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.

Skirts & Skins

80sPurple's Belle Nguyen's birthday event at The Mountain Bar in China town.

Hosted by Skirts and Skin. Great memories. Amazing people. Delicious cupcakes!


Happy Birthday Belle!

Kut In A Different Cloth

Fashion event hosted by Hypebeast, Scion, 3 Steps Ahead Media and for 80sPurle.com: Kut In A Different Cloth at The Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles.



I have to admit the attendees' fashion definitely outshined the looks on the runway


Featured lines: Fremont, Corpus, Kayelee Tankus, Orthdodox, & Velvet Leaf

Overall the event had a very mellow, relaxed cocktail hour feel. The venue was amazing; The Vibiana is always a dramatic statement all in its own--add some drapes, lighting, and a runway and you have a show!

Let's Talk Gareth

Gareth Pugh, that is. This young 27 year old designer has been getting much attention lately, and rightfully so. After opting out of showing his Men's collection this summer, Pugh did a brilliant job combining the world of men and women together to create an impactful Spring 2010 collection. To sum it up: androgynous appeal! Something we will certainly be seeing much of, even more so than before.

Oh, Phillip...

Men's 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2010 collection. In one word: perfection! Simple and classic, but with a much needed twist. I especially love the pleated black leather crop pant. Let's not forget that modernized camel waist coat; its sensational!

To add to this already great collection Phillip Lim's new shoe collection hit the sales floor of his Mercer Street boutique. Particularly amazing are these shiny gold brogues. Now, as my luck would have it, they are women's shoes.Which quite irks me, however I'd still wear them in a heart beat! Besides, a 5'7" guy like me could use a little extra height, right? I guess we know what will be on my Christmas list this year, without a question!

September Is The January In Fashion

With much buzz and speculation about the new documentary by R.J. Cutler chronicling Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's preparations for the 2007 fall-fashion issue, I simply had to take a look. It all takes place within the framework of putting together the magazine's September publication, traditionally the largest of the year--hence rightfully titled "The September Issue."

I have to admit, much of my interest about this documentary came from my fascination with the film "The Devil Wears Prada" in which Wintour was fictionalized as Miranda Priestly-- the cold, cutthroat, and always decisive editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine. Whether or not the story line and characters were based on real life people has never quite been confirmed by the original mind that inspired the film, author Lauren Weisberger, it's hard to not notice the similarities; down to the uncanny resemblance Miranda Priestly's office has to that of Anna Wintour's real life Vogue office.

Taste in decor and bitchy demeanor aside, "The September Issue" is a more humanized look at life at a fashion magazine, and the work that goes into the creation of an issue--the biggest one of the year. It's safe to say that there are some "...am I the only one attending this run-through?" and "Where is my Starbucks?" moments, however the film goes well beyond that. We see a look into Wintour's huge extracurricular projects such as a fashion fund for up and coming American designers and a meetings with C.E.O.s of companies like Neiman Marcus to try and make the world of fashion and its people better. It shows the passion, dedication, and hard work that goes into the creation of fashion in as a whole.

Even more impressive is how vulnerable Wintour actually allows herself to be as she let cameras into her home life, and speaks openly about her father and siblings who she says are "...probably amused..." with her line of work. When producers asked her daughter if she would ever work for a magazine she responds with "...there are other things out there," and refers to fashion as "a weird industry..." Wintour instead of opting to comment further tilts her head, simply smiles, shrugs, and looks to the side.
　
It's safe to say that the look inside Vogue would not have been the same without Wintour's colleauge, Grace Coddington. Coddington is the magazine's creative director and is in charge of the majority of photo shoots. This former model—who worked at British Vogue and Calvin Klein before starting at American Vogue on the same day as Wintour—is often described as a "genius," including by Wintour herself. Despite the show of appreciation there is and undeniable tension between the two. At one point in the film, Coddington counsels a junior editor who just endured one of Wintour's infamous word lashings, "Don't be too nice, not even to me, because you'll lose. You have to beat your way through." Evidently that's just what Coddington has done. The feisty, flame-haired visionary admits that both she and Wintour are stubborn, adding, "I know when to stop pushing her...she doesn't know when to stop pushing me." One of the greatest scenes in the movie comes when the two share a long, awkward, silent elevator ride together on the way to visit Jean Paul Gaultier, saying only mere words to each other. One might think the only reason these two tolerate each other is for the magazine. However, there is a clear respect for one another.

From story boards, run-throughs, re-shoots, and edits its clear that fashion is never boring and hardly as dense as some might think it to be. There is much to be said about Anna Wintour and the fashion world. Some bash it others worship it. Despite all of that Wintour puts it best in saying, "Fashion is not about looking back, it's about looking forward."

An Introduction:

My name is Jesse Sandoval Gomez. I am a young, creative soul in the midst of self-exploration, in multiple respects. I've stumbled onto the idea of what is now this digital spec, after many failed attempts at having a journal, diary, or however you'd like to refer to it as. Now, whether or not this one will succeed is clearly not yet ascertainable. Before you start to think that this will merely be the place where all my emotional baggage and ramblings about my personal affairs will end up, please read further and you'll see otherwise.

I hope to explore much of me, yes. However, I've found that much of myself is already expressed through the views of others. So, it is my intention to merely take their thoughts, ideas, masterpieces, musings, and visions and assimilate them. My only hope is to make sense of myself along the way.

Basically, this is and will be a canvas of and for everything my incomparable mind conceptualizes.


Please, enjoy.