#and its personally does not suit my vibe as much as california high does

[ravenwolfie97]

14!! 🎶

a song with the name of a place in the title

- originally i was gonna say "Berlin" by Tokio Hotel but "California High" is a better song of theirs. there aren't many songs with places in em that i can think of readily :0

[rfamess]

This cured my boredom for a little bit. Was making a few new music playlists and thought.. hmm. I wonder what kind of music the RFA listens to? So, I made this. For no reason at all.

What Kind of Music the RFA + V/Saeran Listen To:

Saeyoung/707:

- (I always see people writing that he’d listen to all star or other cringe meme songs because that’s what seems to be his entire personality, but I like to think he has more substance than that and listens to songs that don’t have to do with memes.)

- He definitely listens to rap/hip-hop.

- Can you not imagine him driving down the road in his cars, windows down, music blasting?

- He listens to his music uber loud in his headphones while working.

- His favorite artist is probably Tyler the creator, i mean, how could you not love him.

- Listens to Mac Miller when he’s sad :(

PLAYLIST:

Who Dat Boy - Tyler the Creator

Stutter - Freddie Dredd

Evil Fantasy - Freddie Dredd

Sweatpants - Childish Gambino

Bounce - Logic

Dead Wrong - Notorious B.I.G.

Movement - Oliver Tree

Stick to Your Guns - Watsky

Both - Gucci Mane

No Sleep Till Brooklyn - Beastie Boys

Can I Kick It - A Tribe Called Quest

No Limit - G Easy

Circles - Mac Miller

Broke Bitch - TMG (lol)

Bonfire - Childish Gambino

I THINK - Tyler the Creator

Good News - Mac Miller

I - Kendrick Lamar

FACE - Brockhampton

King Kunta - Kendrick Lamar

Lovely Things Suite: Knots - Watsky

Zen:

- (Similar to Saeyoung, I don’t believe Zens entire personality revolves around musicals, he probably doesn’t listen to them that often imo.)

- I like to think he’s a... well rounded individual when it comes to music

- Listens to anything and everything.

- I could see him listening to the same music as Seven, but is also very into 70s-90s rock like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the like.

- He runs listening to all of his music on shuffle and doesn’t have a specific playlist so there’s never a certain vibe to it— it really is all over the place.

- In addition to Seven’s playlist, here’s Zen’s

PLAYLIST:

Funny Face - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Santeria - Sublime

Badfish - Sublime

The Luck You Got - The High Strung

Dedicated to the One I Love - The Mamas and the Papas

Heart of Glass - Blondie

Come as You Are - Nirvana

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

Machu Picchu - The Strokes

Dirty Harry - Gorillaz

Love of Your Life - Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Adults Are Talking - The Strokes

Bailee - The Licks

Where is my Mind - Pixies

Hurt Like Mine - The Black Keys

Gap - The Kooks

Give it Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand

Hoops - The Rubens

Conquest - The White Stripes

Ten Cent Pistol - The Black Keys

Yoosung:

- Yoosung likes more upbeat music, maybe more new age/alternative pop

- Listens to music every time he tries to study, but usually get distracted by it and starts to sing along instead of actually doing his work

- Is probably trying to branch out of his style, Seven and Zen try to convince him to listen to their favorite genres

- The three of them always argue about who has the best taste in music lol

- He’s constantly wondering if his music is “manly” enough (it’s okay yoosung it’s just music)

- If this dude gets drunk and hears any of this music he goes absolutely wild and dances all over the place

PLAYLIST:

Bambi - Hippocampus

Turn - the Wombats

Paris - Magic Man

Chronic Sunshine - Cosmo Pike

Death of a Bachelor - Panic! At the Disco

Silvertongue - Young the Giant

Brazil - Declan McKenna

Unbelievers - Vampire Weekend

Baseball - Hippocampus

Australia - The Shins

Prune, You Talk Funny - Gus Dapperton

Honeypie - JAWNY

Alien Boy - Oliver Tree

Satellite - Guster

So Young - Portugal. The Man

Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

Circles - Post Malone

Unbearably White - Vampire Weekend

Tiny Umbrella - Coast Modern

Way it Goes - Hippocampus

Electric Feel - MGMT

Jumin:

- this guy has 2 modes and that’s it: classical bitch or music that has words

- He appreciates the fine art of classical music and listens to it when he has work to get done or when he’s trying to relax.

- If he’s in a good mood he’ll put on a playlist that includes “music with actual lyrics!”

- It’s a dad playlist. Billy Joel, Billy Joel, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Beatles, Billy Joel.

- He likes Billy Joel. Jumin has a dad personality you can’t convince me otherwise lol

- He tried to branch out but can get very picky in his interests. “I don’t like this guitar riff— change it”

- Either way his 2 modes are apparent in his playlists

PLAYLIST:

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac

California Dreamin’ - The Mamas and the Papas

Don’t Ask Me Why - Billy Joel

Starman - David Bowie

Miss You - The Rolling Stones

Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest

Come and Get Your Love - Redbone

It’s Too Late - Carole King

Movin’ Out - Billy Joel

A Horse With No Name - America

I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles

Honky Cat - Elton John

Vienna - Billy Joel

The Stranger - Billy Joel

Waltz in A Minor - Chopin

Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G Minor - Brahms

Waltz No. 7 in C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2 - Chopin

Souvenir de Paganini - Chopin

Solfeggietto in C Minor - Bach

Prelude in B Minor, Op. 32, No. 10 - Rachmaninoff

IV. Allegro Molto From Quartet - Yo-Yo Ma

La Fille Aux Cheveux de Lin - Debussy

Porz Goret - Yann Tiersen

Carnival of the Animals: VII. Aquarium - Camille Saint-Saëns

Carnival of the Animals: XIII. The Swan - Camille Saint-Saëns

Jaehee:

- We all know her obsession with Musicals (specifically zens)

- Other than this she listens to...well honestly I don’t know

- Her music doubles as something she can get hyped up with and something she can listen to to relax.

- She loves to dance, so a lot of her songs and just songs that she’ll never be able to refuse to move her feet to!

- She likes the old classics and then she likes Doja Cat. Lizzo? Queen.

- She’s a barb let’s be real please. you can never convince me that she’s not

PLAYLIST:

Adore You - Harry Styles

She - Harry Styles

Call Me - Blondie

Starships - Nicki Minaj

Hey Mickey - Toni Basil

Juice - Lizzo

Say So - Doja Cat

Voulez-Vous - ABBA

Waterloo - ABBA

Cuz I Love You - Lizzo

Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack (LOL the memories associated with this song after Killing Stalking..... hahahaha BUT ITS STILL A GREAT SONG!)

