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.
That’s Verushka above holding the crystal ball. The premium European Sex Pot 1960s Supermodel Extraordinaire will always be remembered for her natural inclinations toward the artistic and extreme. This photo being a prime example of her unnatural talents, but it wouldn’t be without the stand alone talent of Don Snyder [1934-2010] and his remarkable publication “Aquarian Odyssey: A Photographic Trip into the Sixties”.
Since we’ve been especially psychedelic lately with our recent posts, it was important for us to go one step further and discover the psychedelic moods in the art and fashion of the day. There really was no better artist to turn to than Don Snyder, whose work is a cosmic collection of photographs taken throughout New York City in the 60s, as well as communes in New England and San Francisco.
The photographs he captured are both timeless and magical, and offer a beautiful glimpse into a not so far away world. His combination of stark reality with the whimsy of his surroundings create for priceless and spectacular moments caught in time. It’s all in the subtlety of each shot; the magic he has captured, proof there must truly be a God, or perhaps that Don Snyder is one.
Either way, let us not forget Don Snyder and his wicked gifts he has left for this generation to covet. Don passed in 2010 alone without a will, leaving an apartment full of prints and negatives the world might never get the privilege to see! He was known as a gifted photographer, and an even better teacher – “the alchemist of the darkroom”.
His friends and colleagues remember him for both the ingenuity and artistry of the man, but also his kind and dynamic spirit. While some might say the Psychedelic Art movement died with the times, young artists are emerging with some of the same sensibilities we see in Snyder’s work. Photographers like Petra Collins, Elliot Lee Hazel, and Ryan McGinley can all be seen as forgers of the same odyssey.
Sixties psychedelia has always “turned me on”, and while 2012 and the future seems to be striving for some sort of impossible sleekness. There is an unbearable inclination towards cutting-edge in technology, and perhaps we have forgotten the strides the “Age of Aquarius” took for us.
The influential people of this moment were not celebrities seeking hits on a web page. The influential people of this generation were making dramatic steps to shaping the future. Causes of consideration included civil rights, women’s rights, gay and lesbian rights, the liberation from the repression of sexuality, as well as the controversial use of drugs or “herbs” such as marijuana or LSD, all these things have been brought to the forefront of popular culture thanks to millions of brave “Aquarians” everywhere.
Now that all these steps have been made, it is up to younger generations not to let these messages fall to the wayside. We must keep on keeping on, or have our freedoms slowly and unwittingly fall to our wayside. Yes, steps have been made, but where are we going? This is the question Don Snyder asks. And his “Aquarian Odyssey” represents a moment of hope amidst great uncertainty for the future. Sounds familiar, right?
Don Snyder’s “Aquarian Odyssey: A Photographic Trip into the Sixties” is a rare book to come by these day, but there is no denying the spell kept within. Browsing Barnes and Noble, a few copies can be found in near perfect condition, and with the recent death of the artist, and the rising interest in this niche of popular culture and history, it wouldn’t be unwise to pick one up today! A sure-fire great addition to any well-rounded style library!
Don’t forget! When the moon is in the seventh house, The Eye of Faith will always be there! Snyder was a smart man for leaving his legacy behind with this one publication. Perhaps with these photos we can seek to find an answer to some of life’s great mysteries. Hope we helped you get there. Wherever that may be.
Sincerely,
{[The Eye]}
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Yes indeed, and probably for many, the joys of the Summer heat are sure to incite one or many exciting and unexpected journeys and voyages.
Whether they be jet setting the globe, or simply hopping the hoods of your own town or city, a true adventurer knows that as much as anything that looking good and feeling great on your exciting expedition is as much the fun as averting danger and uncovering sinister ploys against humanity . . .
So we couldn’t NOT visit the ultra-cool, hip, and happening, bad-ass, crime-fighting, science seeking, gun toting, mid-century realness of one we have always so admired- Mr. Jonny Quest.
Jonny starred in his own television series, created by Hannah Barbara (the folks that brought you “The Flinstones” and “The Jetsons“), called “Jonny Quest” which premiered in 1964 and would run for two seasons, ending in 1965.
