Elizabeth Taylor jewelry goes on view before sale [watches]
The legendary jewelry and fashion collections of Elizabeth Taylor, the so-called "Crown Jewels of Hollywood," went on glittering display in New York before a hotly anticipated auction.
The actress, who died in March at the age of 79, had seven husbands during her glamorous life, countless admirers and a passion for jewelry.
The exhibition at Christie's auction house in Manhattan is the last stop on a world tour highlighting Taylor's treasures and the first and last time that the entire collection is gathered in one place.
Thousands of people have already bought tickets to the 10-day public viewing, starting Saturday.
The auction will then run from December 13-16, offering pieces like the 33.19 carat "Elizabeth Taylor Diamond" given to her by husband Richard Burton in 1968, and estimated to sell for between $2.5 million and $3.5 million dollars.
Running concurrently with the live auction at Christie's will be an Internet-only sale of nearly 1,000 items such as jewelry and accessories like designer handbags. Christie's estimates total sales of between $30 million and $50 million.
Another gift from Burton was the famous "La Peregrina" pearl from the 16th century and once adorning several queens of Austria, England and Spain. It is estimated at $2 million to $3 million.
Hundreds of haute couture dresses from Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Valentino, Versace or Yves Saint Laurent, jackets, caftans, handbags and other accessories are on sale and they tell both the story of the star and also the changes in fashion during her eventful career.
The dress Taylor wore to her first marriage is predicted to go for between $40,000 and $60,000.
"It is by far the greatest jewelry collection to be offered in a century," said Marc Porter, chairman of Christie's Americas. "There is such a depth of quality."
The actress, who died in March at the age of 79, had seven husbands during her glamorous life, countless admirers and a passion for jewelry.
The exhibition at Christie's auction house in Manhattan is the last stop on a world tour highlighting Taylor's treasures and the first and last time that the entire collection is gathered in one place.
Thousands of people have already bought tickets to the 10-day public viewing, starting Saturday.
The auction will then run from December 13-16, offering pieces like the 33.19 carat "Elizabeth Taylor Diamond" given to her by husband Richard Burton in 1968, and estimated to sell for between $2.5 million and $3.5 million dollars.
Running concurrently with the live auction at Christie's will be an Internet-only sale of nearly 1,000 items such as jewelry and accessories like designer handbags. Christie's estimates total sales of between $30 million and $50 million.
Another gift from Burton was the famous "La Peregrina" pearl from the 16th century and once adorning several queens of Austria, England and Spain. It is estimated at $2 million to $3 million.
Hundreds of haute couture dresses from Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Valentino, Versace or Yves Saint Laurent, jackets, caftans, handbags and other accessories are on sale and they tell both the story of the star and also the changes in fashion during her eventful career.
The dress Taylor wore to her first marriage is predicted to go for between $40,000 and $60,000.
"It is by far the greatest jewelry collection to be offered in a century," said Marc Porter, chairman of Christie's Americas. "There is such a depth of quality."
Little Prince rising to prominence [watches]
If only Claudio Marchisio's Turinese accent was stronger, it would make the stereotype of 'local lad done good' jump out of the page at you. The Juventus midfielder, though, while retaining several of the peculiar traits of his origin, has matured too steadily on and off the pitch to be cast in the role of someone whose imagination and dreams barely stretched beyond the confines of Chieri, the small town right outside Turin where he was born in January 1986.
As the youngest in a Juventus-supporting family, a young Marchisio would dream of one day donning the famous black-and-white shirt, following in the footsteps of his favourite player, Alessandro Del Piero, whose poster adorned a wall in his bedroom. Along with the rest of his season-ticket holding family, Marchisio was in the uncomfortable, poorly-sighted stands of the now demolished Stadio Delle Alpi on that early December day in 1994 when Del Piero scored one of the most memorable goals in the recent history of Italian football.
By that time, Marchisio was already a member of Juventus' youth system, where he wore the No. 10 shirt as a tribute to Del Piero. His ambition to be like Alex stretched to becoming a striker, but his coaches detected something else: that his strong running, stamina and body type were more conducive to a career in midfield.
Evidence of that came in 1998, when a 12-year-old Marchisio, wearing that No. 10 jersey a couple of sizes too big, galloped from one end of the muddy pitch to the other, exchanged a quick one-two with Paolo De Ceglie and lobbed the goalkeeper with a sweet touch. When later shown footage from that goal (recorded by his father) during a show hosted by Juve's in-house TV channel, Marchisio almost broke down in tears at the thought of having come so far since that day.
Kids scoring wonder goals against overmatched opponents, though, are a dime-a-dozen and it is a testimony to his attitude, determination and work ethic that Marchisio made the transition to professional player and, now, a regular member of the Juventus starting midfield.
His place had been threatened during the summer. As soon as Antonio Conte began installing his system - be it 4-4-2 or 4-2-4 - and Juventus signed Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal (who looked like the ideal central midfield partner for the former Milan passmaster), insiders started wondering what would happen with Marchisio, who had just extended his contract to 2016. They should not have worried.
Marchisio had, after all, been a jack-of-all-trades for Juventus and Italy for a number of years already. His multidimensional skills have worked both for and against him, as coaches felt free to move him around in order to accommodate players with lesser qualities in their own positions.
As an example, during the 2009-10 season, when Ciro Ferrara was in charge, Marchisio played either on the left or on the right of a three-man midfield in a 4-3-1-2, was a nominal left winger several times in a 4-4-2 and also partnered Felipe Melo in central midfield in the same formation.
Marcello Lippi used him in left midfield in the only two matches Marchisio started in the ill-fated - and badly coached - 2010 World Cup campaign, and when the current season dawned doubts over his best position arose again. "He's a superb central midfielder, and that's where he will play. He can also play wider but only in an emergency. End of the story," was how Conte replied to several questions on the matter, and you could picture the player himself nodding in agreement.
As the youngest in a Juventus-supporting family, a young Marchisio would dream of one day donning the famous black-and-white shirt, following in the footsteps of his favourite player, Alessandro Del Piero, whose poster adorned a wall in his bedroom. Along with the rest of his season-ticket holding family, Marchisio was in the uncomfortable, poorly-sighted stands of the now demolished Stadio Delle Alpi on that early December day in 1994 when Del Piero scored one of the most memorable goals in the recent history of Italian football.
By that time, Marchisio was already a member of Juventus' youth system, where he wore the No. 10 shirt as a tribute to Del Piero. His ambition to be like Alex stretched to becoming a striker, but his coaches detected something else: that his strong running, stamina and body type were more conducive to a career in midfield.
