who does he think he is?

Sole Brothers

2010-10-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

It’s often said that the first thing a woman notices about a man are his shoes. I, being a Lover of Women, have amassed a decent (some would say, obscene) “Sneaker” Collection. I am a firm believer that, nothing puts the finishing touch on one’s appearance better than the right (or right for you) choice of footwear.

Imagine how weird Prince would have looked in “Purple Rain” had he traded in his High Heeled Boots for a pair of Chuck Taylor Converse. I don’t think his Purple Trench Coat / White Pirate Frill Shirt / Leather Pants combo would have been the same, had he been wearing sneakers.

Pairing a classic outfit of Dark Denim Jeans and a White T-shirt with slightly worn canvas sneakers just seems right. Especially if those sneakers have been worn just enough to have a great patina to them, so that they are not so clean to be mistaken for brand new. An outfit like that not only feels comfortable, but it looks laid back and relaxed. Hence, the reason the fit described above is a staple amongst human beings aged 5 – 60.

Some of the more sartorially inclined or daring even, tend to use their footwear as a way to make a statement. Or as a way to support the theme of their outfit, either through colour, brand or silhouette. A statement outfit of skinny black jeans, black slim dress shirt an red tie could be topped off by a statement making pair of 24 hole Cherry Doc Marten Boots.

Supporting themes would be something along the lines of a Slim Grey Two-Button Suit, with a pair of Black Canvas Oxfords. A slim suit and a slim shoe. The silhouette of this outfit is very modern or for the stylistically cynical, it’s trendy. But, it still looks good.

One of my “go to” sneakers from my collection is a pair of Leather and Tweed AF1s.

The leather is a rich brown, almost grey-black. The Tweed is classic Harris Tweed and the accents are pale Pink. They look great dressing down a pair of Dark Grey Slacks / White Oxford Button Down Shirt and Charcoal Grey Cardigan. They also work with Dark Blue Denim / random logo T-Shirt / Zip-Hooded Sweatshirt/ Baseball Cap look, which I exclusively seem to be in on my days off in the fall season.

Footwear holds the key to a complete outfit, by having the final say on one’s fashion statement for the day. Most of the time, you are trying to (literally) put your best foot forward.

When I See You…

Fall, Autumn, L'Atomne...

2010-09-30T19:38:00.000-07:00

I have a favourite season. That would be autumn. I enjoy autumn for it’s comfortable days, and cool nights. Not only does it cause people to be very relaxed and in the mood for great conversation and carousing, but it also lends to some great stylistic layering opportunities.

Layering in clothing is important because it’s functional. Fashion and function really do go hand in hand. I’m pretty sure Lady GaGa owns a Parka, because who the hell is gonna go out at night in November in New York City wearing only a Leotard, Fishnet Stockings and Stilettos…even hookers wear Trench Coats.

Layering in the fall helps your body adjust to the temperature change. Take a sweater just incase it gets too cold, or lose the scarf if you get too hot. You don’t have to suffer the elements for the sake of “Looking Good” I would rather look like I’m bundled up for a storm, than have my bare arms wind burnt because my T-Shirt is too nice to be hidden underneath a sweater. Vanity and Style are NOT related.

Layering fabrics is a great way to create different outfits out of a small number of items.
Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean you have to pack away the V-neck t-shirts. (Not that anyone one actually does that. However, if it has bedazzled dragons on it, it should be soaked in bleach, and then tossed in an incinerator) So, put a Cardigan over that V-Neck ( I repeat, no bedazzled dragons!!! ) and grab a nice Tweed Sports coat from a second hand shop. If you still feel exposed to the elements due to your plunging neckline, just grab a light scarf. Preferably in a dark solid colour such a charcoal, navy or black. Add Slacks, or Denim and some classic work boots and your fit is complete.

Now, take the Denim again, lose the cardigan and V-Neck, swap in a Slim Grey button-down shirt, and the outfit has a new life. And you only sacrificed two pieces. Try losing the jacket for the cardigan with the button down, and you have another take on the fit.

How about we lose the Cardigan and scarf, keep the button-down shirt, keep the denim (denim is very adaptable) and grab a Crew Neck Sweatshirt, and a Down Vest. Now, you have a fit that is more casual than the sport-coat/cardigan look, but you really only swapped one of them out for the sweatshirt. Anyone else having as much fun as I am?

So while some of you may be mourning the loss of you tank tops, board shorts and flips flops, I’m excited for hoodies, work boots, scarves and denim. I’ll be ready for the weather and I won’t have to feel as though I’m losing style points for staying attuned to the season.

