On the man I want to be...and the style I want to have...

[Originally posted on March 31st 2010]

Alright my kings, queens, and queers…as promised I return to you today with fresh thoughts and fresh looks. And while Tumblr is stingy when it comes to uploading pictures I have gathered as many as possible for you. So that for Wonderful World of Fashion Wednesday I have for you, my version of (and my first ever!) mood board!

A quick lesson. Mood boards are used by designers (and whoever else is feeling crafty) to depict exactly that…a mood, a feeling, a look for whatever it is they are trying to capture through cloth.

And my take on a mood board today is simply a slide show of pictures that I slaved away trying to find. (From all over the internets, so this is me giving credit where credit is due…wherever that is).

So, do I still have your attention? Or did I lose you at fashion? Well I should hope not, you fools! If you stuck around for my nostalgic ramblings of yesteryear (on Monday’s post) than you know that I’ve taken quite the turn in my own personal stylings. And while I certainly still have my own look I do tend to be drawn to what is popular now for men - and thank heavens that look has finally reached a flattering and dapper place!

And so for today I give you, the three men, I most want to be. And yes, yes, I know, while my own long label for my gender presentation and identity does not actually suggest that I physically want to become a man, you should definitely know by now that your Boy at Sea wants to dress like the best of them!

Okay, okay, enough nonsense, on with it already!

My three men and a brief comment on each:

1. Robert Downey Jr.:

If you can just disregard his slightly crazier years, than seriously folks how can you look at this man and not swoon?! Not only is he an actor that has our hearts but he's just so gosh darn stylish! That suit he wore to the Oscars?...

You know you’re a God of Garb when you manage to look that good at an event where every man is expected to wear a black suit, with black tie or bow tie. He gave it just a hint of personality, but not too extreme. The color and sheen of his bow tie, and then his glasses, and his shoes - all subtle details that pulled his look together and gave him just the right amount of flair to stand out in a sea of well-dressed penguins. I also gave you some Sherlock pictures and some shirtless pictures…because I mean really…I must be him.

2. Edward Norton:

Well here we go, I give you my favorite actor. Not only have I loved him in probably every film he’s done (think American History X and Fight Club - oh Fight Club! Combining by favvy fav actor with my favvy fav author, sigh! ) But I also think he is just downright attractive! That smile, that face, that body…yikes, let’s try to keep it kosher here.

Now, if you know your little sweater vest-wearing queer at all, than you know that my attraction to men is more often than not an appreciation of a form and body that I can understand, that I can connect with. So yes, really, I want to look like that. Now, Norton hasn’t exactly given me the chills when it comes to style, he’s well dressed for sure, no major faux pas, but I mean nothing like RDJr and certainly nothing like my next leading man. (But don’t fret Edward! Just keep acting, and perhaps teaming up with Chuck Palahniuk and my devotion will never waver)

So…speaking of Chucks…

3. Ed Westwick (specifically his character Chuck Bass of Gossip Girl)

B and I have a running joke (maybe) life goal (definitely) that we are in fact Blair and Chuck from Gossip Girl. Ahem, if you’re judging right now you can just stop it. There’s no judging when you’re with your Boy at Sea. No, sir. But anyways, no folks, I do not have the sex appeal and cool, calm, calculating demeanor of Chuck Bass, nor do I have the money, the clothing, the business plan, the limo, or the penchant for call girls, usually (alright alright I’m nothing like him! Sheesh!) However, I have the desire. The desire for the fashion at least…and perhaps to be as suave as he is (seriously people, do you swoon for me yet?). But I have never seen such an amazingly dressed character in my life! Show after show, he never falters. His choices are sometimes a little over the top and occasionally call his sexuality into question (you know I love it!), but above everything else he is always impeccable, always perfection.

And there is always an attention to detail that could save the human race if we all just took a moment to notice the pattern and fold of our pocket square against the cut and color of our suit! I’m not even kidding, the character Chuck Bass is my super hero of mens fashion and if we all just let ourselves be saved, well shit kids, imagine the beauty!