Evidence of that came in 1998, when a 12-year-old Marchisio, wearing that No. 10 jersey a couple of sizes too big, galloped from one end of the muddy pitch to the other, exchanged a quick one-two with Paolo De Ceglie and lobbed the goalkeeper with a sweet touch. When later shown footage from that goal (recorded by his father) during a show hosted by Juve's in-house TV channel, Marchisio almost broke down in tears at the thought of having come so far since that day.
Kids scoring wonder goals against overmatched opponents, though, are a dime-a-dozen and it is a testimony to his attitude, determination and work ethic that Marchisio made the transition to professional player and, now, a regular member of the Juventus starting midfield.
His place had been threatened during the summer. As soon as Antonio Conte began installing his system - be it 4-4-2 or 4-2-4 - and Juventus signed Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal (who looked like the ideal central midfield partner for the former Milan passmaster), insiders started wondering what would happen with Marchisio, who had just extended his contract to 2016. They should not have worried.
Marchisio had, after all, been a jack-of-all-trades for Juventus and Italy for a number of years already. His multidimensional skills have worked both for and against him, as coaches felt free to move him around in order to accommodate players with lesser qualities in their own positions.
As an example, during the 2009-10 season, when Ciro Ferrara was in charge, Marchisio played either on the left or on the right of a three-man midfield in a 4-3-1-2, was a nominal left winger several times in a 4-4-2 and also partnered Felipe Melo in central midfield in the same formation.
Marcello Lippi used him in left midfield in the only two matches Marchisio started in the ill-fated - and badly coached - 2010 World Cup campaign, and when the current season dawned doubts over his best position arose again. "He's a superb central midfielder, and that's where he will play. He can also play wider but only in an emergency. End of the story," was how Conte replied to several questions on the matter, and you could picture the player himself nodding in agreement.
Interview: Fiona Fraser, designer, director and farmer [watches]
WHEN she's not hanging out in Manhattan's upmarket stores promoting her new luxury Scottish goods brand, Fraser Balgowan, Fiona Fraser is likely to be tussling with a tup on the Highland farm she works with her husband Ewan.
A third generation deer stalker and farmer, he has a flock of black-faced sheep that make the couple's working lives a 24-hour affair and with Ewan out stalking six months of the year, Fiona is a hands-on farmer too, as well as being managing director and design director of Fraser Balgowan.
Launched this summer and billed as "Scotland's newest luxury brand", the company sells bags and hampers and aims to reflect a Highland way of life and the quality products and skills available. Bestsellers include a deerskin bag and iPod cover and the buzzwords are "heritage, craftsmanship, authenticity and luxury".
"We are working with very high quality and traditional materials. Also, we have ethics and are passionate about where our materials come from. What makes what we do special is the story behind it. We always wanted to create a luxury brand that reflects the lifestyle, traditions and heritage of where we live. It's a way of life for us. We don't stop at 5pm," says Fraser.
Hailing from Perthshire, Fraser, 36, met her husband Ewan, 45, when she moved to Laggan to work with Highland Council and kept a horse on his field.
"He used to help at the livery stable from time to time," she says, "and the rest is history."
The horse is history now too (although he's gone to a happy home) as Fraser's commitment to her new business meant devoting herself to it 24/7.
"It's been very busy. I have just come back from a week in New York where Saks Fifth Avenue invited me to an event and included our luxury men's hamper in their display. I was promoting our new Heritage Collection and met with Saks buyers and Brooks Brothers too and they have asked me to submit designs to be considered for their next autumn winter collection," she says.
"Saks have started their own private label men's collection so it's with a view to our designs becoming part of that but we are very keen it's co-branded as we want to build up our own name. Our new Heritage Collection is something we hope will sell well internationally with luxury retailers on America's East Coast, and in Russia, China and Europe. We always thought it would be an international business because Ewan has a lot of foreign shooting guests and we've gone down well with them."
After identifying a gap in the market for quality souvenirs, the company uses textiles bearing the best Scottish names, such as Johnston's of Elgin, Begg's of Ayr, Lovat Mill, Shorts, and also Todd & Duncan, of Hawick. These mills also produce materials for Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren. Hides from Laggan are among the deerskin used to make the bags, along with tweed from the Borders and produce grown locally. The hampers are even packed with surplus sheepskin from the Fraser farm.
"If we can keep the business in Scotland and achieve a fair price for the farmers, weavers and tanners, that's great. At the same time we're showing how beautiful the Highlands are," says Fraser.
"A lot of those materials are in danger of going to waste because they're not that marketable. I couldn't bear that. It's hugely important we do this right and have integrity. We're not just doing it to make money. It's more important than that. It's to preserve a way of life and skills."
At present, the Frasers are happy to plough all profits back into the business and have invested a significant amount of their own money.
Working for Highland Council, Fraser's experience is in rural development and community support so she knew the area well before joining Ewan on the farm. "I was involved in the Cairngorms National Park and parliamentary inquiries and everything from Rock Ness to the Glen Doe renewable energy project. This job is a culmination of everything I have done before; marketing, business development and strategy, enterprise and planning. But I wasn't a farmer's wife so it was quite a learning curve!"
Throw in sheep dipping and being chief cook and bottle washer on a Highland farm and you can see why Fraser enjoys the occasional jaunt over the pond.
"New York is a complete contrast to life here. It takes me a week to come back down to earth. But Laggan is beautiful and that's why people have a real fascination with the landscape. It evokes something romantic for them."
A third generation deer stalker and farmer, he has a flock of black-faced sheep that make the couple's working lives a 24-hour affair and with Ewan out stalking six months of the year, Fiona is a hands-on farmer too, as well as being managing director and design director of Fraser Balgowan.
Launched this summer and billed as "Scotland's newest luxury brand", the company sells bags and hampers and aims to reflect a Highland way of life and the quality products and skills available. Bestsellers include a deerskin bag and iPod cover and the buzzwords are "heritage, craftsmanship, authenticity and luxury".
"We are working with very high quality and traditional materials. Also, we have ethics and are passionate about where our materials come from. What makes what we do special is the story behind it. We always wanted to create a luxury brand that reflects the lifestyle, traditions and heritage of where we live. It's a way of life for us. We don't stop at 5pm," says Fraser.
Hailing from Perthshire, Fraser, 36, met her husband Ewan, 45, when she moved to Laggan to work with Highland Council and kept a horse on his field.
"He used to help at the livery stable from time to time," she says, "and the rest is history."
The horse is history now too (although he's gone to a happy home) as Fraser's commitment to her new business meant devoting herself to it 24/7.
