Style on the Street… thank god for friends.

Every day on my lunch break, I walk downtown for an hour to look for stylish people to photograph.  Usually, if I am lucky, there will be one or two people that are worth taking a picture of.  The last 3 days, I have found absolutely no one. Not one.  There seemed to be a drought of fashionable people in Victoria.   Luckily, today I ran into a friend of mine who is always well put together.

The fedora and RayBan’s are cool, the cuffed skinny jeans and moccasins are great, and once again, I have further proof that Cowichan sweaters are in style. Thanks for the photo-op, Maia, I was starting to lose faith in Victoria fashion.

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Style on the Street

Another of the stylish ladies from the American Apparel store in Victoria, this outfit is seriously adorable. I like the contrast of the military jacket with the dressier stockings, top and skirt.  A great style find on a cold winter day, where most of the city was overrun with atrocious Ugg boots. I even saw a girl today who was photo worthy until I looked all the way down to her feet and saw she had ruined a great outfit with Ugg boots.  Oh well.

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Style on the Street


I am annoyed with myself, because this outfit is  really cute, but I wasn’t paying enough attention and the focus of the photo is totally off…soooo, I played with photo effects, not sure if it made it better or worse.  Anyways, this young lady told me this was her Valentine themed outfit, which is cool.  I like how the outfit is a bit hipster, but still flattering. Too often hip = poor fit.  Also, everything she is wearing can be found at the store she was working at, American Apparel.

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Style on the Street

This is Ian, he is the best dressed person that I know.  This is not flattery, it’s just a statement of fact.  I envy his closet, and his staff discount.   He has had a few style blogs, one called Fashion Du Jour which chronicled what he wore every day for a year… outfits were rarely repeated. It was impressive.  He now has a new blog called The Fashion of Tin Tin, which is exactly what it sounds like.  Check it out.

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NewWaveFashionSlave

Put on your Diamond Ring(s)

John O’Regan is channeling Ziggy Stardust while listening to Cut Copy.  Yes, the zebra tights and purple Air Force Ones might be a bit much, but fashion starts on the edges and extremes, and then gets watered down and eventually makes it to the rest of us. You may have actually seen John’O before he glammed up, as he was the lead signer for Canadian hipster rock band the D’Ubervilles – though you may not have recognized him behind the glasses and toque.

Let there be electro!!….

Whether you’re into the music or not, this guy adds something to the sea of “earth tones” in fashion right now. Fuck I hate earth tones. Diamond Rings music reminds me of new wave songs like “Under The Milky Way Tonight” or “The Killing Moon“. I dig John O’s voice – he can actually sing, unlike so many of the mass produced singers (I’m looking at you, Justin Bieber) that are popular today.

Oh, and surprising fact…queer as his “Diamond Rings” persona is, he’s straight. Didn’t see that one coming, did ya?

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Style on the Street

I saw this fellow on my way home from work.  Pretty much everything happening here is rad.  You can’t tell from the photo, but that is a gold-flake helmet.  Awesome.  An 80’s leather jacket and a cafe-racer style motorcycle, and it’s a good day.

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Robin makes better jeans.

Robin Cretien makes jeans that make women’s assets look good. Damn Good. He makes mens jeans as well, I own a few pairs myself, but I’m not so interested about waxing poetic about men in pants. There are very few pairs of pants that I would be willing to drop three bills on, but I really do love Robin’s Jeans, and when I can afford it, I’m happy to pick up a pair of these fine fitting pants.  They are well styled, but not overly be-dazzled, and once they’re broken in, they are the best fitting jeans I own. On top of that, the denim is way higher quality than your everyday pair of Levi’s, and I’ve found that they will last 2-3 times longer. These jeans are sexy as hell and worth every penny.

