Marmalade.

Star Trak 4 Lyfe. Watch in Full Screen.

Congratulations.

A few words of wisdom from Big Brother Sean:

"And they say by twenty-one I was supposed to die.So i'm out here celebrating my post-demise." - Jay-Z

Happy Birthday!

Pink.

All credit due to the owners of these photos.

Stylin'.

The future of fashion: transforming t-shirts. Watch in Full Screen.

Faded.

All credit due to the owners of this photo.

Decorum.

Photo from Kenya's Style.

Obsidian.

Watch in Full Screen.

Thursday.

Watch The Throne was released a few days ago. I'm just getting around to listening to it. To celebrate its release, GQ released a Jay-Z v Kanye West fashion battle to decide which of the suave-spitting MC's effect the hip hop fashion world the most. While GQ allowed the couple to trade blows with their style, they used an image that reminded me of a Kanye that I had forgotten even existed. Do you recall Kanye West's hiatus? The dipped out of the social spotlight during a very complicated year of heartbreak? When he returned he did so with the highly underrated album 808's and Heartbreaks which still gets an incredible amount of play on my iPod. With that came the craziest, and most influential style phase that I have seen in the world of hip-hop. The famous picture of Yeezy sporting a plaid, grey suit, white shirt, no tie, white sneaks and the iconic red heart lapel embodied his style for the most part. The hiatus was accompanied by a heroic, transient beat in his music that would rip the soul out of every listener that would actually pay attention. Stunning videos such as: Amazing, Love Lockdown, Paranoid and Mr. Hudson's Supernova to name a few were symbols of what it was that was really coming out of the super-creative phase in the rapper's life. It was this phase however that really let me appreciate what it was that made Kanye, Kanye. Taking the opportunity to do something other than rap, it made him really something that many close-minded people couldn't grasp anymore. In fact, it made him something that no one could grasp. While not giving the artist the status of a deity, he certainly gave us something to think about when listening to music, reading magazines and picking our ensemble for the day. However, knowing that the man singing about a heartless woman was also the same man who made a song about a fellatio workout proves his diversity, and why he is my favorite musical artist, hands down. 

Mr. West, 808's Era.
All credit due to the owners of these photos.

I feel like anyone who took heed to Kanye's transformations got a sneak peek at a bit of his soul. This is something that a lot of artists don't really reveal to their fans. A lot of fake smiles, stuntin' and city shout outs is expected from hip hop artists nowadays. Of course, to really see what it takes that composes someone's thoughts, that's what really makes an artist stand out. While the argument that Ye makes this a bit too simple, with flagrant outbursts of emotion that seem to pop up every year or so, it's still more than I've seen from a number of other people. I've seen rappers do some crazy things (coughCam'romcough) and I've seen rappers do some pretty inventive things (will.I.am. wtf?), but I've never seen anyone dominate so many different aspects of influence as Yeezy does. If it isn't obvious yet, I'm a fan boy of the Louis Vuitton Don, but I'm only showing my admiration so adamantly because of my issues as a young man making the transition from creative to conformist. I'm always going to be able to listen to Kanye, and I'm always going to be able to wear what I want when I party, but for the majority of my waking week, soon I won't have many options. However, Ye gives me inspiration in this department. The ability to bend barriers until they mold to my liking is what I want, and I know it's going to be a risky maneuver, but I know it's going to be worth it. There's nothing worse than the stifling of creativity. I'm limiting the topic to fashion either! Sure, dress codes are a welcome counteraction to uniforms, but at the same time, there are still strict rules that prevent out-of-the-box thinking. I don't want to be in a position where I can't even think the way that I want to, but it may get to the point that I will have to if I want to make something of myself. That's why I can look at Yeezy as inspiration. I don't want to become the non-rap equivalent of the Dem Franchize Boys. I don't want to become a cliche. I would much rather be an anomaly. Murder to excellence, right?

By the way, OFWGKTA on two tracks. Frank Ocean = Beast.

Retrograde.

Proper way to pull off a fedora.
Photo from The Style Blogger.

Wednesday.

The Louis Vuitton Don.
All credit due to the owners of this photo.

Fluorescent.

I only wanted one, but I'm no one so I get nothing. Watch in Full Screen.

Hellacious.

Photo from Fuck Yeah Nick Wooster.
Farewell Shark Week.

Red.

Photo from Paris x 3.
I miss layering... 

Wonderful.

Classic. Watch in Full Screen.

Saturday.

I went to the movies today. I was fortunate enough to see Steve Carell, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore and Ryan Gosling's most recent work of art: Crazy, Stupid, Love. It was a decent film, with Steve's usual self-pity humor taking its toll on the viewers of his film. Similar to He's Just Not That In To You, it is a story of everyone's experience with love and heart break. Holding a theme of a connection between two people as soul mates, there is an unusual enigma that seems to seep its way into the message of the film. While I don't plan to review or explain the film in any way, I instead wanted to focus on a theme that the film plays on wonderfully. Ryan Gosling plays a playboy character that knows his way around a night club. Having perfected the 'art of the man,' he embodies what any single man wants to be. Having the classic Bruce Wayne superpowers, he has the ability to: indecently wild charisma, incredible fashion sense, the body of Shawn T and a good Old Fashioned in his hand. While Ryan's always been a charmer, he seems to take it to a new level in this film. Contrasted with the dorky, swank-less Carell, Gosling shines with his ability to get what he wants, when he wants. While he's no Sean Connery, his womanizing skills would make him a stark competitor. This really makes me curious as to what it is that it takes to get to this level of he-man so as to be able to 'pick up' women.