"It's been very busy. I have just come back from a week in New York where Saks Fifth Avenue invited me to an event and included our luxury men's hamper in their display. I was promoting our new Heritage Collection and met with Saks buyers and Brooks Brothers too and they have asked me to submit designs to be considered for their next autumn winter collection," she says.
"Saks have started their own private label men's collection so it's with a view to our designs becoming part of that but we are very keen it's co-branded as we want to build up our own name. Our new Heritage Collection is something we hope will sell well internationally with luxury retailers on America's East Coast, and in Russia, China and Europe. We always thought it would be an international business because Ewan has a lot of foreign shooting guests and we've gone down well with them."
After identifying a gap in the market for quality souvenirs, the company uses textiles bearing the best Scottish names, such as Johnston's of Elgin, Begg's of Ayr, Lovat Mill, Shorts, and also Todd & Duncan, of Hawick. These mills also produce materials for Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren. Hides from Laggan are among the deerskin used to make the bags, along with tweed from the Borders and produce grown locally. The hampers are even packed with surplus sheepskin from the Fraser farm.
"If we can keep the business in Scotland and achieve a fair price for the farmers, weavers and tanners, that's great. At the same time we're showing how beautiful the Highlands are," says Fraser.
"A lot of those materials are in danger of going to waste because they're not that marketable. I couldn't bear that. It's hugely important we do this right and have integrity. We're not just doing it to make money. It's more important than that. It's to preserve a way of life and skills."
At present, the Frasers are happy to plough all profits back into the business and have invested a significant amount of their own money.
Working for Highland Council, Fraser's experience is in rural development and community support so she knew the area well before joining Ewan on the farm. "I was involved in the Cairngorms National Park and parliamentary inquiries and everything from Rock Ness to the Glen Doe renewable energy project. This job is a culmination of everything I have done before; marketing, business development and strategy, enterprise and planning. But I wasn't a farmer's wife so it was quite a learning curve!"
Throw in sheep dipping and being chief cook and bottle washer on a Highland farm and you can see why Fraser enjoys the occasional jaunt over the pond.
"New York is a complete contrast to life here. It takes me a week to come back down to earth. But Laggan is beautiful and that's why people have a real fascination with the landscape. It evokes something romantic for them."
Exotic Leather's Enduring Charm [watches]
If diamonds are forever, a crocodile handbag is for a lifetime, at least.
This month, a rainbow of Birkin, Kelly and Constance handbags go under the hammer at one of Christie's regular auctions of vintage Hermès where, at previous sales, winning bids have approached 50,000, or $80,000, for designs in rare exotic skins: crocodile, alligator, python, ostrich and lizard.
"You might assess exotic leathers in the same way as fine jewelry, where the precious nature of the raw materials and skilled handcraftsmanship give the piece an intrinsic value independent of trends," said Simon Longland, fashion accessories general merchandise manager at Harrods.
Despite the economic downturn, and with prices that can soar over $30,000 for a crocodile handbag, Harrods has seen a year-on-year increase in sales in this department, Mr. Longland said.
Besides housing concessions of the major brands — Hermès, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo and Gucci — Harrods buys collections from independent specialists like Lana Marks, Nancy Gonzalez and Zagliani.
Last year, Zagliani opened its first boutique on Sloane Street in London to cope with demand for its soft, pleated designs that this season will come in newly developed finishes including rubberized crocodile and hand-printed, serigraphed python.
Harrods's current top seller is a Nancy Gonzalez crocodile clutch, available in a myriad of colors for 995, or $1,600 — "very good value," Mr. Longland said.
The niche brands appeal to connoisseurs looking for unique design and willing to pay for the quality of the skins, he added.
Harrods has been steadily expanding its offering in exotics. In 2009 they became the exclusive retailer of Analeena, an accessories line designed by a former buyer for Hermès, Lina Hamed. This month they will introduce Ethan K, a collection of crocodilian clutch bags by Ethan Koh, 24, a fourth-generation exotics artisan from Singapore and a recent London College of Fashion graduate.
Ms. Hamed sources the "grade one" crocodile crusts (the term used for untreated crocodilian skins) for her Analeena accessories from Hermès, which owns two of the five major exotics tanneries, as well as their own crocodile farms in Australia.
She takes care of the dyeing and finishing of the crusts herself — a do-it-yourself response to the difficulties of obtaining the color and size of skins that she requires.
"I mix and match colors I bought at Homebase, paint them on paper and send those to my tannery," said Ms. Hamed. The sherbet-hued skins are then sent to ateliers in Florence to be made into shoppers, clutches and totes featuring palladium or rose gold hardware, that will said for 4,000 to 10,000.
"People that already have the Hermès bag that costs 36,000 come to me and might end up buying three bags in different color combinations," Ms. Hamed said, adding that one client has at least 20 of her signature geometric clutches. In total she sells about 200 crocodile bags a year.
Introducing Analeena during the recession was not the biggest challenge for Ms. Hamed. Despite a good relationship with Hermès, obtaining the skins proved most difficult.
In 2009, farmers of Crocodylus niloticus and Alligator mississippiensis stopped collecting eggs to avoid a predicted oversupply of skins to a luxury market suffering under financial crisis, C.T. Koh, father of Ethan Koh, wrote in a recent e-mail.
Mr. Koh is the owner of Singapore-based Heng Long International, a company founded by his grandfather in the early 1950s and generally recognized as one of the top-five crocodile skin tanneries in the world. Last month, LVMH paid $123.9 million for a controlling share in the family-run company.
In 2010, that market experienced a quick recovery, and suddenly orders for goods including high-end watches (and their crocodile straps), handbags and other accessories increased. "Skins were in strong demand again, resulting in pressure and price increases of 20 to 40 percent, depending on the species," Mr. Koh said.
This month, a rainbow of Birkin, Kelly and Constance handbags go under the hammer at one of Christie's regular auctions of vintage Hermès where, at previous sales, winning bids have approached 50,000, or $80,000, for designs in rare exotic skins: crocodile, alligator, python, ostrich and lizard.
"You might assess exotic leathers in the same way as fine jewelry, where the precious nature of the raw materials and skilled handcraftsmanship give the piece an intrinsic value independent of trends," said Simon Longland, fashion accessories general merchandise manager at Harrods.
Despite the economic downturn, and with prices that can soar over $30,000 for a crocodile handbag, Harrods has seen a year-on-year increase in sales in this department, Mr. Longland said.
Besides housing concessions of the major brands — Hermès, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo and Gucci — Harrods buys collections from independent specialists like Lana Marks, Nancy Gonzalez and Zagliani.
Last year, Zagliani opened its first boutique on Sloane Street in London to cope with demand for its soft, pleated designs that this season will come in newly developed finishes including rubberized crocodile and hand-printed, serigraphed python.