There is only one place that you can get Robin’s Jeans in Victoria, and that is down (up?) at North Of Wednesday on Johnston St.  I bought my wife a pair from their boutique for Christmas, and they make her ass look fantastic, and put a smile on her face. (and remember: “happy wife, happy life!”).  Anyways, here are a few words about Robin, and some shots from the collection:

Born in Lyon, France Robin has always been immersed in a creative environment. His mother a talented fashion designer and his father an artist, always encouraged his creative talents and dreams; and Robin was a big dreamer. Intrigued by airplanes, flight and the freedome of the blue sky, he began to spread his creative wings at a very young age and by sixteen he started translating those big blue dreams into big denim fashion realities.

Robin arrived in Los Angeles in 1996. His talents, youth and good looks caught the eye of the best denim companies in Los Angeles. At a time when most denim was designed around basic styles, Robin’s attention to fabrics, washes and detail made him the man with the Midas touch and it was not long before he began to soar. Designing for Blue Cult, followed by head designing Hudson Jeans, the name of Robin Chretien flew quickly to the top of the best denim designer’s list in the United States.



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SUPAKITCH & KORALIE

I liked this a lot. Good art.

SUPAKITCH & KORALIE – VÄRLDSKULTUR MUSEET GÖTEBORG from elr°y on Vimeo.

Wall painting by Supakitch and Koralie at the VÄRLDSKULTUR MUSEET GÖTEBORG

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FOE Magazine – West Coast Expression

I love when people start something fresh, creative and original.

My friend Taylor Leigh has started something that encompasses most of the things that I enjoy in life: art, fashion, dangerous sports and west coast lifestyle.  Enter FOE (freedom of expression) Magazine.

From Taylor:

FOE Magazine (Freedom Of Expression) is Vancouver Island’s first expressive magazine catering to the different arts, cultures and extreme sports on our own gem that we call home. FOE Mag brings you a collaboration of everything that is awesome in life; art, artists, culture and lifestyle, the freedom to express, skateboarding, surfing, mountain biking, BMXing music and the list goes on. This puppy is yours, so write in and tell us what you want to see, or if you have any bright ideas that need the attention of fellow Islander’s.

So, to understand FOE, and why it is awesome, you need to understand Taylor Leigh a little bit.  Now, Taylor is good at stuff.  Real good.  We first met when we were but young men, riding bicycles meant for children.  While I was content doing “sweet jumps” on my BMX,  Taylor was more into “backflips” and “three-sixty-tail-whips” and such, and basically being extremely talented.  So I see this year that Taylor has expanded his technical and artistic talents and got heavily into graphic and web design. Naturally, Taylor has apparently found something else he’s quite good at, to which it then becomes no surprise that his latest venture – FOE Magazine, is becoming a hit. The first issue has been released, and from all accounts it is much more that a home-press “rag”.  With great photographic contributions, interesting and relevant articles and a good does of art for art’s sake, I think Taylor has something special on his hands.  Check it out here.

If FOE seems like it could be your thing, the next issue comes out in April, and the plan is for the magazine to become a quarterly publication.  I would also recommend taking a look at the FOE Blog as there is interesting content being uploaded on a fairly regular basis.

Now, FOE is also a business, and a brotha’s gotta eat. So show some love and check out their newest FOE reppin’ t-shirts, hoodies and other goodies.

 

 

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Style on the Street

This is Stephan.  He is well dressed almost all of the time.  This photo does not do him justice, and I probably shouldn’t have had him squinting into the sun, but anyways, I can almost always count on Stephan being better dressed than most of the population.  He also makes a mean americano.

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Style on the Street

Saw this fellow while out shooting on my lunch break.  Simple but well put together.  The shoes and cuffed straight leg jeans were most notable.  Well done.

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Style on the Street

Well  done madame, well done.

I like everything about this outfit.  The asymmetrical leather jacket is great, the over-sized collar on the jersey dress (almost a cowl-neck) works with the jacket, and who doesn’t love jeggings? Seriously who doesn’t? ….even on Conan.  Anyways, the bright blue shoes are great, the pockets on the dress are cute, and it looked like the glasses are actually prescription, which is great, because I can’t stand that hipster trend of wearing huge glasses with plastic lenses… except on Toni Lafauci – those are just rad.

