Tag Archives: Past

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KYLIE + TRAVIS vs. JANE + SERGE

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Since the beginning of time (or at least, the beginning of our blog) we have been saying there is a definitive relationship our collective {PAST} plays into the {PRESENT} – always influencing and helping create what inevitably will be known as the {FUTURE}!

Well here we have a case of {PAST}, {PRESENT}, {FUTURE} featuring the notoriously infamous billionairess Kylie Jenner and her new man, Crown Prince of Rap, Mr. Travis Scott on the latest cover of GQ causing controversy for being a “cheap rip-off” of  a now forty year old photo shoot of iconic French couple of cool Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin shot by Helmut Newton.

It is absolutely undeniable, and I don’t think they were trying to be chill about the inspiration, or rather recreation, but who is to judge her for that. If anything, I find it strange that Paola Kudacki, the photographer, would feel comfortable putting her name on such a mainstream copy of the work of a great artist like Helmut Newton! Now the controversy has flooded the internet, but then again, for the right paycheck these days, a little backlash isn’t the worst if it pays the rent.

Obviously, inspiration from the past is one of the cornerstones of our beliefs, but being 2018, it might be nice to have a fresher interpretation of the past than just a flat out copy. Where’s the fun in that?

Take the past, and turn it on its head. Blend one influence with another. Go on a ride through the past and bring me forward into the future…

And if you take a look at the original photo series shot way back in 1978, the rawness, sexiness, and coolness really shines through! How can you be a rebel if you’re trying….Serge and Jane are just so relaxed, irreverent, and thereby: BAD ASS!

Needless to say, Jane and Serge will always be on top in most versus situations, so….sorry Travis and Kylie- maybe next time. And maybe next time, just be yourself!!!

I know Travis and Kylie have turned a few looks, but Jane and Serge really TURNED LOOKS! Just a few below!

circa 1970, France — Serge Gainsbourg dances with wife Jane Birkin at a party. — Image by © Keystone/Corbis
FRANCE – AUGUST 28: Premiere : “Slogan” by Pierre Grimblat in Paris, France on August 28, 1969-(16555) Serge Gainsourg, Jane Birkin and Pierre Grimblat. (Photo by Yves LE ROUX/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

We need more originality these daze . . . be inspired, but make it your own! That’s half the fun of life.

Not the most creative choice, but different strokes for different folks! Definitely appreciate her bringing to a whole new generation the beauty and boldness of Serge & Jane (who are definitely due for a {STYLE IDOL & DIVINITY} post or a {VINTAGE RED CARPET ROMANCES} story) … that is a really cool thing.

We know this story is all over the internet right now, but still wanted to give our E.O.F. P.O.V. on the whole situation.

So, let us know what you think in the comments section below!

Until next time,

{theEye}

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STYLE {WISE} Romeo, Romeo . . .

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Where for art thou, Romeo?

Ro·me·o
ˈrōmēˌō/
noun
noun: Romeo; plural noun: Romeos

1. an attractive, passionate male seducer or lover.

There’s nothing so timeless as a Romeo . . . its amazing after hundreds of years, a fictional character could still be so prevalent in our culture. I guess, not so surprising, considering he was created by the genius that is William Shakespeare.

He is a wonderful archetypal character of a beautiful boy, young and naive, but full of vigour, and somewhat tragic in the end….so, like many young men, which is what most certainly resonates. We recently acquired a really cool vintage theatre costume with some Shakespearean swag which got us thinking on the topic.

CHECK IT OUT IN THE {SHOP}

I don’t think many men can deny they have a bit of Romeo in them. I know for certain many men cannot deny they wish they were as bad ass as say Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann’s iconic 90s pop culture cult classic “Romeo + Juliet” which brought the tale to the beach and the streets and mansions of Los Angeles for a hyper technicolor MTV version that still resonates today, especially when it comes to style.

Do you remember the first time you watched the “Love at First Sight Scene” in the film with that glorious neon aquarium and that haunting “Kissing You” song playing…shit! I mean, come on!!! Claire Danes is especially gorgeous, and her sensitive acting abilities really shine through.

People would kill me for actually saying this, but they were robbed of Academy Award nominations, truly.