Harrods's current top seller is a Nancy Gonzalez crocodile clutch, available in a myriad of colors for 995, or $1,600 — "very good value," Mr. Longland said.
The niche brands appeal to connoisseurs looking for unique design and willing to pay for the quality of the skins, he added.
Harrods has been steadily expanding its offering in exotics. In 2009 they became the exclusive retailer of Analeena, an accessories line designed by a former buyer for Hermès, Lina Hamed. This month they will introduce Ethan K, a collection of crocodilian clutch bags by Ethan Koh, 24, a fourth-generation exotics artisan from Singapore and a recent London College of Fashion graduate.
Ms. Hamed sources the "grade one" crocodile crusts (the term used for untreated crocodilian skins) for her Analeena accessories from Hermès, which owns two of the five major exotics tanneries, as well as their own crocodile farms in Australia.
She takes care of the dyeing and finishing of the crusts herself — a do-it-yourself response to the difficulties of obtaining the color and size of skins that she requires.
"I mix and match colors I bought at Homebase, paint them on paper and send those to my tannery," said Ms. Hamed. The sherbet-hued skins are then sent to ateliers in Florence to be made into shoppers, clutches and totes featuring palladium or rose gold hardware, that will said for 4,000 to 10,000.
"People that already have the Hermès bag that costs 36,000 come to me and might end up buying three bags in different color combinations," Ms. Hamed said, adding that one client has at least 20 of her signature geometric clutches. In total she sells about 200 crocodile bags a year.
Introducing Analeena during the recession was not the biggest challenge for Ms. Hamed. Despite a good relationship with Hermès, obtaining the skins proved most difficult.
In 2009, farmers of Crocodylus niloticus and Alligator mississippiensis stopped collecting eggs to avoid a predicted oversupply of skins to a luxury market suffering under financial crisis, C.T. Koh, father of Ethan Koh, wrote in a recent e-mail.
Mr. Koh is the owner of Singapore-based Heng Long International, a company founded by his grandfather in the early 1950s and generally recognized as one of the top-five crocodile skin tanneries in the world. Last month, LVMH paid $123.9 million for a controlling share in the family-run company.
In 2010, that market experienced a quick recovery, and suddenly orders for goods including high-end watches (and their crocodile straps), handbags and other accessories increased. "Skins were in strong demand again, resulting in pressure and price increases of 20 to 40 percent, depending on the species," Mr. Koh said.
Gangsta grandma on the subway, loco at the White House [watches]
Caroline Regidor writes: ”I'm packing lead in here,” the elderly woman said to the younger one, her face set in a snarl. Gangsta grandma rummaged through her handbag as if she were looking for a gun. She had plopped down next to me. I couldn't help myself. Curiouser and curiouser, I peered down. All I could see were tissues stuffed into a side pocket. She didn't unzip the main section of her bag all the way. She may have been bluffing. But then again …
The younger woman was unperturbed. “I'm gonna respect you ‘cos you old,” she said from across the aisle. “But next time you better watch where you're going. And you'd better watch where I'm going too.”
I kept looking at the woman's bag, which she held tightly on her lap. She continued to hold her palm open over one lumpy section of it, as if she were indeed making sure she knew the exact location of her gun. Judging from the creases on her face, she was at least sixty. A fashionable one at that, with chunky gold earrings, shades, skinny jeans and ankle boots. The other woman was dressed in the same way. They could've been mother and daughter.
Our fellow passengers ignored the conversation as if it were white noise. Not knowing what to do, I tried to appeal to the passenger sitting across from me, communicating silently, now what? Do I get up from my seat so I'm not in the line of fire? Pretend like nothing's happening, like everyone else? He was sitting next to the younger woman so was in a similarly precarious situation. Unlike me, he was nonchalant. Just another day on the subway.
I chose herd mentality over panic. I tried to relax and decided to stare at the map overhead, a line of dots showing the stops of the 2 train line. I consciously avoided the shaded eyes of both women, struck by the irrational fear that they might collectively direct their anger at me. Images of the two women whipping out guns out of their streetwear handbags and shooting me, execution style, flitted in and out of my mind. Alert and observant, I realised I was the lone Asian in the carriage until the train arrived at Wall Street, when finance workers embarked. That fact probably made me stand out as a target for at least five minutes. Yikes.
I was jumpier than normal because only the day before, on my way home from the supermarket, I walked past a couple of kids who, from a distance, appeared to be goofing around. Then one drew a sharpened wooden stake up against the other's neck. Where did that come from? I thought. That boy must have brought that weapon with him. It's premeditated. They're not just two hyperactive kids jostling each other. I passed them hurriedly, not wanting to interfere and risk having that stake pointed in my direction.
These random acts of violence in fact happened about two weeks ago. Since then, I've had to pack up my place in Brooklyn (the sublease expired), spent a week in Washington DC and moved into my new place in the Upper East Side. Yes, the two events contributed to my decision to move to a safer neighbourhood in Manhattan. Also the apartments in the hip areas in Brooklyn are ridiculously overpriced, and I have to go to Brooklyn for work anyway, so can still hang with my new friends there. So why not live in a nabe where it's overpriced for reasons more substantial and diverse than proximity to awesome bars?
On more current events, the number one news item lately is the tattooed and seemingly mentally unstable Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez. He's suspected of shooting at the White House last week, using an AK-47.
As I said, we just visited DC last week. My husband and I caught up with our buddy Rich, a DC local and ex-military guy. We also made friends with an Air Force veteran who now works at the Pentagon. (We met him and his wife at a bar in the Willard Hotel, a stone's throw away from the White House. Interesting side note: lobbyists used to meet with government higher-ups in the hotel's lobby, to do their wheeling and dealing, and Washingtonians believe this is how the term lobbyist was coined.)
Our friends' combined knowledge on the security detail around government buildings is impressive. Besides which, I saw firsthand how the Secret Service make their presence felt around the White House grounds. There's nothing secret about it. Only crazies would try anything stupid.
So. Whether you're in the high-security surrounds of the White House or on the New York subway or above ground on the gritty streets, the threat of violence is real and imminent in the US. There's nowhere to hide.
Suddenly, to me, Australia, with its less liberal gun laws, seems the more attractive country to live in. Of course, it doesn't have the Guggenheim where I saw what I thought was the most original jazz/dance/boxing production last Sunday, nor will my husband run into Matthew Broderick while getting a coffee in Sydney, or see Samuel L Jackson on stage; not to mention experiences like a real autumn when the trees display the boldest shades of burnt oranges and reds, and Salvation Army workers dancing to Feliz Navidad on the footpaths (with bells on!).
