Tag Archives: Marlon Brando

FASHION, Rebel Society, STYLE {WISE}, TELEVISION, Video, Vintage, WOMENSWEAR

Here She Is . . . Miss American Vampire {1970}

January 15, 2019 {theEye} Leave a comment

For our first post of 2019, we thought we’d do a classic vintage post about this most bizarre and unusual moment in time: The Miss American Vampire competition of 1970!

Move over Miss Universe (as amazing as that Lava walk was, Ms Catriona Gray), these ladies came to slay in their most imaginative Vampire-esque looks, coupled with their charm, poise, and stage presence, as well as their videogenic quality; contestants were all hoping to take the grand prize of a role in House of Dark Shadows!

There aren’t many photos of the competition, or archival imagery available but these are some photos from the New Jersey regional competition in which Ms. Christine Domaniecki was crowned by Barnabas Collins himself (played by actor Jonathan Frid; who is also definitely deserved of a {STYLE IDOL} moment)!

The competition was held in several cities including Miami, Dallas, Philadelphia, with the finalists competing for the title in Los Angeles on September 10, 1970.

According to one of the judges:

“It was fun for the first five minutes. After that it got terribly depressing. Some of the girls came in bikinis. Some of them came dressed as witches or vampires or dead bodies. One girl stood in front of me and just stared.”

In a strange turn of events, the eventual winner of the National Competition actually never followed through with any of the rewards of her title choosing instead to stay in Los Angeles (House of Dark Shadows was shot in New York).

The full reasons are unclear, however, you may recognize the original Miss American Vampire, actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather {AKA Marie Louise Cruz), from her perhaps her most famous role: accepting Marlon Brando’s Academy Award for “The Godfather” in 1973!

Brando was boycotting the Academy Awards in reaction to Hollywood’s portrayal of Indigenous Americans in the movies, as well as the recent incidents at Wounded Knee, and so Ms. Littlefeather took the stage to speak on behalf of the legendary actor.

Whilst her message was powerful, it was not so well received, garnering boos and jeers from the audience. Also, two days after the ceremony, while visiting Mr. Brando at his house bullets were fired into his front door. Scrupulous media slander also followed, and she claims that this also led to her being blacklisted in Hollywood.

So, in the end, the title of Miss American Vampire and the prize of appearing on House of Dark Shadows eventually went to New Jersey Regional Winner, Christine Domaniecki, who appeared on the show in the highly coveted role of . . . Bar Maid.

I guess, any opportunity is an opportunity!

Funny enough, even with all the dramas and confusion, the Dark Shadows crew was ready to do it again with new pageant: Miss Ghost America in promotion of their new show Night of Dark Shadows!

Granted, the prize was not as exciting as a cameo appearance (Dark Shadows was technically off the air), however, the winner did receive an appearance on The Dating Game , as well as a $250 savings bond. The winner was 18 year old Kate Sarchet.

I’d kill to find some video footage of either pageant, so if you know a source, please let us know!!!

So what do you think? Should we be bringing back these ghouly pageants??? Tell us in the comments sections below!

Until next time,

{theEye}

ART, DO IT RIGHT, E.O.F. APPROVED, FASHION, FAVOURITE FIND, FILMS, HISTORY {is made at night}, INNOVATION, MENSWEAR, Rebel Society, STYLE IDOLS AND DIVINITIES, STYLE {WISE}, Video, Vintage

{STYLE-WISE} Marlon Brando’s Screen Test for “Rebel Without a Cause” is EVERYTHING!!!

March 27, 2017 {theEye} 1 Comment

Unveiled is Marlon Brando’s screen test for “Rebel Without a Cause” ; the iconic 1955 film that catapulted James Dean to icon status when the film was released just shortly after his death, making him a tragic martyr to that beloved ‘live fast, die young” attitude that he has come to represent.

Luckily for him, his death made the young boy with glasses a demi-god for being one hell of a misfit. He made it cool to wear jeans, and kept pioneering the t-shirt which had been a style wall knocked down only a few years earlier by the other (original?) bad boy rebel of Hollywood.

The man whom James Dean probably looked up to….

After all, Brando had broken onto the scene first on Broadway as Elia Kazan’s wunderkind playing the ravenously macho Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee William‘s “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1947. Four years later he would revive the role for the movies, and broke new grounds in the fields of style, as more men adapted wearing their white undershirt alone as influenced by Marlon Brando’s portrayal on the screen.

Appropriate then that Dean’s character Jim Stark would be in the know about these type of style choices. Those guys knew he was cool – they just had to test him.

Interestingly this is not the only collision between the two American legends, as Marlon Brando, himself, was appropriately cast for the lead role of this curious new film by Nicholas Ray.

