Mr. Peacock loves porcelain pieces that replicate or mimic everyday objects. They can be strictly decorative, but if they’re functional—that’s even better!
I acquired this little teapot/coffee pot, that mimics a moka pot, last year. It's perfect for two cups of tea.
I love these porcelain faux boots(5.75"w x 15"h x 10.5"d) created by the talented Czech artist and designer, Maxim Velcovsky of Qubus studio! They’re pictured as a left and right boot; however, you can only purchase a left boot. A big bunch of peonies would look fantastic in a boot vase.
These mugs, Bird in the Bush cups, don't mimic everyday objects, but they're very clever. When they’re stacked, they look like a "tree branches" with a bird. The bird also comes in pink, although, I wish it was available in white.
These porcelain "Happy Dishes" dishes make me smile—especially the lidded dish that looks like croissant! For these breakfast dishes, Tina Roeder, the designer, was inspired by children and her friends. These days, anything that puts a smile on my face is all right with me!
Mind you, Mr. Peacock is not keen on war, however I appreciate the design of military and police uniforms...
...particularly anything with epaulettes.
When I was in college, my mother found me an amazing vintage policeman’s shirt with epaulettes. It quickly became my favorite shirt. I had that shirt for over a decade, and whenever I wore it—people often mistook it as a designer piece.
My vintage cop shirt was cotton (similar to the shirt style-above right), but most of the new uniform shirts are a poly blend. I love the police uniforms in Italy! I tried to acquire one, but had no luck (FYI—I'm 42 regular, size medium, 32" waist). Above, from left to right: Phillip Lim,Conference of Birds, and Michael Kors.
Many fashion designers borrow military uniform elements and incorporate them into their garments. I think epaulettes, or "little shoulders," flatter most men’s body types, by giving the appearance of broader shoulders.
Mr. Peacock loves the Spring 2009 collection of Apolis Activism—aptly called, Defend Tomorrow. It’s sort of a preppy vibe, with military touches. I really like the blue and mustard colors together.
In junior high school, my favorite store was called Land & Sea, it carried all sorts of seashells, nautical stuff, preserved bugs, driftwood, rocks and odd ephemera. I’d spend hours there picking out the perfect seashell or rock to buy. Paxton Gate, a favorite shop near where I currently live, has a similar vibe to Land & Sea—but with plants and taxidermy.
Here’s my wish list of goodies that pay homage to the land and the sea:
1)Mr. Peacock loves this Witches Kitchen Spurk (spoon/fork/point) designed by Tord Bootje. It looks like something from a fairy tale or Hobbit’s kitchen. They’re produced by skilled artisans in undeveloped countries—using environmentally friendly materials. Order one here.
2)This elegant, Rexford Mirror, looks like it’s right out of an enchanted forest. It’s also made by artisans, using Pine scales collected from Californian forests. The mirror portion has a black speckled antique finish—it would be dramatic in an entryway. Order one here.
3)Hand tumbled abalone shells create the base of this chic Del Mar Table Lamp, inspired by Tony Duquette. More information here.
4)Mr. Peacock loves stools, ottomans and poufs of any sort! These nautical looking poufs are at the top of my current wish list. The Large Urchin Pouf is hand knitted in the Netherlands, using 100% wool from New Zealand. It also comes in some nice colors too—more information here. The Flax Ottoman, looks like a ball of string for a giant. Order one here. 5)I'm also enchanted with these porcelain, Coral inspired Vases. I have two similar white ones, that hold around 50 stems, in my living room. I put tiny colored tree ornaments on them at Christmas time (see right). The large vase hold 50 flowers stems, while the small vase holds 10. I’m not sure which I like better—the white or silver vases?
6)Opening beer at summer barbecues would be fun with this Pescado Bottle Opener. Buy one here.
7)This beautiful and functional Acacia Wood Twist Stool would also make a handsome occasional table. The color and grain of each stool is completely unique. Order one here.
8)These curvy and bulbous Teak Candlesticks really highlight the beautiful variegated grain of the wood. A grouping of them would add some graphic punch to any room. Order a few here.
9)Protect your furniture surfaces from wet-bottomed drinks with beautiful cut Brazilian Agate Coasters. They come in a set of four different stones. In ancient times, agate was thought to possess incredible virtues, protecting its guardians and bringing pleasant dreams to its owners. Buy a set here.
Whether you were at the beach, the park, or just lounged in your own backyard—Mr. Peacock hopes everyone had a relaxing Memorial Weekend, and took a moment to reflect on our veterans. Have a great week.
Mr. Peacock is very fortunate to have a wonderful produce store, called Golden Produce, in my neighborhood. They always stock reasonably priced organic produce, and much of it is grown locally. Right now they have oodles of small, Meyer lemons.
Growing up in the Midwest, I never tasted a Meyer lemon until I lived in California. Meyer lemons are always described as a cross between a lemon and mandarin orange. I actually think they taste sweeter than a regular lemon, and a bit herbal.