Now, the actual actor, Ed Westick, he seems just as conscious about his style and not to mention he is downright pretty, and a year younger than me! Gives me hope. For what you ask? For everything. A final comment, on Westwick…I’ve only seen him in Gossip Girl (which he’s brilliant in) but apparently he was also in Children of Men…um…AWESOME. I’ll have to watch that one again. Although I get the feeling that in a movie about destruction and the dying human race there wont be much of a chance for him to be wearing a white suit with fantastic black piping. Alas. A boy can dream.

Well, I should probably wrap this up, and go do science-related things since it is 11:45. Oh! almost noon, I’ll go eat lunch then, yes, fabulous. It’s been a busy morning of blogging anyways.

So cheers my lovely loyals! I hope you enjoyed my first mood board, I have high hopes to actually start working on more, real ones in time. But until then, take what you will from my three men of splendor and notice how while all are incredibly different in form, and look…all can wear a suit, like gods can they wear suits. And that my friends is why I’m here in the first place.

It’s all about the suit.

On Uncertainty...and Trusting Yourself

[Originally posted on March 29th 2010]

My Monday post, for you my loyal listeners, is going to be a little more nostalgic and a little less…well…”fashion savvy gender fuck”.

Perhaps, this came about in response to reading JP’s most recent blog (awholebunchofthings.tumblr.com), that very eloquently presented a study of human growth, change, and personal style. Bravo JP.

So for my particular Monday thought, I give to you this video, enjoy:

Recorded the summer before my senior year of college by my favorite British Babe and Longtime Lover (!), it is just a brief document of your Boy at Sea almost 2 years ago. (Do I have the time line right here Brit?). And I know what you’re thinking…”whoa there BaS, 2 years isn’t that long ago, you’ve made quite the change, haven’t you?” And indeed I have, there has been some serious alterations made to this gender-non-conforming, male-biased, queer. Namely the embracing of a denied gender, a denied life. And while I feel like the better, stronger, truer, more honest version of myself than I have in my entire life…that’s right folks…Version 2.0…it is still somewhat shocking to see the changes. Watch the video again, if I can persuade you to…this time, stop laughing for a moment, at the dumb schmuck that I am, and notice instead…the differences, the similarities. How well do you know me now? How well did you know me then? At all?

For me, this video, is fascinating, and painful, and sad, and hilarious. I see myself in that brief picture. Sure. I am making the same dumb jokes, laughing in the same unbridled guffaw of a laugh that I have, and my mannerisms are the same. And Silas, I am driving Silas (if you know, you know, if not..than don’t mourn what you never met). But the differences are intense. And not just the physical changes, although they are significant - the hair, the clothes, the chest - but at least for me, there is an entire alteration in the aura of that person. And perhaps I will be the only one who can see this. But what there is now, that I know for a fact was not surrounding the person in that video, is a sense of calm and acceptance, understanding and comfort in body and mind that certainly only became a part of my life over the past year and half.

In that video, I was on my way there…I was fast approaching it. The time for me to metamorphasize (yeah, it’s not a real word, I know) into a more suitable skin was upon me and I didn’t even know it. Not in the video, not yet. But I would, very soon.

I suppose the reason for this post, is a reflective one, for myself. To have a moment of sadness. A goodbye, to the person I was then. And also a greeting to the person I am now. And for that matter, a solid acceptance of what I will never be able to change - my dumb jokes, my guffaw, my deep and unreal love for my friends, my excitement for life. And I guess, finally, a hope that the person who I am now is true, and real, and not a fraud. I don’t feel like a fraud. I feel powerful, and terrified, and ready. And only time will tell.

And so to you my faithful followers, thank you for letting me indulge for a moment. If this has inspired you to revisit yourself 2, 3, or 30 years ago, fabulous! If it left you heading for the hills, that’s an appropriate response too. Either way, I’ll try to bring you something gender-bending, fashionable, and quirky for Wednesday. Have no fear!

And happy Monday, all.

On Embracing Your Own Ginger Quiff

[Originally posted on March 26th 2010]

Good evening! Please, lend me your ears for a moment my dear readers! Is anyone even still reading this? No, but seriously, I have a real nice tidbit for you today (even though it’s midnight, this is considered my Friday post).