After all, Marlon Brando was THE rebel of Hollywood. Not only was Stanley a staggering symbol for a delinquency from polite society, but don’t forget he also was “The Wild One“.

The studios must have been pushing for him. Johnny had got it done before, and that’s how the Hollywood system (still) likes to do things. If it’s a safe bet – it’s THE bet. A guy’s already got a persona as the rebel and the film is called “Rebel Without a Cause” (actually, in it’s working stages it was titled “Days of Being Wild” which Wong Kar Wai appropriated for his 1991 film)

But, luckily things didn’t work out that way for all of us, because James Dean really brought something special to that role, that no other actor could give.

He does that mumbling thing and is always looking down, pouting his lips, and squinting his eyes. His hair is effortless. He rocks those Levis Jeans. He turned the rebel into an introvert, not some hot-shot tough guy who always likes to start fights (like Stanley or Johnny of “The Wild One”), but is actually a fragile romantic. A poet, really, who can’t see life the way everyone else around him has it planned.

This notion is utterly true to life, I think, and that’s why he has left such an impact on the world.

Brando is surprisingly clean cut in his screen test, and it makes you wonder just what he would have brought to the table. . . somewhere in a different dimension, on another plane, this version exists. I hope one day we get to see it. Watch the video below, and let us know your thoughts!

You can be your own rebel without a cause, by simply being yourself!

Amplify it, and don’t be led by the status quo.

We have plenty of {STYLE-WISE} time traveled treasures in our {SHOP}

SHOP TODAY and use code XIXIXI at the checkout

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Until we meet again,

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AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO A TAILOR MADE SUIT

January 20, 2016 {theEye} Leave a comment

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!

ART, DO IT RIGHT, FASHION, FILMS, INNOVATION, MENSWEAR, MUSIC, Music Minute, STYLE {WISE}, Video, Vintage, WOMENSWEAR

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Music Minute: “Perdita” by Rubber City (D. Lynch & D. Slusser)

October 31, 2014 {theEye} Leave a comment

We gave a mention to this seminal 1990s David Lynch classic in one our latest posts, a reblog from The Selvedge Yard regarding the September 1991 photo spread in American Vogue entitled “Wild at Heart”.

For me, it was easy to see the title as a reference to Lynch’s film of the same name, released just a year prior to the shoot, and winner of accolades that included the Palm D’Or (an equivalent to Best Picture at the Academy Awards) at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990.

The film stars Nicolas Cage as Sailor Ripley and a radiant Laura Dern at her sexiest as the dangerous bombshell Lula Pace Fortune. The film plays out like a rebel fantasy, with plenty of allusion to The Wizard of Oz (this has been admitted by Lynch himself who idolized the film as a child), as well as Elvis Presley, 50s youth culture, and the American Dream.

It’s nothing and everything it promises to be, and is perhaps my ultimate favorite film of the American auteur. And as for style savvy, the film has got it in spades. Check out those shades on Nic Cage in the top photograph (I used to have a pair exactly like those that had been given to me by a friend) – classic rebel style, shaking it up by ditching the frames altogether and letting that gold bar along the brow do all the hard work.

And, of course there is the rebel snake skin jacket donned by Sailor, which is seen in the film’s most iconic moments. It seems the sssss-seductive look could have taken inspiration from one of cinema’s most famous bad boys – Marlon Brando, who wore a similar snake skin jacket in the forgotten 1960 classic “The Fugitive Kind” directed by Sidney Lumet.

Brando plays Val Xavier, a sexy, down on his luck convenience store clerk who finds temptation in both his boss (the talented Ana Magnani), and the town’s local wild child, played by a young and ravishing Joanne Woodward. The film is being discovered again for it’s crushing performances, moody black and white photography, and brash, bold direction.

It goes to show that everything has its precedence, and discovering the links make for a richer understanding of the landscape we visit.

We pulled this track from the film’s soundtrack to share with you all in a music minute that promises to mill about deep within you, and scatter your thoughts to the darkest and most beautiful corners of your subconscious…

Don’t be scared, though; It’s just a little music to keep you going throughout the long and arduous days and nights…As Lula says:

“This whole world’s wild at heart and weird on top.”

So let’s just drive…

Until next time,

{theEye}

E.O.F. Snapshot of the Day {July 10, 2014}

July 11, 2014 {theEye} Leave a comment

THESE GIRLS EAT MEN!

Dear. . . .

Don’t forget! There’s tons of new vintage items in our {SHOP}, so don’t forget to get lost a little

XIXIXI gets you 25 % OFF.

And alternately, if you’re in the hood of Hamilton, ON – you can always visit us

in our basement shop at 126 James Street N.

Just look for the eye in the sky, and you will find it.

