Hear me now and believe me later, I am not one for being "beige and boring", however, last night's MTV VMAs looked like a bad episode of RuPaul's Drag Race.
By this, I mean that flambouyance and bad taste have replaced cool and edgy! Why? you may all ask, well the "usual darlins' of fabulousity" (namely Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Katie Perry) who generally look "beyond" and uberly glamorosa, fell short of their marks!
Gosh darn, how the f--k can anybody who wears the iconic visions of fashion's dearly departed wunderkind, Alexander McQueen, fall short of not only being the "best dressed" by all the experts and fans alike, but to be voted the "worst dressed" is a major fuck up in my book. Now, not only did she have trouble getting up from her seat, but she had trouble, walking, climbing up the stairs to accept her multiple awards, and probably breathing. Plus, when you wear "couture" you really should think about realizing the designer's vision and try to emulate the entire look and not do interpretive variations on that theme. In other words, that Cher-like drag queen white long wig that she was sporting, just didn't make that incredible couture gown look expensive, it made it look cheap. In fact, I've seen more fabulous drag queens wearing McQueen better; or at least they interpreted his couture presentations sooo much more fabulously. Shame on her and her shameful stylist for screwin' up a much appreciated McQueen homage! Aside from that, she RULES!!!!!!
Also, was Rihanna incognito? Did she think that Chris Brown was going to repeat his only memorable performance when he beat the crap out of her? That's the only reason, that I can think of, for her to have plopped that cheesey vivid red Halloween wig on ( like we wouldn't have noticed her anyway) with that "fairy princess" head band. Then her brilliant stylist adds insult to injury and has her wear a tutu with combat boots. Didn't we see that "look" on Cyndi Lauper in the early 80's..... ahhhh but she did it sooo much better and back then it was new and novel! I hate bad interpretations of original ideas! Also, Rihanna's makeup artist puts "more on more" and gives her cat-eye liquid eyeliner, so that she looked like she's auditioning for Cats! Well all in all, Rihanna looked like a poor-ass little wannabee, who couldn't get her act together, not the slick poster girl for glamour that she has been. Well actually, she did look like a has-been drag queen, who wanted to be more fierce and flawless than Lady Gaga, who wasn't fierce or flawless!
Katie Perry..... Katie Perry.... paging Katie Perry, your Ice Capades outfit has been found! Yep, normally cool "California Girls" Katie Perry was not cool, she was cold, cold as the Ice Capades in her flouncy little "perky Patty" ensemble. All she needed to complete this cutesy little drag number were ice skating stilettos, which actually could have completed this pewtrid confection.
Now I bloody well can't stand the "The Jersey Shore". As Chelsea Handler quipped, "they represent the dumbing down of America" and yes, between that show and MTV's Jack-Ass, America has soo much to be embarrassed about! I've never liked "watching train wrecks", as people who like these shows try to qualtify their poor taste, so why in hell would I want to watch idiots doing stupid things and bigger idiots who can only think and talk (badly I might add) about fucking. Now I like to have sex and I'm certainly no prude, but I don't talk about it incessantly and I can at least pronounce the sexual words correctly! I mean, every other word on that show is fuck! What the fuck is American TV coming to? (ha,ha) I have to say that although my distaste for ignorance, vulgarity and bad taste runs deep, I must say that "Snooki" did sport an improved, non "Guidette" hairstyle, but she still looked like a Zeppelin stuffed into a condom in that nasty dress she was wearing. I guess her mirror lies to her!
The highlights of the evening for me, weren't the tasteless and tacky "Pop" DITS (Divas In Training), it was the creative art direction of the sets and the futuristic "starship" configurations, replete with that uber-licious techno rave "super DJ" with the neon mouse head! I loved the multi-medial presentations and lighting configurations! Now that is what MTV should be all the time (not a menagerie of morons from The Jersey Shore, no offense to the rest of the people from New Jersey who aren't morons). INSPIRATIONAL & ASPIRATIONAL, VISIONARY & VISUAL but with taste and newness and vibrance was what was presented in the Art Direction category. Congratulations to the powers that be at MTV for having the gumption and taste to hire people with gumption and taste in the art direction category; maybe now they can direct that energy to getting better stylists.
Other fabulous highlights:
USHER's amazing performance
JUSTIN BIEBER'S cuteness and his strong "white bread" impersonation of MICHAEL JACKSON
CHER's amazing body and her witty, self effacing "I don't give a fuck" atttiude
TAYLOR SWIFT"S flawless hair & makeup, although I thought she was a bit whiney-woo, boo-hoo me!
LADY GAGA'S fashion audacity, daring attitude, her humility and her fearless acknowledgment that she gives to her "gay" constituents
EMINEM's song and his blatant absence of awards acceptance
NICKI MINAJ'S perky ass and her adorable Jetson styled Pepto Bismol pink wig (also a throw back to the "drag" world, but an effective one at least)
CHELSEA HANDLER'S overall "kiss my ass" attitude and the bravery she displayed getting in the hot tub with those "Jersey Shore" skanks!
LINKIN PARK"S performance at the Los Angeles Observatory
I think next year they should bring back more MTV legends to present like Madonna, Downtown Julie Brown, and so many others like Cher, who actually had some "class " in their ass! But then maybe this is a generational thing on my part and I could be biased towards my own generation!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
MONTGOMERY FRAZIER "The Image Guru" SCRIBES!....... Read What's On The Mind And In The Heart Of New York's Preeminent Image Guru
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sept 12 "DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN, THE MTV 80'S & 90'S 'ICON' RETURNS TO THE BIG APPLE FOR MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK!"
Well......I've just lived a lifetime in about 4 days with Downtown Julie Brown, where she flew in from LA to attend some events for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week! Now you all know that FASHION WEEK in New York is BIG!!!....... and the revenues that this billion dollar industry generates is staggering (about 700 million)
When Julie and I worked together at MTV and collaborated at E! Entertainment, (in the last century, mind you) being with Downtown Julie Brown was like living the life with an MTV cultural-revolution "DIVA", plus with a 5 year stint at E! Entertainment TV as the host of "The Gossip Show" and the vivacious and well received "red carpet" celebrity interviewer..... she was the bomb! (as they used to say) I mean, we were "smokin'" and we whirled and twirled with everybody in the music and entertainment worlds.... but as life goes, times change and we all move on in our lives! Some get married, some get fat, some have babies and some do all. Well Julie just got married, and step-mothered her lovely daughter, Gianna
After my visit with Julie this past summer in Italy, I think my presence" sparked a small fading ember of that past life! So she called me from LA and said that she felt that it was time for her to "go back to work", now that her daughter was pretty much all grown up... she felt a desire to rekindle that flame! "Is Martin (her wonderful German husband) on board and supportive?" I asked. "You bet!" she responded.
Well, you know how everybody in the entertainment and fashion worlds are soooo quick to dismiss "has beens", (some people are just too short-sighted.....enter people like me, "The Image Guru") I thought to myself, could this be done??? And I have to say I was peaked, to say the least, by the prospect of this undertaking. If I personally didn't love this woman (from all that we'd been through in our lives) I probably would have said it can't be done and just be happy (which she is completely) in her current life and just FORGET ABOUT IT!. But I didn't.... I've always known how influential Downtown Julie Brown was, whether you liked her or not, she RULED MTV for a period of time..... just like Madonna did too! I lived it and I saw it!
So, "what to do" I asked myself. FASHION....... Wasn't Downtown Julie Brown always known for her FASHION? (thanks to me).... yes she was! "Ahhhh", I thought, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is coming up and they're presenting at their new venue.... Lincoln Center. "Why not come in for that?" I asked her.... and she agreed and decided to fly in and attend a few selective events and take some meetings with agents and try to get some indicator whether or not people still remembered her, or even cared. Now mind you, Julie does not have any network or PR firm behind her now .... she is a civilian for all intensive purposes, so she simply hasn't needed PR, being the mommy that she has been over the past 14 years. Truth be known, she really doesn't need to work at all at this stage in her life.... but she WANTS to work, which is the big difference!!!
So here's a rundown of the few events and places that we did attend!
Sept 8th: Julie arrives into Manhattan at 7:30PM and is hosted by her friends, Colin Heywood (a devilishly handsome Englishman who owns the chic apothecary and fragrance boutique cleverly named "The Bathroom" in the West Village) and his equally handsome partner Joe... who's last name I shall not mention as he is #7 in line at JP Morgan Bank. Now Colin and Joe own this fabulous historical landmark townhouse in the West Village, but we all met up for dinner on Julie's first night at The Lion, which is owned by an old friend Mark ( who was so lovely that he actually ran to our table when I came in). I was late to meet them all and had never been there before, being a predominently Upper East Sider, but I'd heard that it was one of the "hardest places to get into". So there we all were, "front and center" sitting next to Hollywood movie producer, Brian Grazier, Page Six's Richard Johnson, MTV's mogul and mega-producer Tony DiSanto, and so many others just to name a few, in one of the hottest and hardest restaurants to get into. "Hmmm, this is starting off to a great start" I thought... thanks to Colin's initiative in booking the reservation there. But everybody, who was anybody, seemed to be coming up to our table because of Downtown Julie Brown and our lot! Actually, Tony DiSanto walked up to Julie and said how nice it was to see her looking so good after such a long time (almost 15 years) and that his wife had always loved her on MTV. He subsequently invited her to be his guest at the VMA's (MTV's Video Music Awards) which he was producing that following Sunday in LA. Well that brief encounter ended up as an item in Page Six that Friday!
So after that most enthusiastic experience at The Lion, we went to Le Bain ( or The Black Room) at the Standard Hotel, where Emma Snowdon Jones, one of New York's young-ish, fashionable social bees was so excited to meet MTV's iconic Downtown Julie Brown. Emma, you were so sweet and Julie so enjoyed your enegy and meeting you!