Only - Nicki Minaj

Boss Bitch - Doja Cat

Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac

Beez in the Trap - Nicki Minaj

Woman - Harry Styles

9 to 5 - Dolly Parton

Blame it on the Boogie - Michael Jackson

One Way or Another - Blondie

Tia Tamera - Doja Cat

Truth Hurts - Lizzo

V:

- indie boy indie boy indie boy indie boy

- Cmon just look at him he’s an indie boy

- If you’ve ever met a film student that gatekeeps music, they have the same exact taste but V won’t say shit to make you feel stupid. It’s just music bruv

- If you’ve ever been to an indie concert you know the fuckin dance you know what I’m talking about. he does that.

- Rolls a joint, pops the music off and he paints, does photography, whatever. Either way he straight vibes every single time the tunes come on.

- Low key thinks he has the best music taste. that’s just how dem indie kids roll let’s be real here.

- For some reason knows everything about every type of music. will spew facts about artists and songs at random

PLAYLIST:

Shuggie - Foxygen

Necessary Evil - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Homage - Mild High Club

Another One - Mac DeMarco

Plants - Crumb

What Once Was - Her’s

Heart and My Car - Summer Salt

Cottage Roads - The Walters

Moonlight on the River - Mac DeMarco

Work This Time - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Like Yesterday - Paul Cherry

Call it Fate, Call it Karma - The Strokes

Knowhere - Nick DeLaurentis

Escargot Blues - Guantánamo Bay Surf Club

A Side / B Side - Tipling Rock

Dark Red - Steve Lacy

That I Miss You - Vansire

Top Tier Love - Lonely Benson

Driving to Hawaii - Summer Salt

Taking Up Space - Mustard Service

She’s the Only One - King Guru

Saeran:

- emo boy emo boy emo boy

- We all know it

- As much as I’d love to say he listens to heavy death metal, there’s a part of my mind saying NO he’s not like that.

- Well he is, but he’s got more than a few single interest

- Probably listens to Nirvana, Cage the Elephant, anything similar

- Is always trying to listen to new music

- Kind of sick of Seven blasting his music all the time and listens to the opposite of hip hop whenever possible

- Honestly enjoys all types of music, but sticks to his favorites

PLAYLIST:

- All Apologies - Nirvana

- Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene - Hozier

- Soma - The Strokes

- Black Madonna - Cage the Elephant

- Hysteria - Muse

- Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High - Arctic Monkeys

- I Got Mine - The Black Keys

- Supermassive Black Hole - Muse

- Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers

- Back Against the Wall - Cage the Elephant

- Creep - Radiohead

- Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana

- Demon Days - Gorillaz

- Bulls on Parade - Rage Against The Machine

- Matador - The Buttertones

- Holiday - Green Day

- RIP - The Licks

- London Calling - The Clash

- Loser - Beck

- What I Got - Sublime

[thatschicfashionblog-blog]

Shoes Every Girl Should Own

When it comes to shoes there are so many different types, varieties, styles, and colors for all occasions and types of people. Now these staple shoes for me may be different for you depending on your style and what you consider basics, but overall I went off the most commonly owned basic staple shoes.

1. A Basic Heel

Okay, now this may not be everyone’s cup of tea but as you get older owning a simple heel is important for wearing to job interviews, formal occasions, or parties. There are many options out there when it comes to owning a pair of heels. Personally my go to heel for any occasion is a black or nude block heel with small straps. The reason being because this type of heel is very versatile since it is so simple and dainty. It can be dressed up by being worn with: dressy pants, skirts, a dress, jumpsuit, etc. Or it can be worn more casually with a pair of boyfriend jeans or a simple pant. The heel itself is also more comfortable when it’s blocky because the base of the heel is wider providing more support when walking and depending on heel height lessening your chance of rapid heel pain, if any. This heel is very popular amongst girls to wear during homecoming so there are many places to find one that is inexpensive and will suit your style. For this type of shoe you don’t need to find one that is expensive in order for it to do its job. Now for more of black tie white tie occasions or a serious business vibe go towards owning a classic stiletto heel which ranges from both high end to moderate so you can find/own a little bit of both.

(photo courtesy of: left-Target, right- Nine West)

2. Sandals

Along the line of open toed shoes is sandals. A flip flop is a basic need which almost everyone already owns. It can be found for very cheap starting at $1 and is used for sanitary reasons like when using somebody else's shower, for a day out at the beach/pool, or when just lounging around the house. Sandals, however, provide more support and comfort and are more commonly worn for spring/summer outfits. For me a brown strappy sandal is the way to go. During the spring time a brown or nude colored sandal is the perfect color contrast for brighter colors or floral patterns. Especially if you’re wearing a floral pattern of  lighter colors brown will tend to match more. During the warmer seasons wearing black is more of a harsh and too dark of a color, so if you want to go with a more spring/summer vibe stick to lighter or neutral colored sandals. You will also notice to that brands typically have sandals which come in a variety of lighter and brighter colors.

(photos courtesy of: Nordstrom) 

3. Athletic Shoes

Everyone person no matter how athletic should own at least one pair of tennis shoes. Tennis shoes are often misperceived as being dad like, to colorful, or even not fashionable enough. However there are plenty of tennis shoes out there in the market that come in multiple varieties so you find one that suits your style best. Yes! There are even simplistic, light weight, and trendy ones out there. Just like most people I was also never of fan of really colorful shoes but brands such as Nike or Adidas make some really nice sleek black or white tennis shoes. You always want to have a pair of tennis shoes for the reasons of them being such versatile shoes, you can wear out for exploring a city, when you’re doing lots of walking, running or performing an athletic activity. Overall my favorite thing about athletic shoes is that you can find ones specific to your needs. For example there are shoes specific to running, hiking, or just walking use, and etc.

(photos courtesy of: Nike)

4. Sneakers

When it comes to sneakers this includes shoes like Vans, Converse or your everyday street style shoes. My favorite basic pair which is a staple that everyone already owns are Vans Old Skool a classic for being an everyday use shoe. The black and white combo and style of this shoe literally makes it match with every outfit. Even when scrolling through instagram and finding styling videos I always see girls style their Old Skools with skirts and even dresses. Overall my favorite thing about this shoe is one how it goes with everything, two how long these shoes last, and the style of the shoe including the combo of canvas and suede. Along the lines of sneakers are slip ons. Now these are the perfect swap for a traditional ballet slip on if that it is not your vibe. This shoe is great for wearing with those outfits when you’re not exactly sure what type of shoes to wear. Personally, I believe that the slip on sneakers look best with ankle cut or cropped jeans.