The organic Meyer lemons at Golden Produce have very tender skins and sweet juice. I substitute Meyer lemons, whenever a recipe calls for lemons, and it always makes even the simplest recipe extraordinary!
Last weekend, we had another abnormal heat wave (it's becoming a regular thing) with the temperatures in the 90’s in San Francisco. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky either. Unfortunately when it’s that hot, our apartment gets just as hot inside. As the saying goes….when life gives you lemons—make lemonade. So to quench our thirst from the heat, I made a batch of lemonade, and not just any lemonade either, but Indian Style lemonade—Nimbu Ka Sharbat.
Mr. Peacock loves Indian food, both eating and cooking it. There’s so many variations of recipes for every dish, so it’s an endless journey learning how to cook Indian cuisine. I picked up a little book called, Indian in Minutes by Monisha Bharadwaj, that has simplified, but not Americanized, Indian recipes. I particularly like these recipes from the book: Squash with five spices, cauliflower korma, and the Indian lemonade. The lemonade is so simple, yet very flavorful and thirst quenching...and, I used my vintage milk glass citrus reamer to juice the citrus fruits.
Indian Style Lemonade Makes 2 servings This recipe is so simple, but the flavor is very sublime!
1/2 cup of lemon juice (I used a combination of Meyer lemons, limes, and oranges) 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoons of salt (yes salt!) 1/2 teaspoon of finely ground black pepper 2 1/2 cups cold water
Combine all of the ingredients, making sure the sugar dissolves. Add the cold water. Serve in glasses, filled with ice. Enjoy!
Mr. Peacock wonders if Indian lemonade was the inspiration for Gatorade. I’ve never been a fan of Gatorade though—too sweet, too salty, and too artificially colored. Indian lemonade is much more about the flavors. The addition of salt and pepper may seem strange, however, they subtly accentuate the flavor of the citrus juice. If you’re fortunate to have access to Meyer lemons, use those, but regular lemons are also good. Treat yourself this weekend and make some homemade lemonade!
Kwannam Chu is a gentleman peacock, originally from Hong Kong, that resides on the island of Manhattan. He's a creative director, photographer, and writes for magazines. His personality and style absolutely glow on his charming and beautiful blog—We Could Grow Up Together.Kwannam also makes the color green look so chic and modern—whether he's wearing green shoes, green shorts, or green shirts! Mr. Peacock: How would you describe your own style? Kwannam Chu: I’d say Prepster meets East Village.
MP: How old were you when you realized you were a peacock? KC: The first time I went into a Japanese department story, when I was like 4 or 5—I knew I loved fancy.
MP: What's your favorite item in your wardrobe? KC: My Glasses.
MP: Are you obsessed with a particular item of clothing? KC: Glasses. Glasses. And Glasses. Just bought a new pair (above) before answering these questions. They are from Selima Optique.
MP: Do you wear vintage clothes or only "new" clothes? KC: Both. I love the adventures I have at flea markets. Ebay too. Also, new stuff—simply from everywhere.
MP: Do you make any of your clothes? KC: Nope. Never did.
MP: Who is your style icon? KC: Sebastian Flyte from Brideshead Revisited. Gene Kelly. Ashely Olsen (above left),Stephen Tennant, Antony Baekeland (above right) in the movie Savage Grace.
Above: A paperweight weight from Michele Varian—rests on Kwannam's journal.
MP: Who or what has influenced your style? KC: Real people on the streets. Characters from fiction or fairy tales. The cinema. Magazines. Old photographs and paintings...
MP: Has any song or movie influenced your style? KC: Movies! My Own Private Idaho. Savage Grace. Brideshead Revisited (both the TV series and the movie),Son of Rambow.Is anybody there? Le Balloon Rouge.
Above: Mr. Peacock loves Kwannam's shoe collection!
MP: Do you wear any jewelry? KC: Lapel pins on my blazers.
MP: Tote bag, satchel or briefcase? KC: Totes and MURSES! I am known for my murses.
MP: What would be your dream purchase right now? KC: I wanna buy the whole Manhattan!
Above: Mr. Chu dashing in Mr. Peacock's old neighborhood—Soho, NY.
MP: Any sartorial disasters you can share? KC: I do not think there would never be any sartorial mistakes or disasters, as long as you are confident with your decision and yourself, nothing is ever wrong.
Above: A stunning image from Esquire-Hong Kong, by Kwannam Chu.
MP: Any menswear trends you adore? or abhor? KC: I am so over trends these days. But I really wanna to see every man out there to have more respect or spent more efforts and hearts on dressing decently. I always believe, if I couldn’t make this world a better place, I can at least make it a prettier by looking a bit nicer.
Above: A new pair of green driving shoes from Massimo Dutti.
MP: What city has the best-dressed men? KC: It not a geographic location, more like a time issue, I think gentlemen in the past dressed way nicer.
MP: What are your favorite fashion magazines or blogs? KC: I like the old INTERVIEW back in the Warhol days. Man About Town, Teen Vogue, and 10 Men...are my religious reads.