The younger woman was unperturbed. “I'm gonna respect you ‘cos you old,” she said from across the aisle. “But next time you better watch where you're going. And you'd better watch where I'm going too.”
I kept looking at the woman's bag, which she held tightly on her lap. She continued to hold her palm open over one lumpy section of it, as if she were indeed making sure she knew the exact location of her gun. Judging from the creases on her face, she was at least sixty. A fashionable one at that, with chunky gold earrings, shades, skinny jeans and ankle boots. The other woman was dressed in the same way. They could've been mother and daughter.
Our fellow passengers ignored the conversation as if it were white noise. Not knowing what to do, I tried to appeal to the passenger sitting across from me, communicating silently, now what? Do I get up from my seat so I'm not in the line of fire? Pretend like nothing's happening, like everyone else? He was sitting next to the younger woman so was in a similarly precarious situation. Unlike me, he was nonchalant. Just another day on the subway.
I chose herd mentality over panic. I tried to relax and decided to stare at the map overhead, a line of dots showing the stops of the 2 train line. I consciously avoided the shaded eyes of both women, struck by the irrational fear that they might collectively direct their anger at me. Images of the two women whipping out guns out of their streetwear handbags and shooting me, execution style, flitted in and out of my mind. Alert and observant, I realised I was the lone Asian in the carriage until the train arrived at Wall Street, when finance workers embarked. That fact probably made me stand out as a target for at least five minutes. Yikes.
I was jumpier than normal because only the day before, on my way home from the supermarket, I walked past a couple of kids who, from a distance, appeared to be goofing around. Then one drew a sharpened wooden stake up against the other's neck. Where did that come from? I thought. That boy must have brought that weapon with him. It's premeditated. They're not just two hyperactive kids jostling each other. I passed them hurriedly, not wanting to interfere and risk having that stake pointed in my direction.
These random acts of violence in fact happened about two weeks ago. Since then, I've had to pack up my place in Brooklyn (the sublease expired), spent a week in Washington DC and moved into my new place in the Upper East Side. Yes, the two events contributed to my decision to move to a safer neighbourhood in Manhattan. Also the apartments in the hip areas in Brooklyn are ridiculously overpriced, and I have to go to Brooklyn for work anyway, so can still hang with my new friends there. So why not live in a nabe where it's overpriced for reasons more substantial and diverse than proximity to awesome bars?
On more current events, the number one news item lately is the tattooed and seemingly mentally unstable Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez. He's suspected of shooting at the White House last week, using an AK-47.
As I said, we just visited DC last week. My husband and I caught up with our buddy Rich, a DC local and ex-military guy. We also made friends with an Air Force veteran who now works at the Pentagon. (We met him and his wife at a bar in the Willard Hotel, a stone's throw away from the White House. Interesting side note: lobbyists used to meet with government higher-ups in the hotel's lobby, to do their wheeling and dealing, and Washingtonians believe this is how the term lobbyist was coined.)
Our friends' combined knowledge on the security detail around government buildings is impressive. Besides which, I saw firsthand how the Secret Service make their presence felt around the White House grounds. There's nothing secret about it. Only crazies would try anything stupid.
So. Whether you're in the high-security surrounds of the White House or on the New York subway or above ground on the gritty streets, the threat of violence is real and imminent in the US. There's nowhere to hide.
Suddenly, to me, Australia, with its less liberal gun laws, seems the more attractive country to live in. Of course, it doesn't have the Guggenheim where I saw what I thought was the most original jazz/dance/boxing production last Sunday, nor will my husband run into Matthew Broderick while getting a coffee in Sydney, or see Samuel L Jackson on stage; not to mention experiences like a real autumn when the trees display the boldest shades of burnt oranges and reds, and Salvation Army workers dancing to Feliz Navidad on the footpaths (with bells on!).
Kinsley hold narrow lead in Bags Championship [watches]
KINSLEY will take a small but precious lead to Sheffield on Thursday following a first leg home success in the Northern section of the Bags Track Championship on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts recorded one win and three second places in their total of 36 points and are just three points ahead of Newcastle with Belle Vue just one point further behind.
Andrew Mascarenhas, joint Racing Manager at Kinslery said "You can't be unhappy when leading after the first leg but we feel one more win would have been a fair reflection for us on the scoreboard. We may struggle at Sheffield on Thursday but cando well at tighter tracks Belle Vue and Sunderland".
The opening heat (Sprint) was settled in the blink of an eye when Newcastle's Torch (4-1) pinged the lids to bag a quick ten points for the Geordies.
Michael Walsh'spup had to fend off a persistent challenge from the home team's Boherna Mac but was always holding that rival at arm's length to score by a length and-a-half in 16.20sec.
Amazingly the second leg, the 462m Standard, produced an identical team result as the first race with Jimmy Fenwick taking the honours for Newcastle via Skywalker Sally (11-4).
The winner, who led from the third bend and clocked 27.92sec , was chased home by representatives from Kinsley and Nottingham with Sunderland, Sheffield and Belle Vue finishing fourth, fifth and sixth again.
The hosts recorded their first ten-pointer in the Dogs contest when Richard Thomas's well-supported Bransa Steal (Evens) took full advantage of a dream run up the fence to surge past Nottingham's Firecracker Jack and then hold the late run of Belle Vue's Devious Rumble.
This result saw Kinsley hit the front on the scoreboard as Newcastle's Tenacious Ted could only finish sixth.
There was a massive gamble on Elaine Parker's Demesne Loopy for the Bitches contest but the Sheffield raider swung off badly at the first bend and ended up on the floor along with the unfortunate Elwick Niki (Sunderland).
The race was won by Kathryn Harris's Springvale Mabel (Belle Vue) who made all in a time of 27.82sec. And the Manchester outfit were quick to strike again when Beverley Heaton's Dacent Acorn (5-1) ran on well to catch Newcastle's Annamore Richy close home in the Puppy contestat 4.46.
The Stayers race that concluded the leg went to Sheffield's Archielonglegs (4-5F) who landed a wholesale gamble to make all of the running. Lisa Stephenson's railer, who was put forward by Pricewise at morning odds of 7-2, doubled Sheffield's score as the South Yorkshire raiders had only taken ten points from the first five events.
The hosts recorded one win and three second places in their total of 36 points and are just three points ahead of Newcastle with Belle Vue just one point further behind.
Andrew Mascarenhas, joint Racing Manager at Kinslery said "You can't be unhappy when leading after the first leg but we feel one more win would have been a fair reflection for us on the scoreboard. We may struggle at Sheffield on Thursday but cando well at tighter tracks Belle Vue and Sunderland".