Sept 9th: Julie asked me to meet her at William Morris W2 that afternoon, where she had a meeting with a potential agent. But I had other things to do, as I had to pick out her clothes from the PORTS 1961 showroom to wear in the front row of their show the following day. I chose something very, very different for her to wear, as I personally do not want her to be perceived as a "has been" celebrity who just "doesn't get it" and hasn't moved on or evolved from her former MTV glory days. She was so receptive and opted for exactly what I wanted her to wear, which was a beautiful PORTS 1961 salmon/champagne silk shantung strapless dress with a stunning obi sash around her breasts ( no not around her waist but around her still beautiful breasts... but that was her spin on the chicness of this gorgeous dress) and we discussed how she would wear her hair and do her makeup and what shoes to wear..... and it only took us 2 hours to decide all, not the arduous circus that Rachel Zoe goes through when she dresses a celebrity! (calm down tiger) Anyway, we ended up having dinner that night at Julie's dear friend, Rocco Ancarola's new charming restaurant, The Rabbit In The Moon, on 8th St..... yes 8th St. We were joined by Colin, (Julie's host) and his handsome Brit friends, (Andrew an Art Director and Patrick Mackie a fashion stylist) Dinner was delightful and full of fun (thanks Julie and Rocco).... but off we had to go to the "reopening" of Andre Balazs', Boom Boom Room, or as it is now referred to as The Spot. It's ridiculously hard to get into for mere mortals and if you aren't a friend of Andre's or somebody fabulously celebrated, then you should just forget about trying! There were literally throngs of people vying to get into both sides (Le Bain being another club, within The Standard Hotel, where Naomi Campbell was hosting her own party) and many people unfortunately didn't make the select lists. But we were literally ushered in for the main reopening party! YAAH!
Highlights of that evening were endless champagne, open bar, great friends, glamour, socialites, fab and danceable music, Courtney Love, Liv Tyler, Lance Bass, Naomi Campbell, Shalom Harlowe, Russell Simmons, Elijah Woods. May I say that I was pleasantly surprised and shocked when Downtown Julie Brown, somehow hopped onto the bar when Kanye West was performing towards the end of the evening. She said as he was performing, "Hello, I'm Downtown Julie Brown" and he said "Yes, I know who you are" and then he hugged her up on the bar. WOW, how the heck did she manage to even get up on the bar in her chic PORTS 1961 silver dress and 6 inch PORTS 1961 heels??? FABULOUS< FABULOUS< FABULOUS! Julie ended up on The Huffington Post.com website pictured with Russell Simmons and several photos of her appeared on PMC (Patrick McMullan's wesbite). I of course, was elegantly appointed as well and was featured too! (thanks Patrick)
Too, too, too much FUN! Gotta get some sleep... the next day we have to "Sparkle Nealy, sparkle!" ( Patty Duke in a line from Valley of the Dolls)
Sept 10th: I woke up early and ventured down to the West Village to style Julie for the PORTS 1961 show at Lincoln Center..... tons of photographs were taken from a multitude of photographers on the long walk from our cab into the venue. Now whenever a celebrity gets a "front row seat" at any fashion show, it is almost standard protocol to have that celebrity wear the designers creations , for the purpose of having their photos in the designers clothing... and if the PR person who handles the designer and the PR person (although Julie doesn't have one at this time and I am acting as PR person and stylist too) who handles the celebrity does a good job, then there should be tons of photos with that celebrity wearing the designers clothes.. Done deal.... I'm happy with how Julie looks.... chic Pop-Diva-Geisha, fresh and new.... not anything like people remember her from her "rock & roll" days at MTV. Evolution is a key word in my book!!!! But where are the "front row" photographers at the show??? Well I figured out that they couldn't find her because her front row seat was soooo close to the second model exit that they simply couldn't see her. "Bad move" I thought! DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN is and will always be an MTV CULTURAL ICON! But you can't have everything in life and I am really just relaunching her, but I thought it was a very poor "front row seat" decision, for them to put her in! Every aspect of this process in crucial "puppies" and if you don't have the support of the powers that be, it's even harder. But this industry is also a double-edged sword and if you don't get the support from those people, then you don't give it back too when the shoe is on the other foot. It's that simple... but I am also soo gracious and appreciative to the people that do make MY job easier and they in turn will see my appreciation in the future!
The PORTS 1961 show was FABULOUS and I thought it was a bit of an inspired tribute to a great American designer, Halston! Great job Fiona Chibani (who now designs the collection after her sister, Tia Chibani's, departure). Julie gagged for the presentation and thought the clothes were exquisite! We also got to see a dear friend of ours, High Voltage, who's a Lifestyle Guru and the originator of The Energy Up! health and wellness program. But I would like to send a personal thanks to Jacqui Wenzel and Lou Iacovelli for allowing me to bring Julie.
Now on to New York's own FASHION'S NIGHT OUT... where over 100 fashion designers open their boutiques to the public (replete with their own marquee celebrities) for this romp into the exclusive world of glamour and fashion! How festive does this sound! Julie changes into a very YSL inspired (although I was inspired by YSL) confection of Gucci and Prada and Cavalli en tres YSL colours. I coordinated her in a Roberto Cavalli red silk charmeuse halter top with a low plungey back (uberly sexy) , low-waisted indigo blue Prada silk charmeuse hip slacks that she bought in Italy (extremely hip) and a showstopping canary yellow meribou Gucci coat. WOW! We couldn't walk down Madison Avenue without some photographer somewhere asking us all to be photographed, especially Downtown Julie Brown..... Yes....we made a definite fashion statement... but then that's one of the things I do as "The Image Guru"... I help people make statements for that "WOW" factor, even divas.
So where should Julie, Colin and I go???? Hmmm, let me see and try to remember. Not too many places..... but not too few! We started off at Roberto Cavalli, where they thanked Julie profusely for coming...click, click, photo, photo, glass of champagne and then up Madison to J. Mendel, whom I personally think is so chic..click, click, photo, photo. I introduced Julie to J. Mendel's PR Director Jessica Nagel (Gilles Mendel hadn't arrived yet) and said that we have to dress Julie for some events in the near future in J. Mendel (whose clothes I deem as exquisite) and she seemed very excited about that. Then up a few more blocks on Madison Avenue, ( at that point Julie's 6 inch heels were starting to ache) where we were again asked to be photographed in front of the Judith Ripka Boutique and we got some kick-ass cutie pictures from those photo booths that they had set up in front of their boutique. "Let's go to the Donna Karan Boutique and drink some Veuve Clicquot and see my friend Randle Doss" who's the Sales mManager there, "we'll hang out for awhile while Julie's feet stop aching" I shouted, "woo-hoo, wubba, wubba, wubba!, mutha-fucka's" I shamefully screamed on posh Madison Ave.
Donna Karan's Boutique event was sophisticated, if not culturally uplifting and they all ( I think I know everybody there) were soooo pleased that I brought Julie and Colin, who always adds life and color wherever they go! We were the "colorful" people there I was told by Randle! Yah, I wanted to "represent" well....click, click, photo, photo. Julie introduced herself to Donna Karan and I introduced Julie and Colin to everybody else that mattered. The entertainment was actually soo fabulous.... a pianist who was more like a modern, cool vibed Mozart. Yes honey-dews, I drank a few glasses of Veuve, which is one of my weaknesses!
Another good friend of mine Dennis Diaz, who's the Men's Boutique Manager of Dolce Gabbana invited me a few days prior and I told him I would bring Julie (also another prerequisite for being an Image Guru... connections who respect you) So we were on our way to Dolce & Gabbana where Naomi Campbell was dancing, signing cool t-shirts of her iconic images, looking flawless as usual and basically holding court! Fortunately, we were all whisked inside past immediately, past the velvet ropes without having to wait in the massive line outside. Soo many people to contend with inside too, click, click, photo, photo....but yours truly got us up into the VIP top floor ( that's where the likes of Naomi Campbell, Chris Brown, Daphne Guiness etc were all) which Bravo's Andy Cohen, serupticiously had closed off for a Bravo film crew ( I personally think that Andy Cohen is a tad bit "full of himself now") I mean really... everybody who couldn't get upstairs was pissed off! Tell it to Andy Cohen guys, who in my book is certainly no Anderson Cooper!
Naomi sees Julie and actually stands up from her seat to give Julie a big smile, hug and kiss. Great! Julie did look exceptional that night, but nonetheless, it was great to see Naomi acknowledge Julie in such a friendly and genuine manner! "MY BLOODY SHOES ARE KILLING ME MONTY!" exclaimed Julie, "and I need to eat". "OK, let's go to my favorite little eatery a few blocks down on 66 & Madison, Bistro Chat Noir" I suggested. Great.... we were gonna be outta there, but not before I had a met and briefly chatted with Daphne Guinness. Julie on the other hand, was hugged by Chris Brown on his way out. Mission accomplished... just enough and not too much.... in and out!
Now another friend ( believe it or not, I have alot of supportive friends), Suzanne Latapie, the proprietress of Bistro Chat Noir, had invited me to bring Julie that night and we all had a delicious dinner and a blast there! The restaurant was so jam packed that people were waitng in line just to get a table. Yay for Suzanne, who reserved for us her best table! As I said, I like to support when I can and I appreciate when it is reciprocated. Key words in my book are support, friendship and loyalty. Remember that... all you Phillistinal PR idiots who are soo fickle and fair weather that your best friends change according to what Page Six and Vogue writes. Trust me, morons, I know how to play the game too.... and I play with legends, moguls and icons, not new-bee fools who might not be around next year!
