Archive for October 2009
French Illustrator Garance Doré
As an avid follower of fashion, I’ve found that blogs are an excellent source for inspiration. The Sartorialist, a photo fashion blog run by photographer Scott Schuman showcases street style in cities from New York to Paris to Milan to even Dallas. Schuman puts together a monthly column/piece for GQ (a magazine you should definitely read for style insight, even if you’re a girl–I steal my brother’s copy every month) and then posts those photos and countless others on his blog.
Schuman's photo of his San Francisco driver
The great thing is that Schuman hasn’t been formally trained in photography or fashion; he just has a great eye. He’s in the middle of doing a tour for his book The Sartorialist and posted a photo today of his San Francisco driver. “This man’s car was spotless, his shoes were shined and he knew exactly where he was going. He wasn’t dressed like that for me, he had no idea who I was, this was just another day and just another ride done in his own stylish way,” he writes in the post.
Of course, there are jokes about how to get shot by The Sartorialist–ride a bike, own something double-breasted–but I think Schuman’s subjects are impossibly cool. I recently stumbled upon his girlfriend’s blog: Garance Doré.
Doré with designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana
She writes in French, but has recently started having her posts translated into English. A photographer and illustrator, she does work for Vogue Paris and, among other things, just had a sold out line of tshirts featuring her drawings at the très chic French boutique Collette. She’s spunky, cute, and oh-so-French. She worked with Vogue Paris editor-in-chief Carine Rotfield during Fashion Week, and yet is somehow approachable and the girl next door (albeit one with great fashion sense). She’s endearing rather than vicious, which is much more common in the fashion world (I love reading the girls over at New York magazine’s The Cut, but their tweets from the runway can be harsh).
One of Doré's illustrations
Her most recent posts are translated into English, but overall, most of them aren’t. If you speak French, I’d recommend trying to go through them; it’s a lot easier than reading Le Clèzio! Go check her out. I’m planning on seeing The September Issue at the Ragtag this week so keep an eye out for that!
The Doxies bring out a dancing crowd
Local band, the Doxies, played a little country and a little rock ‘n’ roll at the Blue Note Saturday night. Feet started tapping and people started dancing as these guys took the stage.
Directed by the lead singer and guitarist, Brent Maness, further vocals and guitar were taken up by Tim Lloyd (who is, respectively, a reporter for the Columbia Missourian).
The Doxies’ style is hard to define–it is something like folk-meets-rock-meets-country-meets-Americana.
The Doxies played at the Blue Note Saturday night as part of the Bluebird Festival
Add in some backyard harmonizing, a couple of twangy guitar riffs and a rock-style attitude. Then, you might see (or, rather, hear) a glimpse of the “Doxie” style and the reason Columbians love this hometown band.
Columbia’s own revs up the Blue Fugue
The Hooten Hallers never fail to disappoint with their rowdy, fun, loud performances. They took over the Blue Fugue Saturday night, yelling, hollering and reaching pitches I didn’t think possible for a crowd of 30 to 40 gathered tightly to the stage.
The Hipnecks spice up the Blue Note “for the cropdusters”
The Blue Note was alive Saturday night with the floor crowd dancing wildly to the Hipnecks, a band that describes its music as rooted in “the fertile grounds of the American Midwest.” Filled with incredible fast-paced guitar solos from guitarist Zach Harrison and the husky, smooth voice of guitarist, vocalist and harmonica extraordinaire Pat Kay (who also happens to play the mandolin, banjo and djembe), the Hipnecks kept the crowd jumping through their hour-long set.
Quality is King at Bluebird Festival
For those with a Bluebird Pass, bar hopping was the best way to really enjoy the festival. Since each bar has bands along a certain genre roaming the streets offered the best spread of music and as well as prime people watching. Read the rest of this entry »
Coffee with You & Yourn
You & Yourn sing their perfectly understated melodies at the Underground Cafe' Saturday night
Columbians enjoyed some chamber indie/folk Saturday night at the Underground Cafe’.
You & Yourn, made up of husband-wife duo Heather and Nic Dillon, soothed the coffeeshop’s guests with their roadside-themed songs and speculative musings about life and love for the Bluebird Festival.
From Urbana, Illiois, the Dillon pair have actually traveled and toured throughout Canada and all actoss the United States. For a time, they were part of a band called “Winter”, which–ironically enough–toured throughout Alaska.
Weatherwise, Nic Dillon pronounced his preference for Missouri and Illinois seasons. After spending some time touring throughout the dryer regions to the Southwest, Nic said “It’s great to be back in the Midwest. In Arizona, it’s 60 degrees at night and I feel like I’m choking.”
Locals seemed to be glad these two subtle, yet gifted artists were here as well.
In the dim-light, cozy cafe, both guests and artists had conversations about Urbana-Champaign, the confusion of scalping football tickets, the confusion over football in general and the pleasures of being smack dab in the middle of the country.
Experiencing the Bluebird
Hip hop was the music of choice at Tonic Saturday night during the Bluebird Music and Arts Festival. Indyground record label provided a handful of artists including Stiddy P, Earthworms, and DJ Mahf. Though the crowd wasn’t so big, the atmosphere was intense. Local artists painted to the beat of each of the sets performed. It was really a perfect blend of music, art and entertainment. Too bad you had to be 21 to get in.
CoMo Derby Dames
While most Missourians were mourning Mizzou’s loss to Oklahoma State last night, another group was caught up in their own celebration.
Last night the CoMo Derby Dames trounced the Capital City Crushers. Benefiting the Safe Passage Women’s Center, the “Bootleggers’ Brawl” featured some impressive skating and some even more impressive spills.
Think the rough and tumble of football…on wheels. Read the rest of this entry »
Mike Kendrick & Blue Eyed Sons offer true Americana
Sometimes a person craves synthesizers, tape loops and DJs. Other times, all you want is clean, open-hearted Missouri style.
At ten o’clock, Michael Kendrick and the Blue Eyed Sons took stage at the Blue Fugue downtown. Singing about love, travelin’ and “Wrecking Like a Train”, these men offered Columbians a chance to hear some true Midwest music Friday night.
Particularly pleasing were the men’s modest yet distinct guitar chords and the occasional use of harmonica. But only where needed.
Mike Kendrick and the Blue Eyed Sons–made up of John Dalton, Matt Zufall and Joe Ellison–are Missourians to the core. Generally playing in either St. Louis or Columbia, the men draw likenesses to Bob Dylan, Jeff Tweedy–and, in my opinion, even a little John Denver.
Needless to say, the crowd swayed and sang to their tastefully “real” tunes as lead singer, Kendrick drew his band into some true folksy harmonies.
These men were more than a great segway into Company of Thieves, which played directly afterwards. Think: crowd-pleaser, but far from the easy-way-out.
The Starlight Mints energize the Blue Note
The neon glow sticks that stuck straight up out of the stage were the first lights visible in the Blue Note’s dusky hall, a seemingly perfect visual complement with the background of shifting lights to the Starlight Mints, a psychedelic pop band from Norman, Oklahoma.