Alright, so I have for you today, something to brighten your Friday - even brighter than I anticipate it already is - and also to put a little pep in your step in preparation for the weekend. So this weekend, I put it to you, get out there and be as completely daring and honest and heartbreaking as you can be. Be loud and proud. And no, that doesn’t just have to be a gay thing.

Yes, yes enough already! I stumbled across this video when I was perusing Style.com for the female side of fashion that I am trying desperately to stay abreast of (that was for you B)…and obviously when I saw the name La Roux the rest of the world dissolved around me. If you know your Boy at Sea at all, you’ll know that La Roux and mainly the stunner falsetto Elly Jackson is my heart-stopping crush at the moment. If you haven’t listened to La Roux’s self-titled album yet, GET ON IT YOU FOOLS! It will be anything and everything you wanted for any mood (but certainly for the get up and go weekend mood). Now I definitely don’t know how to critique music so I am just here to say: It’s fantastic, are you listening to it yet?! Why not?!?!?

http://www.style.com/video/fashion-moments/fashion-moments/1896809784/la-rouxs-elly-jackson/73450501001

Okay, well while you rush out and immediately buy the CD (buy the CD?! Who am I? Your Grandpa at Sea? Buy the CD, psshaa, I meant download it or whatever tricks you and your internets have up your sleeves, so GO already!) I will proceed on with my post…

The video is an interview with Elly Jackson as she discusses her rise to fame, but more importantly her androgynous fashion sense and freaking orgasmic ginger quiff! And again, if you know me at all, you know I have the hots for redheads…all. the. time. So when you take that glorious red hair, cut it short, slick the sides and roll the rest of it up into a massive tower of mohawk-y perfection, well let’s just say *swooooooon*

But I swear I have a point. The point is this, here’s the point. Here is a woman, discussing that when she finally let herself shake off the oppression of trying fit into something she wasn’t, and finally cut off her hair, and started wearing the clothes she feels most comfortable in, it was then that she was able to step out and be seen and heard. Now, I know what you’re thinking, and apparently the word on the street is that no, unfortunately, she is not gay….but I’m holding out hopes that she just hasn’t yet discovered the wonderful generosity that the word “queer” allows for. I’ll have her yet, just you wait.

Again, the point is, this video made me stoked and bravo for Elly Jackson! And sure, while she is seeing ginger quiffs everywhere now, she also notices that there are fewer girls who are willing to rock the same sense of fashion as the dapper Jackson. Because, and she is right, it takes a lot more punch to walk down the street breaking, bending, and liberating not only fashion rules but also the rules of a gendered society. So to all of the androgynous folk out there, here’s to you! Here’s to us! I can tell you full well that living in the gray-area can certainly be a performance, but it is also certainly the most liberating space to play.

So go play! Have a fabulous weekend and damn the gender-normative society to hell!

And too Elly Jackson, queer or not, let’s hang out, you and I, eh? I have a feeling your ginger quiff and my gray mohawk would go fabulous together. Furthermore that electric rainbow shiny suit you're wearing, umm, BLOODY FANTASTIC.

And my friends….Are you listening to “Tigerlily” yet? Good. Now swoon with me.

On Going (Prematurely) Gray

[Originally posted on March 24th 2010]

Alright ladies, gents, and genderfucks…me again, your Boy at Sea. I return with my second post of the week (I have been considering making this a Monday, Wednesday, Friday soiree, we’ll see if I can make that happen).

But for today, I just have a couple thoughts on the color gray…

For starters, these past few days, at least for the Boston-bound have been very gray indeed, but I have seen some blue peeking through and I am holding out hope that in the very near future the mass of roiling gray that is lingering above us will be lifted for brighter days. Surly skies aside I am very excited about the color gray for the upcoming spring and summer months. Mind you this is just my opinion and I have no idea what GQ will be telling you to wear tomorrow, however, I feel as though a layering with light easy grays will be perfect for these early warm months (at least here in the East)

For instance (and I am SUPER STOKED about this) reference the first picture:

A light gray sport coat with notched lapels and two-buttons. Yes indeed my faithfuls I DID just buy a piece just like this over the weekend. It’s a bit hard to tell from the photo but I’m pretty sure mine is lighter in color and fabric, which is just spectacular. It has a wonderful light-blue striped lining as well and is just so very versatile. I cannot wait to try it out. I would just like to say that I think a light gray suit coat such as this, and in fact an entire suit in this color is going to be a fabulous addition to a spring wardrobe. A huge variety of shirts, patterns, ties and pocket squares (yay!) can be matched with this and just make your day go swimmingly.