I’m not going to lie, we were pushing the tropical shirts long before every major fashion house started picking up the trend (see: +THE CASE FOR HAWAIIAN SHIRTS+), and we’re not upset about it…in fact, its so wonderful to see more guys take risks with their style because of inspirations like this!

While, Dicaprio’s gang chic Romeo is uber cool, we wanted to look back on some previous Romeos – most especially Leonard Whiting from Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 “Romeo & Juliet”, which is hands down our favourite.

Quick shout out to Douglas Booth in the 2013 version – very handsome guy, but the film is redundant AF – so here’s a quick pic should suffice.

Zeffirelli’s film is unique, as it was the first time two unknown teenage actors were cast in the lead of such a massive Shakespeare production, and a world-wide search brought the world the ethereal youthful beauty of Olivia Hussey (she ain’t no hussy, but she did also star in the cult Canadian horror flick “Black Christmas” – you can’t miss those eyes) who was only 15 at the time, and the handsome Leonard Whiting (17) , who lets face it, really does look like Zac Efron.

Certified, he did it first!

 

Their chemistry is unpalpable, and the entire production is lush and dripping sophistication- Roger Ebert even went as far to say it is the best film of Shakespeare ever made. Respectfully it was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, and Director, and won for its gorgeous cinematography, and Danilo Donati’s sumptuous costumes.

It even inspired the fashion scene at the time with the two stars appearing in various fashion magazines rocking mod styles with a medieval flare. The two teens were definitely a big IT couple of the moment. So, if you haven’t seen this classic, do yourself a favour already!

Another Romeo might be the OG of movie star Romeos – Leslie Howard who starred opposite of Norma Shearer in George Cukor’s 1936 film. Neither of them really exude that youthful innocence, seeing as they are grown ass adults!

But, the vibe is full-on Hollywood glamour with a dazzle and flare that is just so fabulously extra, and sadly missed today!!! Also, very inspired by Leslie Howard’s perfectly coiffed hair!

We all know the story, so let’s just take a look at a few snaps to spark and inspire the Romeo vibe.

Pretty wicked! So, if you’re looking to channel your inner Romeo, we have some picks for you from the {SHOP}!

Remember, XIXIXI gets you 25% OFF of these, and all our hand-picked curated vintage finds! FREE SHIPPING in CANADA, also. Don’t be shy to message us for any details.

To learn more about these pieces, browse our {SHOP}

We’re also huge fans of HBO’s ‘WESTWORLD’ so what a delight to find one of our favorite quotes originated from this fine inspiration…

“These violent delights, have violent ends”

– Shakespeare, “Romeo & Juliet”: Act 2 , Scene 6
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We can’t wait to see what the next incarnation of this idol of style will be in the {FUTURE} . . .

Until next time,

{theEye}
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The Future is Now! Retro 90s Sci Fi on the A/W 2018 Runways…

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Back in 1999 a quirky cool show came out called ZENON: Girl of the 21st Century and now that we are actually in the 21st century its cool to see they weren’t so far off!

We always say the past informs our future, so when speaking on this idea of retro-futurism its so fun to notice visions of the future from the past, and usually in this context we speak often of a retro-future from the 40s, 50s, even 60s . . .but now we are seeing retro-future ideas taken from the 90s.

Jeremy Scott really took it there 100% with this vibe in his Autumn-Winter 2018 collection from the pastel millenial metallic palette with strokes of neon… to some really quirky weird sci-fi silhouettes.

The wigs brought me back to another 90s sci-fi gem which may be a bit more obscure unless you lived in Canada than guaranteed you watched this show if you grew up in the 90s: SPACE CASES!!!

The show first aired back in 1996, and has since stuck in our minds as a really rad adventure series featuring some cool talent. I think the plot was best summed up by Bethany on IMDB:

One day at an academy, 7 people sneak aboard a mysterious spaceship. The people consist of 5 students, who are Harlan, the athletic leader from earth; Catalina, the Saturnian rainbow-head with a sonic scream; Bova, the negative sour-pus Uranian who can generate electricity; Rosie, the happy Mercurian who radiates heat; and Radu, the Andromedan with super strength and hearing; the other two people are Mrs. T.J. Davenport, the principal at the academy and Commander Seth Goddard, who is their teacher/commander. While on-board they meet an android named Thelma who informs them that they are on a spaceship that is half living and called the Christa. Just when they meet up they become aware that they are approaching a hole that if they get sucked into, they will be stuck in space for 7 years. They eventually do and along their journey they encounter many hardships and enemies that they work together to overcome. They also meet some new people like Suzee (Catalina’s imaginary friend from another dimension who gets pulled into this dimension during a warp, putting Catalina in her dimension; she can read minds and has gills), Elmira (Sponge daughter of Warlard Shank), Warlard Shank (the arch enemy of them), etc.