Sept 11th: Last day of Julie's visit. Have to secure ab-fab, kick-ass wardrobe for Julie's VMA debut. Although she will not be presenting, she will be in attendance and the personal guest of the ceremonies' producer, Tony DiSanto! Not bad for being a bloody housewife and mommy for 14 years! Who did I choose to dress her?.......I chose PORTS 1961. Why? Because it made sense and there were two exquisite dresses which fit her like they were made for her. Both black, one a chic and sophisticated shantung silk dress that had a "cocktail couture" fit... a tad bit Lanvin, but worthy enough that even Jennifer Lopez was sent a champagne version for her London premiere. Julie looked like a million bucks in it! Damn girl....you still got it and after all these years. The other dress was a confection of black paillettes and ostrich feather in a strapless above the knee length dress which was petaled and gathered on the bottom. Sounds hideous doesn't it? Well it wasn't, it was just what this Image Guru ordered! TO DIE FOR! Yes and then we coordinated the rest of the "look", which all has to be PERFECT, especially since Julie hasn't really been in the spotlight in over a decade! But now that we have new show ideas for her, she has to be "new and improved".
An early dinner at The Waverly Inn, seated in a booth next to Keifer Sutherland and then off to another private club named Norwood! Now can it get any better!
So now Julie is traveling back to LA and had to cut her NY trip short to attend the MTV Video Awards, which incidentally aires live tonight. We'll see if anybody notices her! I always say, everything "old" is "new" again and there is no such thing as a "has been", because that just means they once WERE! But this lady still has it, as I noticed first hand on the aforementioned occasions!
Keep your eyes open for more of Downtown Julie Brown!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
When Julie and I worked together at MTV and collaborated at E! Entertainment, (in the last century, mind you) being with Downtown Julie Brown was like living the life with an MTV cultural-revolution "DIVA", plus with a 5 year stint at E! Entertainment TV as the host of "The Gossip Show" and the vivacious and well received "red carpet" celebrity interviewer..... she was the bomb! (as they used to say) I mean, we were "smokin'" and we whirled and twirled with everybody in the music and entertainment worlds.... but as life goes, times change and we all move on in our lives! Some get married, some get fat, some have babies and some do all. Well Julie just got married, and step-mothered her lovely daughter, Gianna
After my visit with Julie this past summer in Italy, I think my presence" sparked a small fading ember of that past life! So she called me from LA and said that she felt that it was time for her to "go back to work", now that her daughter was pretty much all grown up... she felt a desire to rekindle that flame! "Is Martin (her wonderful German husband) on board and supportive?" I asked. "You bet!" she responded.
Well, you know how everybody in the entertainment and fashion worlds are soooo quick to dismiss "has beens", (some people are just too short-sighted.....enter people like me, "The Image Guru") I thought to myself, could this be done??? And I have to say I was peaked, to say the least, by the prospect of this undertaking. If I personally didn't love this woman (from all that we'd been through in our lives) I probably would have said it can't be done and just be happy (which she is completely) in her current life and just FORGET ABOUT IT!. But I didn't.... I've always known how influential Downtown Julie Brown was, whether you liked her or not, she RULED MTV for a period of time..... just like Madonna did too! I lived it and I saw it!
So, "what to do" I asked myself. FASHION....... Wasn't Downtown Julie Brown always known for her FASHION? (thanks to me).... yes she was! "Ahhhh", I thought, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is coming up and they're presenting at their new venue.... Lincoln Center. "Why not come in for that?" I asked her.... and she agreed and decided to fly in and attend a few selective events and take some meetings with agents and try to get some indicator whether or not people still remembered her, or even cared. Now mind you, Julie does not have any network or PR firm behind her now .... she is a civilian for all intensive purposes, so she simply hasn't needed PR, being the mommy that she has been over the past 14 years. Truth be known, she really doesn't need to work at all at this stage in her life.... but she WANTS to work, which is the big difference!!!
So here's a rundown of the few events and places that we did attend!
Sept 8th: Julie arrives into Manhattan at 7:30PM and is hosted by her friends, Colin Heywood (a devilishly handsome Englishman who owns the chic apothecary and fragrance boutique cleverly named "The Bathroom" in the West Village) and his equally handsome partner Joe... who's last name I shall not mention as he is #7 in line at JP Morgan Bank. Now Colin and Joe own this fabulous historical landmark townhouse in the West Village, but we all met up for dinner on Julie's first night at The Lion, which is owned by an old friend Mark ( who was so lovely that he actually ran to our table when I came in). I was late to meet them all and had never been there before, being a predominently Upper East Sider, but I'd heard that it was one of the "hardest places to get into". So there we all were, "front and center" sitting next to Hollywood movie producer, Brian Grazier, Page Six's Richard Johnson, MTV's mogul and mega-producer Tony DiSanto, and so many others just to name a few, in one of the hottest and hardest restaurants to get into. "Hmmm, this is starting off to a great start" I thought... thanks to Colin's initiative in booking the reservation there. But everybody, who was anybody, seemed to be coming up to our table because of Downtown Julie Brown and our lot! Actually, Tony DiSanto walked up to Julie and said how nice it was to see her looking so good after such a long time (almost 15 years) and that his wife had always loved her on MTV. He subsequently invited her to be his guest at the VMA's (MTV's Video Music Awards) which he was producing that following Sunday in LA. Well that brief encounter ended up as an item in Page Six that Friday!
So after that most enthusiastic experience at The Lion, we went to Le Bain ( or The Black Room) at the Standard Hotel, where Emma Snowdon Jones, one of New York's young-ish, fashionable social bees was so excited to meet MTV's iconic Downtown Julie Brown. Emma, you were so sweet and Julie so enjoyed your enegy and meeting you!
Sept 9th: Julie asked me to meet her at William Morris W2 that afternoon, where she had a meeting with a potential agent. But I had other things to do, as I had to pick out her clothes from the PORTS 1961 showroom to wear in the front row of their show the following day. I chose something very, very different for her to wear, as I personally do not want her to be perceived as a "has been" celebrity who just "doesn't get it" and hasn't moved on or evolved from her former MTV glory days. She was so receptive and opted for exactly what I wanted her to wear, which was a beautiful PORTS 1961 salmon/champagne silk shantung strapless dress with a stunning obi sash around her breasts ( no not around her waist but around her still beautiful breasts... but that was her spin on the chicness of this gorgeous dress) and we discussed how she would wear her hair and do her makeup and what shoes to wear..... and it only took us 2 hours to decide all, not the arduous circus that Rachel Zoe goes through when she dresses a celebrity! (calm down tiger) Anyway, we ended up having dinner that night at Julie's dear friend, Rocco Ancarola's new charming restaurant, The Rabbit In The Moon, on 8th St..... yes 8th St. We were joined by Colin, (Julie's host) and his handsome Brit friends, (Andrew an Art Director and Patrick Mackie a fashion stylist) Dinner was delightful and full of fun (thanks Julie and Rocco).... but off we had to go to the "reopening" of Andre Balazs', Boom Boom Room, or as it is now referred to as The Spot. It's ridiculously hard to get into for mere mortals and if you aren't a friend of Andre's or somebody fabulously celebrated, then you should just forget about trying! There were literally throngs of people vying to get into both sides (Le Bain being another club, within The Standard Hotel, where Naomi Campbell was hosting her own party) and many people unfortunately didn't make the select lists. But we were literally ushered in for the main reopening party! YAAH!
Highlights of that evening were endless champagne, open bar, great friends, glamour, socialites, fab and danceable music, Courtney Love, Liv Tyler, Lance Bass, Naomi Campbell, Shalom Harlowe, Russell Simmons, Elijah Woods. May I say that I was pleasantly surprised and shocked when Downtown Julie Brown, somehow hopped onto the bar when Kanye West was performing towards the end of the evening. She said as he was performing, "Hello, I'm Downtown Julie Brown" and he said "Yes, I know who you are" and then he hugged her up on the bar. WOW, how the heck did she manage to even get up on the bar in her chic PORTS 1961 silver dress and 6 inch PORTS 1961 heels??? FABULOUS< FABULOUS< FABULOUS! Julie ended up on The Huffington Post.com website pictured with Russell Simmons and several photos of her appeared on PMC (Patrick McMullan's wesbite). I of course, was elegantly appointed as well and was featured too! (thanks Patrick)
Too, too, too much FUN! Gotta get some sleep... the next day we have to "Sparkle Nealy, sparkle!" ( Patty Duke in a line from Valley of the Dolls)
Sept 10th: I woke up early and ventured down to the West Village to style Julie for the PORTS 1961 show at Lincoln Center..... tons of photographs were taken from a multitude of photographers on the long walk from our cab into the venue. Now whenever a celebrity gets a "front row seat" at any fashion show, it is almost standard protocol to have that celebrity wear the designers creations , for the purpose of having their photos in the designers clothing... and if the PR person who handles the designer and the PR person (although Julie doesn't have one at this time and I am acting as PR person and stylist too) who handles the celebrity does a good job, then there should be tons of photos with that celebrity wearing the designers clothes.. Done deal.... I'm happy with how Julie looks.... chic Pop-Diva-Geisha, fresh and new.... not anything like people remember her from her "rock & roll" days at MTV. Evolution is a key word in my book!!!! But where are the "front row" photographers at the show??? Well I figured out that they couldn't find her because her front row seat was soooo close to the second model exit that they simply couldn't see her. "Bad move" I thought! DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN is and will always be an MTV CULTURAL ICON! But you can't have everything in life and I am really just relaunching her, but I thought it was a very poor "front row seat" decision, for them to put her in! Every aspect of this process in crucial "puppies" and if you don't have the support of the powers that be, it's even harder. But this industry is also a double-edged sword and if you don't get the support from those people, then you don't give it back too when the shoe is on the other foot. It's that simple... but I am also soo gracious and appreciative to the people that do make MY job easier and they in turn will see my appreciation in the future!