The opening heat (Sprint) was settled in the blink of an eye when Newcastle's Torch (4-1) pinged the lids to bag a quick ten points for the Geordies.
Michael Walsh'spup had to fend off a persistent challenge from the home team's Boherna Mac but was always holding that rival at arm's length to score by a length and-a-half in 16.20sec.
Amazingly the second leg, the 462m Standard, produced an identical team result as the first race with Jimmy Fenwick taking the honours for Newcastle via Skywalker Sally (11-4).
The winner, who led from the third bend and clocked 27.92sec , was chased home by representatives from Kinsley and Nottingham with Sunderland, Sheffield and Belle Vue finishing fourth, fifth and sixth again.
The hosts recorded their first ten-pointer in the Dogs contest when Richard Thomas's well-supported Bransa Steal (Evens) took full advantage of a dream run up the fence to surge past Nottingham's Firecracker Jack and then hold the late run of Belle Vue's Devious Rumble.
This result saw Kinsley hit the front on the scoreboard as Newcastle's Tenacious Ted could only finish sixth.
There was a massive gamble on Elaine Parker's Demesne Loopy for the Bitches contest but the Sheffield raider swung off badly at the first bend and ended up on the floor along with the unfortunate Elwick Niki (Sunderland).
The race was won by Kathryn Harris's Springvale Mabel (Belle Vue) who made all in a time of 27.82sec. And the Manchester outfit were quick to strike again when Beverley Heaton's Dacent Acorn (5-1) ran on well to catch Newcastle's Annamore Richy close home in the Puppy contestat 4.46.
The Stayers race that concluded the leg went to Sheffield's Archielonglegs (4-5F) who landed a wholesale gamble to make all of the running. Lisa Stephenson's railer, who was put forward by Pricewise at morning odds of 7-2, doubled Sheffield's score as the South Yorkshire raiders had only taken ten points from the first five events.
Josh Pastner loosens his grip to raise Memphis' profile [watches]
MEMPHIS – Josh Pastner used to believe that as a coach he had to control every possession of a basketball game for his team to win.
"I didn't let players make plays," the third-year Memphis coach recalls of his first coaching gig.
That first job came when he was 17 and his father, Hal, let him coach while playing for his Houston Hoops youth team. Pastner also coached younger sister Courtney's team and says his controlling ways led to an early exit from a national Amateur Athletic Union tournament.
The experience eventually led to a blueprint for Pastner's approach to coaching: He doesn't want to micromanage.
"Basketball players are like painters," Pastner, 34, says. "You need to allow them to have creativity."
Pastner has been highly regarded as a recruiter since his mid-20s while an assistant at Arizona. He built this team, ranked ninth, from scratch. He had to do that after coach John Calipari departed for Kentucky in spring 2009 and had many recruits follow him. Pastner, an assistant to Calipari for a season, had his bags packed for Kentucky, too, until Memphis athletics director R.C. Johnson offered him the job.
Recruiting is every coach's most vital lifeline and, as of Tuesday afternoon, Memphis had commitments from 6-8 forward William Goodwin of Decatur, Ga., and Damien Wilson of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. The early national signing period begins Wednesday.
In fall 2009 Pastner signed the nation's second-best recruiting class. Last season five of his recruits were part of an eight-player rotation that went from losing three of four games near the end of the season to winning the Conference USA tournament. The Tigers earned an automatic NCAA tournament berth and lost to Pastner's alma mater, Arizona, 77-75 in the first round. Memphis finished 25-10. After enduring public criticism during the slump, Pastner ultimately gained respect.
"The only thing I think I did well, even in tough stretches, was I made sure we stayed positive," he says. "I wanted them to know there is belief, hope, optimism and a lot to look forward to."
Pastner takes optimism to new heights. No matter the circumstance, he is upbeat. He abstains from alcoholic beverages, soda and doesn't curse. He passes up local paid endorsement opportunities to focus on coaching but does public service announcements and speaking engagements for various causes. He will raise his voice in practice but would rather not yell. If he shouts, it's often followed by an apology.
"If you need to be screamed at, you probably shouldn't come to Memphis," Pastner says.
In the cynical world of college sports, it begs the question if it's some kind of front. It seems too good to be true.
Jim Rosborough, a former associate head coach at Arizona who coached Pastner and worked with him, says he and other Arizona coaches once asked each other that question as they, too, initially were overwhelmed by his cheerfulness. "It's for real," Rosborough says.
Yet Pastner still is demanding of his players. He doesn't hesitate to bench players who are late for shootarounds, miss study halls or ignore instruction.
"Coach Pastner is random," says sophomore forward Tarik Black, who averaged 9.1 points last season. "You have to stay on top of what you're doing. The time you think you're slipping by, that's the time he's going to pop up."
Black recalls that after a couple of losses last season, Pastner wanted to shed the team's negative vibe. "We had to do 150 high-fives during a practice. He made (point guard) Joe Jackson personally do 200 high-fives or pats, something to encourage guys. It worked though. You do something for so long it becomes a habit."
At his core, Pastner remains a shrewd recruiter. "He's a bloodhound," Jackson, the team's second-leading scorer last season (9.9 average), said of his perception that Pastner never lets up on a recruit.
When the NCAA allows coaches to make in-home visits, Pastner will get to a recruit first by scheduling his visit just after midnight, as he did with McDonald's All-American Adonis Thomas, now a Memphis freshman.
Elite prospects often weigh a coach's potential to get them to the NBA when picking a school, and Pastner has connections. Assistant Jack Murphy worked for the Denver Nuggets, and assistant Damon Stoudamire played 13 NBA seasons. This fall Pastner hired Los Angeles Laker Luke Walton as an assistant during the league lockout.
"I think of it as outside the box and unconventional," Pastner says of hiring Walton, who will leave once the lockout is over. "Sometimes to build you have to take a calculated risk. Rewards outweigh the risk."
"I didn't let players make plays," the third-year Memphis coach recalls of his first coaching gig.
That first job came when he was 17 and his father, Hal, let him coach while playing for his Houston Hoops youth team. Pastner also coached younger sister Courtney's team and says his controlling ways led to an early exit from a national Amateur Athletic Union tournament.
The experience eventually led to a blueprint for Pastner's approach to coaching: He doesn't want to micromanage.
"Basketball players are like painters," Pastner, 34, says. "You need to allow them to have creativity."
Pastner has been highly regarded as a recruiter since his mid-20s while an assistant at Arizona. He built this team, ranked ninth, from scratch. He had to do that after coach John Calipari departed for Kentucky in spring 2009 and had many recruits follow him. Pastner, an assistant to Calipari for a season, had his bags packed for Kentucky, too, until Memphis athletics director R.C. Johnson offered him the job.
