the wear and tear, the spills, rain, and fire- how time works on everything.
-Peter Beard
There he would kick off his fantastic art career with a book entitled “The End of the Game” which documented the degradation of African wildlife brought on by yours truly – mankind. Taken in Tsavo National Park in Kenya, unsettling photos of carcasses and bones and rotting corpses in stunning and timeless sepia tinted black and white photos with mixed media and collage would put a stamp on Peter Beard’s exotic, original, and in-your-face style of photography.
It’s no easy feet trenching through crocodile infested waters, or watching as a colleague is torn in half by a charging rhinoceros, but it didn’t stop him from calling Kenya home.
He would set up home and shop in a rural sanctuary known as Hog Ranch, where he entertained a multitude of the world’s most interesting and fabulous friends, and take some of fashion’s most stunning images. He did it all in the most elegant and cool of ways.
Set against raving African landscapes, Beard brings new life to an industry built on a fantasy of luxury and excess, and strips it down (as well as his models) to the subtle supple curves of a woman, for whom he has had many. . . flecks of paint, and wicked swirls collaborate upon the images to create a magic that is evocative of his timeless and raw sense of style and unique perspective on life.
A rockstar in ever right, find him alongside Mick Jagger on tour, yachting with Aristotle and Jackie Onasis (clocking 4:20 in a $2,000 bet he couldn’t stay underwater for 4 minutes), entertaining royals, taking a nap with Francis Bacon in Andy Warhol’s bed, or partying with Halston at Studio 54, running from bulls in Madrid, or forcing Janice Dickinson to pose with a cheetah.
Lets put it simply: Peter Beard is a bad ass. He combines classic American ivy league style with a worldly spirit, nostalgia for the golden days of British Colonialism, all jet set to the max – keeping it clean, cool, masculine, and chic, and never being afraid to rip a shirt or get a stain. The truth is, he probably never thinks twice about any of that shit . . . prolific playboys never give a shit.
“I’m not a planner; I’ve never made a decision about anything in my life. The good thing about Africa is that you can escape forever. You can do what you want, without someone looking over your shoulder.”
His legendary journals and collage work have been soaring in prices at auctions as of late (his 1968 piece Orphan Cheetah Triptych took in $662,500 at Christie’s in 2012), so it would seem that sometimes doing the complete opposite of people’s expectations can truly pay off.
It’s all in the attitude, or should we say spirit. This is one we should all definitely try to invoke.
So, don’t get stuck in the status-quo. And never let anyone tell you that art isn’t worth it.
Here’s a newly uncovered lost treasure we happened to find lying about. What a shame. This is one that is sure to have you grinding and grooving all the night through. Just shy of making you want to howl at the moon. This one’s called “Don’t You Dare” and it’s played by none other than The Impacts.
Hopefully we’ve all been there. That terrible yearning, the endless nights. Incredible emotions. Melting.
I am bound to a fate worse than death if I don’t have you around
Tell me how you really feel! The track really has the ability to bring you back. Back to a time. Back to a place.
Originally The Fogcutters, the band based out of St. Martin’s High School in Lacey, Washington delivers all the sadness and cool you could expect from the illustriously mysterious Pacific Northwest.
Locked in the bowels of a boarding school, the troupe of 8 would find constant challenge in having members from two States (Washington and Oregon), and the struggle to find a place to practice amongst the monks and cloisters of their privileged boarding Academy. The School on a Hill.
Usually when thinking “ivy style”, that ultimate mid-century academic cool you automatically think athletic. You think the jocks and their varsity jackets, cardigans, t-shirts- the whole bit. But with The Impacts you have that same All-American Vintage Academia with the radness only being part of a rock ‘n’ roll band can lend a young group of Dapper Dans! You have to admit, it just sounds good.
You might not always get the cheerleader, but who cares. They’re boring. They’d be doing homework instead of catching your shows. God knows how bad the world falls for a good boy band. Also, think groupies. Groupies. Catch a falling star, right?
The Impacts would make their run from 1961-1964 and ultimately consisted of 8 members. All have been accounted for except the 5th member, the original rhythm guitar. His first name unknown, all he is remembered as is his last name – “Kelly”
All in all, I get a real sense of mystery from these pictures, and this song. Not to mention, the mystery of “Kelly”, and his elusive first name. Have any clues or premonitions?
Don’t forget to visit us in on James Street North if you’re in Hamilton, Ontario! You can find us at 126 James Street North downstairs “Hawk & Sparrow”. We love meeting new people, and have tons of intriguing vintage finds seeking new homes, so don’t miss out on the fun!
If you can’t make it, though, there’s always the {SHOP} – everything is 25 % off with secret code XIXIXI at the checkout.
Also, if you haven’t given us a LIKE on FACEBOOK {click here}! We love seeing and connecting with our readers, so don’t be shy to send us a message, or email, anytime.
We might even post it on our site for the world to see!
‘Concision in Style, Precision in Thought, Decision in Life”
You may have noticed those immortal words when browsing through our ABOUT US page, although the phrase is more like this:
+ CONCISIONEM STYLO, ACCURATIUS CORDE, IUDICARI VITA +
Since our inception, these words have helped build the foundations for creating The Eye of Faith, and we never forgot them along the way.