Tonight is Art Crawl . . . so if you’re around, we’ll have some fun!

And look out for exciting things happening on the street.

THAT’S ALL WE WILL SAY ABOUT THAT.

A little summer heat provided by Alex North’s triumphant Main Title for

1951’s “A Streetcar Named Desire”.

I like the word ICONIC. It comes to mind when I think of this film.

Until we meet again . . .

{theEye}

+SHOP THE {SHOP}+

25 % OFF with XIXIXI

DO IT RIGHT, FASHION, MENSWEAR, STYLE {WISE}, Vintage, {PHOTOBLAST}

{DO-IT-RIGHT} Sweater Weather: How-To Vintage Mens’ Knitwear Inspiration

December 30, 2013 {theEye} 3 Comments

“The time has come”, the style man said, “To talk of many things . . . “

We’ll stop with the strange allusions, but we did want to talk of many things today.

Of style, of class, of tradition, and function. Of beauty and elegance, of aesthetic, also.

But most importantly, we speak to that uncompromising soul quivering deep within that refuses to

accept anything foreign of divination. . . Meaning, you want to look good.

We all do, and that’s some strong power if you can harness it wisely.

Now that the worst of winter (fingers crossed) seems to have passed

we’ve taken to leaving our heavy winter coats behind these last few days, and instead vying for a

classic approach to beating the cold: a good ole’ Winter Sweater.

Great for all that “Sweater Weather” out there; whether it be acrylic, wool, cashmere, or angora.

Worn by fishermen, farmers, workmen, heroes, athletes, gods, teens, and idols.

They are aran, cable-knit, patterned, and geometric;

Textured, solid, V-neck, or button-up.

There are so many different ways to wear them. Don’t forget they are an important part of the repertoire for any well-dressed gentleman of distinct tastes.

We explored +Sweater Girls+ in the past, so now we shine an eye to the men of the past who have made the sweater great; showing how the perfect sweater can truly transform.

Integrate these thoughts and inspirations into your daily ritual, and become part of the legendary timeline.

If you play your cards right, you might just live forever.

Or at least, like you did once.

Handsome Vintage Sweater Inspiration - Timeles & Classic

Sweater Weather Will Get You in the Eyes

The Sweater - A Single Man- Vintage Sweater Insiration

Angora Fuzz - Vintage Knitwear Inspirations

Men Wear The Same Sweater to Play Hockey

Men in Sweaters Are On the Cover of Magazines

Put a Number on the Back of Your Sweater Too

Steve McQueen Doesnt Even Want To Go Into It

Steve McQueen Takes His Sweater Everywhere

When I stated in fashion, I had already adopted the sailor-striped sweater as my uniform; that way, I wouldn’t have to drive myself crazy trying to figure out what to wear.

– Jean Paul Gaultier

We have plenty of our own vintage mens sweaters and knits in the {SHOP} to help get that classic appeal!

Until next time,

{theEye}

The Secret of the Vibrant Green Vintage Nat Nast Bowling Shirt . . .

November 13, 2013 {theEye} 1 Comment

A rather fantastic thing happened the other day.

It seems that one of our recent sales, a vibrant turquoise 1950’s Nat Nast bowling shirt that featured a fantastic diamond embossed on the back ( ‘Ray Jewlers’ it proudly proclaims in the most elegant lettering), was embedded with some very strange history. . .

It always seemed to possess a mysterious energy, and was for so long, a most precious piece of our collection. Excited to have found a home for this exquisite find, we would never have expected to learn what would soon be revealed and unraveled.

Upon undergoing some alterations to properly suit its new owner, some peculiar mysteries emerged. Embedded within the collar stays was a very old social security card for “Charles Beckweth, Born 1929” that was halved and in a fragile state.

Looking into a bit more about the mystery man uncovered an important man in history. . .

Charles Beckwith, or “Chargin’ Charlie’”was a Korea & Vietnam Vet and Colonel with the United States Army and is accredited with creating “DELTA FORCE”.

Footballer and frat boy, this Delta (of the Sigma Chi Fraternity of The University of Georgia) rose the ranks of the United States military system, and was also able to have some fun in-between, by the looks of this incredible shirt.

But why was his social security card cut in half and used as collar stays? Was getting dressed to impress a smart way to go undercover? Dapper “Dean” makes a statement to not make a statement. If you’re found dead, then they have something to properly identify you by when looking in the collar? This is the secret of the Nat Nast shirt.

That “vibrant green bowling shirt” was already unforgettable, but this truly shows how remarkable the history behind vintage pieces can be. It’s a powerful force really, and the mystery of it all is undoubtedly part of the fun.