Above: Vintage Interview Magazine, and Le Balloon Rouge.
MP: Do you plan what you're wearing the evening before or spontaneously select something in the morning? KC: A little bit of both.
MP: What do you do for a living? KC: I strive to be better, at everything!
Mr. Peacock is completely enchanted with Kwannam Chu's panache and talent. Stop by his blog, and also take a look at his eloquent photography—you're in for a treat. Thanks Kwannam!
Mr. Peacock was blog "tagged" by The Vintager, so now I'm it:
THE TAGGED RULES ARE: 1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own. 2. Tag eight other un-tagged people.
If you could have a house totally paid for, and fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would it be? In San Francisco, where I live right now—a home similar to the style of Shangri La, with an interior courtyard, multiple gardens, a few goats and chickens...and completely furnished with new and vintage Italian furniture and housewares (mixed with my current stuff).
What would you like to have in your hands right now? The keys and deed to the totally paid home (see above).
What is your favorite tea flavor? Black Lychee. It’s a strong black tea—it's very aromatic and of course smells like lychees. I also like very strong brewed Earl Grey tea—iced, with a bit of cream and sugar.
What is your favorite article of clothing? My vintage faux suspenders shirt—it's appliqué and embroidery on chambray, and my C.P. Company tweed jacket.
If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Any five star hotel—order room service, draw a bath, and pop in my Horrors cd.
What did you want to become as a child? An artist, travel agent, or radio dj.
What posters/pictures do you have on your bedroom wall? We have a very small bedroom without any artwork or photos hung on the walls. I have a fear of things falling on top of us, while we’re asleep, during an earthquake.
What is your plan for tomorrow? Well, my “metaphorical” plan for tomorrow is to “spring clean” the apartment.
What was your first job? Working for my dad, during the summers and weekends, at his golf pro shop. I think I started when I was about 10 or 11 years old. I would take tee-time reservations, light bookkeeping, get my dad coffee in the restaurant kitchen in the club, and pick-up golf balls on the driving range.
Say something to the person/s who tagged you: Hi J.B.—oh my gosh, I could have just put "ditto" after many of your answers(Kate Bush, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and on and on...)! I'd love to spend a Saturday afternoon together hanging out and vintage shopping. The Bob Mackey photo is amazing! By the way, your place and garden look lovely!
Post a favorite childhood photo: My mom and me...and I just learned how to wink.
Mr. Peacock has a thing for citrus juice reamers—specifically white porcelain or milk glass varieties. Here are a few favorites from my cupboard:
I call this porcelain beauty, by Rosenthal, my "Statue of Liberty" reamer. I think it looks great just as an objet d'art in my kitchen, but it’s also very functional.
I use it for oranges and large lemons. You hold the "handle" with one hand, while you juice with the other.
Then you tilt it to pour the juice, and the “prongs” catch the seeds.
I absolutely love this small porcelain vintage reamer! I use it all the time to juice limes and small organic Meyer lemons from my neighborhood produce market.
It’s simple, and very ingenious design, catches the juice in the pot, and strains the seeds on top. And it hold’s just the right amount of juice for dressings and salsas.
This vintage milk glass citrus reamer has the Sunkist logo type embossed on the side. It was probably a promotional item from the 40’s or 50’s. I found it at the flea market ages ago, and it’s been a workhorse in my kitchen ever since. You can find similar versions here or here.
I use it for grapefruits, large oranges and if I’m juicing a large quantity of lemons or limes. The “trough” doesn’t hold that much juice so I usually have my milk glass bowl (probably separated from someone’s mixer decades ago) with a sieve resting on top nearby to strain the seeds from the juice.
I found this little guy in China Town for a couple bucks.It's okay if you're juicing a couple of lemons or limes, and it strains the seeds when you pour the juice.
Of course you could use an old-fashioned wood reamer if you’re just juicing a single fruit...or if I’m feeling lazy—I just use a fork. I’ve seen this curious looking citrus reamer out and about at various shops. It looks like a naughty toy or medieval torture device to me. It would make a great conversation piece in your kitchen. I haven’t tried it for reaming citrus fruits, and I’m curious how effective it is for juicing. Has anyone tried this style of reamer?
Mr. Peacock would like to kindly thank a couple of wonderful sites for the shout-outs!
Beefranck, part of the Mr. X Stitch squad, kindly featured Mr. Peacock's naughty napkins on her weekly posting called, NSFW Saturday, which features naughty stitched items "not safe for work." Mr. X Stitch site features contemporary embroidery and needlecraft. The amount of talent and creativity showcased is almost overwhelming! You can easily spend hours looking at a diverse sampling of modern and experimental stitching.