(photos courtesy of: Vans)

5. Boots

For this category I will be talking about three different types of boots. One is the rain boot which unless you don't live in place that gets a lot of rain, is a staple item. Even if you live in a place like California which does not get much rain sometimes the weather patterns are weird and we get those weeks or random days of rain. That is why instead of storing the traditional rain boot which can be bulky and take up space opt for a low cut ankle bootie rain boot. These rain boots will still do the job of keeping your feet dry but they are also a lot less bulkier and lightweight. Also appearance wise I‘d go for the look of low cut rain boots just because of the style. As for over the knee boots, these are great if you want to elongate your legs/body or give the appearance of thinner legs. Now on the spectrum of thinner legs, if you do have skinnier legs then go towards adjustable over the knee boots with ties in the back so it can fit to your liking. Over the knee boots are also more on the girly feminine side for people pair them with dresses and skirts. This is also a great way to add to your outfit if you are feeling lazy. You can always throw on an oversized sweatshirt (with shorts underneath of course) and put on some OTK boots which give the appearance of a more put together outfit. Depending on where you buy the OTK boots is can be both affordable and expensive so buy something which you know will last awhile but for a good price. Finally, every girl must own at least one pair of regular boots. Whether that be ankle boots, boots with heels, combat boots or fuzzy boots such as UGGs owning a pair of boots is a staple. Boots can be worn dressed up or down and are great during the fall and winter time when the weather is colder.

(photos courtesy of: Nordstrom and Asos)

6. Statement Shoes

For this last section, I though I’d throw in something a little extra which is not necessity but something which I know quite a few people own. That is statement shoes or shoes which are life of an outfit. Statement shoes can include one of kind custom sneakers, unique high heels, or out of the norm shoes in general. For example, shoes that are covered in bling, have a uncommon print/design to them, or are very bright color are types of statement shoes which are typically worn with a more plain or monochromatic outfit. For most women this is just an extra in their closet which they prefer to own but even then we all have that one pair of shoes which we only wear for certain occasions or at certain times.

I hope you enjoyed today’s blog all about basic shoes every girl should own because let’s be honest here we all for the most own plenty of shoes and could not go without the ones we wear everyday. Well that’s all for today folks!

Till next time!

-Thatschicfashionblog 👋🏼

[biofunmy]

The Dress Code at Goop May Not Surprise You

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — “I’m buying that shirt,” the publicist said to her boss. It was an everyday office compliment, except the boss in question was Gwyneth Paltrow (“G.P.,” as she’s known at the office), the founder and lifestyle guru behind Goop, which sells crystals, cashmere and much more.

“What tends to happen is I’ll be wearing something and they’ll say, ‘I almost bought that,’” Ms. Paltrow said. “And then they’ll buy it.” Indeed, a recent visit to Goop’s new 57,000-square-foot offices in Santa Monica, Calif., revealed that many of its 250 employees were not just living and breathing Goop, but wearing it, too.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Age: 46

Occupation: founder and chief executive of Goop (and “sometime actress”)

How many Goop products are on you, or in you, right now?

An embarrassing amount. GoopGlow, ingestible. I drink one every single morning. It’s skin care from the inside. And I take my vitamins of course. I’m on the Madame Ovary, the premenopausal, I say without any shame.

The shorts are yours?

They’re G. Label. They’re mine, I made them. And this is a G. Label shirt.

You like a high collar.

I do. A lot of our G. Label has turtleneck or high collar. Some of my friends are like, “Enough already with the high neck.”

Well, forget them. What’s on your wrist?

This is a fitness tracker device. My trainer is a big proponent of walking. So I track my steps, and then three times a day I take loops around the office just to make sure I’m not sitting too much.

How are you doing today?

Today shouldn’t be too bad because I did cardio this morning. I’m already at 7,800 steps.

Amazing.

My goal is 10,000 per day, so I’m good. Yesterday I only did 3,500.

Micere Johnson

Age: 27

Occupation: editorial assistant

I hope you won’t find it terribly insulting if I call your jacket “oversized.”

It’s definitely oversized. I think it’s a laid-back-but-official feeling. This is G. Label.

What is the punishment if you don’t wear G. Label to the office?

I don’t know.

Does the skirt make it into a suit?

Yeah. I like these super-big pockets. I always have my hands in them. And I love the fit. It’s hard for me to find a skirt that sits on my body. They’re always puffing up.

Gucci loafers?

I borrowed these from a friend.

Good friend. What’s around your neck?

This is a chain that I got from Satya. It’s a carnation, and then this is a piece of quartz.

Caitlin O’Malley

Age: 29

Occupation: food editor

Is this what you cook in?

No. This is the new Goop HQ, and the kitchen isn’t ready yet.

Your clogs are not your everyday kitchen clogs.

I used to be in the Dansko family. But I’m also an editor. I’m in meetings. I can wear these with a pair of jeans. I can go out to dinner after work and not feel dorky.

The chambray shirt is also very work oriented.

I’ve had some version of this shirt for 15 years. This is Nili Lotan. They did a collaboration with Goop a while ago.

Your skirt is similarly business-meets-kitchen. No nonsense.

It’s apron-y, which is why I was drawn to it. Utilitarian piece. G. Label.

Jesus, you’re all Goop.

Well I get that good-good Goop discount. We stan for G. Label big time.

Danielle Pergament

Age: 45

Occupation: editor in chief of Goop

You have a very heavy wrist game.

It’s like a garbage dump.

It’s not! It looks really good.

My husband gave me a Rolex Submariner on my 40th. It can’t stand alone, so I have a viking bracelet. The beads are a volcanic stone. Then hair ties because my daughter is always running out of them.

I like your dress, a little bit prairie. On trend.

I feel like I really thrived in the ’90s — this reminds me of that. It’s Brock Collection.

And then a warrior sandal.

Paul Andrew. I’m trying to get into sneaker culture. It’s not my jam.

It’s not my jam, either. I think it’s stupid.

It’s the stupidest thing in the world. I’ve adapted to the vibe at Goop. There’s a uniform no matter where you work, but I’m more of a sandal person.

Erica Moore

Age: 39

Occupation: chief financial officer

The Off-White sweatshirt! The tennies!

I’m the street Goop.

What do you like about Virgil Abloh’s designs?

It’s one of the few sweatshirts I can pair with this skirt and have it be an appropriate outfit for work.

How does your look compare to your colleagues?

I think we all have our individual spin on the Goop look. Very California chic. Understated.

Has “G.P.” ever commented on your sweatshirt?

Probably.

Eric Martin

Age: 33

Occupation: accounting manager

You have very fitted jeans.

I don’t like baggy jeans at all. This is an everyday thing.

Isn’t it hot in the L.A. sun?

I wear shorts in the summer. They are typically tight, too.

Is your polo terry cloth?

It’s teal, and I picked it because of the color choice. And it breathes. It’s Zara.

Are you a glasses collector?

No, I only have two pairs. I only wear them when I get tired of wearing my contacts.

Does where you work influence how you dress?

It does. I don’t want to come in looking like a slob.