Thorough analysis. Thank you Bethany.

{click here to watch the original Pilot plus links to more episodes}

The wigs immediately gave me some serious Jewel Staite as Catalina vibes; although, hers is just that much more with the multi-colored rings representing her home planet Saturn. Am I wrong?

Oh, and sorry about the strange captions in the two photos there. They are entertaining, nonetheless. Since it is a more obscure show, it was hard to find some great images, but I think you get the vibe, and especially with a few of the looks from Jeremy Scott’s AW 2018 show sandwiched between- I think the inspirations are undeniable!

Boy, Canadian television in the 90s was wicked…and man, Jeremy Scott’s interns must have been binge watching some serious shit, because you can’t deny that the painted ladies of Jeremy Scott’s Moschino Autumn-Winter 2018 show really give me crazy Rosie comparisons!

Granted, Jeremy Scott’s inspiration for this collection was Jackie-O, Aliens, and Conspiracy Theories so its not that far off…

Some other designers you can’t deny took a very similar route were Prada:

And, Maison Margiela Couture Autmn-Winter 2018 which was a symphony of hologram! Our jaws were dropethed watching one look after another walk down the runway.

If you have a chance, watch the actual show so you can see how magically these fabrics react to light- its magnificent and really shows the art of textile design and the incredible things being engineered today.

{Watch the Maison Margiela Couture Autumn-Winter 2018 Show}

Since we are on this topic, I wanted to throw in some pics of a few more Canadian 90s aliens from the cult show ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? – episode: “The Thirteenth Floor”!!!

Two kids get lured by stylish 90s aliens to a strange toy company that just happened to open on the 13th floor of their apartment complex where they usually play floor hockey…moral of the story is, if you think its weird a toy company opened overnight on the 13th floor of your apartment complex then just stay away!!! Especially when they’re dressed like that!

Never would I have imagined in 20 years I’d be talking about Are You Afraid of the Dark or Space Cases in the context of fashion and style…its actually kind of shocking how many designers landed on this vibe, but nevertheless its really interesting to have this kind of nostalgia prevalent in the scene, and no doubt we will be seeing more and more of this as time goes on.

The {past} repeats itself, even if that {past} is imitating the {future}!

Something about this vibe has always been in us, and we have been tending to lean towards this style many times – from metallic foil shirts, to PVC jackets, and definitely anything hologram! I guess, we like to be ahead of the curve, and it really goes to show the power in staying relevant with the past.

Here are a few pieces in our {SHOP} right now that epitomize the 90s Back to the Future vibe that is taking over!

Details on these and more in the {SHOP}
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Remember, inspiration is everywhere! Keep your eyes open, because what seems mundane now could quite easily be the next big thing!

Did we miss any awesome 90s sci-fi inspirations? Let us know in the COMMENTS below!

Until next time,

{theEye}

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ARE YOU A SELF-CONSCIOUS GUY? Vintage Educational PSA Film {c. 1951}

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Had a lot of fun posting “Shy-Guy” yesterday, so thought we’d continue showcasing some of these awesome and entertaining vintage educational films. They sure were worried about the self-esteem of teenagers.

This one shows how feelings of self-consciousness keep a high school boy from doing his classwork well or making friends easily. Poor dude feels so out of whack ALL THE TIME, until he realizes everyone else feels self-conscious too and if you learn to remind yourself of this, you will be fine!

And when he realizes this watching his buddy totally goof at ping pong after just being so dashing in a tuxedo, he should have realized that of course he felt better wearing a tux! Who doesn’t feel bad ass in a tux?!

 

Again, a great collection of classic American style from the early 1950s which still has that timeless 40s vibe lingering. This is a look that seems to be really permeating in the fashion world more and more lately. . .

Especially couldn’t take my eye off a wicked panther graphic sweater one of the featured students wears while yacking on the phone with confidence…check it out! The panther motif is a super bad ass graphic that was quite popular, and today, a very rare vintage find.

