Astral Boutique's blog

Muu Muu Guru

Internet! Wake up! I have risen from my torpor for another edition of Boyz Noize!!

The summer heat has finally arrived at the Astral Boutique headquarters and it's time to re-evaluate our wardrobe choices. Just a few blogs ago I was espousing the virtues of vests, ponchos and sandals with socks- now I must recant! It's too damn hot to wear anything but a shirt and shorts! Maybe keep your vest nearby in case it gets chilly at night and a poncho is good since it doubles as a blanket but socks are officially on The List until further notice. Let those toes breathe!

While we're talking adequate ventilation, it's time to take the ultimate plunge- we must boldly go where no well-dressed human has ventured before- set the controls for the heart of the Muu Muu Zone!! Yes, the ginormous, eye-bursting, utterly tropical Muu Muu will become a staple in the summer wardrobe of the truly adventurous. Trust my prescience, dear reader, and begin to feel breezes where you've never felt them before.

A Google image search of "Man Muu Muu" yielded exactly ZERO images! That kind of pioneering fashion spirit can't be bought, people, it can only be embraced by the truly brave. While caftans and dashikis ride high on a wave of ethnocentric largesse, the playful Muu Muu retains it's outsider status. I'll start with a few images culled from Etsy for how ladies can embrace this much-maligned article then move on to the lads. By the way, Muu Muus are all over Etsy- if you need one, you can find it there. Curiously, they're almost all displayed on mannequins and showroom dummies- as if the store proprietors were scared to rock these things. Give them life! Make them move and sway in the air-conditioned breeze!

First off, the dread sistren of Rogue Retro knows color when she sees it- this is just one of the many Muu Muus on offer there-

It's amazing to me that society was once so playful and carefree that these fabrics were ever mass-produced. Come back, 1967! All is forgiven! If this is too psychedelically ethnocentric for you city folk, perhaps you can take a swing at a more sophisticated, tiki-oriented vibe like this young lady from FabGabs-

Summer elegance is yours to grasp, if you dare. 

Now, for the lads, it's time to take yet another lesson from cosmic jazz pioneer Sun Ra who publicly lamented the dearth of loose, flowing garments for men. Thus, he had custom robes made for the entire Arkestra- hand-made from sparkly metallics and glittering rayons. Just look at this picture-

Doesn't he seem to be saying "Take my hand- follow me to a magical land of music and fabric!" In all things from music to fashion to philosophy, it is good to follow Sun Ra's lead- you will not be disappointed! I even took some PhotoShop liberties to see what I would look like in a Muu Muu- I think you'll find the results very enticing.

You won't see such pioneering outfits in Williamsburg, people! But you may, perhaps, see it on the streets of Springfield-

So hit the thrifts, hit the beach and hit the fashion nail on its multi-colored head with Muu Muus this summer- your body and mind will thank you!

Boys Noize out! Peace to my beaches.

 

New York New York New York

Hello Internet! Last week we rewarded the hard working staff at Astral Boutique/Boys Noize LLC with a movie night! We even bought them popcorn as long as they signed an argeement to blog about it. We rented a small jitney bus and trucked the staff of 20 interns, volunteers and creative directors off to Nevada City's own Magic Theatre- a great little art-house that specializes in blowing minds and opening eyes to the wide, wierd world of cinema. They organize the annual Nevada City Film Festival every year which is coming up very soon & is a great excuse to visit the NC & get drunk.

