If you’re planning to visit or already live in San Francisco, make sure you stop by the exhibit, Passionate Struggle-Dynamics of San Francisco’s GLBT History at 18th & Castro Street. The exhibit is presented by the GLBT Historical Society(Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans). This small satellite exhibit was created to coincide with the opening of the biopic film, Milk, about the slain San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk.
The exhibit is divided into 4 parts: People, Politics, Places and Pleasures. It takes you from the bedrooms and back rooms to the bookstores and bars, from Harvey Milk’s victories to transgender sex workers’ riots, and from social movements to secret fantasies. Some sections of this small exhibit are fun, while other sections are very emotional. The GLBT Historical Society has kleenex available.
Mr. Peacock was taken aback seeing the actual suit, shirt, tie, belt and well-worn shoes that Harvey Milk was wearing when he was gunned down by Dan White—which is included in this exhibit. It is a powerful experience, and a bit startling seeing the suit with the frayed bullet holes and huge blood stains in such close proximity. Harvey Milk had such a large personality, but I didn't realize how small his actual stature was, until seeing the small size of his suit.
The exhibit is running through October 2009, so if you’re in the neighborhood see it, or if you’re planning a trip to San Francisco include a stop to Passionate Struggle on your itinerary! You can also download a free audio walking tour, Out of the Bars and Into the Streets, about Harvey Milk here. Click here for more information about Passionate Struggle.
Incorporating some polka dots into your wardrobe won’t make you look like a clown, on the contrary, adding a touch of this old fashioned pattern can look quite dapper and modern. Mr. Peacock has always had a weakness for polka dots and clowns.Here’s some polka dot goodies that will add a dash of charm to your peacock wardrobe. (click image above to enlarge)
1)A polka dot necktie is an easy way to add some polka dots into your wardrobe and this one is a classic beauty. This tie comes in 6 great colorways, more information here.
2)Mr. Peacock adores this black motorcycle helmut with white polka dots! Zooming around town on your motorcycle in this helmut would look very dandy, and quite handsome too with your motorcycle leathers. You can order one here.
3)You already know my penchant for patchwork, so I don't even have to explain the appeal of this patchwork polka dot silk scarf. This silk scarf would look great (and feel great too) just hanging around your neck with a simple white t-shirt and jeans. Order one here.
4)Take a cue from René in Berlin on how socks can add a jolt of personality to your wardobe. These polka dots socks would look great this spring worn with some penny loafers. Buy a pair hereor a smaller polka dotted pair here. 5)Mr. Peacock has had many navy with white polka dot shirts over the years. This polka dot shirt (available in white dots on either a black or navy background) would be very versatile—leave the cuffs unbuttoned and wear it with your favorite jeans for a casual chic, or dress it up with a traditional blazer and the best khakis you can find. Buy a black shirt here,or a navy shirt here.
6)I’ve already shown you some great umbrellas, but if you owned this hand made Frenchpolka dot umbrella by gentleman peacock, Duncan Quinn, you would pray for rain. Order one here. 7)This bold graphic Italian dotted scarf would add some flair wrapped around your neck, or carefully folded and billowing out of your blazer pocket. Buy one here,or watch for a vintage polka dot scarf at your local flea market or yard sale.
8)At his Fall 2009 Menswear Collection, British designer, Paul Smith, showed splashes of polka dot accessories, including scarves and ties. Mr. Smith expertly layered these dotted accessories with other patterns such as plaid. Whether you choose to mix your polka dots with patterns or just use them to accent solid colors, don't wait until fall. Add some polka dots to your wardrobe now!
Mr. Peacock would like to thank Jason,from The Rural Modernist, for his recent blog posting in praise of maximalism and my peacock habitat. You can read it here.
Mr. Peacock’s favorite childhood toy was a clown doll named Patootie. I don’t remember who gave him to me—probably my mom or grandmother. Patootie was my constant companion in the years before kindergarten and I carried him with me everywhere—much to the chagrin of my father, who did not like me playing with dolls. Each night before I went to bed, I would carefully place Patootie on a little homemade “bed” just feet from my own twin bed. One morning I woke up and he was mysteriously gone! My mom told me that maybe he was lost, but I knew something wasn’t right. I think I even knew at that young age that my dad probably threw Patootie in the trash. I cried and mourned for days over losing my favorite friend, Patootie. I think my dad began to feel guilty, so my parents surprised me with a small model train set. I liked the train set too (I still have it in it’s original box), but I really couldn’t hug or hold a little caboose car like I did Patootie.
Mr. Peacock holding Patootie and posing with his teenage sister, Carmella, before she left on a trip.
Over the years, I’ve asked friends and colleagues if they had a Patootie doll when they were young? They always look at me and answer, “What are you talking about...what's a Patootie?” I’ve never met anyone who’s even heard of this clown doll. Patootie was made by Mattel and I think he may have been part of their of non-gender specific toys launched in the 1960’s, after the huge success of the The Slinky. (I had a Weenie Dog Slinky toy that I loved too!)