Wise words from an icon in his own right, Victor Hugo (and I’m not too sure if he would be one for musicals ) . . . but none the less, his “concision in style, precision in thought, and decision in life”, have made him and his work relevant to this very day!
It’s quite wild how the past comes and goes, and is brought back to life again. Inspiration finds it’s way through the cracks of your mind to infiltrate your thoughts and create something special. This comes into play every time you make your way into your own wardrobe, for example. You stare at your clothes and an idea might come to your mind, and thus a new look, and a new you is born!
While our motto CONCISIONEM STYLO, ACCURATIUS CORDE, IUDICARI VITA (it just sounds so F***ing good in Latin) has carried us far the past year, most mysterious 2014, we have a few new thoughts for the year ahead, and some new virtues we want to inherit and inspire for 2015.
+KNOWLEDGE+
+KNOWLEDGE+ has always been an important piece of the puzzle here at The Eye, and for our frequent followers and visitors, you have come to expect in our approach an appreciation for history and all it’s secrets and quirks. We love to expose the {PAST} and examine where it fits into the {PRESENT} and hopefully, using our age defying wisdom, we can summarize a likely {FUTURE}.
Much like the alchemists and sorcerers of the past, the gaining and collecting of knowledge, every little bit no matter how esoteric, is a vital aspect of one’s true power, for when the time comes and all you are left to is you and you alone, you can count on yourself to follow through! Whether we’re talking life or fashion, no one is ever going to blame you for knowing too much.
We hope to continue in this vein, and bring you more and more vintage memories and musings that can both inspire and inform.
+INTEGRITY+
Since we began creating The Eye of Faith, we have been told a million and one things we should be doing instead. Everyone and their mother has had an opinion on our vision, without even asking what that vision may be!
We came into this game knowing full well who we were, and what we intended to accomplish. You don’t see another site quite like The Eye of Faith online, and that is a good thing. We are not trying to fall into place behind other fashion blogs (most of which look the same) who recycle content from site to site, but we wanted to be true innovators on the scene. This dedication to our vision, and always standing by it without changing it to appease naysayers is why we have ruled +INTEGRITY+ as a continuing priority here at The Eye of Faith.
The Eye of Faith was conceived as a portal to the past with many seemingly disparate items, articles, and stories coming together to create a well-rounded vision of how little things have changed, and how cool the past really was! This will continue NOT to change.
We will also not be picking any random articles of vintage clothing to add to the collection. Nothing is arbitrary, and each piece speaks to a certain story or style we are aiming to incorporate into the vision of the collection as a whole. Believe us, it’s not as easy as it sounds! It’s called +INTEGRITY+
+COURAGE+
The Spirit of Contemplation (1901) by Albert Toft {1862 – 1949}
+COURAGE+ has always been our silent leader when it came to creating The Eye of Faith. In fact, the whole idea of the The Eye of Faith encapsulates this virtue entirely.
The Eye of Faith is an age old symbol of +COURAGE+, and by the pure belief in matters at hand, and some proper insight, one may be given sight to see the way to get to one’s destiny. It’s a silent pathway, but a strong one, and without proper reinforcement your trail could just wither into the wind before your eyes and you would be left to find your way without the guidance of the fates. . .
The latter is a path many of choose in life, but since we are beings with a choice, we definitely chose to trust that The Eye of Faith will get us where we belong.
It took a lot of +COURAGE+ to stand up and tell those we know and love our belief in it, but it definitely seems to be paying off, with everyday us getting stronger and stronger.
+STRENGTH+
+STRENGTH+ comes in many forms. We need it constantly; in the physical sense, to keep up the hustle of getting our pieces from one place to another, and even more so in the emotional and spiritual sense, when it seems like you’ll never figure it all out.
Truth is, you’re never going to figure it all out, so best stop wasting your energy on that one . . .
Having +STRENGTH+ of mind is more powerful than any fist when it comes to life. Creeping deep down into oneself and building +STRENGTH+ from within is your best start. From there, everything else will seem like a cinch!
+IMAGINATION+
I once read somewhere that +IMAGINATION+ is more important than +KNOWLEDGE+
But I don’t think that is quite true, as much as learning to utilize both to one’s advantage can be the most powerful tool of all.
+IMAGINATION+ is quite literally the God-Sense in all of us. If you seek the divine in the everyday all you need do is open a pad of paper and sketch, or write for an hour about any old thing, even messing about your wardrobe will suffice. It is simply that beautiful magical moment where your brain has decided to create something new, and completely you.
You are a well of ideas and inspirations, and once you are able to tap into that spring, you might find your true self overflowing!
+ + +
So there you have it!
Our five newly anointed principles that can be used not just for your style sensibilities, but use them in life, as well. If you use them right, the transformations will happen almost immediately.
Feel free to adapt our Rules to fit your own life, or simply come up with a few of your own.
What means most to you? In the end, that’s all that matters. We know what we need to do to survive, and we’re going to definitely be making it happen! So hopefully some of our words of wisdom have rubbed off a bit, and we can all make things happen together!