Furthermore, at the moment I am wearing black skinny jeans, a white V-neck T, a charcoal gray thin zip hoodie, and a very simple gray scarf with a faint yellow, blue and white plaid patten knotted very loosely around my neck. Along with my heavier wool winter coat (gray) over this, but not buttoned I think it provides the right feel for a gray day that is pretty chilly, but still has a hint of spring in the air. Embrace the gray! I make it light on a heavy day…or I try at least.

Next on my list of all things gray:

Yes, my friends, you have heard right…I did indeed declare last night that I wanted to dye my hair gray! Well silver, technically, but it will come out looking more gray than anything. Now don’t fret quite yet, I am simply tossing the idea out there, I have never before dyed my hair (yes indeed this is my natural hair color! and yes indeed I am a true to the core Blonde!) and well, I’m getting a bit bored with my locks once again and I thought, with the coming of warmer months, what better way to distinguish myself (and look like the distinguished man I feel like) than by dying my hair?? It is true, that I must give credit where credit is due, and in fact the first time this thought occurred to me was while reading the blog Style Rookie written by Tavi (the 13? year-old fashion phenom) who has dyed her hair gray and is rocking it like no one’s business! Anyways, I think I could have some fun with it. Perhaps you can all let me know your thoughts? Why, thanks!

And so for your viewing pleasure I have included some of the Silver Foxes that first jumped out at me. And no no, I am not saying I will look anything like Richard Gere or Anderson Cooper, namly because neither of them can rock the mohawk like yours truly (ahem), but still I have good feelings for gray this year…and why not take it the full nine-yards then eh?

Riddle me that.

P.S…in my pursuits for gray haired individuals I stumbled upon this gem, and we all know everyone appreciates a little salt and pepper, enjoy:

http://www.silverfeast.com/

On Aesthetics

[Originally posted on March 22nd 2010]

Good day sirs and misses and mirs and sisses, and anyone and everyone else on that wonderful color spectrum that I most adore, good day!

I know, I know…Tis a Monday, and what a Monday it tis. After such an outstandingly beautiful weekend, here we are ready to the start the week draped in gray. The red line was slowed up by an emergency, people were cantankerous (word points for me!) and I did not see a single person whose choice of wardrobe made me swoon. Boston, my love, fail.

But! I greet you with such enthusiasm because I figured we could relive the loveliness that was this past weekend and thus get through the Monday Mopes.

While I have a variety of random little thoughts that I wanted to mention today, I decided that they were all linked by…yes, you’ve guessed it. Aesthetics. And I’ll break this post down into bullet points to better appeal to your flow-chart minded Mondays.

