song of the week: "irm"

I've heard nothing but good things about Lars Von Trier's "Antichrist" from the brave who saw at the New York Film Festival. For whatever reason French actresses are especially astute at portraying quiet hysteria and beautiful madness (as evident by Isabelle Huppert's fantastic turn in Claire Denis's "White Material, a festival pick I saw and loved) and from what I hear, Charlotte Gainsbourg really goes for it and then some in Von Trier's brutal satire of liberal bourgeoisie and the horror of grief and loss. Gainsbourg has a new album due out early next year that already had my interest piqued with the news that it would be a largely collaborative effort between her and Beck, another fearless performer willing to explore new territories in his own continually spontaneous art. One of the first singles from the album is "IRM", French for MRI, is a curious source of inspiration. Gainsbourg was involved in a serious water skiing accident that caused her to endure six months of rehabilitation after a brain hemorrhage. The drone of MRI's is conveyed with the bouncy clash of mechanic sounding blips and kinks. It's groovy and yet part of a dark personal history. You can listen to the song here. I can't wait for her performance in "Antichrist" and the follow up to her phenomenal last album, "5:55."

"and all i saw was sock."

Vanity Fair, "The Hollywood Issue
April 2003
Take a look at those socks. Look closely. Go on. It's Jude Law's right ankle. That subtle flash of pink amongst the otherwise neutral palette is style defined. That image of subtle sartorial impact had a big effect on me when I bought this issue almost seven years ago. I'm not interested in copycating the look, but I bought a couple of pairs of socks at Uniqlo today in shades of kelly green, blue-grey, and stoplight red and I'm waiting for the moment that I can carefully have my pant leg expose a shot of color. Jude Law might be a movie star that never became a true movie star, but style is style and you can't ignore that peek of pink is pretty badass.

tribute: the eye

Gisele, New York, April 1 1999
Photographed by Irving Penn

I think this was the image that secured my love for Brazilian supermodels. Rest in peace Irving Penn and many thanks.

W.

l'enfer

3 things:
1. GOOD. GOD.
2. How was this movie never completed?
3. Why didn't I get tickets to the documentary about this unfinished would be masterpiece at the New York Film Festival?

the coat

Billy Reid
Peacoat, $675
The air is a little more crisp this week, which means the oppressive heat of summer is behind us and fall/winter is starting to settle in. It's not cold enough to break out the heavier outerwear yet, but when that day comes I want to be prepared with this Billy Reid peacoat. Made in Italy with a high quality wool and an impeccable fit, it's the embodiment of an "investment piece." That might be a big buzz phrase for the current trend of reinterpreted classics, but what's good is good and this is a fine piece of outerwear.

last days pt. 1

I have not forgotten to express my undying jubilation about the recent Criterion Collection DVD release of Whit Stillman's genius take on youth and nightlife in "The Last Days of Disco." Although it happened over a month ago, my brain is still trying to compute that I met him and his muse, Chris Eigeman at the Lincoln Film Center screening timed with the release of the DVD. Once I'm able to fully put together my thoughts I'll of course share it with The Look-See. Until then, I've compiled my list of five songs that could have been on the already brilliant soundtrack. I can only imagine Charlotte and Alice awkwardly swaying off beat to these personal favorites:

"Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)
Chic


"Disco Nights"
GQ


"You Can't Turn Me Away"
Sylvia Striplin


"Wordy Rappinghood"
Tom Tom Club


"We Got the Funk"
Positive Force

roll call

Where have I been? Busy.

carry all

Man Tote, Price Upon Request
Pabst Blue Ribbon
The ultimate man tote and it's all mine!

i saw the light

Peek Table Lamp, $29.99
cb2
Don't ask why, but it took me forever to settle on a lamp I liked for my new apartment. It's the only one I wanted for my room, so it had to be jusssssst right. This lamp from CB2 is coolly designed with a partially transparent metallic shade that illuminates my room in a soft, calming light. Now I'm free to see the world!

song of the week: 90% of you

"90% of Me Is You"
Gwen McCrae
1974

Good stuff.