I found this photo of Patootie on the internet (see photos above and below) in his original box and outfit. I don’t remember what happened to Patootie's cute little harlequin outfit and hat, or the sad mask; I must have misplaced them right away. When you pulled the side drawstring, he talked and made a clown laugh—ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! I think the drawstring broke shortly after I got him. I don’t know why I was so enamored with this little clown doll, but he was my favorite toy for the longest time. That same year I dressed as Patootie for Halloween. I wore a clown suit that my mom and older sisters made out of some old sheets. They used magic markers to draw the harlequin diamonds on the entire outfit and sewed red bric-a-brac on the neck ruffle. I was in clown heaven. Years later, I saw a flier at our local library that said in large circus style type, “Do you want to be professional clown?” It was advertising a “professional” clown instruction class taught by an ex Ringling Brothers clown. I don’t remember how much it cost to enroll, but the class was for adults only. I begged my mom to let me take the class. She finally called the instructor and explained that I was very mature for my age and asked his permission to let me enroll in the class, even though I was only 10 years old. He obliged and mailed my mom the class itinerary and the lengthy supply list.
We had to drive downtown to a special shop that carried theatrical lighting, props and make-up to get my class supplies. My mom sort of freaked out when she saw the prices of the professional grade theatrical make-up. She sat me down at the store and asked me if I was serious about the class, and I said, “Yes!” She compromised with me and made me select the smallest containers available of each required make-up.
The class was held over 4 consecutive Saturdays from 10am to 5pm at a church and my mom would make me a sack lunch. She would escort me to each class and stay for the first half hour or so, and then return to sit in on the last half hour of the class. She gave me very stern instructions not to talk or look at anyone else in the class. She also made it very clear with the teacher that I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone, nor anyone speak to me. There were maybe 5 other students in the class—kinda creepy men of all ages (now I can only think of John Wayne Gacy) who wanted to be “professional” clowns. I would always sit by myself at each class and obeyed my mother and never spoke or looked at any other students in the class. The teacher, a retired Ringling Brothers circus clown in his 60’s, began the class with the history of clowns, focusing on Emmett Kelly. My favorite clown at the time was Blinky the Clown, who was the host of the local children’s television show where we lived.
The teacher stressed the importance of the design of your face and we sketched potential faces for hours. He then taught us how to apply the face, from the base white color, to the features, and finally setting it all with powder. Luckily I wasn’t old enough to have to shave my face, so the make-up really sat well on my smooth skin. I don’t remember what name I choose either, probably because I couldn’t narrow my choice down to just one name. I know my mom took a picture of me on the final day of class in my clown face, but unfortunately I don’t know what happened to the photograph.
Above: I found this amazing clown needlepoint at a Manhattan flea market years ago. I eventually want to turn it into a pillow or seat cushion.
Of course, shortly after the class ended, I lost interest in being a “professional” clown and the expensive make-up sat in a shoebox in my bedroom for years, until my younger sister and I used it for Halloween one year. I thank my mom for the dozens of extracurricular classes she let me take as a child and for allowing me to explore my creativity. What was your favorite childhood toy?
René Schaller is a freelance writer for the Berlin based online magazine, The Junction. Until last August, he was the Deputy Manager at the Berlin flagship store for Wunderkind(Wolfgang Joop's vision of modern elegance). This peacock has learned that you can’t buy style, although he utilizes his style expertise and unique sartorial flair as a freelance personal shopper for private clients. His goal is to work for a fashion house and to continue his quest learning about the differences between fashion and style. He's looking around and searching for his own way and is open for something new! His next plan—Milan.
Above: René dressed classically chic, in a dark blazer with charcoal grey trousers and a woolly scarf.
Mr. Peacock: How would you describe your own style? René Schaller:It's not really a concept or something; I simply love to wear classic clothes and hate 'fashionable' stuff.
MP: Who is your style icon? RS:Since I first encountered his site, Scott Schuman aka The Sartorialist, changed my style. He's given me inspiration and taught me about style.
Above: René's self-made crocheted flower (on his lapel) adds a unique flair to his outfit, comprised mostly from different seasonal pieces, from the storeCOS. He also adds an unexpected splash of color to the ensemble with magenta Ralph Lauren socks.
MP: What's your favorite item in your wardrobe RS: A great herringbone hunting jacket in cashmere and a dark blue aviator coat. Both are very special pieces from Wunderkind.
MP: Do you have a particular item of clothing you're obsessed with? RS:1) Cardigans 2) Colored socks 3) Pants...I build my outfits around them.
Above left: Shots from the 1984 British film, Another Country, starring Rupert Everett and Colin Firth.
Above left to right: Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons in the early 1980's British television series Brideshead Revisited. Poster for the 1960 French film, Plein Soleil, starring Alain Delon.
MP: Do you wear vintage clothes or only "new" clothes? RS: I buy vintage coats and jackets, but also like the feeling of new stuff.
MP: Do you you make any of your clothes? RS: I change buttons...
MP: Do you wear jewelry? If so, what RS: Sometimes I wear my grandpa's wedding ring. And I wear an amber amulet around my neck, I love the color and I believe in it’s miracles.