We featured a good looking Vintage Panther Graphic Sweater on The Eye of Faith years ago, but you can totally see this EXACT look for a hefty price point from Alessandro Michele over at GUCCI!

Love anyone bringing vintage styles to the masses, but its always good to know your shit and see the influences in the world around us. This is how the {PAST} helps inspire the {PRESENT} and shape our {FUTURE}.

Well enough ado. Thanks OLD TIME TV for uploading this and all the other wicked vintage content you post on your channel!

Please enjoy and let us know what you thought in the COMMENTS BELOW!

Take a look at some of the pieces waiting in our {SHOP} to be brought back to life on the streets that channel the “Self-Conscious Guy” vibe!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THESE

& OTHER TIME TRAVELED VINTAGE STYLE!

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Until next time,

{theEye}

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E.O.F. SNAPSHOT OF THE DAY {JANUARY 31, 2018}

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Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.
-Marilyn Monroe

 

Words of a wise woman.

Until next time,

{theEye}

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{MUSIC MINUTE} “Sunset Boulevard / Main Titles” by Franz Waxman

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{circa. 1950}

It has come to my attention that there may be people out there who have no idea about Sunset Boulevard – only one of the best films of all time by iconic director Billy Wilder. This disturbs me slightly, so here’s a glimmer of that inspiration in guise of one of our classic {MUSIC MINUTE}s.

Scored by legendary Hollywood composer Franz Waxman, the moody jazzy score provides the perfect sultry and mysterious backdrop for this strange tale. If I had a dime for every time I said “they don’t make them like they used to” . . . but this film is the epitome of that sentiment.

The film opens as a murder investigation, but delves into the twisted depths of an aging silent movie starlet who coerced a handsome screenwriter to be her live-in gigolo. When he decides its time to leave, things get very . . . dramatic.

Gloria Swanson who was an aging silent movie star herself brings such complexity, vulnerability, and diva strength – you are sure to be shook. On top of that, the film is a gorgeous display of midcentury Hollywood style and glamour; from the grandeur of the mansion (which was also used in Rebel Without a Cause) littered with gold leaf, exotic mouldings, tapestries, and furs to some seriously chic loungewear – there really is inspiration at every turn.

So watch these Main Titles, take in that awesome score, and get yourself a copy of Sunset Boulevard! 

You wont regret it.

Just doing our duty of bring the {past} to the {present} to shape the {future}.

Until next time,

{theEye}

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{STYLE IDOL} HELMUT BERGER (Doesn’t Give a Fuck!!!)

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Helmut Berger is what I consider a perfect artist – very serious in his craft, intelligent in his thoughts, without any time or patience for “bullshit” or empty phrases that litter many people’s everyday lives, conversations and relationships.

— Alexander Tuschinski, article about working with Berger on the film Timeless in 2015.

Helmut Berger doesn’t give a fuck what you think about him.

A icon of beauty, sex, and hedonism – the actor experienced great attention through the late 60s and 1970s for his work in film, most particularly with iconic Italian film maker Luchino Visconti whom took Berger under his wing as a muse in art and love.

How couldn’t he? When Visconti first cast the young and rebellious Austrian actor in his film Le Streghe (The Witches) in 1967, it was clear this was a rare star coming closer into orbit, and soon he was doing one iconic role after another playing Martin Von Essenback in The Damned (dressing in Dietrich drag in one of the film’s pivotal moments), King Ludwig II of Bavaria (earning him a David Di Donatello Award for Best Actor), and the title role in the flashy mod remake of Oscar Wilde’s classic – Dorian Gray.

 

He was also the first man to ever grace the cover of VOGUE alongside girlfriend Marisa Berenson – not surprising considering his classic beauty.

Those smouldering eyes, that golden blonde hair, his brooding masculinity mixed with a distinct dandy elegance – its a combination we don’t see in celebrities today.

On screen and off screen, Helmut Berger is definitely an idol of style we need to praise! So, here’s a classic {STYLE IDOL} collection of wicked photos of this bad ass legend of cinema to muse over and inspire your personal sense of style!

Helmut Berger

Yes, I am tainted by the beautiful things in life. But to all those who only want to see me as an agent provocateur and an eccentric I can only say: With every day of my life the number of people I don’t give a damn about grows and grows.