When I See You...

Fringe Festival Love Letter

2010-06-15T16:17:00.001-07:00

The St.Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival is something I have been
involved with for the last 5 years. In the weeks before graduating
Theatre School, I heard that the festival was looking for Venue
Technicians. I was about to complete a technical theatre based program
and 3 of my friends had already secured jobs as Venue Techs. I wanted
a fun summer gig regardless of how little it paid, so I figured this
could be something fun.
I contacted the Technical Director at the time and told him that I was
interested in a position on his technical team. We had met a couple
months before on a gig and had mutual friends who assured him I was
smarter than the average bear and worthy of a fringe tech position. In
the days leading up to the festival I was initiated into the Montreal
Fringe community. Meaning, I got pretty wasted and learned about the
groups I would be working with and some of the pratfalls that come
with being a technician at the fringe. The fact that I remembered the
names of my fellow crew members after our appropriately named
DisOrientation meetings was impressive enough. How I managed to
survive my first festival was a feat in mental and physical toughness
all on it's own. In that first fest, I mended a broken heart, made
life long friends and formed a great relationship with some amazing
people in the Montreal Theatre community.
It was my first paid technical job and it has opened up doors for me.
It has become a large part of my life and something I look forward to
every summer.
There are only 5 days left to go out ad catch some of the festival.

http://montrealfringe.ca/en

Go have a beer at the beer tent, see a show or hang out at the fringe
after hours party "The 13th Hour" nightly at te Studio Juste Pour
Rire, starting at 1am.

When I See You...

Jean-Pierre Perreault

2010-05-05T18:18:00.000-07:00

Seeing as how writing about artists just out of the blue like this, in this kind of forum, can be tricky in terms of what I can post and what I can not, I will use this space to link to credited sites about the company and share my own experiences with these artists, whether it be as a collaborator, audience member or a genuine "fan". Forgive me if this feels unbalanced or disorganized.

Okay...

So, I work for a Dance company. I am a freelance artist, but also I have a semi-regular gig with a company. Right now we are in the midst of creating a new show that will premiere very soon. We are creating this show at a Choreographic Centre known as Circuit-Est. Circuit-Est has their creation space and rehearsal studios inside a building that has a place in Canadian Contemporary Dance History. The Ediface Jean-Pierre Perreault. The following is taken from the Circuit-Est Website;

The Édifice Jean-Pierre-Perreault

The Anglican Church of Saint-Thomas, built in 1907 and closed in 1949, was used for a few years by a theatre company, Les Compagnons de Saint-Laurent, till it was reverted to its religious vocation in 1953. The Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault purchased the church in the mid-1990s and transformed it into a choreographic space.

A few years later, the foundation just managed to avoid bankruptcy and the choreographic centre had to be closed in november 2004. It was only in January 2008 that Circuit-Est centre chorégraphique moved into the Édifice Jean-Pierre-Perreault, which also houses the Jeanne-Renaud and Peter-Boneham studios, its administrative offices, and those of six of its members and of the Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault.

This building is the home of the Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault. This post is about that Company, and how seeing Jean-Pierre Perreault's work helped shape my mind as a lighting designer while I was learning about myself as a choreographer.

La Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault.

In my first year of university, I found myself in Montreal experiencing dance in ways I never had before. I was 20 years old, and had been dancing since I was 8. In those years leading up to university, I had only been exposed to two Canadian dance companies; La La Human Steps and the Danny Grossman Dance Company. Being in Montreal opened me up to so many new dance experiences, most of them rubbing me the wrong way, or polarizing me. But, in early 2002 I saw a production in the very building I'm working in right now that made something click inside my head. The FJPP performance of Nuit changed the way I looked at Contemporary Dance. The last time I had seen a performance by a company that made me aware of my need to be involved in this art form was in September 1995, when I saw a performance of "Revelations" by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Toronto. (Google that company / show)
But, this night in 2002, I saw things on stage that I never thought I would like. I guess after studying dance so intensely at school the months prior to watching the show, I realized I was rediscovering why I had moved away to study dance.

I was watching something that was affecting me in ways that dance never had before. And at this point in my life, I had been dancing for twelve years. It was happening in the way the dancers moved on-stage, they way they used their voices with out actually speaking, the set and how the stage looked as though it went on forever, and then there was the lighting. I felt as though I was watching a massive gathering of people outside, at night in a city square after a rainstorm.

