as boys, Sequoia

With the comfort of Wisconsin on his chest and late afternoon quietude in his eyes, he laid silently on the couch. He was mesmerized by the comedy on the television when sangfroid entered the room for me. I saw him serene and eternal. Forever there like a citizen of a Northern California forest. I wanted to rest in his limbs, feel the bark of his beard on me and glance at the late afternoon Rayleigh Scattering in his eyes. But I starred from across the granite island, unmoved. Certain natural friends can never become intimate. Him, a sequoia, enduring and majestic surrounded by grander possibilities. Me, a tenuous sky, trying to build up masculinity in my clouds. I turned away from the sequoia and walked back to the unfamiliar bed to rest on the jersey cotton shore. I closed my eyes wishing for his as boys redwood scent to leave the room, to leave me, the sylphlike azure. But his Sequoia cologne lingers in my breath.

Notes from a Lazy 5th...or LES Crushes on the 5th.

Barrio Chino
After Domenica and Jim got back and snacked on some macerated cherries and peaches I put together, we went in search of Mexican food. Our original intention was to walk up to Mexican Radio and/or possibly La Esquina but on our way past Babycakes, Domenica stopped us. D and Jim love Barrio Chino, a small eatery across from Babycakes. There’s no signage. Just an open façade that’s always packed with LES disheveled glitterati. The interior is rustic with touches of wall hangings and tchotchkelehs which alludes to the Chinese neighborhood and not the food. The menu is a well-edited single page, something that’s foreign in most Mexican restaurants. I had an amazing mojito made with dark ginger rum with our fresh tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa roja. For the main dish I chose, the Barbacoa - shredded lamb made with pasilla chile salsa, served with green rice, pickled habanero onions, and tortillas. I’m always suspicious of these types of restaurants. The ones where you walk in and you feel like some trust fund hipster is trying to be something s/he is not; in this case, a Mexican chef. Real Mexican food is hard. Normally, what we eat isn’t Mexican. It’s really Tex-Mex and watered down for people whose skin is lighter than mine. What I think Barrio Chino accomplished is well-balanced dishes where it’s obvious that the ingredients are fresh and quality. And it doesn’t hurt that our tall mustached waiter was pretty sexy. I’m going to do some research because I want to see if the creators of Barrio Chino have other culinary ventures around the city. If so, I will go next time. If you’re in the city, go to Barrio Chino! Funcionamiento! Ahora!

Project No. 8b
Dailycandy thankfully alerted me to Project No. 8b’s opening. It’s a new menswear store in my sister’s neighborhood, LES/Chinoiseville, located on Orchard and Hester. Though the store looks out of place on that particular block since not enough of the fashion fashion and other LES paraphernalia has made it quite that far south, Project No. 8b’s is a breath of fresh air in a sea of otherwise dated LES clothing shops from a by-gone era. It’s only a matter of time until more business gravitates to be near this gem. While Odin, in my opinion, is controlling the direction of the NYC menswear scene, Project No. 8b is presenting a new voice, i.e. a well-edited store collection. The selection includes Tom Scott, Mr. Wijnants, Kostas Murkudis, Replica Sneakers by Martin Margiela and furniture by e15. Mr. Murkudis’s clothes were the standout in the store for me. All well-cut pieces in fine fabrics often pairing more feminine fabrics, like chiffon, for quiet detailing. I tried on his black drawstring shorts with black chiffon panels down the sides, like a racing stripe but wider. The panels looked to be pleated at the top to add fullness, and maybe hide one’s underwear a bit. Though the shorts were not a good shape for me because I’m pocket-sized, I could see the short being popular amongst my taller friends who like unexpected details in their clothes. I did drool over a pair of the Margiela Replica sneakers, shown below. At first glance, these black patent leather sneakers in a 1970s shape appeared to be splattered with paint. But surprise, the splatters were pieces of white confetti that were shellacked to the surface somehow. A must have for non-grad students. For those people who like redheads with soft Irish accents, run to Project No. 8b. The young man that helped me, I think his name is Keenan, will melt your heart.


The following link is a good short write-up by NY Times reporter Eric Wilson on Project No. 8b and the brains behind the operation, Elizabeth Beer and Brian Janusiak.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/fashion/02ROW.html

Tired Elegy

I’m tired of writing elegies in general.
In writing general elegies, I’m tired
Of indiscriminate indiscretions
Of encyclopedic exits
Of aching heart
Of ache.

I’m tired of writing elegies to boredom.
To writing boredom elegies, I’m tired
Of listening to turgid tedium
Of inheriting detachment
Of being unworthy
Of being.

I’m tired of writing elegies for me.
For writing me elegies, I’m tired
Of being,
Of ache.