The blonde boy in black and blue is indeed an unmatched original, with his sophisticated turban-wearing side-kick Hadji at his side, and his adorable pal Bandit; the two kick-ass kidsters found themselves against everything from ninjas, mummies, and giant robot spiders, to pterodactyls, and knife wielding scuba divers.
With careful wit, precise execution, charm, and a bit of luck they always seem to manage. . .
Also along for the ride, and taking part in festivities, are the equally style savvy father of Jonny, Dr. Quest, and his hunky white haired “bodyguard”, Race Bannon. Race is a strong and physical war vet who likes to spend his off-time in a bikini on the beach, while Dr. Quest takes his handsome ginger beard and lab coat inside to research new advancements in engineering, chemistry, and physics.
They make a great couple, if you ask me. And they take such great care of the kids (when they’re not putting them plain into the face of danger). . .
But, apart from the bizarre family dynamics described above, there’s no doubting that Jonny Quest has what it takes to be a bold and sophisticated taste-maker of today and tomorrow with his impeccably simple and classic get-up; one that can easily be recreated for yourself!
Though, there are plenty of options out there, the one that stood out for us was this Chunky Wool Knit Turtleneck by T BY ALEXANDER WANG ($265), because of its thicker knit that adds a bit more to the number. It doesn’t have to cling to your body. A comfortable and relaxed fit is best, especially in the summer. {source: OPENING CEREMONY}
For the pants, we wanted to stay as close to Jonny’s light-blue washed denim look he has in the cartoon. With all the adventures he has been on, we figured this washed out and distressed look works great for achieving that true adventure spirit. We think we found the perfect pair here from Topman – The Bellfield Cabrera 5-Pocket Jean (£40.00).
5 Pockets are perfect for storing skeleton keys, pencils, chewing gum, notepads, compasses, anecdotes, pocket knives – all those things young adventurers would need for a good day of adventuring. Roll up the cuffs to stay truest to our vintage inspiration.
And last but not least, the shoes. Looks like our Jonny Quest look is almost complete! But not before we pick out the perfect pair of white sneakers to round out the look. Since Keds are so classic, and really became popular around Jonny’s time (the early 1960s), I can just picture Jonny kicking up his heels and running straight from whatever was chasing him in a pair of these puppies. They are always super affordable, durable, and timeless.
We went for the classic Keds Men’s Champion Originals in White ($45), because that’s just how our inspiration, Jonny Quest would do it.
And that’s it! It was that easy. Now, the adventuring can begin, and vintage style can yet again win! ! !
If it aint broke, don’t fix it, they always say. The same thing goes for style. When we look back to the past at a great thing like Jonny Quest, we can’t help but let our style motors run on overdrive at the potential for greatness today with some of their amazing midcentury atomic takes on classic American sportswear and utilitarianism.
Everything about the cartoon was groundbreaking for the time, so in our heart we find ourselves beating to that same rebel beat, and wanting to keep this heritage alive and well. The graphic nature of the cartoon made for a revolutionary look on the screen (jet black was rarely used and never as heavily as before “Jonny Quest“, and the uber jazzy soundtrack was also another selling point towards a radical and refined new take on the adventure genre.
No doubt, a viewer could find new ideas and stories to tantalize and spark the imagination each and every time they watched the show, but very rarely are the characters’ unique and sophisticated sense of style brought to the forefront in this way.
That’s why we thought it important to see out this vintage style inspiration, the Jonny Quest way.
Lest we forget!
Until next time,
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Enjoy this {STYLE STORY} offering from THE EYE OF FAITH!
A journey that started at night, this is a tale of wandering; wandering thoughts, wandering hearts, and wandering souls.
The city can bring together strangers, while it can also tear those closest apart. Amongst the storefronts, sidewalks, lane ways, and hidden passages – you are bound to find that sacred recluse you have been seeking to find.
Inspiration was taken from wild nights had late at night on the street, rebel gang boys and bad girls of the 1950s, “Rebel Without a Cause“, and the work of film master Wong Kar Wai. We threw it all together for one hell of a wild ride on the neon streets and shadows of the Junction.
As promised, we decided to preview some of our women’s collection in this shoot so all our faithful lady friends definitely have something to look forward to! We will be photographing and adding our women’s wear over the next few weeks, so keep your {EYE}s open on our {SHOP}.