On that particular movie night we were drunk on FASHION! More specifically, the world of fashion as seen thru the eyes of New York Times Street Style photographer Bill Cunningham in the totally engrossing "Bill Cunningham's New York". It's kind of hard to completely describe what he does- yes, he's at least 80 years old & has been shooting candid photos since the mid 1960s and he still rides a bike through the busy streets of Manhattan which made the whole theatre wince as he dodged one wayward taxi after another. He shoots collections, street style and after-hours parties relentlessly zipping from street corners to other continents and back again with no excuses and no compromises. Most importantly, his attitude toward clothes and the people who wear them was really inspiring. As someone who's been involved in fashion forever, he's seen every possible trend come and go but he's still enthusiastic and totally unapologetic about what he does. The characters who parade across the screen are fully in touch with the transformative power of clothes and they dress every day as an exercise in stating their individuality in a city populated by millions. Of course, Cunningham's favorites are at the farthest outer worlds of the fashion universe- high powered grand dames who've transformed their daily existence into artistic statements. Hate skinny, blank faced supermodels? Chill with Bill's bestie Iris Apfel-

If her style is too restrained, try to upstage Anna Piaggi-

It can't be done!

Time and again the co-stars state that clothes are like armour that help them retain their sanity while giving them the freedom to dream and create. For me, the film was like "Scott Pilgrim" or "The Devil Wears Prada" in that it was a complete universe that I wanted to live in forever then the credits roll and you return to reality with an underwhelming thud. All this would be frivolous window dressing if it wasn't held together by the iron-clad levity of Cunningham himself who comes across as a genuinely sweet guy who won't settle for anything less than perfection. As an expatriated New Yorker, it made me homesick for the days of monolithic buildings and infinite hustle. Peep the trailer for a glimpse of what goes on-

And while I'm here, I'd like to nominate 2 of my own favorite looks for the lads- the first courtesy of New Orleans juju legend Dr John, the Night Tripper himself-

Of course, no outfit is comlete without a battered Telecaster with a Bigsby tremolo.

And another good look for doods in the mood is courtesy of alt-rapper K-OS. I havent heard his jams but I'm feelin that poncho yo-

Aight- now go forth and make your stretch of sidewalk a better looking place.

Bill Cunningham's New York is coming soon to Netflix, just be prepared to show up at work the next day wearing a feather boa. Boyz noise out!

Vested Interest

Boys Noize with Chris.

One of my new years resolutions this year was to start wearing vests. Thus far, exactly half-way through the year, it's been a total failure. I've worn a vest exactly once, on an aborted road-trip to Sacramento in mid-March. Sash and I made it as far as the Auburn Target before deciding we didn't really want to go all the way to Sac & turned around. Vest fail!!! While the more flamboyant vestiges of sartorial elan were drubbed out of me at an early age on the mean streets of Pleasanton, I still think vests are acceptable on men. I don't know what possessed me to want to wear a vest but I still haven't given up on the dream. Maybe I just want to keep my midsection warm while leaving my arms free to flail. Maybe sleeves are totally last year. Maybe I just can't be bothered to do the whole "shirt thing". Whatever- vests are an easy way to get snazzy without going overboard. 

A big inspiration lately has been those pioneering folk-rock hair farmers the Byrds. Their many musical phases were always accompanied with great fashions- from the green velvet capelets of early David Crosby-era to the burnt-out trucker look of their later years- the Byrds are the invisible backbone of decades of countercultural style. Here's a good example of middle-period Byrds style- an outtake from their grossly under-rated "Dr Byrds & Mr Hyde" record.

Tell you the truth, they changed band members so many times, I don't even know who's wearing the vest. Dig the symbolism of the pile of space-suits in the foreground. The Byrds returned to Earth, soon to be reinvented as cowboys.

As far as other vest options, let's check out both ends of the spectrum- or should I say "Vestrum"!? First, the bad news- anyone in a vest runs the risk of going full Ren-Faire- which is great if you're spending the weekend sipping ale from a horn while singing bawdy songs of yore but probably really isnt the look you're going for at Starbucks. Just ask this guy-

Ooops! I'll have a Venti Machiato with a leg of mutton bro!