Elise Loehnen

Age: 39

Occupation: chief content officer

How do you dress for work?

I’ve gravitated to jumpsuits, dresses that don’t wrinkle. I have two small boys. It’s messy work being the mother of dragons.

Is that a signet ring?

It’s by Kim Dunham. One of my spirit animals is a horse, and the other is a black leopard. Inside there’s a quote: “Encounters are planned by the soul.”

Tell me about the dress.

This is La Double J. I like that they’re high-necked or collared. It’s the most flattering look for me, with my haircut.

Those are the whitest white sneakers I’ve ever seen.

You can use a Magic Eraser on your shoes.

Elgin Wright

Age: “old enough”

Occupation: stylist at Goop Lab

Goop Lab sounds like the kind of place where Dr Pepper might work.

It’s the retail establishment for Goop. It’s where all our products are sold.

What do you think about when you’re dressing for work?

It’s about how I feel in what I’m wearing.

How do you feel?

Fabulous.

Oh, good. Tell me about these high-waisted Frame Denim jeans.

Goop x Frame denim from last summer. Totally in my wheelhouse. Classic with an edge. Jeans every day.

You’re wearing your blazer as a cape.

It’s extra fashion, and I can do all sorts of things with my arms.

Kelly Egarian

Age: 33

Occupation: head of V.I.P.

Tell me about your shoes.

These are by Yuul Yie. I have heels in the car.

What about your top?

It’s actually a bodysuit by Khaite. She did her first show in New York this fall. I wear her religiously.

Very classic watch.

My sweet boyfriend gave it to me for my 33rd birthday. Black band. I wear a lot of black. I drive black cars. I’m from Jersey so I’m a little hood sometimes.

Ann Hazel Pascual

Age: 32

Occupation: retail operations assistant

Is it intimidating to get dressed for Goop?

I dress for comfort and for fun.

Is your dress linen?

It’s silk and linen. For a long time I used to just use neutrals. Now I’ll do a pop of color just to keep it fun. It’s Tuesday. Why not? And it’s not holding me in like a sausage.

It has a nice big shoulder.

I like a puff sleeve.

You’ve got the Veja sneakers.

I like that they’re Velcro. Makes everything easier. Even when I wear my Converse I don’t lace them properly. I do bunny ears.

I do bunny ears, too!

Sahred From Source link Fashion and Style

from WordPress http://bit.ly/2Jx124z via IFTTT

[ssdiamond]

When Dreams Become the Limiter

Well, first off I am surprised to find myself here and asked to discuss music and life though I am not sure that my commentary would be relevant to your worlds and/or experiences.

Let me start by saying how utterly impressed I am with both of your careers and playing -- how you both in your individual ways have advanced the all important world of bassoon playing. Truly, in such company I understand the phrase "I am not worthy" . Also I need to immediately fess up with an outright confession. I am an ex-bassoonist at best. Haven't played my Heckel since 1976 (don't worry, I did sell it to a student - lest it dry out from lack of playing.). Nor did I ever intend to be a professional player. Nor have I been a professional musician (meaning not even trying to make a living at such endeavors for the past twenty years or so). Plus my tales and trials of my professional life in music is so different and offbeat from the ordinary course that I wonder if my contribution to this dialogue might be equally spurious. Add to that a tendency to overwrite (as sampled here) plus the urge for platitudinous soliloquies and one may get the idea.

Still, the very notion of bassoonists meditating on their music and careers in search of that elusive ecstatic experience of pure music is captivating. For if  pushed deeply enough, I discover that indeed I am still a bassoonist first - an identity forged in junior high school, when I was eleven years old, and handed this ungainly bundle of wood - and like all newly minted double reed players finding oneself in an orchestra the very next week, a conductor looking askance commanding the wide-eyed neophyte to "play". Thus my entry into music, into the realm of ecstatic experience, was as a bassoonist. So no matter how far I travel afield I always must come back to that initial and formative identity.

So it seems that one of the questions on the table is balancing our love of music with the exigencies of life, money, family, etc and yet still feeling the satisfaction of our artistic expression at its best. If I may add anything to this discussion is the pluses and minuses of stepping off - or at least partly off - the professional music track - what are the freedoms, what are the losses, the surprising discoveries. It's not that I would counsel any musician to leave their precious musical world. But perhaps my experience may help widen how one looks at what is possible - how greater options might be available than we imagine.

I realize this runs counter to the popular position (from “The Secret” to Oprah) “to follow one's dream” and achieve your goals. It's a topic I have thought – and even lectured – about: How at times our dreams and goals can actually block us from discovering who we truly are or could become.

But before I get too meta-philosophical - let me specific about what your (Paul's) next step thoughts. I am on a the Board of Trustees at a college in California. It is a very unique and hands on place, so I have some ideas of what is going on in college hiring. (I am sure Karen with her perspective would concur.) Full-time jobs on college faculties are scarce. The good news though is that your skill set, I think,  actually improves your chances. Not as a bassoon teacher per se, but as an all around utility player, especially if you have some keyboard chops as well. The problem is that unless you have an MFA, there is little chance to land a position, except as a part time adjunct. (Why a degree is relevant to teaching music is off-putting to me, but it is part of today's reality.) And even with a full-fledged Ph.D, schools are laying off in droves right now. The other issue is where you may end up. The good jobs near urban centers are very competitive. The opportunities that do exist are out there – somewhere – meaning far, far away. The challenge is once far away from a densely populated area - where do you play, where do you find the musical colleagues and audiences who will get your unique gifts? It may become harder to satisfy the cravings for the best musical experiences.

So how can to you expand what is possible? Expand the ideas of who you are. A bassoonist and wind player? Yes - but when I watched your videos I saw/heard an extremely cool musician with a wild set of experiences and skills. That is a far more interesting identity. I would start selling that. I might think about a approaching a private high school. Private schools are far more flexible in credentialing and hiring practices. And a high school age group could be really interesting to work with and honestly you would offer them a great deal of value. The other thing is that private schools might let you fill-in and teach other courses and activities. Also, a lot more flexibility in where you may end up geographically. And salaries at these schools can end up being competitive.

And while thinking of teaching – why not organize your own school – a school of really cool music. A place dedicated to where music is going. Much like Berkeley in Boston once was. Responding to the reality that a great jazz education meets a real need. But today those needs have changed again. I mean where can you learn circular breathing – I'd kill to figure out how to pull of that trick effectively. Imagine being exposed to standard classical and jazz, electro-acoustic techniques, world-music techniques and mindsets all in one place- or from one very cool cat teacher. In New York, I meet kids off the street who are virtuoso keyboard players. They have never heard a lick of classical music. Have no clue about Chopin or Beethoven and thus their techniques have nothing to do with classical – but it's very real and impressive in a completely different way. I've even begun to hear stories about the next generation performers on the scene who are playing live concerts by typing and manipulating software code in real-time. I mean that's off the charts. Even my partner and I are now working with the newest technology that closes the latency times so that we can practice and perform in real-time over the Internet. (Nice trick – but not the impact, vibe and spirit of real live performance and audience. I though so too, until I was approached by grad students of artificial intelligence at Carnegie Mellon who are studying the neural activities of us humans – both performers and audience – to create the effect of true live performance through the Net.)