We were also lucky enough to have our good friend Lydia join us for a shoot, which was more than a pleasure! She is a fantastic model with amazing abilities, so it was pure magic to have her with us on set. Lots of love, Lydia! Lots of love!
So enough messing around, please take part and check it all out! After all, we made this for you!
Let E.O.F. take you to the “DAZE OF BEING WILD“.
Hope you all enjoy!
Would love to hear your feedback on the photos and looks, so please leave your comments below. Make sure to let your friends know what they are missing!
Also, thanks so much for all the support! It really means a lot.
Sincerely,
{theEye}
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So what if they’re a little mean? Doesn’t mean they don’t know how to have fun, or better yet know how to throw a “kick-ass” dance party. “Teenage Gang Debs” definitely do!
Sort of a new obsession as of late. This exploitation classic takes the archetypal “mean girl” to a whole new level. Shot in gritty black and white on a very low budget, the film is everything we could ever hope for with a soundtrack that will keep you bobbing your head straight to the gates of hell.
The trailer describes these bad girls as “The Go-Go Girls who go too far; from backroom binges to back alley rumbles anything goes as long as it’s violent!”
You get a great hit of vintage bad-ass styling here, too! REBELS FOREVER!!!
We can’t wait to screen this at our studio with the company of our own group of Teenage Gang Debs!
This little dance sequence is one of the highlights of the film, so please check it out!
Start with the front punch
then do another front punch
then you do a knee kick
then you do another knee kick
And baby, that’s all you do
And then you’re a black belt too!
– “Black Belt” by Steve Karmen; Sung by Lee Dowell.
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Always Remember…
Sincerely,
{theEye}
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At THE EYE OF FAITH, we are always looking to reinvent the classics. Looking to the past for our inspiration, we sought refuge in classic rebel gear. We bring you a page from our LOOKBOOK to demonstrate our take on a classic.
James Dean’s iconic red jacket, jeans, and t-shirt combo was our immediate go-to, and we decided to give it a bit of an E.O.F. spin to bring it back to life for today.
We found this sick rebel red Member’s Only windbreaker which we aptly named “James” for the collection, and paired it with an +E.O.F. ORIGINAL+ design which many of our peers have noted looked uncannily like a view of the ocean seen from outer space- thus “Mystical Ocean Mystery” became its title! Cosmic ocean rebel, indeed!
A simple pair of vintage pleated trousers in royal blue brings it back to that classic 1950s all-American vibe we were drawing from in the first place.
And our look wouldn’t be complete without our Grateful Dead Converse kicks. A cool tie-dye limited edition shoe to take that classic 1950s feel and make it ‘now’!
Definitely think we made a splash here! Really love the combination, and how easily an old classic can be completely redefined to fit in to today’s world, and no doubt, tomorrow’s as well!
It’s all about the spirit you bring to it, and we’re coming full force with number one original rebel attitude!
Make sure you check us out at the {SHOP} —> theeyeoffaith.bigcartel.com
And don’t forget to find all your vintage musings and mysteries over at our site THE EYE OF FAITH ——-> theeyeoffaith.com. Hope you are able to come wander with us!
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{The Eye of Faith}
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{Memories of the Ivy League. Circa. 1960s.}
For more from the essential mid-’60s Japanese photo book ‘Take Ivy’ click here.
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{The Eye of Faith}
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Cool and Casual menswear invades the Louvre! Kings, gods and thinkers; historic sculptures receive an urban makeover ala’ Dennis Wilson style! What we know most notably as marbleized peices of history are photo-shopped into model Adonis’s to show off some cool Rayban’s and Khakis with Plaid. Stumbling onto this story at ModAddiction.net, we know this was a sure tale to share with our readers!
French art director Alexis Persani has collaborated with french photographer Leo Caillard to create these photo-shopped marvels. The Christ with a denim button down smoking a cigarette, the writer Montaigne tries on ‘hipster’ style. Fashion invades the sculptures in the Louvre, indeed!
Watch the below Video to see how this all came together through the magic of photo-shop! Proving one thing for certain, some menswear styles are truly timeless. Who wouldn’t want to hang out and smoke a cigarette with Jesus? (don’t answer that if you don’t smoke).
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{Leave it to the Eye of Faith.}
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