Beautiful images, ideas and inspiration
Friday, 20 August 2010
One toke over the line
We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold. I remember saying something like "I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive. ..." And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats, all swooping and screeching and diving around the car, which was going about 100 miles an hour with the top down to Las Vegas. And a voice was screaming: "Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?"
Then it was quiet again. My attorney had taken his shirt off and was pouring beer on his chest, to facilitate the tanning process. "What the hell are you yelling about?" he muttered, staring up at the sun with his eyes closed and covered with wraparound Spanish sunglasses. "Never mind," I said. "It's your turn to drive." I hit the brakes and aimed the Great Red Shark toward the shoulder of the highway. No point mentioning those bats, I thought. The poor bastard will see them soon enough.
It was almost noon, and we still had more than 100 miles to go. They would be tough miles. Very soon, I knew, we would both be completely twisted. But there was no going back, and no time to rest. We would have to ride it out. Press registration for the fabulous Mint 400 was already underway, and we had to get there by four to claim our soundproof suite. A fashionable sporting magazine in New York had taken care of the reservations, along with this huge red Chevy convertible we'd just rented off a lot on the Sunset Strip ... and I was, after all, a professional journalist; so I had an obligation to cover the story, for good or ill.
The sporting editors had also given me $300 in cash, most of which was already spent on extremely dangerous drugs. The trunk of the car looked like a mobile police narcotics lab. We had two bags of grass, 75 pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers ... and also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls.
All this had been rounded up the night before, in a frenzy of high-speed driving all over Los Angeles County-- from Topanga to Watts, we picked up everything we could get our hands on. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can.
The only thing that really worried me was the ether. There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge. And I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff pretty soon. Probably at the next gas station. We had sampled almost everything else, and now--yes, it was time for a long snort of ether. And then do the next 100 miles in a horrible, slobbering sort of spastic stupor. The only way to keep alert on ether is to do up a lot of amyls -- not all at once, but steadily, just enough to maintain the focus at 90 miles an hour through Barstow.
"Man, this is the way to travel," said my attorney. He leaned over to turn the volume up on the radio, humming along with the rhythm section and kind of moaning the words: "One toke over the line ... Sweet Jesus ... One toke over the line ..."
Holiday, oh holiday, and the best one of the year...
My last day at DVF today, sad to be leaving but excited for the endless possibilities the next few weeks may provide...starting with a good let loose session in Ibiza followed by some fine dining in Paris and tasting at the Mumm and Dom Perignon vineyards in Champagne.
Photos to follow....
Photos to follow....
Some Words of Wisdom
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing everyday that scares you Sing Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours. Floss Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself. Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own.. Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing everyday that scares you Sing Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours. Floss Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself. Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own.. Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…
Books, Books, Books
Absolutely adore these newly designed book covers for classic novels....has inspired me to do a bit of a Christian Slater in Heather's and highlight quotes and words throughout friends favourite books for birthday presents.
Bailey's Burberry
Having attended an interview with Christopher Bailey, head designer of British heritage brand Burberry, I was thoroughly impressed at how humble and down to earth he was.
After what must have been a grueling 48 hours following the new S/S 2010 collection, exhibited here in London, I felt privileged and proud to have such a man front what is an historic British brand.
This is especially important to me as any of my friends will tell you I’m a go-er for all things quintessentially British. Bailey emphasised how important the brands heritage was to him. After a loaded question from a member of the audience about the company shutting a warehouse in Wales to move Far East, he gave a carefully thought-out response about how much focus he really puts on the tradition of the brand. He spoke of his admiration for Thomas Burberry and how he continuously wishes to learn more about Burberry’s culture. This was further reiterated when he spoke of how proud he was to work for a truly British brand and how he had nurtured a strong Brit team at the new Burberry HQ at Horseferry House, itself an historic building.
Bailey discussed his progression from winning the Graduate Designer of the Year award, being scouted by Donna Karan and moving to NYC, scouted again by Tom Ford at Gucci and finally to his current spot at Burberry. In a self-depreciating manner he spoke of how he debated whether or not to take on the role as he never saw himself as the No.1 guy. He spoke only favourably of his peers and he certainly is not one who appears to burns any bridges in the fashion world. He quipped that he had just had brekkie with his pal Mario Testino that morning.