I mean, it's all mind blowing. And the Net Gen musicians need the wise mentors to lead them there.

OK. While we are still on the Net, why not the FutureBassoon website or social network. It would be a place where you, Nadina and other lead bassoonists can define the who, what and why of bassoons in the coming years. And being in that position of leadership will open wide and endless personal connections and opportunities.

And while we are dreaming... You are clearly a great communicator – well beyond just music - written, verbal and text. If you came back to a major urban scene, what about a commercial music house specializing in the really offbeat. The commercial audience ear is ready for any sounds. Perhaps you help organize friends to create a niche commercial music house. And the Net makes the world your market and audience. Of course, that takes learning as much about the business of music as it does performance. But once you have checked out the commercial music scene, why not move on to producing the entire commercials. That is what I did. After a while I realized trying to succeed at writing music to fit someone else's agenda was not my thing, but I did realize that in multimedia the real creativity and money was higher up the food chain – writing and producing. And when it comes to commercial text writing ad producing, none of it chafes against my personal musical integrity or tastes. It's still part of what I do today.

Next... what about your English skills in Tokyo. Yes, Cirque is a mega corporate entity. But I bet there are opportunities there – not in the performance aspect directly. But it might be interesting to see the Cirque corporation not as an employer but as your next collaborator, partner, or even sub-contractor. OK, it means hanging out with the “suits” and occasionally even becoming one. The times I  played  with a Braodway bound pit orchestra, I took as the opportunity to meet, consort and collaborate with the producers, writers and directors of the project.  Recently I met a famous superstar of the early electronica music scene of the 70s and 80s. Today he is a super professional businessman, sophisticated and savvy in money and budgets – and at this point in his growth it would be hard to peg or identify him as musician.

And I guess that is what I am getting at. The limits of how we identify ourselves.. Breaking down the self-imposed identity as a musician has been at times very difficult and even painful. But more realistically I also see how much those very dreams limited me – blocked me from so many other experiences.

Yet I do have time to practice – these days I spend hours every week on my EWI learning the Bach solo wind repertoire – imposing and perfecting the subtlety of classic performance and expression on the sterile digital circuitry. (My earliest identity emerges in my ongoing “goal” to replicate a completely convincing bassoon – with all its reedy overtones, awkward intonations and artifacts with the “goal” to perform the Mozart B-flat concerto.) And though I perform a lot less these days, it is always as a solo recital – playing everything from Bach to Marcello (those old bassoon sonatas), to free-form improvisations, improvs on medieval music, all the way up to Pictures at an Exhibition – talk about ecstatic experiences. And when I compose (my chief musical identity) it's solely to my taste and inspiration. (TheKonzerto for Karen is a case in point.)

And yes, I still occasionally look back – especially when my other worlds get stressful – that maybe I simply “failed” as a musician and wonder how nice it would be to be “just a musician” again. But the upside of this journey is this: Whenever a new acquaintance asks, “Are you a scientist, physician, journalist, producer, lawyer, professor, security expert, banker..." I get to say... “No, I am 'just a musician.'”

So I don't know if this is of any help or what. But it was fun to think about and consider. Thanks for the opportunity. Let's see what transpires next.

[brettrobertscomponent1]

Artist Analysis : Terry Richardson

What is the name of the photographer? Is he a professional photographer?

The name of my chosen photographer is Terry Richardson, he is a professional fashion photographer. He is widely known for his photoshoots with the brand Supreme; he is one of their most respected photographer but he has also worked with many other brands such as Gucci and Tom Ford. Richardson has secured many different jobs with many different companies working alongside celebrities to complete his photoshoots. He is an American from california who became a photographer who traveled around the world to completed his fashion shoots.

What is the photographers motivation for being a photographer? What is the photographers motivation for taking images related to fashion?

When Richardson was young his mother gave him a snapshot camera in 1982, he documented his life within Ojai, California, he continued this for some year but decided that he wanted to move to New York to capture a different type of photography. He began shooting images of the young people’s nightlife of New York city, it has been said that New York city was Richardson's first big break, he first published his fashion images in 1994, that went on to appear in the Vibe magazine. His work was viewed by many and a year later he was taking images for katherine hamnett’s spring collection 1995. Following this he moved to England and worked for European magazines such as The Face, I-D and Arena. He states that a lot of his inspiration for his images came from working with other magazines and brands such as GQ and Supreme, he says this allowed his level of creativity to elevate once he became a world renown photographer.

Is this photograph a straightforward commercial photograph? Or is it a concept based fashion photograph?

In my opinion the chosen image is a commercial photograph, this is there is a direct link to the subject of the image and advertisement. As shown in the image the model is wearing a Supreme branded item, Supreme is a brand that is fairly new to the fashion scene yet has become world wide in a very short period of time. Although this is a straightforward commercial photograph it can still be considered as powerful; what i mean by this is that there is always a message behind a image. Obviously this image is being used for the purpose of advertisement, however,  believe that this image adds to my initial argument; this is because it is showing how streetwear fashion is able to diverse, many clothing brands will stick to clothing items such as t-shirts, hoodies and jeans whereas Supreme has been able diverse into swimwear and do it with pure confidence that the product will make profit. The reason i believe that this supports my argument is because it shows that streetwear is extremely versatile and without limitation.

Is there a distinctive style of clothes on show?

As seen in most of Richardson’s work there is clearly a distinctive type of clothing within his photography. This is one of the main reason i have chosen this photographer; since the clothes that he tends to feature in his shoot are all iconic pieces of streetwear clothing i am able link Richardson’s work directly to my question. Richardson has such a way of taking his images that it is able to present the item of clothing featured in the most desirable light possible. The clothing featured in this photograph is a one piece Supreme swim suit, i believe that this is a simple yet iconic addition to the Supreme collection but Richardson has been able to make it look very aesthetically pleasing due to his choice of model and style of photography.

What are the main visual ideas shown in this piece?

I believe that one of the main ideas that are conveys within this image is that women are able to wear streetwear clothing as well as if not better than men. This is because a large majority of streetwear items are more marketed towards men, however Supreme and Richardson has been able to show that this type of clothing can apply to both genders equally.