After each visit to Mr. X Stitch, I immediately want to start embroidering—while my head is spinning from the amazing work they feature on the site. Even if you're not a needlecraft person, you will be inspired by the work shown on Mr. X Stitch. They also sell Mr. X Stitch patterns on etsy.Thank you Beefranck—and I love the adult content "warning-puppy!" And a big merci to the crafty, Skitso Leezra, for always thinking about Mr. Peacock, and turning me on to Mr. X Stitch! Mr. Peacock would also like to give a thanks to Thombeau, and his entire Fabulon Board of Directors, over at Planet Fabulon.Fabulon was "paging"Mr. Peacock from his fabulous universe...and I answered the call. If you need a good dose of glamour, fashion, and beefcake...all wrapped up with a sly sense of humor, be sure to make a pit-stop on the planet full of fabulousity at Fabulon.
And thanks to all of the folks who read and enjoy Mr. Peacock. The blogosphere is an amazing universe!
Steve Doyle is a stylish peacock and entrepreneur who resides in London. He’s the founder and editor of Buckstyle.com. Buckstyle premiered last year in a printed format (above), and has segued into a website that covers fashion, furniture and food. It’s still evolving, and will include video and even Doyle's Kitchen! The fashion show reports are very informative, and the images are large enough to see the details of each collection. Buckstyle promises to be a favorite bookmarked site for gentlemen peacocks everywhere.
Above: One of Mr. Peacock's favorite fashion stories from Buckstyle.
Mr. Peacock: How would you describe your own style? Steve Doyle: New Dandy, perhaps. I like to challenge pre-conceptions of what young men should wear, both in my shoots and in my personal styling. At the moment that means wearing a mixture of traditional ‘old man’ clothes like bow ties and Barbour jackets, with dandy touches. I like formality—button down shirts with buttoned-up collars, that kind of thing, but with a twist—clashing plaids are a current favourite.
MP: How old were you when you realized you were a peacock? SD: I knew it from a very young age. I was always interested in aesthetics; the aesthetic of everything in fact from clothes to cutlery to car design. I used to drive my parents mad because I was so picky. I always knew what I wanted, and still do. To be a peacock takes confidence though and on that front I have gained, lost it and regained it over the years. As a teenager I worked for the BBC’s local TV centre in Birmingham, England (where I grew up) and worked on several fashion TV programmes. At that time, everyone in my class thought I would work in fashion but as it turned out, I took a degree in Japanese Studies (long story!) and only came back into the fashion world for work years later.
MP: What's your favorite item in your wardrobe? SD: OK, I get it; you want me to tell you what underwear I wear? Ha-ha! A mixture of Calvin Klein and American Apparel. I always like to wear something red in my outfit—it gives me some kind of extra strength, and so sometimes the underwear is red.
MP: Do you wear vintage clothes or only "new" clothes? SD: Lots of vintage. At Buckstyle, I created a policy of always including designer, vintage, and high street pieces in every shoot—I call this D.V.H—because this is how real men dress. Personally, I love vintage, the cheaper the better! I am fortunate to live close by some really lovely vintage stores as well. A mix of old and new looks more individual I think.
MP: Who is your style icon? SD: In terms of style, Diana Vreeland (above left). Not from her own look, of course, but from her thoughts on fashion and style. Editor of American Vogue (above right) in the Sixties, she appreciated and enjoyed all forms of beauty, and was a maximalist—always pushing for more, always “going all the way” as she would have put it. I have seen pictures of her office at Vogue—clashing reds, Persian rugs with Japanese wall hangings; a riot of colour—she always looked forward and believed fashion should be fun, as I do.
MP: Do you have a favorite menswear designer or brand? SD: For the Autumn/Winter season (above video), my favourite collection was by Les Hommes. They have a great aesthetic, very intelligent, bold, quite feminine but strong. They get better each season. My must-have buy for next season is a pair of wedge-brogues by Armand Basi—truly stunning; a metallic leather brogue in burgundy and navy with a thick wooden sole. For regular wear, I always find something interesting in Topman’s Design range.
MP: Any sartorial disasters you can share? SD: As a teenager, there were countless! At 16, I used to go clubbing in the same outfit every week—black T-shirt, black trousers and a diamante belt! Truly horrific, although it was the Nineties, when block colouring looked sophisticated rather than dull. Haha!
MP: Any menswear trends you adore? or abhor? SD: Love—wedge-brogues (not a trend yet but it will be!), Barbour jackets (above),Dr. Martens shoes + boots, plaid. Loathe—Crocs! Although that probably goes without saying.
Above: A Buckstyle interior shot.
MP: What city has the best-dressed men? SD: So difficult. I like guys who take pride in their style, whatever that style is. In London, New York and Berlin, I think you find some really adventurous guys but there are other parts of those cities that are awful. Paris and Milan are chic but quite conservative. Overall, Tokyo probably has the best-dressed—smartly turned out conservative men as well as young, adventurous hipsters. Everywhere is exciting though; some people think that globalization has made us all look the same but I think those people must have never left their own country. Parisians wear American Apparel, but in a completely different way to Chicagoans, and that’s how it should be.