The PORTS 1961 show was FABULOUS and I thought it was a bit of an inspired tribute to a great American designer, Halston! Great job Fiona Chibani (who now designs the collection after her sister, Tia Chibani's, departure). Julie gagged for the presentation and thought the clothes were exquisite! We also got to see a dear friend of ours, High Voltage, who's a Lifestyle Guru and the originator of The Energy Up! health and wellness program. But I would like to send a personal thanks to Jacqui Wenzel and Lou Iacovelli for allowing me to bring Julie.
Now on to New York's own FASHION'S NIGHT OUT... where over 100 fashion designers open their boutiques to the public (replete with their own marquee celebrities) for this romp into the exclusive world of glamour and fashion! How festive does this sound! Julie changes into a very YSL inspired (although I was inspired by YSL) confection of Gucci and Prada and Cavalli en tres YSL colours. I coordinated her in a Roberto Cavalli red silk charmeuse halter top with a low plungey back (uberly sexy) , low-waisted indigo blue Prada silk charmeuse hip slacks that she bought in Italy (extremely hip) and a showstopping canary yellow meribou Gucci coat. WOW! We couldn't walk down Madison Avenue without some photographer somewhere asking us all to be photographed, especially Downtown Julie Brown..... Yes....we made a definite fashion statement... but then that's one of the things I do as "The Image Guru"... I help people make statements for that "WOW" factor, even divas.
So where should Julie, Colin and I go???? Hmmm, let me see and try to remember. Not too many places..... but not too few! We started off at Roberto Cavalli, where they thanked Julie profusely for coming...click, click, photo, photo, glass of champagne and then up Madison to J. Mendel, whom I personally think is so chic..click, click, photo, photo. I introduced Julie to J. Mendel's PR Director Jessica Nagel (Gilles Mendel hadn't arrived yet) and said that we have to dress Julie for some events in the near future in J. Mendel (whose clothes I deem as exquisite) and she seemed very excited about that. Then up a few more blocks on Madison Avenue, ( at that point Julie's 6 inch heels were starting to ache) where we were again asked to be photographed in front of the Judith Ripka Boutique and we got some kick-ass cutie pictures from those photo booths that they had set up in front of their boutique. "Let's go to the Donna Karan Boutique and drink some Veuve Clicquot and see my friend Randle Doss" who's the Sales mManager there, "we'll hang out for awhile while Julie's feet stop aching" I shouted, "woo-hoo, wubba, wubba, wubba!, mutha-fucka's" I shamefully screamed on posh Madison Ave.
Donna Karan's Boutique event was sophisticated, if not culturally uplifting and they all ( I think I know everybody there) were soooo pleased that I brought Julie and Colin, who always adds life and color wherever they go! We were the "colorful" people there I was told by Randle! Yah, I wanted to "represent" well....click, click, photo, photo. Julie introduced herself to Donna Karan and I introduced Julie and Colin to everybody else that mattered. The entertainment was actually soo fabulous.... a pianist who was more like a modern, cool vibed Mozart. Yes honey-dews, I drank a few glasses of Veuve, which is one of my weaknesses!
Another good friend of mine Dennis Diaz, who's the Men's Boutique Manager of Dolce Gabbana invited me a few days prior and I told him I would bring Julie (also another prerequisite for being an Image Guru... connections who respect you) So we were on our way to Dolce & Gabbana where Naomi Campbell was dancing, signing cool t-shirts of her iconic images, looking flawless as usual and basically holding court! Fortunately, we were all whisked inside past immediately, past the velvet ropes without having to wait in the massive line outside. Soo many people to contend with inside too, click, click, photo, photo....but yours truly got us up into the VIP top floor ( that's where the likes of Naomi Campbell, Chris Brown, Daphne Guiness etc were all) which Bravo's Andy Cohen, serupticiously had closed off for a Bravo film crew ( I personally think that Andy Cohen is a tad bit "full of himself now") I mean really... everybody who couldn't get upstairs was pissed off! Tell it to Andy Cohen guys, who in my book is certainly no Anderson Cooper!
Naomi sees Julie and actually stands up from her seat to give Julie a big smile, hug and kiss. Great! Julie did look exceptional that night, but nonetheless, it was great to see Naomi acknowledge Julie in such a friendly and genuine manner! "MY BLOODY SHOES ARE KILLING ME MONTY!" exclaimed Julie, "and I need to eat". "OK, let's go to my favorite little eatery a few blocks down on 66 & Madison, Bistro Chat Noir" I suggested. Great.... we were gonna be outta there, but not before I had a met and briefly chatted with Daphne Guinness. Julie on the other hand, was hugged by Chris Brown on his way out. Mission accomplished... just enough and not too much.... in and out!
Now another friend ( believe it or not, I have alot of supportive friends), Suzanne Latapie, the proprietress of Bistro Chat Noir, had invited me to bring Julie that night and we all had a delicious dinner and a blast there! The restaurant was so jam packed that people were waitng in line just to get a table. Yay for Suzanne, who reserved for us her best table! As I said, I like to support when I can and I appreciate when it is reciprocated. Key words in my book are support, friendship and loyalty. Remember that... all you Phillistinal PR idiots who are soo fickle and fair weather that your best friends change according to what Page Six and Vogue writes. Trust me, morons, I know how to play the game too.... and I play with legends, moguls and icons, not new-bee fools who might not be around next year!
Sept 11th: Last day of Julie's visit. Have to secure ab-fab, kick-ass wardrobe for Julie's VMA debut. Although she will not be presenting, she will be in attendance and the personal guest of the ceremonies' producer, Tony DiSanto! Not bad for being a bloody housewife and mommy for 14 years! Who did I choose to dress her?.......I chose PORTS 1961. Why? Because it made sense and there were two exquisite dresses which fit her like they were made for her. Both black, one a chic and sophisticated shantung silk dress that had a "cocktail couture" fit... a tad bit Lanvin, but worthy enough that even Jennifer Lopez was sent a champagne version for her London premiere. Julie looked like a million bucks in it! Damn girl....you still got it and after all these years. The other dress was a confection of black paillettes and ostrich feather in a strapless above the knee length dress which was petaled and gathered on the bottom. Sounds hideous doesn't it? Well it wasn't, it was just what this Image Guru ordered! TO DIE FOR! Yes and then we coordinated the rest of the "look", which all has to be PERFECT, especially since Julie hasn't really been in the spotlight in over a decade! But now that we have new show ideas for her, she has to be "new and improved".
An early dinner at The Waverly Inn, seated in a booth next to Keifer Sutherland and then off to another private club named Norwood! Now can it get any better!
So now Julie is traveling back to LA and had to cut her NY trip short to attend the MTV Video Awards, which incidentally aires live tonight. We'll see if anybody notices her! I always say, everything "old" is "new" again and there is no such thing as a "has been", because that just means they once WERE! But this lady still has it, as I noticed first hand on the aforementioned occasions!
Keep your eyes open for more of Downtown Julie Brown!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
September 07 "SUPPORT THOSE, WHO SUPPORT YOU!"
Fortunately I've had an interesting career!!!!!
Although this "Image Guru" is far from over in his life and career ( in fact I feel like I'm starting all over again), I've had the opportunity to do many interesting and relatively important things in my professional life. (refer to my bio on my website at www.montgomeryfrazier.com for those of you who have never heard of me before)
I will not bore you with my accolaides, or tout my own achievements on this blog, but my professional life has always been about helping people! Yes, I said "helping" people! (wow, what a concept in this "instant-fame society" in 5 seconds or less) ! By that I mean, I have never had to jump on the bandwagon of the "newest" and "hottest" "it" craze. Although I have been known to discover and help bring attention to many "it" designers (whose names shall remain nameless), creative professionals, artists, etc, etc, etc and blah, blah, blah, so I feel confident in the statement that I just made.
I subsequently have never held any positions at Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar or The New York Times, but I did hold a position on a somewhat successful explosive medium called MTV (maybe some of you newbees have heard of it?) that I did utilize to help the afore mentioned.. At the time that I was at MTV, the network actually played music (repeatedly and incessantly) and the "Reality Stars" of those days, had names like Madonna and Michael Jackson.....so that was my reality! So I guess I can use that on my resume to validate my professional and critical existence..... and we all need to be validated "by" our careers, now don't we? (inject sarcasm here!)
So what's the point of this blog entry you ask? It's all about SUPPORT! Those of the "now" successful wunder-kinds, with short memories, will realize that on your way down! SUPPORT drives those dirty, filthy, slick vehicles called Fame, Fashion, Flash and Failure.... or as I'd like to refer to them (but not necessarily in that order) as the 4 "F"s.
* Notice that there is not one "F" in SUPPORT....but there is an "F" in FUCK YOU!
S.U.P.P.O.R.T is my word for Simply. Unique. Posturing. Persons. Of. Relative. Taste!
And I have always had and shown SUPPORT to those that I felt were talented, humble and grateful creative children. Not for any personal gain mind you (much to my own dismay sometimes) but because that is "what" and "who" I am and hopefully known for!
So this season of Fall 2010 will display the new and improved "cast of characters" for the Spring 2011 fashion shows at the newly chartered Mercedes Benz Fashion Week location site at Lincoln Center; where all will be parading themselves like peacocks on a concrete lea. So it shall be interesting to see from this tride and true SUPPORT-ive veteran, who (out of this new cast of characters) will show their own SUPPORT!
