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!

Comments

[Summer Rose]

Aight- now go forth and make your stretch of sidewalk a better looking place !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's what she say~ed !!

[Summer Rose]

Bill is my muse ❤❤❤

[*winter]

I love Bill... I wish he would follow me around too