MP: How did you conceive or get the idea for Buckstyle? SD: A couple of years ago, I was in a job I didn’t enjoy and decided, after a lot of soul-searching, that life is too short for jobs you don’t enjoy. So I took the plunge and decided to follow my dream—running my own business, publishing a fashion magazine. I lived in Tokyo back in 2002 and during my time there, fell in love with a men’s fashion magazine called Men’s non-no (above). It’s really accessible and commercial but still adventurous with its styling. So, this was my starting point—an accessible men’s fashion magazine for guys like me who know their own style and do their own thing but want to see what’s new and how other men the same age are styling themselves. I plan to continue this with Buckstyle.com, taking it forward with video fashion shoots.
Mr. Peacock finds Steve Doyle’s entrepreneurial spirit inspiring, and his style sense superb. Stop by Buckstyle.com and check it out. As I said, it will only get better, especially in the hands of Steve Doyle. Mr. Peacock is crossing his fingers they may produce an occasional special printed issue of Buckstyle. Thank you Steve!
Okay, I admit it; I’ve always liked tassels—especially on a nice pair of loafers. I think the loafers with the shorter tongues, usually worn by businessmen in office parks, have given the tasseled loafer a bad reputation. Most people think of tasseled loafers as stodgy and very conservative. This season, however, there are many modern interpretations of this ornamental tuft of threads (or cords) on men's shoes. Here are a few of Mr. Peacock’s favorites:
Who hasn’t owned at least one pair of Sperry top-siders, and knotted the cord into a tassel-like knot (I don’t remember how to knot them now—do you?).
Purple, encompassing shades from deep aubergine to the palest lilac, can add a sophisticated touch to your wardrobe. The color is historically associated with royalty; in the 80’s purple immediately brought visions of Prince—a royal of his own kind. Many peacock gentlemen wear purple...peacock icon, James Andrew, elegantly wears all shades of this regal color; and the peacock artist, Emile Norman, likes to wear his signature purple Converse sneakers. If you don’t already wear purple, start with a belt and then work your way up to a shirt or jacket. Here are some purple goodies that will get you started…
1)Pantone has a plethora of purple colors...and your coffee or tea will definitely taste better sipped out of this purple colored Pantone Mug(spot color 2583).
4)Mr. Peacock loves these steely lilac oxfords. They would look great with a dark suit or even just your favorite jeans.
5)The Fine and Dandy Shop always has a selection of economical pocket squares in various shades purple of purples.
6)Thank you Marc Jacobs for your “special items.” There are always bargain treasures, and these purple and navy web belts for $20 are worth their weight in gold for adding a bit of purple to your wardrobe this spring. 7)These slim fit purple jeans take be back to high school. They would look chic with a navy blazer.
At right: Menswear designer, Michael Bastion, showed purple trousers paired with a plaid jacket at his Autumn/Winter 2009 Collection. Why wait until the fall to wear purple, be inspired now!
Above video: Whenever I hear Prince, it reminds me of my late sister, Theresa. We saw Prince in concert numerous times together—we loved him in the 80's. She first turned me onto him with this album.
Jaime Hayon is a Spanish artist/designer who’s a whirlwind of creative energy and vision. He left his hometown of Madrid as a teenager in the early 1990’s, and went to San Diego to submerge himself in skateboard culture and graffiti art. He then landed a scholarship at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. In 1996, he went to work at Fabrica,Oliviero Toscani’s creative agency for Benetton.
In a short time he was promoted from student to head of their Design Department, where he oversaw projects ranging from shop, restaurant and exhibition conception and design to graphics. He broke out on his own in 2004, with collections of designer toys, ceramics and furniture, followed by interior design and installation. Above: A ceramic candelabra.
The common thread in all of Mr. Hayon’s projects is his inimitable grasp of form, style and color, combined with his sensual and whimsical touch.
Mr. Peacock first became enchanted with the work of Jaime Hayon after he saw his award winning bathroom collection.
The collection is sleek and sensual, without being too feminine or trendy. I’m not sure what I like better—the pieces in black, or in white?
In 2007, Jaime Hayon designed the restaurant interiors of La Terraza del Casino, one of Madrid’s most traditional member clubs. I love the plates mounted on the ceiling!
His Showtime Collection for BD Ediciones de Diseño is a home furniture collection inspired on classical MGM musicals. The concepts behind these pieces explore the contrast between what is external and internal and combines innovative material combinations like plastic and leather.
The Fantasy Collection for the Spanish porcelain brand, Lladró, clearly illustrates Hayon’s ability to make magic of the unexpected. The piece on the right, would be a perfect cake-topper for Tula at Whorange.
This chair is at the top of Mr. Peacock’s wish list right now! It’s from a twenty-two piece wood collection, from Hayon's first collaboration with Ceccotti.
I also like his lamps.
Mr. Hayon also designs shoes for Camper.“I wanted to make a simple shoe but one that had character, in solid colors...”
Limited edition pieces for Baccarat; and Grid vases manufactured by Turkish artisans. The first book about Jaime Hayon, published by Gestalten, presents the full spectrum of his work. Order a copy here.