Is it too late to teach "new dogs."..."old tricks"? Well, we'll see you on the concrete lea.....my fine young peacocks!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
Although this "Image Guru" is far from over in his life and career ( in fact I feel like I'm starting all over again), I've had the opportunity to do many interesting and relatively important things in my professional life. (refer to my bio on my website at www.montgomeryfrazier.com for those of you who have never heard of me before)
I will not bore you with my accolaides, or tout my own achievements on this blog, but my professional life has always been about helping people! Yes, I said "helping" people! (wow, what a concept in this "instant-fame society" in 5 seconds or less) ! By that I mean, I have never had to jump on the bandwagon of the "newest" and "hottest" "it" craze. Although I have been known to discover and help bring attention to many "it" designers (whose names shall remain nameless), creative professionals, artists, etc, etc, etc and blah, blah, blah, so I feel confident in the statement that I just made.
I subsequently have never held any positions at Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar or The New York Times, but I did hold a position on a somewhat successful explosive medium called MTV (maybe some of you newbees have heard of it?) that I did utilize to help the afore mentioned.. At the time that I was at MTV, the network actually played music (repeatedly and incessantly) and the "Reality Stars" of those days, had names like Madonna and Michael Jackson.....so that was my reality! So I guess I can use that on my resume to validate my professional and critical existence..... and we all need to be validated "by" our careers, now don't we? (inject sarcasm here!)
So what's the point of this blog entry you ask? It's all about SUPPORT! Those of the "now" successful wunder-kinds, with short memories, will realize that on your way down! SUPPORT drives those dirty, filthy, slick vehicles called Fame, Fashion, Flash and Failure.... or as I'd like to refer to them (but not necessarily in that order) as the 4 "F"s.
* Notice that there is not one "F" in SUPPORT....but there is an "F" in FUCK YOU!
S.U.P.P.O.R.T is my word for Simply. Unique. Posturing. Persons. Of. Relative. Taste!
And I have always had and shown SUPPORT to those that I felt were talented, humble and grateful creative children. Not for any personal gain mind you (much to my own dismay sometimes) but because that is "what" and "who" I am and hopefully known for!
So this season of Fall 2010 will display the new and improved "cast of characters" for the Spring 2011 fashion shows at the newly chartered Mercedes Benz Fashion Week location site at Lincoln Center; where all will be parading themselves like peacocks on a concrete lea. So it shall be interesting to see from this tride and true SUPPORT-ive veteran, who (out of this new cast of characters) will show their own SUPPORT!
Is it too late to teach "new dogs."..."old tricks"? Well, we'll see you on the concrete lea.....my fine young peacocks!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
September 01 "MEMORIES OF JULIA ON BELLISSIMA LAGO MAGGIORE"
Okay, after this particular entry, I'll get back to the reality of my snappy, zippy-dippy life in the "Big Apple", but for now, I'm going to share with you some more of my memories of this past August en la bellissima Lago Maggiore.
When I travel, I don't like travel like a "typical American tourist" (no offense to typical Americans) and by that I mean, I do not have to see absolutely everything there is to see in 2 days or less. I went to Lago Maggiore to visit my friend, Julie (yeah you know, Downtown Julie Brown) and to relax and "live" the life of the people living on the lake. I hadn't seen Julie since last year, (my "annus horribiles") when she saw me on death's doorstep in the hospital dieing, (yes, literally dieing) of pneumonia. But obviously I didn't! So, this was our reunion vacation, so i wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. In fact, I think we went out to a public place (Vespuccis) only twice in 3 weeks. Why is that, because Julie and Martin (her handsome and very smart entrepreneurial husband who was absentee this summer because he couldn't break away from LA) have great friends in Lago Maggiore), so Julie and I were invited to everbody's homes for lunches, dinners and partees, woo-hoo! And every other friend's home or villa or
"casa" as they like to call them, were bigger, better amd more grand than the next. Some were charming and innovative and displayed interesting architectural elements which meshed synergistically with the natural beauty of the lake.
Now Lago Maggiore is quite the beautiful lake, where all the posh and affluent people from Milano have their summer homes, or else they summer in Lago di Como, another getaway for the super-rich, world traveling types (i.e George Clooney, Donatella Versace). I was informed that George (Mr. Clooney if you're nasty) looked at this massive estate on Lago Maggiore (it looked like a bloody resort), but decided that it was tooo public and could be easily spied upon from onlookers and sleazy paparazzi disguising themselves as hardworking fishermen (PS I don't believe they allow fishing on Lago Maggiore). In other words, there was no privacy!
So back to me!!! I was up for doing nothing but dressing well and eating fabulous Italian cuisine from all of the wonderful chefs and cooks in the lovely homes on the lake. So what did I do? I acted like a bloody American tourist; or to be more accurate a Japanese tourist (as one bigwig at Loro Piana, Signore Franco Artom, fondly exclaimed to me) and I took hundreds of photographs of everthing.... and I mean everything. "Oh, there's a leaf that's shining brightly in the sun with a lovely drop of dog-pee, oh, let me get a photo of that!" "Oh, look at that window with the sun shining brightly. Julie quick, get over there and pose. How very Vermeer that looks!" I mean REALLY! That's how silly I was, but Julie played along and did everything I asked her to do and fortunately, none of my hosts minded....fancy that! If that was America, I would have been ousted out and charged with "invasion of personal space", or some other stupid American ego-maniacal charge. Italians are soooo gracious, but don't fuck with them and definitely do not wear the wrong shoes or attire! They are a very proud and proper people and are very much into social ettiquette and protocol.... but somehow they still do manage to have a fabulous life! Maybe it's the lighting there! They just seem to look better than we do!
So enough said, here are some more of my memories of Julie on Lago Maggiore. Can't you just feel, smell and taste the life??? Grazie mile a Alberto e Gabriella Maccione, e Mimi e Franco Artom. Your hospitality and graciousness was much appreciated!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
When I travel, I don't like travel like a "typical American tourist" (no offense to typical Americans) and by that I mean, I do not have to see absolutely everything there is to see in 2 days or less. I went to Lago Maggiore to visit my friend, Julie (yeah you know, Downtown Julie Brown) and to relax and "live" the life of the people living on the lake. I hadn't seen Julie since last year, (my "annus horribiles") when she saw me on death's doorstep in the hospital dieing, (yes, literally dieing) of pneumonia. But obviously I didn't! So, this was our reunion vacation, so i wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. In fact, I think we went out to a public place (Vespuccis) only twice in 3 weeks. Why is that, because Julie and Martin (her handsome and very smart entrepreneurial husband who was absentee this summer because he couldn't break away from LA) have great friends in Lago Maggiore), so Julie and I were invited to everbody's homes for lunches, dinners and partees, woo-hoo! And every other friend's home or villa or
"casa" as they like to call them, were bigger, better amd more grand than the next. Some were charming and innovative and displayed interesting architectural elements which meshed synergistically with the natural beauty of the lake.
Now Lago Maggiore is quite the beautiful lake, where all the posh and affluent people from Milano have their summer homes, or else they summer in Lago di Como, another getaway for the super-rich, world traveling types (i.e George Clooney, Donatella Versace). I was informed that George (Mr. Clooney if you're nasty) looked at this massive estate on Lago Maggiore (it looked like a bloody resort), but decided that it was tooo public and could be easily spied upon from onlookers and sleazy paparazzi disguising themselves as hardworking fishermen (PS I don't believe they allow fishing on Lago Maggiore). In other words, there was no privacy!
So back to me!!! I was up for doing nothing but dressing well and eating fabulous Italian cuisine from all of the wonderful chefs and cooks in the lovely homes on the lake. So what did I do? I acted like a bloody American tourist; or to be more accurate a Japanese tourist (as one bigwig at Loro Piana, Signore Franco Artom, fondly exclaimed to me) and I took hundreds of photographs of everthing.... and I mean everything. "Oh, there's a leaf that's shining brightly in the sun with a lovely drop of dog-pee, oh, let me get a photo of that!" "Oh, look at that window with the sun shining brightly. Julie quick, get over there and pose. How very Vermeer that looks!" I mean REALLY! That's how silly I was, but Julie played along and did everything I asked her to do and fortunately, none of my hosts minded....fancy that! If that was America, I would have been ousted out and charged with "invasion of personal space", or some other stupid American ego-maniacal charge. Italians are soooo gracious, but don't fuck with them and definitely do not wear the wrong shoes or attire! They are a very proud and proper people and are very much into social ettiquette and protocol.... but somehow they still do manage to have a fabulous life! Maybe it's the lighting there! They just seem to look better than we do!
So enough said, here are some more of my memories of Julie on Lago Maggiore. Can't you just feel, smell and taste the life??? Grazie mile a Alberto e Gabriella Maccione, e Mimi e Franco Artom. Your hospitality and graciousness was much appreciated!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
August 30 "THE 2010 PRIMETIME EMMYS, 'THE IMAGE GURU' CHIMES IN"
I think "America" (or possibly the experts) doesn't have much taste when it comes to rating how celebrities dress!
The "fashion experts" (many times they are out-of-work comedians) always seem to invariably rave for the body hugging glitz factor, or just simply-safe, or just "Palin" oops I meant "plain" and boring.....never fashionably fabulous! America doesn't understand European fashion and doesn't have much understanding or tolerance for that look of chic. If it's not from an American designer, or they can't get it at the mall, they simply don't get it.... although some of the get ups that Cher wore from Bob Mackie (an American designer) were a bit hard to digust... even for me! Remember that, all you "stylists"... if you try to be too chic or clever, America simply won't respond well.... unless they are flawlessly executed and the actress knows how to carry the couture! (i.e Nicole Kidman) or they have to be wildly madcap or flambouyant (i.e Grace Jones) Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
My picks for best dressed actresses at this year's Emmy Awards were
1. Claire Danes
2. Anna Paquin-Alexander McQueen (although she had bad stance and carriage)
3. Tina Fey-Oscar de la Renta
Jimmy Fallon.... I don't think the public understood the cute Tweeted comments you read "before" the presenters came out! I thought it was tooo "text mentality" and it was just too, too clever for the public. Although your opening scene was the highlight of the show, the show lacked a mid section of excitement, but Betty White RULES! Why didn't they use her more? America seems to love Betty White! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
I absolutely adore NATE BERKUS, who did some Red Carpet interviewing on the pre-show. I will definitely watch his show!!!!!! Thanks Oprah for that one!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
What was with all the "up-dos" with the women's hair??? Did they all go to Kate Gosselin's hair stylist???? Yikes! One or two might have been okay, but nearly all the notable ladies (except for Claire), even Heidi Klum, opted for up-dos.. Was this the Emmy's or a glorified prom??? All that was missing was the "baby's brea...th".
