The Stuff Freaky Dreams Are Made Of

Have you ever had a dream so vivid, so remarkably familiar, so memorable that you swear that if you see it occur in real life, you’d be completely convinced that The Matrix really exists?

I had one last night, and believe me, it’s freakishly familiar.

I dreamt I was watching the 6th season of Bravo’s Project Runway. (Although, barring any more restraining orders and court orders, it will move to Lifetime for the said season; as well as head to Los Angeles from Parson’s in New York.) Well, not a complete episode. I just saw the runway show and the Q&A that follows after.

First, the runway looks exactly like the runway of seasons past. It’s still black, with a white sheet at the back that shows the silhouette of whoever’s behind it. The only difference is the Project Runway logo has been moved to the back of where the contestants are seated. (To the right of the TV screen.) There’s also the words “Los Angeles” below the PR logo. I don’t know why it’s there though.

There were only five people in the “show.” An unrecognizable judge that didn’t look like Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, or Heidi Klum; and Miley Cyrus (I’m guessing she’s the guest judge).

The remaining three were the models: The Jonas Brothers. They took quite a while modeling—they did fountains, one-after-the-others, moved all the way back, and then settled in the center for the Q&A. I said to myself, “Oh, cool, it’s a menswear challenge again.” But what’s so weird is that what the brothers were wearing looked exactly like the stuff they wore on a regular basis. (Those boys dress well—whoever their stylist is should get a raise.)

One Jonas, I don’t know the name, had to ask an assistant (I only saw a hand) to remove one very thick, very chunky scarf from his neck; because he came down on the runway with two. (In LA? Really?)

Then the Q&A. The judge was asking Miley what she thought of one of the Jonas’s ensemble. She said, “it’s not my thing.” I wondered out loud if Project Runway is now a stylist’s, not designer’s, competition.

Before I knew it, one Jonas was crying, then Miley was crying while saying undecipherable words, then before you know it, the other two guys were crying too. The judge was the only one who wasn’t welling up. I said, “Oh, come on!”

This was the time I woke up.

Runway Review: NY Spring 2009 Men's Collections

If there's one thing that designers made clear this season, it is that they can't fool around so much. Times are hard, people are scrimping on the luxury, and fashion being a business still, the best—and probably the only—way to weather this climate is to bring out clothes that guarantee sales.

A very commercial vibe invaded the men's collections for NY Fashion Week, and I guess it's necessary, simply because of the abovementioned line of thought. It's not a bad thing, and I'm pretty sure those that went to the shows looking for some sort of fantasy or an escapist feeling that always pervades fashion shows will forgive the designers for this one season that they couldn't go too OTT.

Michael Kors, for one was in a very retro mood for his Thursday show. Retro is a favorite springboard of many designers. Could it be because those were bygone days filled with luxury and the feeling that everything is just swell that we so laboriously want to bring back? Only Mr. Kors knows for sure.


His show, much like every Michael Kors show, had very heavy Americana references—he goes to this so often that it's quickly becoming his signature. As the show progressed, you'll see peach jackets, neoprene swim gear with contrasting piping, even white trousers with printed fruits and flowers. Mr. Kors favored blue heavily, coloring his rain coats, blazers, and pants with it. Printed shirts were in white and slightly blousy, again to keep the wearer comfortable as he bakes (or perspires) under the Portofino sun.


There were hints of Thom Browne in his pants. Intentional or not, cropped pants were the preferred bottoms; some stopped higher to resemble clam diggers—though guys, no one can pull off clam diggers, no one.

William Rast, with its spokesperson Justin "Sexy Back" Timberlake, showed early in the week. Think of the William Rast man (from the way I perceived the show, at least) as someone who lives a very suburban, midwestern life that suddenly got a taste of the urban chaos and wanted the experience to last.


He'd wear denim jackets when out for a drink with friends; but he'd switch to a tan or brown blazer with curious, almost boxy, lapels for when he's on a date with Ms. America. There weren't any leaps or innovations on the show, but considering Mr. Timberlake's appeal to the general public, the clothes will no doubt fly off the shelves. When in doubt, I guess, offer your customers a full wardrobe.



(To be continued)

Photographs all from Vogue.co.uk / CondeNast.co.uk

Dude, the Bargain Shopper: John Mayer

This photograph is over a year old (John still had hair then!) but I think it's a nice Fall outfit. Alexi Lubormiski shot him for GQ's August 2007 issue.