Analyse a quote from another photographer

“I try to take things as they come, but I’ve been trying to ground things of mine a bit. It’s quite nice to detach yourself away from continuously working creatively“ - Gabriel Pluckrose

i can understand this quote ti an extent; this is because i agree with the fact that taking a break from creativity is needed from time to time, as this allows for more creative ideas simultaneously, it allows the brain to relax rather than overworking it. however, personally i enjoy working creatively whenever i can as this is the area in which i thrive. i also agree to the first part of the quote when a photographer takes things “as it comes” it allows for time to plan shoots without being overwhelmed by deadlines with photo shoots. however this can be considered as Unproductive due to the photographer not contacting clients who may need their services but are unaware they exist.

Is your chosen image studio or ‘on-location’ based photograph?

The image i have chosen has been taken in a studio which is a controlled environment,this is a rarity within the streetwear fashion world as most images are taken on location so that either a message can be conveys or so that clients have a better understanding of what the brand is selling. I believe the reason why Richardson has chosen to take this image within a studio is because the item is a swim suit. Although the image could have been shot in a appropriate location such as a swimming pool, i believe that this image by Richardson is still very powerful and completes the task that he has set to achieve.  

Can you see much in the background, if so is it significant with the photograph and does it compliment the clothing?

As the image has been taken in a studio there is practically nothing happening in the background in this image, however, i believe Richardson was right to shoot this image within a studio; this is due to the fact that the pure white clothing piece stands out from the off white background and almost contrasts the clothing item. Furthermore since the model seems to be more or a darker skin tone than usual the clothing piece stands out even more.

Discuss the main technical and formal elements in this photograph

I feel that one of the main elements within this image is the exposure; this is because the noticeable amount of added light that has been used in this image, it allows the model to standout amongst her plain background. I also feel that the image is rather sharp, the is an excessive amount of detail in some areas of the image;for example, the reflection of the light on the model's legs are very detailed and seem like it belongs there. The amount of light that has been used in this image is superb because it has allowed for the darker skin tone of the model to be seen without making the models skin to look too pale.

Do you think the photographer has manipulated this photograph using digital software? What effect does this have on the viewer?

I believe that Richardson has edits the image digitally most likely using photoshop and/or similar editing software. This is because i feel that some details have been enhanced in some places; as i previously stated the sharpness of the image has been altered. I feel that this allows the viewer to understand the quality of the clothing item and how it would look on someone. I feel that the amount of light that is in the image has been altered digitally; this is because there is a rather large amount of light hitting the model, yet this provides a great effect because it shows the true colour of the clothing pieces and makes sure that the model does not fade/merge with the similarly coloured background.

What is your personal response to this photograph and how does this inspire your work?

Personally, i like the image, it has a great amount of qualities and editing skills that have been used to make the picture look as best as it can possibly be. However, i feel that the picture is too basic; this is because it has been shot in a studio setting, although these environments are great for controlling light and the colours that are shown within the image, there is no story or much meaning behind the image. This is because street wear is made for the “street” therefore i feel that this image could have been more powerful if it was shot within a relevant location. I feel this could have also made the image appeal more the the viewers since the could see the clothing item being used in its intended environment. This image inspires me to understand that not all street wear images have to be location based; some items of clothing could look of a very high quality in a studio setting.

[loradmurphy]

A Fun and Romantic Wedding at The Green Cornwall

This post A Fun and Romantic Wedding at The Green Cornwall first appeared on The Wedding Community Blog

Two beautiful ladies, two stunning wedding dresses, a handfasting ceremony, dream-catchers, tacos and two brides in the band… are you ready for this awesome wedding?

Have you ever been to a wedding where the couple got on stage and played with the band? That’s exactly what the beautiful Sera and Francesca did. Not because they had had too many glasses of bubbly, but because it was ‘their’ band! You’ll have to wait to see the pictures at the end of the feature but they totally rocked it… Sera playing the bass guitar and Francesca on the drums. So cool!

Sera and Francesca had a beautiful ceremony in the wedding barn at The Green Cornwall, followed by an intimate handfasting ceremony in the garden with friends and family taking part.

The styling details of this wedding are awesome. Sera and Francesca wanted wild and quirky flowers to complement their styling, and the flowers are all really bright and fun. A lot of the details were homemade giving a real personal touch.

I have loved looking at the pictures of this amazing wedding and smiling to myself as I look at how much fun everyone is having. That was a big thing for Sera and Francesca – to make their wedding all about their friends and family enjoying themselves and having fun.

I hope you smile too whilst you enjoy these fabulous wedding pictures by Matt Pereira Photography.

The Proposal

“We’ve been working together for many years, performing together in our band, Unsung Lilly. What started off as a working relationship blossomed into friendship, and then more!

“We had talked about getting married before – we both had a feeling after only a few weeks of being together we would get married one day. We’d always discussed it as being ‘Francesca’s job’ to propose, but I (Sera) started to think about proposing.

“There were many moments when it almost happened but things would get in the way. One time after we’d just moved over to LA we hiked to the top of this beautiful canyon. We sat looking at the view and I knew, now is the moment… I was just about to say it – I even started filming secretly on my phone so we could savour it forever – and Francesca said “This place is so beautiful. It would be a great place to get engaged, wouldn’t it?”. I lost my nerve!

“Things like that happened a few times, but eventually it happened one night, on our anniversary. We had this apartment that looked out across LA, and I proposed on our balcony as we were looking out at the beautiful lights of the city. She said yes!”

Lots of Fun and Romance

“Our style was very much a boho sort of vibe, and the theme we kept in mind when planning was we wanted it to be a combination of ‘lots of fun, and romance’.

“We looked at a lot of different styles of wedding and both loved the relaxed vibe of the boho look. Our venue, The Green Cornwall, used to be an old dairy farm so it has that relaxed hay-bales and fairy lights kind of vibe, which we loved. It was really easy to decorate because it’s already beautiful!

“We always have a lot of fun together and we wanted our wedding to be a day that everyone really enjoyed. We live in America now and don’t get to see our friends and family in the UK much, so we wanted to make it a day that brought everyone together to have fun. And the ‘romantic’ part… well that goes without saying.”

A Real Bohemian Dress

“We kept our dresses a secret from each other, somehow, and were amazed on the day at how well they went together. Mine was from a gorgeous shop in Wimbledon called Luella’s Bridal, made by Kite and Butterfly – a real bohemian dress! Francesca’s was from the Ozone in Brighton, made by Sophia Tolli. This was a real surprise as most people haven’t seen Francesca out of jeans before… but it was a beautiful, elegant gown with a long train.

“Our ushers wore suits hired from Debenhams and our bridesmaids wore infinity dresses that we got from Etsy. We used infinity dresses before for my sister’s wedding, and they are great because everyone can wear them in a style that suits them (they are convertible).