MP: Tote bag, satchel or messenger bag? RS: Tote Bag!
Above: René puts together a unique look with a yellow vintage leather jacket, breeches from Wunderkind,and an H&M army jacket.
MP: Any menswear trends you adore? or abhor? RS: I don't like the dark looks—all in black is so boring.
MP: Do you have a favorite menswear designer or brand? RS:Dries Van Noten and Marni are my favorites.
MP: Do you prefer clean-shaven or facial hair? RS: Facial hair! Looks more masculine.
MP: What city has the best dressed men? RS: I think Milano has them. The men there have that kind of 'twist'... I like how they play with colours and how they wear their scarves.
Mr. Peacock agrees with René, and also admires the style of Milanese men—they always appear to be so effortlessly elegant and well groomed. In addition to his freelance writing at The Junction, René also has a blog, It’s All About Fashion. Thank you René!
Mr. Peacock would like to thank Grace at Design Sponge for the "Sneak Peek" yesterday. Here's some shot's from my habitat, and you can also see more at Design Sponge.
I've moved and lived in so many different places and apartments in my life and was always afraid of accumulating stuff. I never wanted to be weighted down with "stuff" and look what happened in a few short years! An apartment filled to the rafters with books, records, magazines, dishes, journals, et all...
The apartment is a mix of old & new, cheap & expensive, tacky & chic, with lots of sentimental hand-me-downs and gifts from family and friends. Most of the artwork is my own work (paintings and collages), with the exception of a floral painting by my friend Robert (thanks!), in the kitchen. The walls are painted in a Martha Stewart brown tone called mushroom and all of the doors are painted a glossy black. My grandmother'scoffee table and white leather chair (in the left mirror reflection) take center stage in the living room (see above). As a child, I made endless little arrangements with my grandmother's nic-nacs on that coffee table (of course she had a larger and thicker piece of glass on top). I would get scolded for spinning in that white chair—now I scold my friends for spinning in it. Not really, there's nothing too fragile or precious anywhere in this apartment I share with my partner, Jason, and we use everything.
The entire space is an "evening apartment" and comes to life at night. The apartment becomes warm, comfortable, and cozy—and everything twinkles from the soft lighting throughout the apartment. I love the Gio Ponti chairs. The scale of these chairs (see above) is perfect for an apartment.
The kitchen is stuffed to the rafters with books and dishes. I'm an avid cook and foodie and the kitchen gets a thorough workout. I decoupaged the table ala Piero Fornasetti. You can buy the original table by Piero and Barnaba Fornasetti here.
I converted the old fashioned built-in ironing board into the ultimate spice rack—I've already run out of room. My mother found an old roll of contact paper at my grandmother's house and saved it for me, because she knew I would like it. The pattern is black & white line drawings of buildings in some imaginary city—it reminds me of a hybrid of Brooklyn and London. I xeroxed it and lined all of the cabinets in the kitchen and the bathroom with it.
My friend, who lived in the apartment before me—who's not a cook, covered the small amount of counter top with black latex rubber. I love the deep glossy blackness, but it's not very practical as a frequently used surface. I installed the mirrors above and under the cabinets. The cabinets are painted in a gray that was called "elephant." All of the cabinet drawer pulls are vintage milk glass.
I love the horizontal and crisscrossing stripes in this Ladytron video (I love Ladytron too!) for the song Runaway.The bathroom currently has black & white toile wallpaper, but this video has inspired me to go with stripes. I'll show you the results down the road. I hope my peacock habitat inspires and gives you ideas for your own home.
Mr. Peacock found this hand blown glass bird in his grandmother’s basement—still in the original box. I'm not sure where she acquired this glass bird, but it reminds me of an old fashioned carnival prize. The glass is very thin and delicate. You could almost break the bird in your hand just by squeezing it tightly. I like the simple black & white graphics on the box. The line drawings of the birds and the hand drawn looking typography of "the feeder" give the box a modern elegance. The box suggests using “the feeder (for people)” for peanuts, sugar, licorice, cereal, jelly beans, pins, gun drops [sic], paper clips, sunflower seeds, rubber bands, nuts, buttons, raisins, diamonds, vitamins, jewels, etc…
I found a taller companion bird at the flea market, unfortunately, the tall bird wasn’t with it’s original box. I like using them together, for candy and snacks at parties, although I've never used them for "gun drops." (see box above)
Mr. Peacock sometimes uses them together as a cream and sugar set for coffee and tea. These “glass bird feeders” were probably produced in the late 1960’s and appear to have been distributed through a company in Fullerton, California, and made in Taiwan, but I can’t find any more information about them. I think the stylized simplicity of these birds make them very charming and I keep my eye open for more of these delicate birds at flea markets and yard sales.
The exhibit is divided into 4 parts: People, Politics, Places and Pleasures. It takes you from the bedrooms and back rooms to the bookstores and bars, from Harvey Milk’s victories to transgender sex workers’ riots, and from social movements to secret fantasies. Some sections of this small exhibit are fun, while other sections are very emotional. The GLBT Historical Society has kleenex available.