Jacket ($75) from Yes Style. Yes Style is a Korean shopping site with a lot of fantastic clothes that change practically every week. There's a gray variant of the jacket available.
T-shirt ($9) from Hanes.
Houndstooth pants ($29.90) from Heritage 1981.
Necklace ($12.90) from American Eagle Outfitters. It's not shown in this photograph, but if you check out the complete photo set from men.style.com, you'll see that he's wearing a necklace in the same outfit.
Sunglasses (GBP140 or $257) from Dior Homme. I say splurge. It's a nicely done pair of sunglasses.

Dude, the Bargain Shopper: Shayne Ward

Let's cross over the Atlantic this time around. Shayne Ward is the winner of an American Idol-type contest, and has been enjoying considerable popularity in the UK. The guy resembles a bit of Jesse Bradford, don't you find?


Vest ($89) from Guess.
Black slim jeans ($40) from Topman. The link takes you to the USA store. They're currently offering free shipping to your first order.
Watch ($95) from Fossil.
Belt (GBP55 or about $100) from All Saints. The one Shayne has on looks so boring.
Black shirt (GBP60 or about $110) also from All Saints.

Dude, the Bargain Shopper: Chace Crawford

Gossip Girl's Nate Archibald is the subject of this installment of Dude, the Bargain Shopper.


Oxford ($69.50) from Abercrombie and Fitch.
Pinstripe trousers ($39.50) from American Eagle Outfitters.
Argyle cardigan ($49.99) from Gap. I chose the cardigan over the half-zip sweater to better show off the layer underneath.
Striped necktie ($29.50) also from Gap.

Secret Questions (from Jess)

You have to promise to answer them too, if you want to know the questions.

1. Jess S.
2. Diana M.
3. Josh P.
4. TJ R.
5. Ara F.
6. Nico A.
7. Ann Y.
8. Nina L.
9. Shayne G.
10. Bill R.
11. Miel V.
12. Diana M.
13. Georgina W.
14. Michiko H. / Marco B.
15. Lindsay L.
16. Nico A.
17. Aaron R.
18. Steph M.
19. Richard G.
20. Gabb D.
21. Jon M.
22. Brent J.
23. Carol P.
24. Carol P.!
25. Tanya G.
26. Raya P.
27. Miel V.
28. Anna R.
29. Karolina K.
30. I miss you / I really wanna have lunch with you / Can I pick you up at 7? / Let's hang out soon

I Don't Get It

This is one of those things I don't get. It's meant to do just one thing: fry sunnyside-up eggs. The compact size of the pan makes too-spread-out eggs a thing of the past.

It's $10. And I couldn't wrap my head around the concept. For the same price, shouldn't I just buy a normal pan that I can use, you know, every freaking day? It's not like preventing the egg from spreading too thinly requires a lot of effort.

Sometimes we need specificity in our gadgets, but sometimes it's too specific that it's almost not worth the expense.

"Angels" Medley

I promise this will be the last Brad Bass, Adam Fleming, or Bobby Cronin video link I'll post for this month. The mix of songs is just so superb--and Mr. Bass did the songs justice--it deserves to be propagated.




On a side note, this is also for those who lost their lives and those left behind to heal during the tragic events that happened in September 11th.

EDIT: To those who asked me what songs Brad Bass sung, here they are in order: "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan, "Angels" by Robbie Williams, "Reach the Sky" by Bobby Cronin, and "Defying Gravity" by Stephen Schwartz (one of the songs in the Wicked! musical).

Life's a Bitch Sometimes

Zip-a-dee-doo-da, zip-a-dee-doo...




What an awesome day. Nothing could go wrong...




Oh, shi...




Splat!

Reach for the Sky

It's official: I'm a Bobby Cronin fan. Brad Bass gives an inspiring performance of Cronin's "Reach for the Sky." Some lines can be a little granola and maybe corny, but when the showmanship is this great, you tend to forgive and excuse them.