This look is probably the number one deterrent for men in vests. On the plus side, it's vaguely pirate-looking and pirates are still in this year, right? Right? Urrrr- anyway- the good side of vests have always been exploited by the rockers & punks. Anyone within walking distance of a university has probably seen the crusty punks in their crusty vests asking for change. Heavy metal rocker vests with loads of patches & spikes are essential for headbanger cred. Even fashion magazines like to get punk with their vests as this very attractive androgynous person in a vest proves.

Nice eh? If you can read the fine print you will see this is not a vest at all but a "Burberry Prorsum sleeveless leather jacket" and it retails for $4,795! You'd think for almost five grand they could at least throw in some sleeves! But no- this is vest weather- it was the vest of times, it was the worst of times. In the grand scheme of things, I may, or may not wear a vest for a second time this year- it may be punk, it may be country, it may just be a good ol' sleeveless leather jacket, either way, it'll be another stab at making the world a little better looking place. On the other hand, maybe I should just take some advice from Michael Cera in Superbad (or was it Role Models?) when he said...

Thank you very much! Make sure to tip your waitresses!

Dude alert!

by Chris

Hello Internet!
A few weeks ago Sasha & I were sipping Italian sodas at a sidewalk cafe when she asked me the question that all men hope their wives will someday ask them. She said, "Chris, do you want to do a weekly column for my blog?" After haggling over deadlines, compensation, creative control, content supervision and who was gonna pay for the Italian sodas, I enthusiastically said "OK!"
Just that morning I’d been doodling different ideas for summer outfits which I scanned and annotated here for the first installment of Boys Noize. They seem to be going from casual to ludicrous counter-clockwise from the bottom right so I’ll start there.

The “Groover Magoo” is a mix of 60s and 90s. Summer is the only rational time for tie-dyes- here they’re mixed with big pants- go baggy ala the 90s but keep the material light- no one wants to wear a tarp. Men’s clothes are usually made in stiff, unbearable fabrics under the pretense of durability- get your pants vintage or thrifted so they’re already broken in.
The “Chill Bill” is another good pre-Summer look- get a pair of slim, light pants & chop them off about mid-shin. Add some black Winos from K-Mart and another tie-dye shirt & you’re basically set for inclement weather and rocky trails while still keeping it breezy. Note this is the only look without a long beaded necklace. On a recent trip to New Orleans we noticed all the boys wearing lots of necklaces- essential for sprucing up an ordinary outfit plus they give you a kind of talismanic/Captain Jack Sparrow vibe. I’m partial to tiny, multi-colored beads- kind of like the Love Beads of yore. All these looks are fairly hippie-centric but hey, it’s summer, you gonna wear a suit to the beach?
The “River Rat” is for full-on Summer use. I’m big on striped t-shirts this year. I got a bit burnt out on all the crazy, massive illustrations and over-cooked designs. Stripes keep it simple & interesting without assaulting the eyes. Plus they invoke the shoe gazer/Madchester vibe of the 90s- which was a pretty Summer-y scene. I recently wore a pale blue/navy striped t shirt from Banana Republic which I’d thrifted and Sasha said “I like that shirt- you look like a prisoner from the Civil War!” I was going for a French film auteur in mid-60s Saint Tropez but I’ll take Civil War in a pinch. Note again the long necklace(s), flip flops, cut-offs and a wide-brimmed hat. I’m finding cut-offs kind of essential since most new shorts look custom made for the golf course- which is cool if you’re playing golf.
The final look is for the dog days of August and early September when it’s so hot no one cares what you’re wearing and you just need to cool off. Cut-offs (preferably from old denims) and a striped tank-top. Girls get to wear tank-tops all summer so just follow their lead- plus they give you a good excuse to get (or show off) some tattoos. A close observation will show the “Duder Magruder” is actually wearing socks with flip-flops- an impossibility in the summer heat but a nice change for cool September nights. Socks and sandals are universally reviled in the fashion community which is a great reason to wear them whenever you want. Double-bonus points for having socks with a good pattern. Any color is acceptable as long as its not white. White socks will get you nowhere in this world.