• If you have not yet been to the galleries on Thayer St. off of Harrison Ave in the South End. DO IT. Right now, I kid you not. You’ll be a happier person for it. All of the galleries that I browsed were amazing (definitely check out the photo exhibit by Jess Dugan called Coupled, amazing color portraits of various female-bodied queer couples, stunning) but two that caught my oh-so-Queer eye were Bobby From Boston and Tour de France. Bobby From Boston was not actually open but what I was able to gather from the front window displays and from what I’ve learned online is that it is a wonderfully old-school clothing/accessory shop geared towards the fashion savvy, dapper (trans/queer/cis/or other)man-about-town. Swoon indeed my loyal readers! I gushed! The first picture you see below of the uber stylish mannequin was taken from inside the store. No doubt I’ll be returning the next time I have a moment away from science. Tour de France was exactly as the name describes. The other picture you see that is just a mess of colors and bold uplifting swatches of fabric was taken from inside this charming art/furnishing/home decor store. And truly, it was that wall of fabric that had me overpowered the entire time. Such color, such unreal light! I found myself wanting to make window treatments or napkins or…or…pocket squares! Yes, pocket squares, my new fixation and accessory of choice for the suited individual. It’s true, they say to keep your shirt plain and solid if you’re going to have a bolder or patterned pocket square, but I would like to think that a bright bold pocket square would go dashingly with a muted checked patterned dress shirt. But I digress.
• (I bet your Monday doldrums are feeling lifted already though…) Onward….
• Can my main decision for remaining in an apartment really be “I love how the daylight comes in during the morning”. YES. Goddamn, it can be your main reason. It’s my main reason and I’m sticking to my aesthetically pleased guns here, folks. Now that the warmth is trying to make a comeback (and what a masterful attempt that was this past weekend, Earth!) I am once again drawn to the fact that perhaps my favorite thing about my apartment is that during the early morning and through late afternoon the sun comes pouring through the rooms with such intensity and geometric perfection that I refuse to turn a light on until after dark. The way I see it, if so natural a thing can fill you so full of joy everytime, why leave quite yet? Academia, wonder lust, and money will be on my heels soon enough, for now…for now I bask in the light. (And yes, I referenced my apartment and it’s sunlight to a cathedral in this picture. Yes, it’s an atheist joke. Yes, I’m the only one laughing)
• Alright, moving right along, I’m sure The Man is wondering where your expense reports are by now (my boss is trekking across Bhutan as we speak, so I’m slightly less concerned with my current endeavors)

• So, last but definitely not least. As of last night I booked a ticket to L.A. in April to visit the mystical, magical, one and only Kate Willis! Epic-ness is sure to ensue and my post after that week-long love-fest is sure to be just as epic. But for now I leave you with the thought of West Hollywood (where Kate told me we would certainly be going). Therefore, reference the last picture of the two adorable and stylish guys locking lips. Yes sirree, queer and fashionable…here I come. And I will also try to answer my own age-old question: Are famous people actually real?

Stay tuned my fastidious friends, for there are larger and even bolder plans in the works for this blog…

On A St. Patrick's Day Special

[Originally posted on March 17th 2010]

Happy St. Patrick’s Day/St. Patty’s Day/Evacuation Day/Irish Christmas to all my dedicated drunkards!

A quick post for you all, just to say enjoy the fabulous weather and the even more fabulous reason to drink, dirnk, driiink, drrnink, drinisrnicke. Good, way to catch up.

Now if you’re like me, are at all Irish, have lived for your entire life in Mass, and also have quite a soft spot in your heart for Boston (and yes it may be heart disease from all the boozing, but we’ll call it love), than today is a pretty special day for you. So, cheers my potato-eating brethren! If you aren’t, well, it’s okay, because this is the one day of the year that everyone is Irish simply by association! So drinks all around!

But we’ll also take a moment to acknowledge the fact that today is actually a sanctioned holiday and a day off from school for all of Suffolk county (that’s Boston, folks). It’s Evacuation Day! Hoorah! Now, bear with me, I did a little investigative research (Wikipedia) and came up with this little tidbit:

“The 11-month siege of Boston ended when the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, fortified Dorchester Heights in early March 1776 with cannons captured at Ticonderoga. British General William Howe, whose garrison and navy were threatened by these positions, was forced to decide between attack and retreat. To prevent what could have been a repeat of the Battle of Bunker Hill, Howe decided to retreat, withdrawing from Boston to Nova Scotia on March 17. The British evacuation was Washington’s first victory of the war. It was also a huge morale boost for the Thirteen Colonies, as the city where the rebellion began was the first to be liberated.”

And also…

“While Saint Patrick’s Day parades have been held in Boston since 1876, Evacuation Day was not declared a holiday in the city until 1901…”

And finally…

“A 1941 law establishing the holiday in Suffolk County was signed in both black and green ink.”

We would.

So there you have it my avid followers, I’m quite sure that you are now just super full of knowledge and are ready to go wash it all down with a tall glass of Guinness. Well get to it, I won’t keep you. Just remember, Irish or not, make a little room in your big gay hearts for dear St. Patty and Evacuation Day today, because I think the moral of our little Wiki-lesson is: beer = freedom.