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
What is it about Kate Gosselin that I simply do not like! She fuckin' irks me, but her hair was the best that I had ever seen it, but again, every other actress had their hair just like hers. Do they have little cloned hair fairies backstage, cloning all the actresses hair up? Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
GEORGE CLOONEY..... you are just toooo GEORGE CLOONEY! I actually loved what you said....moreso than how you looked! But you hit a "home run" with your entire presentation.... you always do! YOU give Hollywood class, heart and a great image! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
January Jones...... I understood what you were trying to go for, you know the " designer's concept", but unfortunately your hair looked like it was done in January and hadn't been combed since then.... and your dress, well, Donatella you should be shot for designing this nasty Gaultier wannabe! Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier were the perfect team to introduce that "tittie cone" vibe! Your "look" was half-ass and not well executed at all and you looked incredibly miserable and unhappy in it and so were we for looking at you! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
I kind of loved all the really, silly retro inspired "gay" men's tuxedos (TOM FORD, TED BAKER, THOM BROWNE) on most of the actors at The Emmy's. BRAVO!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru
For me, the "wow" moments of last night's Emmy Awards were definitely dominated by the men, fashion-wise! However, if that bald guy (the "Mad Men" Creator or Director or whatever he was) in the future, is going to wear another shiney blue Tom Ford tuxedo jacket, then lighten-up and don't act like a "stiff old queen"! That stiffness made you look ridiculous... you needed to be vibrant to pull that one off! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
KIM KARDASHIAN you are so beautiful, but you definitely need a breast reduction if you want to wear such "regal" Marchesa gowns. I loved all, except for the fact that you looked tooo bodacious in your dress. You are a siren, you are not Grace Kelly...live up to your body! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
Dear Ms. Paquin, a word of advice....... if you're going to wear a beautiful couture gown (which I happened to love) from a revered and recently deceased fashion icon, Alexander McQueen, then please, please, please have somebody teach you how to pose properly in it, bloody hell! In most of the paparazzi shots which I saw of you, you stood like a truck driver in most of your poses! Would Joan Crawford have posed like that? Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
A healthy and hearty shout out to an old friend of mine, Rubin Singer, who should be given honorable mention for designing and dressing a great American actress, Glenn Close! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
I personally thought this year's Emmy's were a bit lack lustre (fashion wise), although the highlights ( non fashion-wise) for me were when Jimmy Fallon did his rather impressive rendtion of Elton John and the lead singer of Green Day. Bravo, you sing better than half of the singers you immitate.
HBO is the leader of innovative television, although, Glee is completely adorable and so worth watching. But here me now and believe me later, just like "Queer Eye for The Straight Guy" became too stale and formulaic, the writers and producers will have to shake it up a bit for next season. The "Gay" factor was huge in television this year and was obvious by many of the younger male actors!
Congratulations to all the winners!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
The "fashion experts" (many times they are out-of-work comedians) always seem to invariably rave for the body hugging glitz factor, or just simply-safe, or just "Palin" oops I meant "plain" and boring.....never fashionably fabulous! America doesn't understand European fashion and doesn't have much understanding or tolerance for that look of chic. If it's not from an American designer, or they can't get it at the mall, they simply don't get it.... although some of the get ups that Cher wore from Bob Mackie (an American designer) were a bit hard to digust... even for me! Remember that, all you "stylists"... if you try to be too chic or clever, America simply won't respond well.... unless they are flawlessly executed and the actress knows how to carry the couture! (i.e Nicole Kidman) or they have to be wildly madcap or flambouyant (i.e Grace Jones) Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
My picks for best dressed actresses at this year's Emmy Awards were
1. Claire Danes
2. Anna Paquin-Alexander McQueen (although she had bad stance and carriage)
3. Tina Fey-Oscar de la Renta
Jimmy Fallon.... I don't think the public understood the cute Tweeted comments you read "before" the presenters came out! I thought it was tooo "text mentality" and it was just too, too clever for the public. Although your opening scene was the highlight of the show, the show lacked a mid section of excitement, but Betty White RULES! Why didn't they use her more? America seems to love Betty White! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
I absolutely adore NATE BERKUS, who did some Red Carpet interviewing on the pre-show. I will definitely watch his show!!!!!! Thanks Oprah for that one!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
What was with all the "up-dos" with the women's hair??? Did they all go to Kate Gosselin's hair stylist???? Yikes! One or two might have been okay, but nearly all the notable ladies (except for Claire), even Heidi Klum, opted for up-dos.. Was this the Emmy's or a glorified prom??? All that was missing was the "baby's brea...th".
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
What is it about Kate Gosselin that I simply do not like! She fuckin' irks me, but her hair was the best that I had ever seen it, but again, every other actress had their hair just like hers. Do they have little cloned hair fairies backstage, cloning all the actresses hair up? Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
GEORGE CLOONEY..... you are just toooo GEORGE CLOONEY! I actually loved what you said....moreso than how you looked! But you hit a "home run" with your entire presentation.... you always do! YOU give Hollywood class, heart and a great image! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
January Jones...... I understood what you were trying to go for, you know the " designer's concept", but unfortunately your hair looked like it was done in January and hadn't been combed since then.... and your dress, well, Donatella you should be shot for designing this nasty Gaultier wannabe! Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier were the perfect team to introduce that "tittie cone" vibe! Your "look" was half-ass and not well executed at all and you looked incredibly miserable and unhappy in it and so were we for looking at you! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
I kind of loved all the really, silly retro inspired "gay" men's tuxedos (TOM FORD, TED BAKER, THOM BROWNE) on most of the actors at The Emmy's. BRAVO!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru
For me, the "wow" moments of last night's Emmy Awards were definitely dominated by the men, fashion-wise! However, if that bald guy (the "Mad Men" Creator or Director or whatever he was) in the future, is going to wear another shiney blue Tom Ford tuxedo jacket, then lighten-up and don't act like a "stiff old queen"! That stiffness made you look ridiculous... you needed to be vibrant to pull that one off! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
KIM KARDASHIAN you are so beautiful, but you definitely need a breast reduction if you want to wear such "regal" Marchesa gowns. I loved all, except for the fact that you looked tooo bodacious in your dress. You are a siren, you are not Grace Kelly...live up to your body! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
Dear Ms. Paquin, a word of advice....... if you're going to wear a beautiful couture gown (which I happened to love) from a revered and recently deceased fashion icon, Alexander McQueen, then please, please, please have somebody teach you how to pose properly in it, bloody hell! In most of the paparazzi shots which I saw of you, you stood like a truck driver in most of your poses! Would Joan Crawford have posed like that? Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
A healthy and hearty shout out to an old friend of mine, Rubin Singer, who should be given honorable mention for designing and dressing a great American actress, Glenn Close! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
I personally thought this year's Emmy's were a bit lack lustre (fashion wise), although the highlights ( non fashion-wise) for me were when Jimmy Fallon did his rather impressive rendtion of Elton John and the lead singer of Green Day. Bravo, you sing better than half of the singers you immitate.
HBO is the leader of innovative television, although, Glee is completely adorable and so worth watching. But here me now and believe me later, just like "Queer Eye for The Straight Guy" became too stale and formulaic, the writers and producers will have to shake it up a bit for next season. The "Gay" factor was huge in television this year and was obvious by many of the younger male actors!
Congratulations to all the winners!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
August 27 "LUNCH AT A 16TH CENTURY VILLA WITH DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN"
As an American, I've always had an affinity for anything that was over 150 years old! (no smart remarks from the peanut gallery)
I absolutely love antiques, castles, historical "period movies, and vampires but not necessarily in that order. In fact, True Blood on HBO is one of my fave shows around.
So I was keen to go on vacation to Italy (Lago Maggiore to be exact), known for being a country rich with history, a great civilization and reaking in antiquites, to visit my friend Julie Schuermann, aka Downtown Julie Brown, or DTJB to all you texters or bloggers who were born after 1980. Well I thought, "whoo-hoo", that she and I would be partying all night in some Italian disco in Milan, but my dear friends, Italy is closed in August! Well not completely closed, but most of the chic people are on vacation in Ibiza, Capri, Lago Maggiore, Lago Cuomo or even, hmmm, the Hamptons. But to my grand surprise, I discovered that, Julie, that once flambouyant British fashion "diva" of MTV in the mid-80's to early 90's (thanks to moi), had metamorphed into the "lady of the manor" of Lago Maggiore. Yes, the one-time uber hipster that used to capture the attention of a nation as that sparkly "wubba, wubba, wubba" shouting MTV VJ, was now so incredibly elegant and well poised and chic! Yes, chic and that coming from "The Image Guru" himself.
Now back to the point of this blog, Julie now divides her time between Los Angeles and Italy and is married to a charming and uberly handsome German entrepreneur named Martin Schuermann. Julie and Martin bought a lakeside home in Lago Maggiore about 9 years ago and live their during the summers along with Martin's beautiful daughter Gianna, who Julie's been a step mom to since she was a wee lassie. All of the friends that they've made in Lago Maggiore are quite the social set and very proper, yet still fun. So when we were invited by Mimi & Franco Artom (a big-wig at the Fashion House of Loro Piana), I was pleased, so say the least being "The Image Guru". Mimi and Franco Artom are the social bastions of Ispra, one of the quaint little towns off the lake where they all live. An invitation by them is apparently not one you turn down, but when I heard that we would be joining some of their friends for lunch at their 16th century villa, I was most eager to oblige my acceptance (also because I really love antiquities).