Jaime Hayon said last year in the New York Times,“...not knowing everything can be an asset when you’re creating, because you’re not limited by what you think is impossible...you can always find someone to help with practical ideas—what matters most in the 21st century is having a great concept.”
Above: A piece from The Fantasy Collection, and Mr. Hayon living out his fantasies!
This creative gentleman definitely has an infinite amount of unique concepts. Take a look at his extensive work at his Hayon Studio website.Mr. Peacock salutes his creative vision, and can’t wait to see what’s in the future creative pipeline from this inventive peacock. Bravo Mr. Hayon!
Note: All the portraits of Mr. Hayon were a collaboration between himself, and the Dutch photographer Nienke Klunder (his girlfriend).
Above: Mr. Peacock standing with the lovely Lotta in a photograph from her book, Simple Sewing. We're both holding very cute and easy tote bag projects from her book.
Mr. Peacock first became a fan of the textile artist and entrepreneur, Lotta Jansdotter, and her work around 2000. My friend, Felicity, gave me a small white zippered linen bag, with two charming drawn birds, silk screened in black, on the outer surface—I was immediately hooked on Lotta's charming style.
Her organic style has a wonderful Scandinavian aesthetic, and rightly so—Lotta is a native Scandinavian girl from Åland, an island between Sweden and Finland. In 2006, Lotta relocated her studio to Brooklyn, from San Francisco.
And Lotta's been on many blogs over the years! She recently took a moment from her hectic schedule while in Tokyo, where she was working on a new book, to answer a few questions for Mr. Peacock.
Mr. Peacock: How would you describe your own style? Lotta: My style is very simple, organic, personal, playful and a little bit "wabi sabi."
Above: A sampling of wonderful fabrics that Lotta has designed over the years.
MP: What's your favorite Lotta item—current or past? Lotta: REAL hard to say—hard to pick out one of your favorite "children."
At the moment I really like the new stationery collection I have created with a Japanese company. It will be on the Lotta Jansdotter website soon.
Above: Lotta has designed some very charming charming children's soft toys, but this little dog has to be Mr. Peacock's favorite.
MP: What city has the best-dressed men? Lotta: Paris comes to mind.
MP: What would be your dream purchase? Lotta: A nice piece of land by the water in a secluded spot on the island of Åland, where I am born, and my husband can design a house for us. He is an architect.
Mr. Peacock especially likes the tote projects (see photo above) from Lotta's Simple Sewing book.If you’re crafty, or want to be crafty, the book has many great projects for crafters and sewers at all levels—it even comes with patterns tucked in the back of the book.You can buy a signed copy of Simple Sewinghere. Lotta also has other great books on printing and clever handmade projects.
Lotta Jansdotter is very popular in Japan and this Japanese book, Lotta’s Lifestyle, from a few back, takes you around San Francisco to her favorite spots—and a stop by her apartment too. You can order one here.
Lotta will be celebrating the launch of her latest book today, Simple Sewing for Baby, from 6-8pm at her Brooklyn Studio. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and sip some rose wine and stitch a cute little project from the book—more information here. If you’re on the West Coast, Lotta will be signing Simple Sewing for Baby on May 16th in San Francisco.
Also mark your calendar for Lotta’s surface printing workshops in August,September and October. The emphasis of the workshops (see photo above) will be on printing using easy techniques (like stenciling, printing with linocuts and even potato printing!) anyone can use at home without special or expensive equipment. More information here.
Above: An Etsy tour of Lotta's first Brooklyn studio, in 2007. Her current Brooklyn studio is located here.
Mr. Peacock can be at a high-end store, or just perusing the aisles at Target and see the influence (and imitators) of Lotta’s earthy and simple Scandinavia style. Most of the other stuff, however, lacks the charming nuance and heartfelt love of Lotta’s work. Stop by Lotta's website for news about classes and new projects. Thanks Lotta, and congratulations on your new book!
A man and his peacock—Castro Street Fair, circa 1991.
Mr. Peacock is a bit under the weather (no Swine Flu here) and over-extended right now, and will be taking a brief blog break.I extend my apologies, but will be back on Friday—bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Thank you for reading Mr. Peacock. See you Friday!
Todd is a New York peacock with an immaculate sense of style, and a keen eye for detail. Whether he’s taking the subway (6 Train) to work, or at a soirée with friends—he’s always impeccably dressed from head to toe!
Above: Todd is wearing a two button single vent sport coat in billiard green raw silk; lavender point collar, barrel cuff shirt; trousers in espresso tropical wool; olive green made-to-order shoes; tie in brown and bronze striped silk; pocket square in brown, bronze and orange paisley silk. Photographs of Todd by TOBY WORTHINGTON.
His charming and witty blog, Stirred, Straight Up, with a Twist, is permanently set at 1962 (give or take a decade), with an appreciative nod to the past—and yet always in the present with style, glamour and a sense of humor. It's like stumbling upon a chic little nightclub in Manhattan. You know the kind, no sign and an unmarked door—but when you enter through the door a whole world of style and glamour appears...and of course cocktails, amazing music, entertainment, hotties and some naughtiness!