Is anything ever the way they seem?
Is life just a passing of wasted dreams?
I don't know, I can't tell
Why the hell do I dwell?
One thing's flawlessly well
Yes, I try to get by
Without discovering why

Hold on everything's going too far
Cast off, it's how I feel
Let go, everything is like I'm on hold
Although I wish I could fly
One day I will fly

Is anyone ever the way they seem?
Is life just a hoax or a broken dream?
I don't know, I'm not sure
Open the door, what's in store?
Inside I know there's more
But then why do I try?
Not to let life whisk by

Slow down everything's going too fast
Run down, it's how I feel
Let go, everything is like I'm on hold
Although I think I can fly
I'm ready to fly high

I know I can reach the sky
And if I crash
I'll swim through life's changing tides
I know I will triumph fast
And I'll walk tall
I'll walk with a perfect stride, for the pride
Feeling alive, knowing I tried, knowing I could, knowing I'm good
My centric life is better than it seems
My life will not befall a wasted dream
Now I know I can see
Look my way I am free
I am finally free
I will not be that guy who lets his life whisk by

I know I can reach the sky
And if I crash
I'll swim through life's changing tides
I know I will triumph fast
And I'll walk tall
I'll walk with a perfect stride, for the pride
Now I'm alive, yes I'll try,
Yes I should, yes I'm good, yes I am, yes I can
I can, I know I can fly

Welcome to my life 4x

[Renditions vary from performer to performer, this one is specifically for Bass's. But I opted to change "I know I will drown fast" with "I know I will triumph fast" because it fits better with the rest of the lyrics.]

The Right Way to Celebrate Your Brand

Tim Blanks is never the type who’d sound really bitchy in his reviews for Men.style.com. So when I read several of his notes for New York Fashion Week, I was a little taken aback about how he’s serving up a bit of a bitch fit to at least 1 label: DKNY.

Here are several snippets from his men.style.com post:

“DKNY’s 20th anniversary should ideally offer a prime opportunity to reflect on the evolution of men's style in the city the label celebrates, but it's actually been a pretty random journey.”

“Back in the day...much more sophisticated than the callow youngsters who wore the clothes on today's catwalk.”

“Donna herself was talking about turning young guys onto ties and a slightly more formal approach to dressing, but these DKNY men seem to have relapsed—they were virtually tieless and resolutely low-key.”

“Casual and easy, it was actually the way most men might care to dress in their downtime, which has always been the canny core of DKNY's menswear. After 20 years, not much has changed.”

Ms. Karan, who celebrates 20 years in the industry this season (I think?) brought out a collection of very relaxed, un-stuffy menswear. Not a bad thing per se, but isn’t it weird that for something as momentous as this, you give your most loyal fashion audience, clothes that didn’t seem like it took much effort in designing and producing?


Granted, she may have just paid homage to the silhouette and the attitude that has defined the DKNY man for the past 2 decades, but for me, there’s a difference between re-updating what has been a signature and just rehashing them. Unfortunately, from what I saw in Ms. Karan’s runway this morning, it’s the latter, and that’s a sad proposition to be in.

Look, it may be contested still up to now, but I think Tom Ford’s final collection for Gucci last Fall 2004 set the bar on how you look into the past, pay its due respects, and forge the way to a bright future. Until the end of his illustrious career at Gucci, he was in every way, a designer and a showman.

(For those who don’t closely follow fashion, Mr. Ford was hired to resurrect the then-ailing luxury brand. Some many years later, Gucci is on top of everyone’s mind when it comes to forward-thinking clothes, curiously controversial advertising campaigns, and well, the living proof that sex indeed sells. He parted ways with the Gucci group after disagreements.)

His finale collection could have been just what we saw at DKNY this season: Archives thrown on the runway for models to wear—and for the editors seated to relish and enjoy. But he didn’t just rest on the fantastic tailoring and styling that he’s known for, he celebrated everything that the Gucci label meant to him: Sexy sophisticated clothing, with a playboy-sharp point of view. That’s what he gave to the people who witnessed the end of an era at Gucci, and it left everyone with a smile on their faces and awe at how well Mr. Ford knows his shit.

Back to DKNY. While it is great to sit back, relax, and savor the many years that DKNY has been a part of the New York mindset, isn’t it also great to offer a look of things to come? Maybe instead of the normal sneakers worn with a suit look that she favored so much, an awesome shirt of quirky detailing (designers for fall, for instance, embellished their shirts with Tuxedo details) or a fantastic wingtip would have made for a stronger impact—and a terrific preview of the next 20 years of DKNY.

Unfortunately, the show stopped at the past.