What does one wear to such an outing? I asked myself. I know, I'll do something completely "Hollywood meets New York" and present myself as if I were a 1950's American bon vivant, traveling the countryside in Italy with my BFF. So I chose a canary polo shirt (no, not from Ralph Lauren) from Vicomte Arthur (Paris, Palm Beach), some pale lemon sorbet slacks from Tommy Hilfiger, a beautiful royal blue linen blazer from John Barrett (which I purchased at Daffy's on West 57th Street, Manhattan for $59) and my navy blue Polo (yes, from Ralph Lauren) deck shoes and a lovely silk neckerchief from Hermes. Not a thing that I wore was Italian, which was deliberate on my part! Julie wore a crisp white pant suit from Dolce & Gabbana replete with a low-back plungy white top, a chic white chapeau (hat), some kick-ass black Chanel glasses and some groovey white wedgies from Gucci. Yes, she turned it out!
So we hopped in her smart little black Mercedes convertible and drove to meet the Orsis in Varese (say that ten times). I have to say that upon driving up to the arched entrance, I thought to myself, OMG, this is just like a Merchant Ivory movie location and the Orsi family seemed to look like they were from Central Casting, just because they looked the part. Carlo Orsi, the head of the household, is an antiquario (or antique dealer) and his lovely wife Norris is a PR maven for Loro Piana. Their villa, or as they like to say "casa" ( yes, "casa" my ass, this was a frickin' museum) was most impressive and situated in the most picturesque setting. Their "casa", although not literally a museum, was in fact a museum. Why because it was furnished with incredibly old, rare and valuable antiques. Why, they even had a very large stuffed ostrich (yes, I said ostrich) encased in the main drawing room, along with alot of other dead remnants of animals past. But, as one of the daughters confessed to me as she was showing me around, this was her home (although she also confessed that as a child she was a little afraid of living there).
The following photos were taken my yours truly and depict the richness and majesty of living in such a residence. Most Americans might find this "casa" intimidating, but for the Orsis, this was their sanctuary. I thank Carlo Orsi for allowing me to act like a Japanese tourist by invadiing their private spaces to take these photographs! Also, thanks to Livinia for the tour of her family's residence, plus the lunch and conversation was darn good too! Oh Julie..... I did get the white wine stains out of my pants after you knocked my glass over.... into my lap (tee,hee).
Ahhh, Italian living doesn't get much better than this. Tutti mangare!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
4:37 PM | Blog it | Travel
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I absolutely love antiques, castles, historical "period movies, and vampires but not necessarily in that order. In fact, True Blood on HBO is one of my fave shows around.
So I was keen to go on vacation to Italy (Lago Maggiore to be exact), known for being a country rich with history, a great civilization and reaking in antiquites, to visit my friend Julie Schuermann, aka Downtown Julie Brown, or DTJB to all you texters or bloggers who were born after 1980. Well I thought, "whoo-hoo", that she and I would be partying all night in some Italian disco in Milan, but my dear friends, Italy is closed in August! Well not completely closed, but most of the chic people are on vacation in Ibiza, Capri, Lago Maggiore, Lago Cuomo or even, hmmm, the Hamptons. But to my grand surprise, I discovered that, Julie, that once flambouyant British fashion "diva" of MTV in the mid-80's to early 90's (thanks to moi), had metamorphed into the "lady of the manor" of Lago Maggiore. Yes, the one-time uber hipster that used to capture the attention of a nation as that sparkly "wubba, wubba, wubba" shouting MTV VJ, was now so incredibly elegant and well poised and chic! Yes, chic and that coming from "The Image Guru" himself.
Now back to the point of this blog, Julie now divides her time between Los Angeles and Italy and is married to a charming and uberly handsome German entrepreneur named Martin Schuermann. Julie and Martin bought a lakeside home in Lago Maggiore about 9 years ago and live their during the summers along with Martin's beautiful daughter Gianna, who Julie's been a step mom to since she was a wee lassie. All of the friends that they've made in Lago Maggiore are quite the social set and very proper, yet still fun. So when we were invited by Mimi & Franco Artom (a big-wig at the Fashion House of Loro Piana), I was pleased, so say the least being "The Image Guru". Mimi and Franco Artom are the social bastions of Ispra, one of the quaint little towns off the lake where they all live. An invitation by them is apparently not one you turn down, but when I heard that we would be joining some of their friends for lunch at their 16th century villa, I was most eager to oblige my acceptance (also because I really love antiquities).
What does one wear to such an outing? I asked myself. I know, I'll do something completely "Hollywood meets New York" and present myself as if I were a 1950's American bon vivant, traveling the countryside in Italy with my BFF. So I chose a canary polo shirt (no, not from Ralph Lauren) from Vicomte Arthur (Paris, Palm Beach), some pale lemon sorbet slacks from Tommy Hilfiger, a beautiful royal blue linen blazer from John Barrett (which I purchased at Daffy's on West 57th Street, Manhattan for $59) and my navy blue Polo (yes, from Ralph Lauren) deck shoes and a lovely silk neckerchief from Hermes. Not a thing that I wore was Italian, which was deliberate on my part! Julie wore a crisp white pant suit from Dolce & Gabbana replete with a low-back plungy white top, a chic white chapeau (hat), some kick-ass black Chanel glasses and some groovey white wedgies from Gucci. Yes, she turned it out!
So we hopped in her smart little black Mercedes convertible and drove to meet the Orsis in Varese (say that ten times). I have to say that upon driving up to the arched entrance, I thought to myself, OMG, this is just like a Merchant Ivory movie location and the Orsi family seemed to look like they were from Central Casting, just because they looked the part. Carlo Orsi, the head of the household, is an antiquario (or antique dealer) and his lovely wife Norris is a PR maven for Loro Piana. Their villa, or as they like to say "casa" ( yes, "casa" my ass, this was a frickin' museum) was most impressive and situated in the most picturesque setting. Their "casa", although not literally a museum, was in fact a museum. Why because it was furnished with incredibly old, rare and valuable antiques. Why, they even had a very large stuffed ostrich (yes, I said ostrich) encased in the main drawing room, along with alot of other dead remnants of animals past. But, as one of the daughters confessed to me as she was showing me around, this was her home (although she also confessed that as a child she was a little afraid of living there).
The following photos were taken my yours truly and depict the richness and majesty of living in such a residence. Most Americans might find this "casa" intimidating, but for the Orsis, this was their sanctuary. I thank Carlo Orsi for allowing me to act like a Japanese tourist by invadiing their private spaces to take these photographs! Also, thanks to Livinia for the tour of her family's residence, plus the lunch and conversation was darn good too! Oh Julie..... I did get the white wine stains out of my pants after you knocked my glass over.... into my lap (tee,hee).
Ahhh, Italian living doesn't get much better than this. Tutti mangare!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
4:37 PM | Blog it | Travel
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August 26 "HIGH" IN THE HILLS OF MARANO DI NAPOLI WITH SALVATORE & ALBERTO
Have you ever just wanted to "relax" and do nothing..... well not exactly nothing, but nearly next to nothing. Well that's precisely what this "glamour boy" did when he traveled to Naples, or Napoli, to see friends, Salvatore & Alberto, whom he hadn't seen in 12 years since they moved from America back to Italy.
Salvatore Baiano is a talented photographer, who captures "the life" in all of his photos, whether they're animant or inanimant objects. His composition of framing and his artistic eye allows him to "memorex" that particular moment in time with all the skill and precision of a surgeon, all the while seeing the beauty, joy and animation of that moment. I'll give you but a taste of his talent and yes I will feature him in a later blog. But enough about his artfull ways, this epi-sog is about my bloody relaxation... damnit!
I arrived in Naples via the Freccia Rossa, which means the Red Arrow, the super-speedy train which leaves from Milano and arrives in Naples in about 4hours 55minutes... quick no! Now stupid me... this "Image Guru" managed to travel to Italy sans his Virgin, pay-as-you-go phone, chic heh! For some strange reason, my phone was capuut, mute, dead, and I had no way to call anybody, anywhere, although I had made arrangements to meet Sal & Alberto (yes they're lovers...so what!) at the train in Napoli Centrale. So that is the set up.... and the rest will all be in photos. But these photos are not of tourist spots or landmarks, they are of exactly what I wanted to capture.... which was my relaxation. If you want a travel logue.... then read Conde Nast Traveler These are personal moments with "The Image Guru" Unedited and uninterrupted, although terribly chic, yet....... somehow rustic. "Napolitano style" BASTA!
"Art" is how you see LIFE! ENJOY!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
2:00 PM | Blog it | Hobbies
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Salvatore Baiano is a talented photographer, who captures "the life" in all of his photos, whether they're animant or inanimant objects. His composition of framing and his artistic eye allows him to "memorex" that particular moment in time with all the skill and precision of a surgeon, all the while seeing the beauty, joy and animation of that moment. I'll give you but a taste of his talent and yes I will feature him in a later blog. But enough about his artfull ways, this epi-sog is about my bloody relaxation... damnit!