We might never know the full truth of the Nat Nast shirt and its secret history, but we will enjoy knowing that this shirt truly was something special.

+charles beckwith+

{PAST} Owner of the Nat Nast “vibrant green bowling shirt” from The Eye of Faith Vintage

{January 22, 1929 – June 13, 1994}

Just another example of the magic of vintage and all its fascinating glory.

Tools to invigorate the soul, handpicked by

The Eye of Faith {Vintage}

at the {SHOP}!

Getting Down To Business! Stylish Business Fashion for Men

June 17, 2013 {theEye} Leave a comment

When it comes to fashion, men often find it rather challenging to create their own style.

The reason for this, arguably, may be that men’s fashion is more streamlined with often fewer options to create an individual look and style. This is especially true in business fashion, where the dress-codes for men tend to be exactly defined.

While clearly defined dress-codes make the selection for the right business attire easier, they also hold one decisive disadvantage for the stylish and style-conscious man: this uniformity makes it a lot harder to create an individual style.

Matching tie and shirt

This is where stylish men’s accessories come into play. They provide a subtle way of underlining one’s own style and sense of fashion in the often rigid business world. This is why, when it comes to stylish business accessories, the devil is in the detail.

Hereby, the tie that one wears in combination with the suit can be a statement in itself.

The tie is the part of the business attire that shows the largest variation in colors, patterns and styles. When picking a tie, it should provide a contrast to the shirt, which can be created by observing some color matching patterns. The style-conscious man will seek to stand out in the streamlined business fashion by either wearing a stylish shirt or a unique tie.

Elegant watches – The perfect accessory

When it comes to accessories, there is arguably nothing more stylish than wearing a unique and timeless watch.

While today there are many precise timekeeping devices available, trademark watches have lost none of their appeal in modern times. On the contrary, brands like Cartier are more popular than ever before, since they provide an essentially manly accessory that combines technology, fine craftsmanship and art.

These features make premium watches the confident and style-conscious man’s best friend.

All that’s left is to pick out the one that best suits you!

Let yourself be the best reflection of the truest true that is you.

Until next time,

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+OUTFIT OF THE DAY+ {MAY 14, 2013}

May 14, 2013 {theEye} Leave a comment

+OUTFIT OF THE DAY+

1960s SEARS HAWAII Paradise Frond Graphic Shirt {$30}

1990s Rad NIKE AIR Swoosh Black Graphic T {$15}

“THE LION’S CLUB” 1950s Secret Society Letterman Varsity Sports Jacket {$120}

1960s “JUST HIM Casuals of Canada” Khaki Wool Blend Straight Leg Trouser {$30}

Brown 1960s Woven Leather Spectator Oxford Shoes {$40} <<SOLD>>

CHECK OUT MORE IN THE {SHOP} < —-CLICK THERE

E.O.F. Snapshot of the Day { May 13, 2013 }

May 13, 2013 {theEye} Leave a comment

Style Idol for All Time – MARLON BRANDO poses as Stanley K in “A Streetcar Named Desire”

{circa. 1949/1950 }

Marlon Wears: Black and White Oxford Brogues, Straight Leg Distressed Denim, Distressed White Cotton Wife Beater, and Jaunty Cap.

This is a photograph taken by Warner Bros before beginning production to test the looks for the film.

A young Marlon Brando ignited the screen with his electric performance, and solidified rebel style into the repertoire of the everyman. To learn more about Marlon Brando’s effortless cool in “A Streetcar Named Desire” and its particular influence of mens fashion and society, check out the article I wrote for Everyguyed.com !

We’re going to be channelling some classic edge all summer, so stay up to date with the {SHOP} to get the look!

Until next time,

{theEye}

Similar Stories:

The Eye of Faith Vintage 11.11.11.

Tag Archives: Marlon Brando

Here She Is . . . Miss American Vampire {1970}

{STYLE-WISE} Marlon Brando’s Screen Test for “Rebel Without a Cause” is EVERYTHING!!!

Until we meet again,

AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO A TAILOR MADE SUIT

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Music Minute: “Perdita” by Rubber City (D. Lynch & D. Slusser)

E.O.F. Snapshot of the Day {July 10, 2014}

+SHOP THE {SHOP}+

The Secret of the Vibrant Green Vintage Nat Nast Bowling Shirt . . .

A rather fantastic thing happened the other day.

Getting Down To Business! Stylish Business Fashion for Men

Matching tie and shirt

Elegant watches – The perfect accessory

+OUTFIT OF THE DAY+ {MAY 14, 2013}

+OUTFIT OF THE DAY+

CLOTHING & LIFESTYLE Blog: Explorations of the [past/present/future]

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CLOTHING & LIFESTYLE Blog: Explorations of the [past/present/future]