Curiously, Banana Republic did a better job at celebrating its 30 years in the business. The classic khaki trench coat was re-issued in a slimmer proportion; cotton chinos fit slimmer in the leg; and three-piece suits are made with lightweight wool instead of the heavy ones that could overwhelm a lithe guy.

[Photographs are courtesy of men.style.com]

Magic Kingdom Ride Review: The Haunted Mansion

(I apologize I didn't get to follow-up on my Disney Hollywood Studios post! I kind of lost interest. But don't worry, there will be future theme park coverages.)

The Haunted Mansion – My favorite ride in the park, in fact, I think this is my favorite ride in the entirety of Walt Disney World, just because the presentation, effects, and experience are all in sync you never tire of riding—and falling in line again and again—the Haunted Mansion.

There are two pre-show “creeps” in the Haunted Mansion, the first one in the fireplace, where you see a portrait of a middle-aged man. While hearing a creepy monologue from Paul Frees about circumstances when ghosts are around, you see the face in the portrait change from a normal human being to a creepy skeleton. This video captures the mood perfectly:

Second pre-show is the stretching room. First you see four portraits of former guests in their “corruptible, mortal states.” Paul Frees introduces himself as your host, your Ghost Host (creepy AND sets the mood awesomely.) Then something happens—the portraits seem to expand, and the room with it. Is it just your imagination? Or are there supernatural, ghostly forces to blame? Eventually, you see the fate of your Ghost Host, and you’re ushered to your Doom Buggies—the vehicles that will bring you to the world beyond that of mortal men.

Check this video out to get a feel of these 2 pre-show creeps.




Once a cast member ushers you into your own Doom Buggy—the Haunted Mansion version of the omnimover system, the magic of Disney animatronics, plus a few special effects equals an eight-minute experience.

The first part of the ride doesn’t show you ghosts or ghouls, instead, you see paintings that seem to change when lightning illuminates them. A woman’s portrait becomes Medusa, a Napoleon-inspired masterpiece transforms to his skeletal self, a ship becomes a ghostly viking ship, and another woman posing seductively curiously looks like a cat-woman (or Jaguar-woman, whichever feline is better).

Then you’re brought to the library, where ghost writers and their ghost stories chose to reside. Their heads seem to follow the direction where you’re going. And you hear the stair lift creek as if someone’s atop, but you don’t see anything.

Who knew that this was actually a rest house even for humans? But in here, you play by the Ghost host’s rules. And unfortunately, the guests haven’t had much luck with escaping this ghoulish mansion. You’ll hear clacking doors, door knobs that won’t budge, and coffins that won’t open.

Next, you come face to face with Madame Leota herself. As your Ghost Host admits, she has a remarkable head for materializing the disembodied. For a few seconds, she’ll chant and invoke spirits to join you in your journey to the world beyond. You’ll hear tambourines sound and bells ring as each of her creepy incantations are made manifest.

Your Ghost Host will leave you for a while, because he’s going to meet his friends that are no longer, well, of this world. You’ll see a vast ballroom where a huge group of ghosts gather, mingle, dance, and drink (that is, if they have stomachs that can digest them). This is the single coolest highlight of the entire ride. Who knew that clever placements of the Pepper’s Ghost effect could produce such an amazing vision?

The attic scene comes next, where you’ll find several In Memoriams of someone who curiously looks like the same woman. Ooohh...psycho killer anyone? Turns out, she’s a ghost, too. And she’s looking for her next husband-that-was.

Finally, no visit to the supernatural realm is ever complete without a journey to where the departed are put to rest: The graveyard. Interestingly enough, your presence stirred them up and have made them quite an excited bunch. Be prepared to be sang at!

Before you leave, the Ghost Host has a parting gift for you: A ghostly companion that will follow you home. And with it, ends the 10-minute awesomeness that is the Haunted Mansion.

Truthfully, it’s more fun and entertaining than it is ghastly and spooky, but kids might get freaked out since the ride happens in the dark. I recommend repeat ridings just so you can fully appreciate how well-designed, thought-out, and well-executed this ride is. It’s perfect, too, as an inspiration point for this coming Halloween. (A ghostly bride that will scare a few of the kids who go trick-or-treating?) 10/10

If you won't be in Florida anytime soon, here's a complete ride-through. Enjoy!