Wild and Quirky

“The Green Cornwall has such a cute style so we didn’t need to do much. Our florist, Kirsty, was amazing and put together a really wild look for the flowers. We were very keen to have something wild and quirky rather than anything too traditional, and she gave us exactly what we wanted.

“All the table names/table plan etc we made ourselves (a very silly timeline of our life together which went from the past, to present day, and into future predictions), and we designed all the stationery ourselves with the same boho/fun/quirky vibe in mind. We also had some fun signs made which were great and provided more of a personal touch.”

Lots of Music

“Having both worked as singers at weddings for the past decade (nearly two) we knew we wanted something a bit different. We also knew we wanted a LOT of musical entertainment.

“We had a fantastic string section for the ceremony, Sue Aston and her Classical Strings. They did some really fun arrangements of well known pop songs whilst guests were arriving.

“For the entrance piece we were lucky enough to have a very musical bunch of ushers and bridesmaids. The ushers joined Sue and the strings (on guitars and percussion), and we had a very elaborate and dramatic entrance where our bridesmaids walked down the aisle and then joined them by singing!

“At the drinks reception we wanted something fun musically, and something that people hopefully hadn’t seen before. We decided to go for a bluegrass style band that performed bluegrass versions of pop songs. We searched high and low for this – its hard to find, but we discovered Bluegrass Cover Boys. They created a really fun atmosphere! We had worried that it was a little OTT to have a band in this section of the day but we are really glad that we did.”

Finding a Taco Van in Cornwall is Tricky

“The Green Cornwall’s food was delicious! In the drinks reception we had mini Cornish pasties, and for the wedding breakfast we decided on a sit down meal. We chose three options for each course, and all of them looked delicious. It took us about three months to personally choose what we wanted to eat – it was a tough choice!

“One of our dream suppliers to find was a taco van for the evening. Living in California our go-to late evening snack these days is always tacos, and we really wanted to incorporate that into the wedding. However, finding a taco van in Cornwall was tricky. We found the amazing Wild Food Kitchen, with their quirky old French van, who put together a taco menu for us, and their food was delicious! We should mention though – tacos are somewhat messy for eating in a wedding dress!”

Pub Classics

“We work with many talented musicians, and originally wanted to give our friends and band mates a night off so they could just enjoy themselves. Some of our favourite nights out have been in pubs watching bands play music by Dire Straits, Eric Clapton etc, so we tried really hard to find a band who could do that. However, we couldn’t really find one we liked, so in the end we hired our own band, MIB, who performed an awesome set list of pub classics. We absolutely loved it! We also had a good friend Mike Butcher DJ, who is such a lovely person to work with!

“For our first dance we chose ‘She Keeps Me Warm’ by Mary Lambert, a song we used to listen to a lot when we first got together.

“We also had a fun Photo Booth, run by Caz and Laurence from Yellowbooth. They were such lovely people to have around and created a fun, silly atmosphere. We got some great photos! The booth was in the shape of a VW campervan, which we thought was adorable.”

Amazing Memories

“It was just an amazing day from start to finish. We are so glad we made such great choices with all our suppliers. Our family and friends were all amazing, helping out with everything, and the venue was just perfect.

“After the main ceremony we wanted to have more of a spiritual ceremony, so our good friend Anna Taylor led us in the most beautiful handfasting ritual. We worked together with her to create something bespoke and it was just gorgeous. It was very meaningful to have Anna there as she’s been a great friend and teacher to us for many years.

“Our favourite memories include our bridesmaids singing us down the aisle, the beautiful spiritual ceremony, and the band in the evening playing all our favourite songs. It was so special to have people there that we’ve worked with for so many years. Also, seeing each other for the first time!

“Our photographer, Matt, is an old friend and by far the most talented photographer we’ve ever met. He’s been our band photographer for many years and there is no way we would have had anyone else! Matt’s photos are amazing. He somehow makes us look so much better looking – not sure how he does that!

“We had our friend (and super duper professional MUA) Gina do our hair and make-up. She transformed us completely – even giving Francesca hair extensions as a surprise.

“Also our bridesmaids put together an amazing video for us as a surprise, featuring clips of our life together, friends who couldn’t make it, etc. That was really special.”

Go with the Flow

“It all goes by so fast, so try to be in it throughout the day… mindfulness techniques were very helpful. I kept reminding myself what I was doing in that present moment, i.e. ‘I am walking down the aisle’, ‘I am eating my wedding cake’. That was really helpful to keep the day from running away too quickly.

“Also, having worked with brides for so many years you’d think we would know this, but it’s so important to forget about the timings on the day. I always say this to our clients but still forgot this with our wedding – it was the one thing that was on both our minds throughout the day – worrying that things had run late. Lots of planning beforehand is a great idea, and then once the day comes let it go, and go with the flow.

“Finally, if you get the chance to go around the room and say thank you for coming to as many people as possible, try to do that. Francesca didn’t get a chance to, and I fell into it and somehow got around only half the room; we regret not being able to speak to everyone.”

Photography: Matt Pereira

Videographer: Cupcake Videos

Venue and Catering: The Green Cornwall

Sera’s Wedding Dress: Kite and Butterfly Dress from Luella’s Bridal

Francesca’s Wedding Dress: Sophia Tolli Dress from The Ozone

Sera’s Shoes: Irregular Choice

Francesca’s Shoes: ASOS

Sera’s Accessories: Green Necklace from Amy’s Leather Lane on Etsy

Francesca’s Accessories: Debenhams and Asos

Francesca’s Shrug: Hademade Laremi on Etsy

Groomsmen’s Suits: Hired from Debenhams

Bridesmaid Dresses: The Daint Yard on Etsy

Bouquets and Buttonhole Dried Flowers: English Flower Farmer on Etsy

All Other Flowers: Escential Blooms

Wedding Cake: Cakes By Magda

Spiritual Ceremony Celebrant: Anna Taylor

Taco Truck: Wild Food Kitchen

Stationery: DIY

Ceremony Music: Sue Aston and her Classical Strings

Drinks Reception Music: Bluegrass Cover Boys

Evening Band: MIB

DJ: Mike Butcher

Hair and Make-Up: Gina Dowle Makeup (Local hairdresser Victoria Wallace helped out with bridesmaids’ hair)

Signs: Paul Rigby Signs on Etsy

Photo Booth: Yellow Booth

This post A Fun and Romantic Wedding at The Green Cornwall first appeared on The Wedding Community Blog

[vettery]

Small Talk on our Awkward Orange Sofa with Steven Tiller, Founder of SeaVees

Vettery’s Clark Winter sat down with Steven Tiller, Founder of SeaVees to discuss the growing interest in casual culture, the inspiration for his company, and why he loves shoes. Based in Santa Barbara, SeaVees is a men’s shoe brand from the 1960s that pioneered the original way to go casual. While dormant for almost 50 years, SeaVees has been restored creating a vintage shoe in today’s surging sneaker culture.