Ryan Gosling
All credit due to the owners of this photo.

If you've seen the preview for the film, you'd quickly notice that Ryan Gosling's character is the single man's dream. It is a character like this that can pump up a single guy before going out on the town. It's a character like this that makes men actually care about what they wear, or how they look. There's a bit of Dave Chapelle philosophy that comes clear here. I used to hear women speak a lot about how they want men to just 'be themselves.' I'm not sure if that still takes precedence, but it certainly can't be true, no matter it's popularity. A man who is himself is often overpowered by a man who is not. By now, men have discovered what it takes to make themselves more appealing to women. While making one's body perfect is beneficial to himself, the obsession on rock hard abs, or bulging biceps comes from a woman's love for them. While fashion is something that a lot of men have a genuine love for, a lot of it comes from expressing themselves to people, including the women that they want to approach. This makes me question the true individuality of many men. Are we nothing more than what women have molded us into becoming? While Chapelle claims that we are the hunters, using bait to lure our prey into our cast, I might have to disagree. Instead of working out to attract women, I would suggest that women make us work out so that we can attract them. Are characters like Gosling created by women to make men fear for their ability to attract a woman? Possibly. Probably.

Either way, everyone benefits.

Leather.

Photo from Paris x 3.

Obsidian.

Photo from Rich White People.

Misery.

Never been a fan of Pete Doherty, but I like this song. Watch in Full Screen.

Tuesday-Friday

Missed a couple of days...

Lightning.

All credit due to the owners of this photo.

Grease.

All credit due to the owners of this photo.

Cinderella.

Today has a theme. Watch in Full Screen.

Clash.

Photo from Backyard Bill for GQ.

Sammy.

All credit due to the owners of this photo.
Meet Samantha Ronson. Twin sister of Charlotte Ronson and young sister to Mark Ronson, she is more than just Lindsay Lohan's (maybe) ex-girlfriend. While still much of a mystery, her hatred for the paparazzi gives her an effortlessly 'badass' demeanor. 

Hilarious.

Play close attention to his tattoos. Watch in Full Screen.

Balloons.

All credit due to the owners of this photo.

Pink.

All credit due to the owners of this photo.
RIP Jun Seba

Apologies.

Tinashe's cover of Vampire Weekend's A-Punk. Watch in Full Screen.

Monday.

I put a few things through the ringer today. In an attempt to shrink some of my clothes which have become a bit over sized, I came across a pair of pants that are mind blowing in their cool. A pair of black and white plaid pants, that are no doubt older than me. I've never word them for both their size, and their design. I love the pants, don't get me wrong, if I could I would wear them every other weekend with a white shirt and a suit hat, with a little feather on the brim. Yes, cheesy I know, but these pants are a testament to what style used to be. Perhaps you might notice, when looking at pictures of the 1960s, or 50s, men used to wear those hats with their suits. If you were outside, and you were wearing a suit, you were wearing a hat. If you didn't, you would be one of those new age hipsters that didn't know how to be a grown man. (or JFK) After typing this, I immediately think of the USA television program White Collar. The main character, Neal Caffrey, is often seen wearing a hat with his suits. Taking a new age approach on the classic tradition however leaves me to think that he looks a bit- silly, wouldn't you say? While I have never been a huge fan of fedoras, I've come to accept them in some social circles, however these social circles are not white collar work places. However when looking at old pictures of the common man, I have an appreciation of the accessory. I know, I'm spouting a river of contradictions, but I have a point, I swear.

A functional suit + fedora.
All credit due to the owners of this photo.

Some things take time. A few years back my brother was really in to wearing bow ties at the work place. While I had nothing to say to him back then, in retrospect I think that it was a pretty nifty idea. Substituting ties for bow ties takes a certain amount of skill that not just anyone can jump in to. The same goes for double breasted suits, pinstripes and certain liquors. I've always been an adamant believer that confidence is the most valuable accessory, but sometimes confidence just isn't enough. Get read for this, because I'm about to drop something heavy on you: Knowledge is more powerful than confidence. (School House Rock!) My brother knew what to wear bow ties with, as well as what colors work well together. He didn't go out and buy a random red bow tie and assume himself a fashionisto. I think it's very possible for someone to wear a hat with their white collar business attire, but knowledge of the accessory is absolutely key. With a combination of confidence and knowledge, it is possible to make just about anything possible, even outside of one's wardrobe. I mean, who was it that decided that thick brimmed glasses were cool again? I promise you it wasn't someone who was afraid to try new things. That's my soapbox speech of the week. Hope you have walked away ready to be adventurous! 

Woody Allen, a man who knows his tastes.
All credit due to the owners of this photo.

Don't forget: Back when they thought pink polo's would hurt the Roc, Before Cam got the sh*t to pop, the doors was closed. 

Red.

Photo from Look Closer.

Obsidian.

Photo by Jak and Jill.

Fangs.

I can only admire Chris Tomson for being able to play the trash cans with such precision. Watch in Full Screen.