I was drawn to the staging and the world he had created through his choreography, set and lighting. It stimulated my mind, an had me thinking about ways to create a scene for my own choreography. How could I make a world for my work to exist in? Where are my choreographies taking place? What time of day is it? etc. etc.

When I was applying to study lighting design, I referred to the staging of JOE, Jean-Pierre Perreault's seminal work, in my entrance project. I enjoyed how he was able to totally immerse his dancers and audiences in a world. What I took away from watching his work was the idea that you were looking at human beings on stage and you were emotionally engaged in their lives for that moment on stage. I could be off base by saying that, but that was how I felt watching JOE (which I saw a film version of) and NUIT.

Often when I think about design or am working with a choreographer, I come back to the questions I was asking myself after seeing NUIT. To this day, it affects me, and being here, working on new dance creation, I can't help but feel a child-like excitement. Aside from that excitement, I feel blessed to be in this building.

Needless to say, this artist had a positive impact on me.

Sadly, in December 2002, Jean-Pierre Perreault, the founder and Choreographer of FJPP, passed away. I feel privileged to have seen at least one of his pieces while he was still alive. Without that show, I may not have become a lighting designer, I really believe that.

To learn more about the FJPP please click on the link above, and do some google research.

When I See You...

Selected Canadian Contemporary Dance History Series

2010-05-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

Wow...well, first off, I wish I could find a catchier title for this series...oh well.

Okay, so this series will consist mainly of links and some third party anecdotes I have heard over the years.
Maybe a bit of an explanation for this is necessary. I'm a dancer. Well, technically, I'm no longer a dancer but I'm involved in the Canadian Dance Community. I graduated from university with a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Contemporary Dance, from a program that centred around choreography. After that I went on to study lighting design and since finishing school have worked mainly on the production side of dance, although I have dabbled in performance and choreography as a budding artist.

So, that being said ( and shamelessly plugged ) I wanted to perhaps shed some light on some Canadian Dance Artists you may or may not know of. Whether they are a part of the past, the present or emerging as the future, in this series I'll feature a selection. It may not be definitive or entirely accurate, but hey, this is a blog, not a weekly column or radio show.

I just wanna write about it.

Stay tuned.

When I see you...

putting in work

2010-05-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

I've been away from tis site so long, I'm kinda embarrassed about it.

In the time since my last post, below, I've worked on three shows, travelled to L.A, moved two friends, been offered new contracts and failed to do the dishes.

I get into a busy pattern that involves being absolutely lazy at home, but working hard when I'm not. It makes things awkward with friends, because I can't have them over for drinks or anything because I'm so ashamed of how I keep my pace. So, I'm trying to change that, bit by tiny bit. If I can have the level of organization for my personal space as I do for my professional life, I think I'll be able to lead a more pleasant social life, or at least one with less shame.

So, this is just a little check in post, but part of the spring cleaning if you will, is finding a way to stay up on my twitter a/c and my blog. Utilizing them more for my thoughts and opinions, but also sharing stories about where I'm at and where I'm going.

When I see you...

Did it...

2010-03-12T11:58:00.000-08:00

Got a board...

and went for the coordinated design set up...

Shout out to Justin Brock...peep some Justin Brock footy here

When I see you.

Revisiting an old feeling

2010-03-09T13:05:00.001-08:00

source

It's my birthday soon and I am buying myself a skateboard
I'm turning 29 and I would like to skate again.Again, is not completely accurate.
In high school, I had friends who skateboarded and it was something I had an interest in since I was a kid. I first got on a board when I was 7 or 8 but not really having any kind of motor skills to skate like my cousin and his friends stopped that pretty quick.
So, in High School when people are begining to identify with certain cliques, it was brought to my attention by a girl in my grade that hip-hoppers don't skate. She herself, at the time, was part of a group that had some skaters in it, but it was obvious that she knew jackshit about skateboarding. This was back in 96 so she obviously never watched a Muska video part or watched any footage coming out of N.Y or Philly. Anyway, so with a little slight to my ego I latched on to a less judgemental group. I started inline skating but would still pick up a friend's board to try some tricks. But by the time I left high school I had left both behind with my youth.
Throughout University and afterwards I still felt drawn to skateboarding and the cultures surrounding it. I was being drawn by the nothing to prove nothing to lose attitude that is rampant in skateboarding. In high school that was the biggest draw for me. I never felt that way with the inline community. At a time when I felt I had everything to prove and everything to lose it was nice to feel akin to a skateboard culture that was the opposite. It sounds weird but it gave me hope and confidence at times in high school and university when I didn't feel so confident. But all I had to do was pick up an issue of Transworld and get lost in the imagery of this culture that was speaking to me. I never thought I could give back to it by skating so I got into the art and fashion and spectating aspect. Now, after being obsessed with The Berrics and the Skate video games, I was tempted to pick up a board again and revisit a feeling that I haven't had in a while.