So I am intrigued… it seems the story goes something like this. You were working in Boston designing shoes for Cole Haan and at the drop of the hat, you flew to Japan to be inspired by the wayward shoe brands of our past, when you stumbled upon a pair of SeaVees shoes and decided to resurrect them to their pinnacle as an iconic surf culture shoe. Am I on the right track? You are more or less on the right track. I had actually started my career at Cole Haan in Maine where I thought I’d learn the ropes for a few years before moving to California and starting my own brand. Cut to 18 years later and I was still in New England (working for Sperry Topsider in Boston) and not any closer to realizing my dream. With doubt and disenchantment setting in, I began to search in earnest for the right opportunity. Ideally a sneaker brand with a heritage, a once-proud brand in need of a resurrection. It was behind glass in a secondhand store in Tokyo where I found my first pair of SeaVees. I love casual shoes more than most, in fact I even wrote a post about them (“Kicks”). Unfortunately I didn’t know much about SeaVees at the time… tell me why I should add them to my quiver. You are not alone. This brand was off the radar for most after going dormant in the early 1970s. I was an obsessed aficionado of the category and even I had never heard of SeaVees. I soon discovered SeaVees was born in 1964 and was the original casual sneaker. With a groundbreaking advertising campaign throughout the 1960s, SeaVees pioneered the transformation of the sneaker from gym shoe to casual shoe. To “Show Up In SeaVees” meant you could enjoy the comfort of a sneaker with the sophistication of a more refined footwear choice. Today we honor the brand’s 1960s origin with a "vintage vibes meets modern tech" mantra by making contemporary amendments to classic design. The result is a timeless sneaker of exceptional quality and comfort that you can confidently wear in any social setting. California seems to be an woven into the fabric of the SeaVees story (and you for that matter!). What is it about California that resonates so much with you and the vibe of the brand? California provided the creative origin of the brand back in the 1960s when the Golden State in its golden age defined the coastal casual lifestyle. As a landlocked kid growing up in Oklahoma, I always aspired to be from California so I understand its powerful magnetic pull. Most of us have a reverence for the escapism that is promised with the warmth of the sun. Responding to that lifelong yearning is what resonates with me, is what SeaVees means to me. A wise man once said, “You spend most of your time in your bed or on your feet, so it’s important to invest in both.” If we opened up your closet, what shoes would we find in your assemblage?

SeaVees. You’d be shocked by the number of shoes in my closet. I definitely have issues - there is literally a sea of SeaVees. I have a pair of Nikes for trail running and a pair for the gym. And I have held on to a pair of Prada Chelsea boots for so long they have now officially taken on vintage status. Other than that I show up in SeaVees everywhere I go, for every occasion. How do you think about your competitive landscape-- is your target demographic currently wearing Vans/Converse or are you hoping to be the first foray into fashionable sneaker for the guy wearing his father’s crusty old New Balances? Both. Come one, come all. Today’s consumer has grown up in sneakers, and unlike the generations before him, he’s not being told at some point in his life to get out of those smelly gym shoes he wore as a kid. Still, while he respects the brands he grew up wearing, at some point in his early adult life he’s looking for something a little more evolved. A clean and sophisticated design he can easily dress up or dress down and look appropriate for most any occasion. As he comes of age and develops his own sense of style, he’s willing to pay a little more for the quality, comfort and class offered by SeaVees. Men’s style has certainly has become more casual these days. How do you see that fitting in with the SeaVees brand?

As the category creator of the casual sneaker, this movement truly hits the core of our brand. Todays athleisure or everyday casual style is just a modern day translation or evolution of what SeaVees was initiating back in the day. With the discerning modern sneaker consumer our heritage grants us an authentic voice in this movement. There is a certain cool factor that permeates throughout the SeaVees brand. In fact, I’ve read that you said,  “California in its golden age was the certified hub of all things cool, so I’m equally inspired by Steve McQueen’s hot-rod culture, Jack Kerouac’s San Francisco Beat scene and Richard Neutra’s Desert Modernism.” Who or what in today’s society inspires you/represents all things cool? I am most inspired by new music and travel. I’m on an undying daily quest to discover my next favorite band. I spend way more time reading music blogs and deep diving on Bandcamp then I do studying the latest fashion trends. And since the day I was dropped in Paris at 19 years old with a backpack, $500 in American Express travelers checks, and not knowing a word of French, I’ve been addicted to the adrenaline rush of foreign travel. Somewhere along the line I converted culture shock to a familiar comforting pang that never fails to inspire. How would you describe your personal style? Smart casual or dress casual. I tend to twist the traditional in a thoughtful way. I subscribe to the over/under rule of style. When the occasion calls for casual attire, I will err on the side of being slightly overdressed. For a dressy occasion - when I’m certain most guys will be wearing dark suits and wingtips - I’ll make a less serious statement by slightly underdressing. I’ll leave the tie at home and have my pant leg cropped just-so to show an irreverent bare ankle - and of course to show off my SeaVees. A classic, relaxed elegance is what I’d like to always represent. What is your favorite SeaVees shoe?

My favorite SeaVees style is the 06/64 Legend. It’s our most iconic style as it celebrates the original brand’s launch in June of 1964 and is the shoe featured in the old advertising campaign. This style is a re-creation of the shoe I discovered in Tokyo, so it holds special emotional status for me. I feel it best defines SeaVees today as it appeals to both modern and classic tastes. It’s familiar in styling but its high sidewall gives it an aggressive edge. Looking to the future, does the SeaVees brand extend beyond footwear into a fully fledged fashion/lifestyle brand? I certainly envision a SeaVees future that embraces the 1960s coastal casual lifestyle across multiple product categories. But honestly we’re focussed on improving within our core competency before we move on to other things. Our women’s business is still in its infancy, our international business (with the exception of Japan and Korea) is totally untapped. And while I’m very proud of the progress we’ve made to date, I know we still have a great amount work to do to restore the brand to its rightful place on the top shelf of heritage sneaker brands. Our favorite question: if you could combine two existing, but unrelated startups to make something totally ridiculous, what would they be?

If you could see the battery usage on my phone, you’d see that most of my power is spent on Spotify and Waze. What if they did a collaboration and provided you with a personalized playlist based on where you are going, when you are going and the duration of your drive. It would know your taste based on your Spotify history and could sense your mood based on where and when you are traveling (i.e. Friday afternoon build up for a coastal drive versus Monday morning chill out for the dreaded commute). What is favorite social media account to follow? Instagram is my platform of choice and I tend to gravitate toward photography - especially a group of Santa Barbara area kindred spirits that includes @willadlerphotographs, @morganmaassen, @deweynicks, @nick_presniakov, and @bluegabor.