I’m tired of writing elegies in general.
In general writing tired elegies, I’m
A disappointment conventionally
A deficit habitually
A loner daily
Alone.

I’m tired of writing elegies to boredom.
To boredom writing tired elegies, I’m
No one’s ardent fascination
No one’s temptation
No one’s intrigue
No one.

I’m tired of writing elegies for me.
For me writing tired elegies, I’m
Alone,
No one.

-Italicized lines come from Rufus Wainwright's song "Sanssouci" on Release the Stars.

Quotes to Live By / Buy in a Recession.

I didn’t see billionaires. I saw millionaires this week. Billionaires are passé. - Loic Prigent on Paris Fashion Week. For style.com video, click here.

If you still have money and you feel like buying clothes. And there’s nobody there to say ‘No'. - Sandra Bernhard on NYC Fashion Week. For style.com video, click here.

Big Red Installation

Madonna & LV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpcrxSriaXw

The above youtube video is all for the moment when Madonna says, "I think it would be an embarrassment of riches." I began to think about that phrase "an embarrassment of riches" and what it means in this time, this economy. Coming out of Madonna's mouth it was rather entertaining to me...maybe slightly ironic. Then again, Louis Vuitton is all about being an embarrassment of riches. LV will always and should always be that.

Then my mind switched to grad school, my thesis and an embarrassment of riches. It seems apropos for knowledge, the Cornell Library system, and my thesis. There are too many ideas, too many components, too many directions for my thesis. Finding a clear direction is difficult with the abundance of it all.
As fashion week is in full swing and the red carpet about to be rolled out for the Oscars, I wonder how many designers, stylists, actors and actresses have really considered how they will be perceived in this economy. Who is a contemporary embarrassment of riches?
I think the phrase is better in French. Embarrassment of riches becomes l'embarras de richesses o l'embarras de choix. The last one is better no? Oui!

A New Era of Hope…and Style.

I began the 20th missing my bus and having to run to campus in my green wellies to make class on time. After class began, I relaxed a bit. A new semester, new classes to TA, new students, new ideas. At about 11:40, I began my portion of the class on Adobe Illustrator, though not my forte, I am managing to get a handle on the program. As noon approached, I began to speed up a bit anxious for class to end and connect to one of the many streams of Obama’s inaugural address online. Alas, Cornell’s network could not handle all of the action and I missed Obama’s address. After lunch I made my way home and caught the rebroadcast on cnn.com at 3pm. The speech was affective because of the incredible feeling of optimism that seems to have blanketed the nation. As for the content, I did not find anything he said unexpected but, I found the following the most moving for its honesty,

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

The burning question on most peoples’ minds that I know is, “Mario, what did you think of Michelle?”

Michelle Obama’s outfit designed by Isabel Toledo of soft lemongrass backed wool lace for the Inauguration was perfect. The dress and coat paired with matching olive gloves and shoes and a large but simple necklace of clear stones presented an unfamiliar color combination to the American public who is use to the boring trinity color palette of patriotism. Though I am hesitant to make comparisons between first ladies, Mrs. Obama’s outfit stylistically reminded me of Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Reagan; two first ladies with incredible senses of fashion and style because they knew what looked good on their bodies and with their skin. When the new first couple got out of their limousine and walked for part of the parade route my first reaction was utter fear. As they continued walking, occasionally hand in hand, I found my eyes on Mrs. Obama and not her husband. I found the combination of her smile, confidence and ensemble incredibly attractive.

As for the ball gown of ivory chiffon sprinkled with organza flowers and crystals designed by Jason Wu for the evenings festivities, I was not as moved. WWD featured sketches from numerous designers all pit bulling to be chosen. I was expecting Mrs. Obama to choose something more like the idea submitted by Diane von Furstenberg. After spending much time reading about the gown today, I believe Cathy Horyn's article and audio slideshow understood the first lady’s choice best describing the gown as romantic and an expression of her fantasy.

Before leaving I want to applaud the new first lady on two things, J. Crew and wearing designers unknown to the broader public. J. Crew speaks to practicality while the apparel from Toledo and Wu say that Mrs. Obama wears what looks good on her and is uninterested in chasing after the big designers. I have poured through the books with Dolley Madison, Mamie Eisenhower, Jackie Kennedy, Mary Todd Lincoln, Nancy Reagan, etc. and can honestly say that Mrs. Obama is bringing style back to the White House. It really has been boring times ever since Barbara Bush set foot into the White House. Though I love Hillary dearly, she was blessed with brains and not a sense of fashion. She has improved but still lacks that certain fashion something. So thank you Mrs. Obama for beginning things with a fashionable first step.