I hope to be kick flipping and pulling shuv-its by the time May rolls around.

When I see you.

Tardy to the Party

2010-02-24T12:14:00.001-08:00

Finally copped the premiere issue of Inventory

I'm excited to go through it. I'm flying out to Thunder Bay tomorrow
so I picked up this and some other magazines to peruse on my flights.

Goodfoot closes...I shed no tears.

2010-02-19T12:58:00.000-08:00

What better way to end a blog hiatus than with a good ole fashioned rant.

So, Goodfoot has closed it doors...

Last March 2009 the location in Montreal closed and I started thinking about a conversation I had with a buddy of mine back in the early winter of 2008. We were talking about our respective retail experiences and I was speaking on my Goodfoot experience, and how it kinda got under my skin. It could just have been me, but I felt that whenever I walked into Goodfoot T.O, I was flat out ignored and treated like more of a bother than anything else. He spoke on similar experiences but only with clerks that didn't know him. He had some people who worked there at the time, so he would get looked after and chill, chop it up all that good stuff. The total opposite from my GDFT T.O experience. That sounded nice. Opposite of the screw faces I got inside GDFT TO .Now, my GDFT MTL experience was closer to his. I only had one bad experience there, and it was actually the last time I walked into that storefront on St.Laurent. And I thought about when I heard the news this week about GDFT closing.

Wrote a song about it, here how it goes;

I was supposed to go by and pick up my P-Rod 2 Tinker Hatfields. I had been in sometime before that, looking for them and in talking to the manager managed to see if T.O had a pair to ship out for me. I stood as he was on the phone with someone in T.O and they made arrangements to ship out a pair of 9.5s to MTL.

So, now I got to pick it up and low and behold, he doesn't have them. He said they shipped out a 10.5 instead.

Now, I'm not confrontational or anything and I don't get heated in public. So, I just said, "Oh Werd, that's shitty". He kinda said sorry, that T.O fucked up, but I couldn't get past feeling like was being treated like a chump. They weren't sending shoes out to MTL for some D.J or some Blogger, they were sending it out for some regular guy, so maybe they said fuck that dude. I'm keeping these for some one who matters...whether or not that was case, I'll never know.(I'll be 100...that is most likely not what happened) However, no concessions were made for myself, the customer. That pissed me off enough to never go back.

But, back to the main point of this e-mail. My buddy an I started talking about the attitudes of the retail employees at some very reputable establishments, like say, Stussy T.O, GDFT T.O to name a few.

We felt, that as young men, and customers that we were being treated with a lack of respect or even, dare I say appreciation.

"Appreciation? Who the Fuck Is you?" Is that what you're thinking?

I'm the customer. I am here to spend money, or find things that I will spend money on today, or in the near future once the check from my job comes in.

This attitude, we felt was going to lead to retail back lash and the implosion of the sneaker head community . 2 years later, it is staring to feel that way. Shit, Union NY closed down in the fall....

I could shop on-line, 'cause my credit is good, but maybe I feel like supporting local shops that carry lines that I identify with and like. But, what keeps me out of some stores like the ones named above are the "Who the fuck are you?" attitudes adopted by the staff. If I'm in your spot and asking informed questions about the merchandise, I should be acknowledged as an informed customer who is not just looking, but is actually shopping and looking for quality in both the merchandise and service.

I felt, and said at the time (I still say this) that GDFT TO only wants to provide a service if you're someone of stature in the community. But which community? The afterhours club scene? To be treated with respect as a customer do I have to have a record deal? A t.v series? A series of underground mixtapes? (I worked retail for 2 years in High School, so I'm not speaking out of turn when I speak of customers and respect etc.)

While all of these people do a great job of extending the visibility of your brand/shop in the community, they do not pull everyone in. I feel like sometimes brands and shops can not look past these "celebrities" when it comes to customer service. It feels like you're fending for yourself sometimes, and feeling like the uninvited.