Todd also exquisitely crafts a weekly playlist for his blog. This eclectic and sophisticated soundtrack sublimely segues from Frances Faye, to Pizzicato Five, to Mel Tormé, and then to Tavares—always creating a desired mood and tone. Todd uses the same refined taste and sophistication in creating his, seemingly effortless, gentleman style.
Mr. Peacock: How would you describe your style? Todd: The description "classic, with a twist" seems awfully clichéd, but I suppose it will have to do until I think of something better! I don't dress to shock, or to be outrageous, or to be noticed—I dress to please myself, to suit the occasion, and to feel and look good. For me, that means good tailoring, good fabrics, unexpected use of color, and comfort.
MP: How old were you when you consciously realized you were a peacock? Todd: I don't remember when I wasn't. My favorite thing to do, when I was very, very little, and had a day off from school, would be to "dress up" in my grey flannel trousers, pink oxford shirt, navy school blazer; dab my father's Polo cologne on; and watch old movies on television with a "highball" glass filled with ice cubes and "scotch" (ginger ale).
Above: Impeccable and chic—two button single vent sport coat in billiard green raw silk; lavender point collar, barrel cuff shirt; trousers in espresso tropical wool; tie in brown and bronze striped silk; pocket square in brown, bronze and orange paisley silk.
MP: Where did you grow up? Todd: In the suburbs of Connecticut. When I was growing up, I couldn't wait to get out! Now, as I get older, I find myself re-embracing the past a bit more.
MP: Who's your style icon? Todd: Cary Grant is an easy answer, of course. I think Fred Astaire is woefully underrated as a men's style icon—always dapper, always elegant, always correct. And he made it (like his dancing) seem absolutely effortless and part of his natural grace. MP: Who has influenced your style? Todd: I honestly can't recall ever consciously copying or studying someone else's specific look or style; although, I'm sure I was heavily influenced by the classic movies I grew up on. It's all been trial and error; and believe me, I've made more than my share of errors over the years! But I'm constantly honing and refining what works best for me. I think you have to be ruthless in your appraisal of yourself and your style, and in this economy, who can afford to make too many mistakes?
Above left to right: Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, in 1953, on the set of "The Band Wagon"; looking sharp with a boutonnière, circa late 1940's.
MP: Do you have a favorite menswear designer or brand? Todd: This is a touchy question for me, as I don't really think that labels or brands should necessarily factor into someone's style, per se. Let's just say that certain designers work better for me than others, and quality often doesn't come inexpensively. Having said that, spending all of your hard-earned money on a luxe, high-end designer wardrobe still won't guarantee you chic or elegance or style unless you're choosing wisely and eliminating ruthlessly.
MP: What's your favorite item in your entire wardrobe? Todd: A pale, robin's egg blue silk mohair sport coat.
MP: Have you had any sartorial disasters that you can share? Todd: Oh, God. Short denim cut off's and combat boots. If there's Fashion Purgatory, I'm headed there solely for that disaster.
MP: Are there any menswear trends you abhor? adore? Todd: I abhor trends. I love individuality.
MP: Any item you are looking forward to wearing this spring? Todd: I'm looking forward to buying a snappy boater from Rod Keenan this season.
MP: Tote, satchel, or briefcase? Todd: Overnight bag for travel, briefcase for work—any other time: pare it down, gentlemen, to where you don't need a purse.
MP: Do you wear vintage clothes, or only "new" clothes? Todd: I love my vintage watches (see above); I have three from the 1920's and 1930’s, which I cherish. I wish I had the patience to search out beautiful vintage clothing, because I love the idea of having something completely unique and with a history; but, alas, I don't.
MP: What's you favorite time-period for menswear, and why? Todd: I love the early 1960's for its breezy, Continental feel; and also the 1920's and 1930's for the sheer elegance of the period.
MP: What's been the biggest change in your personal style over the years? Todd: My style itself, although it's definitely been refined over time, hasn't really changed all that much. But what has changed is my becoming more attuned to color and its possibilities; I look at it as a challenge. For instance, how do I take a pair of olive green made-to-order shoes and make them a seamless part of my style, rather than, “Hey, look, he's wearing green shoes!”
Above left to right: It's all in the details! Trousers in beige tropical wool, maple handmade shoes, socks in beige and yellow argyle print; trousers in espresso tropical wool, olive green made-to-order shoes.
MP: What's been the biggest style lesson you've learned? Todd: I've become much, much more concerned with quality and fit as I get older and wiser; I've become more cognizant of buying things to last—timeless fashion, as opposed to fleeting fads. There are designer, fashion-y things I bought in my 20's, which I wish to God I could take back and exchange for something that would be a part of my permanent wardrobe! Also, never, ever wear anything strictly for the sake of effect or affectation.