Recruiting is every coach's most vital lifeline and, as of Tuesday afternoon, Memphis had commitments from 6-8 forward William Goodwin of Decatur, Ga., and Damien Wilson of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. The early national signing period begins Wednesday.
In fall 2009 Pastner signed the nation's second-best recruiting class. Last season five of his recruits were part of an eight-player rotation that went from losing three of four games near the end of the season to winning the Conference USA tournament. The Tigers earned an automatic NCAA tournament berth and lost to Pastner's alma mater, Arizona, 77-75 in the first round. Memphis finished 25-10. After enduring public criticism during the slump, Pastner ultimately gained respect.
"The only thing I think I did well, even in tough stretches, was I made sure we stayed positive," he says. "I wanted them to know there is belief, hope, optimism and a lot to look forward to."
Pastner takes optimism to new heights. No matter the circumstance, he is upbeat. He abstains from alcoholic beverages, soda and doesn't curse. He passes up local paid endorsement opportunities to focus on coaching but does public service announcements and speaking engagements for various causes. He will raise his voice in practice but would rather not yell. If he shouts, it's often followed by an apology.
"If you need to be screamed at, you probably shouldn't come to Memphis," Pastner says.
In the cynical world of college sports, it begs the question if it's some kind of front. It seems too good to be true.
Jim Rosborough, a former associate head coach at Arizona who coached Pastner and worked with him, says he and other Arizona coaches once asked each other that question as they, too, initially were overwhelmed by his cheerfulness. "It's for real," Rosborough says.
Yet Pastner still is demanding of his players. He doesn't hesitate to bench players who are late for shootarounds, miss study halls or ignore instruction.
"Coach Pastner is random," says sophomore forward Tarik Black, who averaged 9.1 points last season. "You have to stay on top of what you're doing. The time you think you're slipping by, that's the time he's going to pop up."
Black recalls that after a couple of losses last season, Pastner wanted to shed the team's negative vibe. "We had to do 150 high-fives during a practice. He made (point guard) Joe Jackson personally do 200 high-fives or pats, something to encourage guys. It worked though. You do something for so long it becomes a habit."
At his core, Pastner remains a shrewd recruiter. "He's a bloodhound," Jackson, the team's second-leading scorer last season (9.9 average), said of his perception that Pastner never lets up on a recruit.
When the NCAA allows coaches to make in-home visits, Pastner will get to a recruit first by scheduling his visit just after midnight, as he did with McDonald's All-American Adonis Thomas, now a Memphis freshman.
Elite prospects often weigh a coach's potential to get them to the NBA when picking a school, and Pastner has connections. Assistant Jack Murphy worked for the Denver Nuggets, and assistant Damon Stoudamire played 13 NBA seasons. This fall Pastner hired Los Angeles Laker Luke Walton as an assistant during the league lockout.
"I think of it as outside the box and unconventional," Pastner says of hiring Walton, who will leave once the lockout is over. "Sometimes to build you have to take a calculated risk. Rewards outweigh the risk."
Arrested teenagers snatch a women’s handbag [watches]
Pattaya-Banglamung police arrested 2 teenagers using a motorbike to snatch a women’s handbag, the police arrested the teenagers in possession of stolen items, they confessed they had done this several times before to make money and to decorate their motorbike to show off to the girls. Their parents were unaware of what was happening.
Pattaya, October 27, 2011 At 12.20 a.m. [PDN]; Pol. Capt. Narongdech Tanapoonsin, Pattaya police was notified by Miss Janpen Phanil age 29 of 26 Soi Suansiam Cross 1 Tambon Kannayao, Amphur Kannayao, Bangkok that while she was riding a motorbike home, in Soi Bongkot central Pattaya Moo 9 Tambon Nong Preu, Amphur Banglamung, Chonburi province her handbag was snatched by two teenagers, the driver and the passenger of the motorbike then escaped with her handbag containing cash and important documents.
Later, the police caught the two teenagers coordinating with Banglamung police to assist in the arrest at Baan Rong Poe , Sukhumvit road, the police followed for 20 minutes before making the arrest. Mr. Big age 15 and Mr. Meud age 15 are studying at a secondary school in Pattaya. The police seized their red and black Honda Wave 125, and also found the light yellow handbag of Miss Janpen (the victim) which had her documents and cash inside. The police took the 2 trouble makers to Muang Pattaya police station to allow Miss Janpen identify them.
Mr. Big confessed that he borrowed his elder sister’s motorbike and stated that in the evening of the same day he had snatched the handbag of a foreign tourist in south Pattaya containing 2,000 THB. He said he used the money to buy goods and decorate the motorbike, later he persuaded Mr. Mued, his close friend, to join him by sitting on the back to snatch womens handbags.He also confessed that he used to snatch and run in an area of Pattaya with his friends several times before of which most of the victims were foreigners and used the money for daily life. Their parents never knew about this. Initially, the police had informed their parents and made accusation of “snatch & run with property” and sent them to be investigated by police and to be prosecuted according to the law.
Pattaya, October 27, 2011 At 12.20 a.m. [PDN]; Pol. Capt. Narongdech Tanapoonsin, Pattaya police was notified by Miss Janpen Phanil age 29 of 26 Soi Suansiam Cross 1 Tambon Kannayao, Amphur Kannayao, Bangkok that while she was riding a motorbike home, in Soi Bongkot central Pattaya Moo 9 Tambon Nong Preu, Amphur Banglamung, Chonburi province her handbag was snatched by two teenagers, the driver and the passenger of the motorbike then escaped with her handbag containing cash and important documents.
Later, the police caught the two teenagers coordinating with Banglamung police to assist in the arrest at Baan Rong Poe , Sukhumvit road, the police followed for 20 minutes before making the arrest. Mr. Big age 15 and Mr. Meud age 15 are studying at a secondary school in Pattaya. The police seized their red and black Honda Wave 125, and also found the light yellow handbag of Miss Janpen (the victim) which had her documents and cash inside. The police took the 2 trouble makers to Muang Pattaya police station to allow Miss Janpen identify them.
Mr. Big confessed that he borrowed his elder sister’s motorbike and stated that in the evening of the same day he had snatched the handbag of a foreign tourist in south Pattaya containing 2,000 THB. He said he used the money to buy goods and decorate the motorbike, later he persuaded Mr. Mued, his close friend, to join him by sitting on the back to snatch womens handbags.He also confessed that he used to snatch and run in an area of Pattaya with his friends several times before of which most of the victims were foreigners and used the money for daily life. Their parents never knew about this. Initially, the police had informed their parents and made accusation of “snatch & run with property” and sent them to be investigated by police and to be prosecuted according to the law.