With recession and changing of fashion trends it's no surprise that a niche sneaker boutique had to make a decision on whether or not to close it's doors. But, the implosion of the industry is being fuelled by the "cool" guys and their attitudes. If the service wasn't lousy and the attitude toward the lousy service not treated like a joke (remember the GDFT Bags and tees that said "I Went To Goodfoot and All I Got Was Lousy Service") then maybe at least one shop could have stayed open to provide the loyal, informed and invigorated customers with the product they want and support.

I always point out the great service at Off The Hook in Montreal. Not only have I been shopping there for years, but I have also introduced numerous people to the store. I am not a rapper. I am not a D.J. I write this blog once in a blue moon. But none of that matters over at OTH. I am the most important thing in the store when I get there. The Customer.

That's my rant.

follow me on twitter...

username: TERmtl

When I see you.

Back in the kitchen...

2010-02-02T15:15:00.000-08:00

Literally

It's Been A Long Time

2010-01-22T13:58:00.000-08:00

I shouldn't have left you...

with out some dope things to look at?

I went a month a a half without blogging. That seems like an eternity, and I had just started.

But, seeing as how there is so much going on in the world right now, not blogging or even blogging at all is a very very minor thing.

Look for tweets, and things to pop up as I think of them, over the next little while. Why?

Because I am tardy to the (twitter) party.

I want to be able to get out a topic or something as I think about it, so that I don't forget it before I get a chance to log it here.

So, yea, I am welcoming myself back.

When I see you.

Silhouette

2009-11-30T14:17:00.000-08:00

I Love Shoes!

No doubt about that. And while I may not have a crazy collection (I have somewhere around 30 different pairs, nothing compared to most sneakerheads) I still appreciate a great sneaker, or boot, or dress shoe. (Don't even get me started on my shoe fetish...I love a woman in spiked heels or boots.......)

What is it that makes a shoe stand out to me? What is it that gives it that "got to cop that" mystique?

The silhouette.

It's pretty much a tenet of design. ( I can only assume...)

At the end of the day, that's all that really matters. That's why Bapestas and Air Force 1s exist on a level field. It's the shape of the shoe. If a shoe looks good, it doesn't matter how much it costs. If the shape stands out to you, then it's a good looking shoe. Anything else, like luxe materials, limited runs or top tier branding is just gravy. The basics of a shoe are the important thing. That's why the Chuck Taylor Converse have had such an impact on popular culture, and so many shoes are made in their image. That's why wing tips are found in office's, at weddings, in casino's and courtrooms.

Here is my favourite original and similar (or blatant) silhouette.

Nike Air Jordan 3

JB Classic Scarface

Some more favourite "Silhouettes"

Red Wing RW1

Nike Sportswear Air Yeezy

Supra Skytop

Air Max 90

Air Max 95

Adidas Superstar (Shelltoes)

Nike SB P-Rod 2

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When I see you...

Style Inspiration Series 4

2009-11-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

Shout out to HUF S.F!

It's funny how somethings that are at one time part of a counter culture movement can come to the very front of the culture it was turning away from. When skateboarding started in the 70s (as we know it now) it was viewed as an activity by burnt out st one r surfers to do when the waves weren't hitting. Fast forward more than 30 years and it is a culture that drives commerce and dominates mainstream fashion (too many brands to link too, just trust me) and media (ditto).

I remember back in High School, when I was heavy into "extreme sports", like in-line and skateboarding, some of my more melanin proficient friends told me I was acting "white". They didn't know I first tried skateboarding when I was 7, and my black cousin was the one who taught me how. It's funny how little they actually knew about me or skateboarding. Thanks to Paul "P-Rod" Rodriguez, Terry Kennedy, Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco and countless others ( I see you Eric Koston, Daewon Song, Stevie Williams, Kareem Campbell, Ray Barbee, Christian Hosoi, Steve Cabalero & Chris Pastras et.al) skateboarding has always been accepted (mostly) by "non-whites". More so than the excitement of the sport, it's the style and fashion attributed to the sport that has been picked up upon in recent years. And there's no doubt that those guys I mentioned above have style . Shit, Chris Pastras is a spokeman for WeSC, Pharrell owns Ice Cream/BBC, P-Rod is the Michael Jordan of Skateboarding both in ability and exposure and Steve Cabalero has one of the most successful (read:popular) Signature Skate Shoes of all time. I hope this doesn't seem like too much of a digression, but I felt it could add some depth to the post, y'know, before I get to posting related photos that I found on the interwebs. Even though I could probably write an essay on the impact skateboard culture has on our mainstream pop culture...hmmm...nah, who has the time? (Maybe I should find the time...)