Mr. Peacock admires gentlemen, like Todd, who have found their own style (even though they may continually refine it) and boldly wear what they like and what suits them, regardless of what the popular opinion is. Todd has a great sense of humor, and clearly appreciates the finer things in life: good music, quality clothing, and custom made shoes. Be sure to stop by Stirred, Straight Up, with a Twist for some inspiration, eye-candy and wit. As Todd states on his blog, “...the problems of the real world can be solved with a touch of glamour and a dash of style.”Mr. Peacock sure hopes so! Thank you Todd!
Spring is here, and plaid/tartan is everywhere...mostly shirts and shorts. Here are a few plaid/tartan items, minus the shirts and shorts, that are on Mr. Peacock’s wish list right now.
1)Woolrich Woolen Mills creates classic American products with simplicity and authenticity—and this Plaid Vest is no exception. This vest would be great worn over a chambray shirt and khakis while hitting the pavement in the city, or with a t-shirt and shorts while walking through the woods. More information here.
2)This Plaid Lightweight Hooded Cotton Windbreaker is such a great piece—and it’s on sale too! Buy one here.
3)Mr. Peacock loves this Late Regency Mahogany and Caned Library Chairwith a tartan seat cushion. The castors would make it a great desk chair! More information here. 4)Every gentleman peacock needs a pair of Belgian Loafers...and why not a pair of Gray Plaid, with Black Trim, loafers! Order a pair here.
5)Pulling your calling card out of this Antique Tartanware Card Case would be very chic. The tartan is “Stuart” and originates from Scotland from around 1880. More information here.
6)Want to add just a bit of tartan to your outfit this spring? This Plaid Web Belt would do the trick. Buy one here.
7)This Antique Tartanware Tea Caddy would make a great addition to Tartan Scot’s collection of Tartanware! Mr. Peacock loves the shape, and the dual storage compartments—originally used to store tea. It would be great on any gentleman’s dresser to store your watches, cufflinks, and other trinkets. More information here. 8)This cover of this Rizzoli book, Tartan-Romancing the Plaid, has an iconic image of Linda Evangelista’s from the Steven Meisel plaid story photographed for Harper’s Bazaar in the early 1990’s (loved those images). There are many books on plaid/tartan, but this one would be a nice addition to your library. Order one here.
I don't know about you, butMr. Peacock has a closet full of way too many t-shirts. And I’m still always on the lookout for another great t-shirt to add to my collection—the softer, the better too!
I can almost smell the ocean when I look at this Dune Grass T-shirt—it makes me want to walk barefoot on the beach.
Mr. Peacock has a soft spot for the Fred Perry laurel wreath—and it looks handsome on this t-shirt. I also like this grey griffin t-shirt. This doodle t-shirt takes me back to drawing with a blue Bic Ballpoint pen in junior high school science class. These illustrations of random antiques and strange collectibles are a bit more sophisticated, however, than my junior high scribbles.
This pair of shirts reminds of the summer of 1984. The neon yellow and blue palm trees t-shirt, has kind of a homemade feel—which is fun and very 80's. The black t-shirt with white dots looks like big galaxy of stars. It also makes me think of stippling my clothes (jeans and t-shirts) with bleach in the 80’s. It looked cool, but your garment smelled like bleach for a few washings. I like the graphic simplicity of the "hills" on this t-shirt.
This squirrel playing the drums t-shirt makes me laugh. It’s silly, but it would be a great t-shirt for lounging around the house on weekends. It also comes in different colors—more information here.Mr. Peacock loves the “Scorpio” t-shirt on the right. They stock every zodiac sign, but I didn’t like the graphic for my sign, Gemini—but maybe I could become an honorary Scorpio. The placement of the graphic on the shoulder is a nice touch too.
Good ole Paul Bunyan says “goodbye nature” on this super soft organic cotton t-shirt. More information here. How about an iconic converse sneakers t-shirt, or a line-up of owls t-shirt? This is my favorite t-shirt. After thousands of washings it’s become paper-thin and super soft; the ink is cracking too. I’ve seen The Smiths numerous times in concert, but I never bought a t-shirt. I found this on eBay for $2 about nine years ago. I probably wear it too much...but it’s so comfortable.
I acquired this little teapot/coffee pot, that mimics a moka pot, last year. It's perfect for two cups of tea.
I love these porcelain faux boots (5.75"w x 15"h x 10.5"d) created by the talented Czech artist and designer, Maxim Velcovsky of Qubus studio! They’re pictured as a left and right boot; however, you can only purchase a left boot. A big bunch of peonies would look fantastic in a boot vase.
They remind me of a pair of Wellies or old Frye boots.
Of course, I like the white porcelain boot vase the best, but this glossy black porcelain boot vase is very cool too. The porcelain boot with the blue pattern reminds me of Dutch Delftware.
These mugs, Bird in the Bush cups, don't mimic everyday objects, but they're very clever. When they’re stacked, they look like a "tree branches" with a bird. The bird also comes in pink, although, I wish it was available in white.
These porcelain "Happy Dishes" dishes make me smile—especially the lidded dish that looks like croissant!
For these breakfast dishes, Tina Roeder, the designer, was inspired by children and her friends. These days, anything that puts a smile on my face is all right with me!