 

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Style on the Street

THE LAW OF EXPONENTIAL FASHION – the coolness of an article of clothing is doubled when paired with it’s duplicate. Yes, this even goes for old people and matching track suits. 1 track suit = lame, but 2 matching track suits = awesome.  I should also mention that Cowichan sweaters are cool, and I own two of them myself, not counting the extra small one I’ve had since I was a kid.  When I asked these girls if I could take their photo, they obliged, but let me know that it was the second time that day that a blogger had asked them for a photo op.   Is there going to be a Cowichan sweater revival?

Also, my apologies for the blurry photo, I’m still practicing.

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Sex On Wheels

Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.  ~Hunter Thompson

I love motorcycles. I love them as much as I love fashion.  Not surprisingly, I think that motorcycles and good clothes reside in the same part of my brain.  They are sexy, exciting, expressive and a defining part of my psyche.  Motorcycles and fashion have been tied together for decades. Think Marlon Brando, think Easy Rider. Cool, edgy, exciting. Don’t get me wrong, I love creating clothing, evolving my personal style and sharing my fashion aspirations with others, but nothing gets my heart going like pinning the throttle of a sports bike, hearing the engine wail and taking corners right on the edge of losing it all.  Motorcycle culture has influenced the mainstream fashion industry over the years, with leather biker jackets even making a bit of a reappearance this year.  This is what motorcycle fashion is to me; not leather chaps and silly bandannas, but dark, sexy edgy looks that may not be all that practical for riding, but look damn fine to me.

I found these shots from a Burberry collection.  I like how they took the typical motorcycle jacket and added some style.


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The Sartorialist on Intel Visual Life

My lovely wife found this video posted by a friend on her Facebook page today.  I am a fan of the Sartorialist, and I truly enjoy, as he does, the past time of finding stylish people on the street to capture on film.  This is an excellent short documentary about the now famous  Sartorialist blog. Enjoy.

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Ashely Smith – Gapped Tooth Famous

I haven’t profiled a model on The Style Butcher before, but Ashley Smith has been showing up a lot lately – I even saw her in WAD mag recently (see last photo).  Discovered at a South By South West festival, Ashley has been taking the fashion world on an edgy shooting spree. She carries street wear as well as she does couture, and I think the campaign she did for Sissley (see below) was the shiz. She has a raw edge that I think the industry is really latching on to.  She’s not typically pretty, maybe a little gritty, but she has personality by the pant load.  Bringin the gap (tooth) back!

 

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Terry Richardson Says Get Naked.

Terry Richardson is an enigma.

He has photographed every star you care about, and often adds himself to the subject matter of the photo. He shoots raw, original and evocative photographs.  They are often sexual and provocative, but never boring.  Terry sports a mega-creeper style with his facial hair and 80’s pervert glasses, but there must be something people (women) find irresistible about him, as there is usually at least one near-naked woman in his presence.   Terry is a photographic-stud. And I believe it.  Obviously, I dig his edgy shooting style, and terry is proof that strange can be very cool.

From his site:

Terry Richardson is an international celebrity as well as one of the most prolific and compelling photographers of his generation. Known for his uncanny ability to cut to the raw essence of whomever appears before his lens, Mr. Richardson’s vision is at once humorous, tragic, often beautiful, and always provocative.
Born in New York City and raised in Hollywood, Terry began photographing his environment while attending Hollywood High School and playing in a punk rock band. And he hasn’t stopped shooting since. Terry has lensed campaigns for such clients as Gucci, Sisley, Miu Miu, Chloe, and his editorial work has appeared in magazines such as French Vogue, British Vogue, i-D, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar and Purple, and his impressive list of subjects includes Daniel Day Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Vincent Gallo, Tom Ford, Jay Z, Kanye West, Johnny Knoxville, Karl Lagerfeld, Pharell Williams and many others.