Stolen from the interwebs!!!!

Nike SBs are amongst some of the most coveted limited edition sneakers

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Supra has smashed the market with their Skytops and NS (Non Skate) Collaborations, and mainstream clothing lines sponsor professional skateboarders.

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Thank God I never listened to anyone in High School to tell me how I should be acting or dressing, or doing...or else I wouldn't have know who this guy was (it's Stevie Williams...) when I saw him at Supreme L.A. DGK All Day!!!

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I never really let my affinity towards skateboard culture go. Instead I grew up, and found ways to keep it with me. Shout out to The Hundreds! Shit, I may even buy a board this summer and see if I can still kick-flip. (disclaimer: that is NOT me busting out the kickflip -heelflip?- on The Hundreds deck)...go visit www.theberrics.com if you need a daily skateboarding fix. Bangin'!!!

When I see you...

Beard Inspirations...

2009-11-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

It's late fall, we're gearing up for winter and my winter beard has been in full effect for two weeks. I'm talking about a Vincent Chase without a movie deal kind of beard, a Gil Grissom CSI beard, a Sam Roberts "Where Have All The Good People Gone" beard...get the picture?

I enjoy the winter beard, often find myself scratching it as a way to pass the time, wondering to myself if I look like a vagrant...but, still I keep it. Helps me to feel more of my age, or at least more so like a man who can actually grow a beard. I don't have to shave for an office job, so as long as I keep the beard clean and even, it's not an issue. Plus, the feeling I get when the sucker comes off in the spring (or whenever I get tired of it) is amazing. It's not terribly difficult to part with so who knows how long I'll keep this one around. I have been known to start a winter beard in the summer, when I'm working a 20 day contract that only allows time to eat, drink and sleep outside of work, but the actual winter beard is something to behold.

A big beard can either make you look like you are down and out or enjoying a laid back lifestyle. I like to think that my own beard is the latter and not the former.

So...this post is dedicated to those beards which give me the courage to wear one in order to keep my baby face shielded from the elements but more imporatantly, allows me to be a lazy m*&$%erF%#*er for about 6 months...

The Boss (pretty much what I'm aiming for this winter)

?uestlove

Pacino

George Clooney in "Syriana" (a down and out beard)

Zach Galifianakis

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When I see you...

Style Inspiration Series 3

2009-10-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

Just drove through La Belle Province and part of New Brunswick and back into Quebec...so, now I got my feet up and my laptop open. I need a distraction from some bullshit, (not work related) so, I'm down to blog about .......

James .muthafuckin'. Bond

I'm a Sean Connery fan, but Daniel Craig is a close second ( And since he is the modern Bond, he is the new style inspiration). George Lazenby did a great job in his only appearance, Pierce Brosnan was fantastic (save for "Die Another Day"), Roger Moore had a great run, and as for Timothy Dalton, well at least "Licence To Kill" was pretty bad ass....

So, why James Bond in a Style Inspiration post? Aside from Gadgets, Bad Ass Weapons and Dope Whips, Bond is outfitted by MI6 to look like a British Business Man (Universal Exports anyone?), of high standing. The character of James Bond had swagger before Soulja Boy learned how to turn his on... James Bond has OG Style status.

Bond (or Bonds, if you wanna get technical) have always been styled as men who know about the finer things in life, but can still keep their priorities straight. For example, if they were chasing some bad guy on a roof top and took a bullet to the arm, the fact that their Brioni Tux just got a gaping hole ripped in it with blood stains to boot, would not deter them from their mission. Instead, they would focus on the fact that their Walther PP7 has only two bullets left and they need to make their next shot count. Also, he would never dream of leaving his cuff links behind in the hotel suite of some bird he just cut it up with. He's carefree, but not reckless. Polished, but not spoiled. Well dressed, but not overly styled. The perfect blend of confidence, style and attitude.

For me, the most important thing about James Bond's style is that he is always dressed for the occasion, and no occasion is ever deemed "casual". This is probably what I try and take from Mr.Bond the most. Because I never know when I'll be out at a casino, playing black jack against an international arms dealer, of whom I trying to get more information about after sleeping with his disgruntled mistress in an attempt to gain access to his private chalet/evil lair, so that I can download his client list in order to make an arrest in the name of Her majesty's Secret Service. Let me have my dreams...

Read this article if you want a complete breakdown of Bond Style in terms of clothing. (in a way more organized way than this post)

I'll just leave you with some inspiring images...