I arrived in Naples via the Freccia Rossa, which means the Red Arrow, the super-speedy train which leaves from Milano and arrives in Naples in about 4hours 55minutes... quick no! Now stupid me... this "Image Guru" managed to travel to Italy sans his Virgin, pay-as-you-go phone, chic heh! For some strange reason, my phone was capuut, mute, dead, and I had no way to call anybody, anywhere, although I had made arrangements to meet Sal & Alberto (yes they're lovers...so what!) at the train in Napoli Centrale. So that is the set up.... and the rest will all be in photos. But these photos are not of tourist spots or landmarks, they are of exactly what I wanted to capture.... which was my relaxation. If you want a travel logue.... then read Conde Nast Traveler These are personal moments with "The Image Guru" Unedited and uninterrupted, although terribly chic, yet....... somehow rustic. "Napolitano style" BASTA!
"Art" is how you see LIFE! ENJOY!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
2:00 PM | Blog it | Hobbies
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August 25 "GROUND ZERO...SURELY THIS MOSQUE BE A MISTAKE"
Although this "Image Guru" generally doesn't dabble in politics or political debates, (I leave that up to those more capable), I do have a brain and a very specific, yet heartfelt, stance on the whole "Ground Zero Mosque" debate...... and that is....... WHY THERE????
I fundamentally believe that all "American Citizens' have their "Inalienable Right" to practice "Religious Freedom", to worship whom, what and where they choose, however, did I miss something here???? Was September 11th a dream and did not many innocent people perish needlessly, only a few blocks from this proposed Mosque site??? YES, THEY DID! Do I personally blame the Islamic faith, or any of the wonderful Muslim friends whom I have had the pleasure to meet and share many special moments of my life?? NO I DON'T!
But why I ask, is it soooo imperative and necessary to choose that particular site? Why cannot the powers that be, namely the Imam, that Developer, our dear Mayor Bloomberg (whom I respect immensely) and even our President, (whom I also respect immensely) not understand the pain, resentment, and sheer anger, that many families of the victims do obviously harbor.... and if they do understand this, why can't they simply urge the Mosque to be moved, simply out of respect for the families of those perished victims. Will this action somehow show the world that America will not waiver its committment to our Constitutional freedoms and will let "terrorism" prevail..... well I say, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! Tell that to a child, who may have just been an infant at the time, who lost his or her father or mother! I believe in tolerance and healing, but not at the expense of insensitivity.
Sometimes, wisdom is not doing the right thing, but doing the thing that makes things right!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
I fundamentally believe that all "American Citizens' have their "Inalienable Right" to practice "Religious Freedom", to worship whom, what and where they choose, however, did I miss something here???? Was September 11th a dream and did not many innocent people perish needlessly, only a few blocks from this proposed Mosque site??? YES, THEY DID! Do I personally blame the Islamic faith, or any of the wonderful Muslim friends whom I have had the pleasure to meet and share many special moments of my life?? NO I DON'T!
But why I ask, is it soooo imperative and necessary to choose that particular site? Why cannot the powers that be, namely the Imam, that Developer, our dear Mayor Bloomberg (whom I respect immensely) and even our President, (whom I also respect immensely) not understand the pain, resentment, and sheer anger, that many families of the victims do obviously harbor.... and if they do understand this, why can't they simply urge the Mosque to be moved, simply out of respect for the families of those perished victims. Will this action somehow show the world that America will not waiver its committment to our Constitutional freedoms and will let "terrorism" prevail..... well I say, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! Tell that to a child, who may have just been an infant at the time, who lost his or her father or mother! I believe in tolerance and healing, but not at the expense of insensitivity.
Sometimes, wisdom is not doing the right thing, but doing the thing that makes things right!
Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
August 20 "THE WEIRD AND WILDING WAYS OF ROCCA BORROMEO"
Do you have a fear of dolls? No, not the live ones with wiling and beguiling ways, but the plastic ones with strange hair and rolling eyes and dressed in eerie little period costumes. Well, imagine having a castle, or castello as they say in Italy, of dolls from throughout the ages. Well, that's what Julie (aka Downtown Julie Brown) and I encountered when she took me to visit Rocca Borromeo, during my trip to Italy a few weeks ago. Rocca Borromeo is situated off of Lago Maggiore, which is about an hour outside of Milano. We chose a day to escape bellissimo Lago Maggiore that wasn't drenched in sunshine and was rather gray and ominous, not a typical day in this region at that time of year. Suprisingly enough, we coordinated our outfits in complimentary fashion which lent to much more artistic photographs, as if on a reportage fashion shoot for Conde Nast Traveler, Hmmm, what a concept, style and adventure all rolled up into one!
So we hopped in DTJB's, or Julie Schuermann as she is now known nowadays, cute little Mercedes convertible and drove down to encounter what you will later see in all the photos that both Julie and I took with her trusty little camera, which took surprisingly great photos. However, we two were the artistic wunderkinds who took the photos because we didn't have a professional photographer following us around like those nasty paparazzi, who follow anyone with any kind of notoriety....damn it! I guess that goes with the whole "Image Guru" schpeel. As an aesthetic expert, I always view and visualize sites in unconventional ways with humor and style. So I tried to capture what we saw and how I saw it in my mind... in photos. Did you understand that blah,blah,blah, if not... just read again! (chuckle, chuckle)
Well. I have to say that the castello, Rocca Borromeo, was quite neat and well preserved and not unlike a movie site in Hollywood, but the "real deal" from the 16th Century I believe, although I didn't listen to the audio tour. What I saw was a little freaky, even for a seasoned and hardcore New Yorker and world traveler who has"scene" (yes, a shameless play on words) alot! I think dolls are strange and I hate fuckin' clowns too. Any effigy of a human dressed, or should I say enshrined, in period dress to me is weird and eerie and creeps me out BIG TIME! But I didn't want to ruin Julie's good time and she seemed to be enjoying the exhibition of dolls throughout the ages.
But for some strange reason, I think we got some great photos, because my creative juices were tweeked! Could we both have been possessed by the energy of the dolls??? Me thinks so!
Thanks Julie, you're a doll too, but you don't creep me out! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
5:53 PM | Blog it | Travel
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So we hopped in DTJB's, or Julie Schuermann as she is now known nowadays, cute little Mercedes convertible and drove down to encounter what you will later see in all the photos that both Julie and I took with her trusty little camera, which took surprisingly great photos. However, we two were the artistic wunderkinds who took the photos because we didn't have a professional photographer following us around like those nasty paparazzi, who follow anyone with any kind of notoriety....damn it! I guess that goes with the whole "Image Guru" schpeel. As an aesthetic expert, I always view and visualize sites in unconventional ways with humor and style. So I tried to capture what we saw and how I saw it in my mind... in photos. Did you understand that blah,blah,blah, if not... just read again! (chuckle, chuckle)
Well. I have to say that the castello, Rocca Borromeo, was quite neat and well preserved and not unlike a movie site in Hollywood, but the "real deal" from the 16th Century I believe, although I didn't listen to the audio tour. What I saw was a little freaky, even for a seasoned and hardcore New Yorker and world traveler who has"scene" (yes, a shameless play on words) alot! I think dolls are strange and I hate fuckin' clowns too. Any effigy of a human dressed, or should I say enshrined, in period dress to me is weird and eerie and creeps me out BIG TIME! But I didn't want to ruin Julie's good time and she seemed to be enjoying the exhibition of dolls throughout the ages.
But for some strange reason, I think we got some great photos, because my creative juices were tweeked! Could we both have been possessed by the energy of the dolls??? Me thinks so!
Thanks Julie, you're a doll too, but you don't creep me out! Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"
5:53 PM | Blog it | Travel
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August 19 "AGOSTO EN ITALIA" with Downtown Julie Brown
This is Montgomery Frazier’s (aka “The Image Guru”) first blog, so to speak, although I do have a blog on www.HairDesignerTV.com ( but I really don’t know how to actually log on there, silly no?). But if you are in the know, you can also locate me on my personal FACEBOOK page, but you “gotta’ be fabuloso”, in every sense of the word which means, kind and generous, talented and crafty, powerful or powerless. You must be doing many good things for humanity, whether in your heart and soul, or with your creativity, power, influence or bank account. Not just being a taker and a poseur, although I have been known to pose myself, from time to time.
As a lifestyle arbiter of style, fashion and social graces (refer to my website at www.montgomeryfrazier.com if you have never heard of me before), I do have my moments of clarity where I actually let my coiffed hair down, but only if the cameras ARE FLASHING! This was a photo taken on my first day to Lago Maggiore, Italia, to visit my very great friend and former MTV colleague, Downtown Julie Brown, nowadays known as Julie Schuermann.
Does anyone think this shot would be a good image concept for CORONA???? Remember that ad campaign with that Onassis look-alike for the liquor brand (whose name shall remain nameless) from a few years back. Well this could be a new “Mad Men” styled concept for CORONA, whose name shall remain named! Remember gang, I am “The Image Guru” and all things my way must play into lifestyle imaging and branding!
Send me your thoughts, or send me a check and a contract for endorsement if you work for CORONA! (chuckle, chuckle)
And remember…..you are what you look and act like!
Montgomery Frazier “The Image Guru”
As a lifestyle arbiter of style, fashion and social graces (refer to my website at www.montgomeryfrazier.com if you have never heard of me before), I do have my moments of clarity where I actually let my coiffed hair down, but only if the cameras ARE FLASHING! This was a photo taken on my first day to Lago Maggiore, Italia, to visit my very great friend and former MTV colleague, Downtown Julie Brown, nowadays known as Julie Schuermann.
Does anyone think this shot would be a good image concept for CORONA???? Remember that ad campaign with that Onassis look-alike for the liquor brand (whose name shall remain nameless) from a few years back. Well this could be a new “Mad Men” styled concept for CORONA, whose name shall remain named! Remember gang, I am “The Image Guru” and all things my way must play into lifestyle imaging and branding!
Send me your thoughts, or send me a check and a contract for endorsement if you work for CORONA! (chuckle, chuckle)
And remember…..you are what you look and act like!
Montgomery Frazier “The Image Guru”
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