SWIFTS' PARTY NEST RUFFLES FEATHERS [watches]
RESIDENTS of an exclusive Sydney enclave are up in arms over one of Australia's best known homes, which they claim has become a noisy party pad.
Swifts historic mansion in Darling Point (pictured) is increasingly being used for soirees, from Lady Primrose Potter's 80th birthday party and fashion extravaganzas to magazine launches. Next week there's a Melbourne Cup party for 300 people, where Rolling Stone Keith Richards's daughter Alexandra will be celebrity guest DJ.
The parties, which cost organisers up to $20,000 to hire the mansion, are all part of co-owner Kerry Jones's ambition to ''open up the house'' after it sat idle for generations.
Jones and her brother Shane Moran were given the $50 million-plus home last year by their healthcare magnate parents, Doug and Greta Moran, after years of estrangement and feuding over the family fortune.
Jones said the events were to raise money for charity and said neighbours' complaints were ''churlish''.
Neighbours complain Swifts has become a fully fledged function centre, with a large kitchen installed recently, although Jones said it was merely an upgrade of the existing facilities. Woollahra Municipal Council has not received a development application for a new kitchen, but its director of planning, Allan Coker , is making a site inspection next week.
The only DA submitted by Swifts is for a fair on November 18-20 but the Darling Point Society has lodged an objection.
''We already have Lindesay House not very far away having its own antiques' fair on the same days,'' the society's president, Charlotte Feldman told PS. ''What happens at Lindesay is done in a controlled way because the council restricts what can happen there and how often it can happen. Swifts seems to have no restrictions at all.''
Jones said: ''This is a private residence. If we want to have a party here we can. The money from hiring the house covers the costs associated with putting on these events, with the balance going to charity.''
Swifts historic mansion in Darling Point (pictured) is increasingly being used for soirees, from Lady Primrose Potter's 80th birthday party and fashion extravaganzas to magazine launches. Next week there's a Melbourne Cup party for 300 people, where Rolling Stone Keith Richards's daughter Alexandra will be celebrity guest DJ.
The parties, which cost organisers up to $20,000 to hire the mansion, are all part of co-owner Kerry Jones's ambition to ''open up the house'' after it sat idle for generations.
Jones and her brother Shane Moran were given the $50 million-plus home last year by their healthcare magnate parents, Doug and Greta Moran, after years of estrangement and feuding over the family fortune.
Jones said the events were to raise money for charity and said neighbours' complaints were ''churlish''.
Neighbours complain Swifts has become a fully fledged function centre, with a large kitchen installed recently, although Jones said it was merely an upgrade of the existing facilities. Woollahra Municipal Council has not received a development application for a new kitchen, but its director of planning, Allan Coker , is making a site inspection next week.
The only DA submitted by Swifts is for a fair on November 18-20 but the Darling Point Society has lodged an objection.
''We already have Lindesay House not very far away having its own antiques' fair on the same days,'' the society's president, Charlotte Feldman told PS. ''What happens at Lindesay is done in a controlled way because the council restricts what can happen there and how often it can happen. Swifts seems to have no restrictions at all.''
Jones said: ''This is a private residence. If we want to have a party here we can. The money from hiring the house covers the costs associated with putting on these events, with the balance going to charity.''
Love said there are fashionable men [watches]
Love said there are fashionable men
Love said there are fashionable men in Pittsburgh and that, sometimes, you have to be bold and secure with yourself to wear trendy fashions you see in New York and Los Angeles.
"Sometimes, Pittsburgh gets fashion late, so a guy has to be willing to try something that he might not see other men in Pittsburgh wearing," Love said. "Fashion is like music. I am a DJ, and, if I play a song I heard in LA or New York and people haven't heard it here, they will ask me to change the song. Once the song reaches Pittsburgh, then they will tell me to play it."
One man who is ahead of the fashion curve for men is former University of Pittsburgh basketball star and men's basketball broadcaster Curtis Aiken, who was at the opening night, standing-room-only show Monday and planned to attend Tuesday night's event.
"I love fashion, and it is becoming a passion of mine," Aiken said. "I admire people who respect fashion. It felt like New York in that tent (Monday night). It was a beautiful and fashionable night. I work Downtown, and I see a lot of great fashion."
Aiken says Pittsburgh Fashion Week is opening some eyes in Pittsburgh to fashion, and that having a men's-only show is wonderful.
"Women, of course, are ahead of the curve when it comes to fashion," Aiken said. "Women have always been the ones to introduce fashion to their husbands and boyfriends and brothers, but we are going to sneak up on the women, because there are so many great fashions for men. Men just have to be open-minded to try new things."
Models and twins Brian and Shawn Chrisagis, 43, of Yorkville, Ohio, heard about the show through a talent agency.
"We are thrilled to be here," Brian Chrisagis said. "Men should be more conscious of how they look, even if they are married. We want to look good. It's not about vanity. Our bodies are temples, and we should look good."
Love said there are fashionable men in Pittsburgh and that, sometimes, you have to be bold and secure with yourself to wear trendy fashions you see in New York and Los Angeles.
"Sometimes, Pittsburgh gets fashion late, so a guy has to be willing to try something that he might not see other men in Pittsburgh wearing," Love said. "Fashion is like music. I am a DJ, and, if I play a song I heard in LA or New York and people haven't heard it here, they will ask me to change the song. Once the song reaches Pittsburgh, then they will tell me to play it."
One man who is ahead of the fashion curve for men is former University of Pittsburgh basketball star and men's basketball broadcaster Curtis Aiken, who was at the opening night, standing-room-only show Monday and planned to attend Tuesday night's event.
"I love fashion, and it is becoming a passion of mine," Aiken said. "I admire people who respect fashion. It felt like New York in that tent (Monday night). It was a beautiful and fashionable night. I work Downtown, and I see a lot of great fashion."
Aiken says Pittsburgh Fashion Week is opening some eyes in Pittsburgh to fashion, and that having a men's-only show is wonderful.
"Women, of course, are ahead of the curve when it comes to fashion," Aiken said. "Women have always been the ones to introduce fashion to their husbands and boyfriends and brothers, but we are going to sneak up on the women, because there are so many great fashions for men. Men just have to be open-minded to try new things."
Models and twins Brian and Shawn Chrisagis, 43, of Yorkville, Ohio, heard about the show through a talent agency.
"We are thrilled to be here," Brian Chrisagis said. "Men should be more conscious of how they look, even if they are married. We want to look good. It's not about vanity. Our bodies are temples, and we should look good."