Style Inspiration Series 2

2009-10-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

Two posts in a day? Yea, well...there ain't much to do yet.

Today I visited the venue for 30 mins had lunch and then drove out to Schenectady, New York (I had to pick up some people).

So, I'm back in the room, (Half) watching Cash Cab so I figured, "why not put up a next post?".

My last post (i.e first ) on the subject of style inspiration I dealt with the Rat Pack / Clooney Crew Ocean's 11 look.

This one, I'll focus on a celebrity who I've been taking subtle (or maybe not so subtle) cues from for

almost 10 years.

Ladies & Gentlemen!

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell is my everyday style inspiration, pretty much.

I can't front. I don't model myself after him, literally, but I'd be lying if I said I dress nothing like him. The Pharrell outfit posted above, is pretty much my preferred day to day

look if I'm not working. Like a day off, going to see a movie, going out for drinks or a casual lunch.

Now, this is not hard for anyone to achieve, as most guys I know own New-Eras, Jeans, Sneakers and t-shirts. I've seen

so many trends for men come and go since I hit puberty, that it is easy to look like a tool by following them all blindly.

(Why are guys still wearing Puma racing Boots, Flared Denim & Ed Hardy?...no, seriously, why?)

Pharrell never followed the trends, instead, he heavily influenced many of them.

T r u c k e r h a t s i n t h e e a r l y 2 0 0 0 s

Bapes

Skateboard culture in Hip-Hop

Rapper x European Fashion label collaborations.

Pharrell has always been at the forefront by just being himself.

No oversized Tees.

No Throwbacks.

No Ed Hardy.

Just comfortable, understated confident style.

So, by modelling myself off of this guy, I guess I'm just a big poseur, right?

Well, in my own defence, I grew up in a West Indian house hold, had a group of friends whose racial diversity could rival the

United Nations, and had personal interests ranging from d.j to contemporary dance and basketball to skateboarding (& in-line skating...

yes, I was a fruit-booter. However, I learnt how to ollie & kick-flip, before I ever took up in-line.)

So, as I was maturing and building my own personal style, I felt like I could not decide on whether I was supposed to

dress like a rapper, a choreographer (read: Artist) or a skater.

Seeing Pharrell bring his diverse background into his public persona, gave me the confidence to do so as well.

He is always dressed for the occasion, understands fashion and style and has great taste. Not a bad person to take fashion

cues from at all.

Plus, I know I wasn't the only one paying attention.

However, more often than not, I try not to copy Home Boy.

Some things are best left up to celebrities.

Yesssuurrr!

I'll leave you with some more Pharrell...

*pause*

When I see you...

My Style Inspiration Series

2009-10-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Okay...

Been away for a long time. I'm out on the road, and figured this would be a great way to pass idle time in the hotel room(s) for the next little while...

I love fashion. Not in the detailed, educated critical way that someone who studied at Parsons or who attends any city's fashion week does, but in a very dedicated and curious way. I enjoy a well put together outfit on a lady and can tell when someone is a hot mess. And, I enjoy staying on-top of what's going on for each season, and how the basics can be applied from season to season.

All this being said, while I do take cues from people in the fashion industry and certain celebrities, I am not about just lifting entire looks from people or trends, but taking inspiration from the fashion world and applying these cues to myself without looking out of sorts.

So...over the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting about these people, movements, brands etc.

Enjoy (or don't)

1. Ocean's 11 (The Rat Pack & Clooney's boys)

Gambling & Grifting in Vegas. Grown men dressing like grown men. No lazy t-shirts, or cargo shorts. No sport wrap sunglasses or New-Era fullbacks. (Although, there is nothing wrong with New-Eras, seeing as I have about 10 different ones in full rotation, however, no DC caps.)

These movies make me want to wear a suit every day. Or at least a tailored sport coat and shirt. The reason why these two crews took Vegas by storm was their confidence. (pun intended) In a suit, you can get away with anything.

Now, I only own one suit, but whenever I wear it, I feel like I've got a Black card in my wallet and my Maseratti is parked out back.

If I could afford to and I had a job that called for it, I'd rock a suit everyday. Probably some suits like this YSL one or this Valentino joint.

Awww yea! And I guess I'd need a top coat for winter, shoes, sunglasses & accessories.

That was a huge digression...but, I think you get the idea.

werd

Linkage

2009-10-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

Last week was a very busy but successful work week...and now I'm back in my blog-o-sphere...

A few links to get my feet wet again...