Yours truly in getting the point across,

The (green) boy at sea

On Umbrella Graveyards (The Boston vs. New York City Post)

[Originally posted on March 15th 2010]

Good evening my loyal lovelies, it has been a few days since we last spoke, so I have some serious words…

When last I left you, you were holed up (understandably) in your room/house/office ogling the latest video by the ever formidable Gaga, probably on repeat. I know I was, but that was for research. Obviously. And as brilliantly fascinating as she is, I have some other thoughts for this particular post, so tear yourselves away for a moment and come grab a comfy seat around me, your Boy at Sea, while I share. And don’t fret, I’m sure I’ll return to Gaga sometime soon.

So onto business you Queers! A couple of house-keeping notes that were brought to my attention this past weekend:

1. I was told by you, all of my fabulous followers, that I swear in my posts. A lot. Perhaps even an obscene amount. To that I say: thank you for your concern, I take into deep consideration that you may think my posts would be stronger without all of the four-letter words. Well, cheers, and fuck off. The language is going to stay, I only put it where the emphasis is needed (I emphasize a lot) and I think it adds. I’m an adder. And, well folks, nautical print is in this season and I swear like a sailor.

1.a. I was also told that if I was going to be saying “mother fucking” and was going to use the abbreviated version that I should stop spelling it “motha” and start spelling it “mutha”. Noted. The change will be made.

Now that that is all taken care of, onward!

This weekend I went to NYC with B and C for a whirlwind adventure of art, food, family, dancing, and of course magic rum. As I mentioned previously, the last time I was in NYC I was 18, straight, a female, and had never left the woods. Obviously things have changed and I was excited to compare and contrast the scene that is New York City with my own dear New England Kingdom that is Boston.

What I found myself noticing mostly was the fashion. I was very intrigued to see how the styles were different between two such monumental cities that are not all that far away from one another. After thinking long and hard about it, doing some serious analyzing, and discussing with my comrades it was decided that while both cities have adapted the phenomena that is “hipster” Boston’s version has a slightly more clean-cut business attire feel, while NY leans toward an edgier grungier feel. [It should be noted here that my sampling is just a study of the ages that probably range from 19-30] So, it seems to me that Boston maintains its old classy texture that is rooted in its history, its segregation, its charm, and its academic merging of diversity. New York (and I can only say so much because I honestly don’t know it that well) has such an enormous population compared to Boston’s and one that is so hugely diverse that its trendy-folk can make bold striking statements and they are well received if they are noticed at all.

While I am certainly attracted to the styles that women are rocking on the city streets these days, in both New York and Boston my eye is always drawn to the well-dressed man. In both of these cities he is put together and graceful, words like debonair, suave, and chivalrous come to mind when watching him. And these classy men (cis, trans, queer, and butch alike) are, in a way, bringing back the very old school feel of the 19th and 20th centuries, in my opinion. And I could not be happier. It is a wonderful clean, tight, svelte look that has new hip and daring additions. Get excited with me readers! This is a ballsy time for fashion and I can only hope that I can try and look that good. But I think if Boston was going to take a tip from New York it would be: bold and traffic-stopping is always better.

Well, my favorite ladies, gents, and gender-fucks, you’ve humored me long enough, letting me prattle on about the good, the bad, and the fashionable. So I will make a final note before I depart and let you all return to Lady Gaga wrapped in caution tape in a jail cell (hold the phone, doesn’t that sound like a college night folks?? You know of which I speak)…

As to the title of this post: Umbrella Graveyard. As we all know I do not fancy umbrellas and this weekend just went ahead and proved me right. Umbrellas are great when it’s raining, on a WINDLESS day, but umbrellas DO NOT belong in New England. Because it never just rains, it is also freaking windy as fuck and then you know what you have: sideways rain, people. You have fucking sideways rain and spindly little legs of metal wrapped in fabric. So accept the fact that the East Coast has the most bat-shit crazy weather ever, put the umbrella down, and find a more fashionable way to keep those lovely little faces dry.

Good night all, sweet dreams of drier days…