Terry’s work has been the subject of numerous group and one man shows throughout the world, and he has published a selection of books, throughout the world, and he ha published a selection of books, beginning with Hysteric Glamour in 1998, and stretching through his career until his most recent work, a retrospective from Taschen, entitled Terryworld 25th Anniversary Edition.  Terry’s work spans a variety of mediums: he has shot music videos and commercials and is currently working on his first feature film.  Whatever the medium, Terry Richardson continues to prove that he is a true American Original.
And now, some of my favorite from Terry Richardson.

NOTE: BELOW THIS POINT ON THE PAGE IS NAKEDNESS.  LOTS OF NAKEDNESS.  DON’T SAY I DIDN’T WARN YOU.

*of course, all photos care of Terry Richardson*

*sorry for the duplicates below, but I am not re-doing all the photos in this post just to edit the gallery.  But really, it’s just more skin.

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THEOPHILUS LONDON – THE HIPSTER OF HIP HOP

“Its like he crashed a new-wave dance party, snatched the mic from [the] DJ’s, and emceed over New Order and The Cure-with some Fela till 6am” – GQ magazine

 

My wife discovered Theophilus London (yes, his real name, as if that isn’t bad-ass enough already) and introduced me to his music and his fashion forward style a few weeks ago.  This gentleman will be a style icon for this generation, or at least for this year. He mixes retro/classic/hipster/cowboy/preppy/hiphop to look so gad-damn fresh! I think you will enjoy his style and his tunes  And he used Lindsay Lohan in his last web video (say what?) and it didn’t suck! Go Lindsay, you bat-shit-crazy crackhead!  Anyways, enjoy the style and enjoy the slick tunes…

 

Check out his aptly named “This Charming Blog” (an homage to “This Charming Man” by The Smiths), or hop on over to HypeBeast to see a backstage interview.

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Some Like it Hot – Fashion Show 2011

Last Thursday I went and checked out the “Some Like It Hot” fashion show at Upstairs Cabaret.  The show was a great success, with a good turnout and a well run production.  Khloe Campbell did a fantastic job of producing, coordinating and styling the show. I know how much work it is to put on a great fashion show, as I went through it when I put on the Post Future Fashion Show back in June 2008.  I got some good photos (I have no photography talent whatsoever) and had a great time. Did I mention there were lingerie models? Oh, yeah, that didn’t hurt too. All the girls worked it, and the response from the crowd was awesome!  Here is the rundown of what the show was all about from their event page:

A fashion show with a 50’s feel; women’s clothing, lingerie, men’s clothing and shoes! Our model’s will be strutting their stuff to beats by Blondtron and Fatso.
…Blondtron, a local, gone international, female DJ brings a unique sense of fashion and music to the show. Working with designer labels such as Chanel, Blondtron has deep roots within the fashion community. As a tribute to music and fashion, Blondtron will set the night off with electronic style.

The fashion show will highlight classic male and female dress wear with a modern twist. Bliss Boutique represents women’s fashion and is Victoria’s go-to for stylish, vintage-inspired clothing. Charlie & Lee will flaunt the runway in their stunning shoes and coveted lingerie. Citizen Clothing will represent men’s fashion, with their classic James Dean-esque clothing line. A community focused salon, Lab, will be styling the hair for the show and key make-up artists Lindsey Gibson and Aleta Eliasen will be designing the looks. As a unique addition to the fashion show, matching quality with taste, we are delighted to have Heineken as the beverage sponsor for the night.

Here are my photos from the show, and yes, there was a sexy dance party going on at the end…. all in the name of fashion! Enjoy.

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We need more of this: todays best from Lookbook.nu

The hype machine that is Lookbook.nu is vain and awesome.  A lot of what is on the site is hipster garbage, but here and there I find people that, at least in my opinion, have quite the talent for dressing themselves.  I am going to start posting my favorite looks from Lookbook every week or so. I want to promote the looks that I think we should see more of.  Amidst the hordes of jean shorts over tights (seriously, this has to stop, I don’t know who decided this was a good idea) and the girls who still think that tights-as-pants are an appropriate fashion choice (please, cover your bum/camel toe), there are a few jewels of style to be had.  Here are a selection of looks that I found and appreciated this week.  All photos care of Lookbook.nu

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