10Deep! Fall 2009 Delivery Pt 2...always on point...check the Lookbook here.

Malin Akerman went to Dante!? damn...I shoulda dipped over there more often in High School.

Shouts to Esquire

Supra Holiday Release: Antwuan Dixon's Clean Pro-Model in a new Colour Way Via Hypebeast

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When I see you...

Werd

Esquire Big Black Book Fall 2009

2009-10-02T21:53:00.000-07:00

It's on Newstands now

Go cop that, and get your game up this fall...

werd

Go See Some Dance...

2009-09-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

I've been busy working....

BUT,

If you're in Montreal there are a couple dance shows happening this weekend...

Check them out...

Danse Bussonnieres at Tangente

and RubberbanDance Group's Post Hip-Hop Project.

Check the Gazette article on the PHHP here.

Werd...

Weekend Linkage

2009-09-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday morning. What do you do on Saturday morning?

Does it depend on what happened Friday Night?

I either wake up with a head ache and crawl out of bed or I get up and go to work.

Today, it's the former but I'll also post some links I found on the interweb this past week.

That's what we do here at "Who Does He Think He Is?"...Weekend Linkage

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Marcus Troy shows The Narcicyst love...make the jump for details and a contest!

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The men of OVO (October's Very Own) posted some of Drakes latest videos this week...up to 9 this year, I think.

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The Phoenix Sunglasses finally dropped at The Hundreds...I hope Off The Hook stocks these...

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Speaking of hopeful stock hitting Off The Hook soon, Clae 2nd delivery.

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Nike SB revealed the Omar Salazar Pro Model for Spring 2010

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(shouts out to HighSnobiety)

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A beautiful woman walking via The Sartorialist

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Another big week at the Berrics...Dante Ross, Reda & Jaime Thomas..and who could forget the Billy Marks Battle Commander...

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Try this instead.

'til we meet again!

3Sixteen Fall 09

2009-09-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall....

Probably my favourite season, fashion wise. I can cover up the beer belly I built up during the summer, dress in layers, or put on a hoodie and not sweat my brains out...sweet.

3Sixteen dropped their Fall lookbook back in August, like most brands, but seeing as how this blog started three days ago, why not give one of my favourite brands love.

These guys first got on my radar back in 2006 with the "Cousins" T-Shirt. The evolution of this brand over the past couple of seasons has been great to watch. At my age, I can't keep "dressing like a rapper" as others have told me I often do and the pieces 3Sixteen have this fall could help step my (your) grown man game up.

Pea Coats, Duffle Coats, Cardigans, Oxfords, Denim, Tweed etc...dope, dope, dope, dope, dope and dopeity doped dope!

Check it out under collections Fall 09 @ 3Sixteen

Shouts to Individual Sole for the Archive pull

Penfield @ NORML

2009-09-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I wanted post some of Penfield's Fall 2009 collection, but couldn't figure out how to. Luckily, the internet is all about information and Tiger Distribution posted about the Penfield Pop-Up shop at NORML, in Ottawa.

Penfield knows how to do classic North American Outerwear. Some dope pieces here, especially the vests, like the Stapleton Tweed and the Outback Melton or Plaid. ( The plaid reminds me of a simlar piece from Fall 2008 by The Hundreds )

Check it out, and if you live in the Capital City, hit up NORML and get fresh.

If your in MTL, I know the crew at Off The Hook got some in for this season.

Source: Tiger Distribution

Vincent Tsang

Individual Sole

The Hundreds

DQM Fall 2009

2009-09-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

New York in the fall...

The DQM (Dave's Quality Meats) Fall 2009 Lookbook is up on the re-vamped site.

Crazy Dave & the homies bring out flannels, snap backs & t-shirts for fall.

Via: High Snobiety

Intro & Fall 2009 Favourites

2009-09-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hey...

The inaugural post...

Fall is upon us...even though it kept interrupting the summer time.

So get out your hoodies, vests, cardigans, longsleeve henleys & oxfords,Flannel (Two seasons longer than i originally thought) denim, khakis, leathers and anything tweed.

Shoooot...grab a toque for the evenings.

Earth tones and greys

Layers ya'll...layers

Some brands are trying to hook you up proper for fall...

Like:

Ransom

Source : Ransom

Robert Geller X Levis

Source: Hypebeast

Just to name...two

Get out there and hit up your local hook-up...

I'm a head out to Off The Hook.

We're gonna keep chasing looks and checking out whatever else draws our eye.

More to come!