However, it is what Bailey has done of late to turn around the company that I most admire. He used what I thought was a great analogy stating, “I view Burberry like a beautiful diamond that has been trodden into the ground. At the moment only a few facets are shining but all it needs is digging up and polishing off.” He dismissed a question about the chav-association by asking, “What are chavs?” and explaining that Daniella Westbrook was not someone who was ever brainstormed in the boardroom. It appeared the issue was UK centric, and with Burberry’s UK sales at only 7%, did not seem to be one that fazed him.
When asked about his most recent campaign starring Emma Watson and shot by Mario Testino, Bailey used words such as it being ‘organic’ and finding an ‘attitude’, whether that be cosy or sexy, to explain his sources of inspiration. Again, he said he consistently vetoed for shoots to take place in the UK as much as possible. To me, it seems he is wholly aware of the power of the brand and the ability for ‘Britishness’ to be the selling point.
Bailey touched upon the importance he holds of Burberry being an ecologically, but also technologically advanced company. He discussed energy-saving techniques used in the offices, as well as charitable foundations that have been set up. He is someone who embraces new technologies and seemed genuinely excited by the ability to have a live stream of the recent catwalk to anyone watching online, who could then post comments in real time. However, Bailey said that unless there was some vast technological development, he did not see the death of the fashion show. He discussed how he loves the way a fashion show touches the senses; the look of the fabrics, the way they move, the scent of the show and its overall buzz.
In my view, Christopher Bailey has done wonders for Burberry in both a creative and business sense. He is passionate about nurturing a brand that sits strong with his British roots, and I think this entirely explains why the company has now found itself sitting neatly in the FTSE 100.
The Dichotomy of a boderline Gen Y-Z
The trouble with being born on the cusp of being a Generation Y and Z is that one never quite knows where they fit in.
The Generation Y’s grew up thinking they could have it all; the successful career, comfortable home, adoring husband and perfectly turned out children. The Generation Z’s on the other hand, know that feminism wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Granted, it may have emancipated women and liberated them from Austen-era inferiority, but did it really make them happy? Was all that pressure to be perfect really what they wanted?
The Generation Z’s are of a different school of thought. Yes, they want the comfortable home and glamorous globe-trotting lifestyle, but they’re not willing to put in the effort that their elders once did. They are the “have it now” generation. They want their cake and before they can utter the word ‘Laduree’. They have become accustomed to the swiftness of the Internet, where they no longer wait for their celebrity gossip to reach them by that old-age method of press, magazines, rather a quick glimpse on Perez Hilton. Further where it is no longer even necessary to meet with friends to know what they’ve been doing or to see their photos, rather they can peruse over Facebook, or even ‘stalk’ ex-boyfriends.
So here is the dilemma of the Gen Y-Z modern girl about town. Is she the career driven super woman or is she the newer model who seek their lifestyle through well-endowed men (by that I mean a healthy Coutts account and an SW1 postcode) rather than their own effort or red-brick education?
The Generation Y’s grew up thinking they could have it all; the successful career, comfortable home, adoring husband and perfectly turned out children. The Generation Z’s on the other hand, know that feminism wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Granted, it may have emancipated women and liberated them from Austen-era inferiority, but did it really make them happy? Was all that pressure to be perfect really what they wanted?
The Generation Z’s are of a different school of thought. Yes, they want the comfortable home and glamorous globe-trotting lifestyle, but they’re not willing to put in the effort that their elders once did. They are the “have it now” generation. They want their cake and before they can utter the word ‘Laduree’. They have become accustomed to the swiftness of the Internet, where they no longer wait for their celebrity gossip to reach them by that old-age method of press, magazines, rather a quick glimpse on Perez Hilton. Further where it is no longer even necessary to meet with friends to know what they’ve been doing or to see their photos, rather they can peruse over Facebook, or even ‘stalk’ ex-boyfriends.
So here is the dilemma of the Gen Y-Z modern girl about town. Is she the career driven super woman or is she the newer model who seek their lifestyle through well-endowed men (by that I mean a healthy Coutts account and an SW1 postcode) rather than their own effort or red-brick education?
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