My Fool-Proof Fall Outfit

Although Fall won't arrive on our doorsteps until maybe another month (there are still big chances of 90-degree days the entire of September, as I was told), I'm already in the process of pulling out all my cold-weather garb again.

Back home, I didn't get much opportunity to wear jackets and, actually, pretty much any sort of outerwear, as the weather doesn't permit it. (Unless you work in a call center, where I heard temperatures can get pretty low.)

This brown Zara military-style jacket was from Fall-Winter 2007, and I've lusted for it ever since I saw it on the racks. But because I couldn't find ample opportunities to wear it should I buy it (the lining and outer shell are pretty thick, mind you), the jacket only got to touch my skin inside fitting rooms.

Nothing changed, until January 2008, when Zara went on sale, slashing as much as 50 percent off cold-weather merchandise.

I wasn't expecting to see it again, truly. When the branch of Zara I went to no longer had it on display, I assumed it was already sold. But by some stroke of fate, I went to another branch, one that didn't have it previously at regular retail price, and saw it. The jacket stood out from the pile of stuff on sale, it was as if I was meant to find it and the attractive markdown that accompanied it. I went home a happy guy.

I only got to wear it once the entire time I was in the Philippines, on my last day at work. Even then, I couldn't wear it longer than an hour or so, because it really was hot under all that cloth. Regardless, it was the first thing I put in my suitcase when the time came that I had to sort out those that I would bring with me to the United States.

Now that I know I'll have more reasons to wear this awesome jacket, I'm giving it my stylist's treatment by building an outfit around it. This is rather casual, so only wear this during the weekends with a thin scarf. Or if your office is pretty relaxed dress-code-wise, put on a nice pair of laceups and opt for darker-rinse jeans to liven up the look.

Zara jacket, Hanes T-shirt, Defacto jeans

Vector Art

Obviously, these are beginner-level art using Illustrator. But bear with me. Everyone starts out somewhere, after all.

Splurging Is Good for Your Health

This came from Wall Street Journal, but when I read it, I looked around the website if there's an "Article Sponsored by American Express" credit anywhere. I mean, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the reason we feel good about a splurge is the biological rush we get from it. And it's total human genetic makeup to feel like he's not living his life to the fullest and regret missing opportunities.

Anyway, here's the article, reproduced in full.

---------------

SPLURGING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Buying overpriced indulgences may feel good in the short term, but you pay the price later. Or at least that’s the conventional wisdom.

But a study by a couple of business-school professors says splurging now makes you happier later. Even more surprising: Not splurging now gives you pangs of regret later.

Anat Keinan, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School, and Ran Kivetz, a professor of marketing at Columbia Business School, make their case for the vice lifestyle in an article in the Harvard Business Review.

One of their studies polled college students and alumni on the subject of spring breaks. Regret about not having spent more money or traveling during breaks increased with time, whereas regret about not having worked, studied, or saved money during breaks decreased with time.

The authors write: “We saw a similar pattern in a study of how businesspeople perceived past choices between work and pleasure. Over time, those who had indulged felt less and less guilty about their choices, whereas those who had been dutiful experienced a growing sense of having missed out on the pleasures of life.” (As the old saying goes, nobody dies saying “I wish I’d spent more time at the office.”)

The authors also did a study of mall shoppers, asking about their regret about buying an expensive item of clothing. Those who anticipated short-term regret bought less-expensive items, while those who anticipated long-term regret splurged. “Thinking about short-term regret drives consumers to be virtuous, while thinking about long-term regret leads them to be extravagant,” the authors write.

Luxury-goods makers, of course, will eat this up. I can see the slogan now: “Luxury: It’s Good for Life.” Or “Cartier: You’ll be sorry you didn’t.” Whether luxury is good for your finances is another matter. (Nobody goes bankrupt saying “I wish I’d spent more on Gucci bags).

Wealth Report readers, what do you think? Do the long-term benefits of indulgence outweigh the short-term risks of regret?

Til Death Do Us Part

And here's a very sweet one that will sound great as a wedding song.

It's lovely because it talks about how awkward expressing one's feelings towards another is.

B.R.A.T.T. Camp Music

In the post prior to this, I posted a YouTube video of one of the songs performed in Bobby Cronin's musical, B.R.A.T.T. Camp. I haven't seen it myself, but I found the songs catchy.

This one has been enjoying repeat iTunes play on my iBook, much like Welcome to My Life. Enjoy!