How Tough Guys do Preppy

Who says you have to wear a bowtie with a button down shirt? Leave that to the tweedy academics!

Leave it to designers Christopher "Robot" Bennet and Bruce "Brucling" Frankling of Robot And Brucling to show us just how the once nerdy accessory can be fashionable, hip, even tough. Their line of unapologetic and over-the-top bow ties has been creating quite the buzz and there's no question why. From spikes and studs to skulls, leather, and chains the duo has created a collection with a contemporary approach to the preppy staple.

"We are at a point in the fashion cycle where gentlemen need more to express their style." Says Brucling in an interview with The Boston Globe.

               [Desingers Robot Bennet, 23 (Left), Brucling Franklin, 22 (Right)]


Their brand is unique, and one of original artistry. Taking couture-esque ideas and then refining them into RTW pieces. But don't think that the young designers are limited to accessories. With talk of a women's accessory line already underway, there are plans of also branching out into clothing, which the two have a background in.

One thing is certain, we have only seen a glimpse of what Robot And Brucling are capable of.

Gaga / Klein / Alejandro

With much anticipation building over what Lady Gaga would do next, finally the music video for her current single “Alejandro” was released. Directed by fashion photographer Steven Klein, the video further goes to show that no one understands how to merge the world of fashion, image, theatrics, and music currently better than Gaga does.

“She Likes epics.” says Klein. “It fits her personality, we combined dance, narrative and attributes of surrealism. The process was to express Lady Gaga’s desire to reveal her heart…”




However, Klein’s trangressive yet commercial appeal needs to be commended for bringing this sensual and futuristic world full of Nazi-esque military references and religious motifs to life. It was in fact a shoot that he did for W. magazine in August of 2009 featuring Lara Stone (featured below) that was the initial conceptual inspiration for the video.

It is safe to say that “Alejandro” is and will go on to be one of Gaga’s most memorable and button-pushingrisqué videos, but that’s why we love her.
But beyond the outrageousness of the political and religious points and a rifle bustier (yes, I said rifle) the artistry takes precedence. From the theatrics to the fashion and of course the dancing this video embodies everything that we artist one day aspire to do, which is to entertain and ultimately be a formidable force in the world of entertainment.

T With Alexander Wang

Not quite the type of "T" you sip on, but rather the kind you wear, which is even better, right?

There's been much hype about Mr. Wang's new secondary line focused on women‘s and men‘s basics, rightfully named T by Alexander Wang, so I had to check it out. A few seasons late, yes, but nevertheless fashionably so. And may I say, I'm officially infatuated.

Wang has proven to be quite an ingenious designer, with an incredible vision, always making the classics au courant.

Ok, sure the focus of the fashion world for the last more-than-a-few seasons has been on this "classics with a twist" thing but Wang does it in a way that only he could do, which goes beyond altering hem lines and reconstructing silhouettes. He actually goes beyond reinventing and transcends into innovating. Managing to make the most simple piece of clothing such as a t-shirt so special.

At first you might think to yourself, "Oh it's just a t-shirt line, what‘s so special about it?" Well, Wang says it best, “You layer it, you build your foundation around it, you sleep in it, you wake up the next day and throw your pieces over it.” (ponystep.com) So what really is so special about it? You literally live your life in one! Whether its worn go to the grocery store, on a date, now-a-days perhaps even an interview, or to break a sweat during a dance class; it’s multifaceted. And that’s what Wang’s focus is on, creating clothes that even the everyday person who knows nothing about fashion can wear while keeping it current.
"...that’s always the challenge, to find solutions to the changing lifestyle." says Wang, (thelast-magazine.com).

This Fall, T continues to define “must have” as it expands beyond t-shirts and tanks to include sweatshirt and wool blazers, low-slung pants that resemble long underwear, denim jackets, hooded ponchos, ankle-length knit dresses, and plenty of lean, layerable knits. Many details, such as velvet paneling on a wireless bra or leather trim on a jumpsuit, echo Wang’s fall runway show, inevitably taking this “basics” collection into new territory. What’s in store for the men’s collection? There’s been no word on a F/W follow-up, so lets keep our fingers crossed and hope to see it back for “T” in the Spring.

Ode to Grunge

Remember

It cant' be stressed enough.

Fact: Car Accident

It's a proven fact: I am terrible at keeping up such things (i.e. blogs, journals, etc.) I'll have to try harder. There has just been much going on.

Now, at the risk of this being one of the "pouring my heart out" post that I assured you I would not post, here goes it goes: Besides working altogether way too much, all the commotion of the holidays, and the expected cold here and there, I'm afraid to add a car accident to the list of events.

The other night I was driving home from work, in the obnoxious rain that has been hovering over Southern California for the last week, when a the car to my right lost control, swerved irately, and inevitably hit me. It was such a blur, and--as cliche as it may be--happened so fast. One second I was driving and the next thing I knew there was a loud "bang", the sting of the air bag on my face, harsh pushing and pulling, smoke, and the sound of other cars stepping on the breaks accompanied by the cries that escaped me uncontrollably. In that rush all I could think of was finding my phone. Slightly sad, I know, but my initial thought was "I have to call someone!"

As I hurried out of my car I took a glance at the other car who had ended up on the opposite side of the freeway ( I hit the center divider). Looking back, as fast as it all was so much happened. By the time I got out of my car, phone and and umbrella in hand a police car was approaching. The officer stopped traffic. Everything was still. And just as everything became calm I dialed my mother and everything went into high speed. All of a sudden I had a cop shouting at me asking me if I was okay call after call from my father, step father, friends--everyone--cars trying to get around us, sirens from the fire truck approaching and 3 other police vehicles, cold wet wind smashing into me...

I'm lucky to be able to write about this all. The sight of both of our vehicles wasn't a pretty one. To make a long story short, I'm okay and so is the gentleman who hit me. He's assuming responsibility for all the damages both to my car and my injuries. Luckily I just have some sore muscles. No bruises or scratches... my back just really hurts when I stand for a long period of time. There is still no word on the status of my car. I think it might be a total loss. We'll see.

I'm thankful to have such wonderful guardians around me both physical and spiritual-- but I won't drag you into that side of things.

I hope to be writing more often. Perhaps you might find some more personal, slightly pouring of the heart postings after all.


Cheers! Hope everyone is well and safe.