-Helmut Berger

As portrayed in the intensely provocative documentary by Andreas Horvath, Helmut Berger is a rebel without a cause – full of spunk, a lust for life, and a certain je na sais quois that really make a star ignite.

Not many people have the balls to to live as loud as this guy, so major props to him for that; and despite his seemingly reckless antics, we can’t deny the beautiful tapestry of work this man has created with his art and contributions to the legacy of cinema and of course, classic bad ass style!

For the most part, off duty, he’s a very classic jeans and oxford shirt kind of guy, but I love the extravagance and opulence he is able to pull of in many of his film roles, that I believe many other actors would have had a hard time making believable.

Tres chic and a bit of a rebel- Helmut Berger should definitely be at the top of your list for all-time style icons if you are into that kind of thing. We started this blog to help promote the beauty of the {past}, so hopefully we’ll be seeing a little more Helmut Berger realness in the near {future}.

 

What frightens you, what you see or what you don’t?

-Helmut Berger in Salon Kitty

 

Hope this was a good one for you! We love compiling these {STYLE IDOLS & DIVINITIES} for you guys, so let us know what you thought in the comments below!

Also, let us know if you have some interesting ideas!

Keep up with us on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK!

Until next time,

{theEye}

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E.O.F. SNAPSHOT OF THE DAY, Vintage

E.O.F. SNAPSHOT OF THE DAY {JANUARY 29, 2018}

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Not sure where this is from, but sure does stir the imagination . . .

Happy Monday, folks! Been really busy with some upcoming projects so haven’t been able to post as much as we would want! But, stay tuned, there’s plenty of cool stuff in the works!

THANKS FOR VISITING! Be sure to FOLLOW US on INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK for more original content from The Eye of Faith!

Until next time,

{theEye}

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OPRAH’S CRUSADE AGAINST GRUNGE!

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{Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage}

The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.

-Oprah Winfrey

 

Since the Golden Globes, Oprah is on everyone’s mind after a poignant acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s ceremony which has gone as far as having people saying “OPRAH FOR PRESIDENT!”

The model for elegant maturity and refinement for most, it has come to our attention that this Queen of the Screen really fought hard against something we totally take for granted – GRUNGE STYLE!!!

That’s right people. I think Oprah hates GRUNGE; that iconic style that emerged from the late 80s which rejected the gloss and polish of mainstream fashion for a more relaxed, tattered and easy vibe and was popularized by designers Marc Jacobs and bands like Nirvana, R.E.M, and Pearl Jam to name a few. . .

from ‘Grunge & Glory’ shot by Steven Meisel {US Vogue / c. December 1992}

Flannel plaid, cardigans, army boots, ripped jeans – you’d have to be living under a rock to not be able to characterize this style, especially considering every mainstream fashion brand from Los Angeles to Seoul are touting the trend . . .

We say it time and time again, but style is absolutely cyclical. That’s why we always promote our mantra of seeking the {past} to influence the {present} and shape the {future}. I really wonder what Oprah would be crusading against these days . . . there would definitely be plenty of material for her to draw from.

Enough said, however, let’s take a look at just how much Oprah hates GRUNGE!

Makes me wonder what she would say about Grunge now? She really seemed to be not into that. Like, when she questions those cool black leather witch boots the teenage daughter gave her Mother in her own 90s Grunge Makeover.

The worst part is – they never look better!!! I totally prefer their personal sense of style over the manufactured cookie cutter that Oprah seems to be tied to, sadly.

Fun, nonetheless! Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Until next time,

{theEye}

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{MUSIC MINUTE} “ZODIACS” by Roberta Kelly

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Well isn’t that just too totally up our alley . . . Ms. Robert Kelly sings “Zodiacs” a funky 1970s disco-era tune about our favourite astrological symbols; all performed in timelessly popping canary yellow!

Sorry Beyonce, but looks like Robert Kelly was rocking this shade of yellow far before the Queen B helped this colour take over the style scene; but that’s just the name of the game! If it was cool once, its gonna be cool forever – so, lest we forget:

{PAST}, {PRESENT}, and {FUTURE} unite!

Hold up, they don’t love you like WE love you Roberta!

Thanks for giving us this joyous tune. Hope you enjoyed it, too…

Let us know in the comments section below.

Until we meet again,

{theEye}

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