Lady Gaga Turns Julie Andrews

The Internet is quite obviously abuzz about Lady Gaga's performance at the Oscars last night, but for the first time in a long time, I believe the incessant slap-in-the-face of the same information over and over again from all social media channels is actually warranted for the newly betrothed Gaga. That performance blew the socks off of even the most critical viewer in the room. They could have picked a more obvious professional like Celine Dion or Mariah Carey, but they chose Gaga to pay tribute to Julie Andrews. Her subdued and etherial outfit, hair and makeup truly transported me to a dream wherein JA's vocal chords are in their prime. From the choreographed movement downstage every time a musical adaptation snuck in, to the woodsy atmosphere of the set, I thought this performance was a true homerun. It changed my opinion of LG forever.

My Eyes Are Binge Eating

I often find myself trolling the Internet for inspiration, a cyber muse or some visually intriguing and stimulating platform to draw me in and never let me go. In a reoccurring trend of highlighting digital juggernauts of various crafts, I bring you a man's work that is truly a feast for the eyes.

I first stumbled upon a video he created detailing the contents of his travel bags. That led me to his Tumblr, which led me to his website, then to his Facebook, launched me to his Twitter, on to his Instagram, even to his LinkedIn, and so on and so forth. Sheesh. Before I introduce this photographer, it's interesting to note that artists must maintain so many different platforms in unifying their brand message to reach as many eyeballs and thumbpads as humanly possible.

Similarly, I find that it's a chore for many to keep up with their own social media. I personally enjoy maintaining a multitude of social accounts, but to others, the task is a nuisance. By 2015, I understand the mentality of already wanting to simultaneously chuck everything with a power button. Much like the life of a battery, it's draining to check-in on seven different platforms a day, so we need to recharge. Is it pathetic that we feel exhausted and wiped out after scrolling through a never-ending list of Instagrams? You don't even have to leave bed to do so. What does that mean for the loads and loads and loads of information out there? The content is rapidly advancing and becoming better quality, but we're getting tired of consuming mass quantities of it. I find ways to recharge in a challenging hike, in a good conversation, in a unique glass of Cab Sauv.

This artist recharges while he drains. He's working his ass off, but submersing himself in experiences most don't even come close to touching in a lifetime. If every social media account looked like Chris's, our eyes would want to binge eat every time we opened an app. Chris Burkard, based in Central Coast California, is a self-taught photographer and artist, whose work is layered by surf, outdoor, lifestyle and travel subjects. His clean and crystal clear depictions of nature make you want to pack a bag, book a flight and just go. If only we could all be so lucky.

Of course I'm a fan of cross-platform stalking so, naturally, I now follow Chris on every layer of the digital space and you should too. What I'd give to see what he's seen...

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Follow @mikelawarman

The American Dream, Revisited

Sitting crouched in a ball waving two hands back and forth in front of my crown molding may sound like a night of too much Maker's Mark and too little 2 Bros $1 pizza, but it's really just my first experience with winter. 

I could never remember what it was called until I got a phone call that it burst. My first big girl New York City apartment was ruined.

A radiator. It's called a fu&%*ng radiator.

It's an odd feeling to walk into your cold, soaking wet room covered in unidentified liquids which resemble black soot mixed with God knows what. My precious designer fuzzy slippers which I received on the tenth night of Hanukkah in 2008 just laying there apathetic and black similarly to my landlord's soul. Yes, I know there are only eight nights of Hanukkah, however my family is unconventional and totally rad so we celebrate whenever. Sometimes in June. I digress.

What would now keep my feet warm from New York's harmful polar destruction that is January in the Northeast? This is where the 'odd' rather than 'sad' feeling comes in. True, I'll miss those slippers and I wish my white West Elm drapes weren't now the slight hue of urine-poop. (Is that the new Crayola color I hear? Contact my agent.) But alas, I can now replace those slippers for no other reason than they're ruined! Light bulb. I could cry as I threw away half of my room, or I could think of it as a reinvention of my space. My half-assed decorated room now had a brilliant excuse to receive a makeover.

This is how I choose to look at my first go with winter. I have to cover all of my outfits with the same warm coat every day. I only wear one pair of shoes for fear that I'll step in snow and ruin my latest purchase. I can't get a quick pedicure. And I consistently have little to no feeling in the ear lobe region. But as I sit on the floor wondering why my radiator isn't emitting heat, I'm going to choose positivity. I believe that this is the new American Dream. No, not living in crappy buildings with intermittently functioning heat, but remaining positive, ceasing complaints and working hard until something unexpected and wonderful comes along... like new designer slippers.

Trumaker is Truly Making It

Trumaker has one of those websites you stumble upon and wonder where the men who created this company are and why don't I drink with them on Saturday nights? Sigh. Well, you can refer elsewhere for advice on picking up males, however you can stick around to hear about this up-and-coming service. I digress.In a similar fashion to a young, nameless KITH, I like to highlight brands before they become a household name.

Made-to-fit is exactly what it sounds like. This impeccably styled shirt was customized, made to fit or built to fit your exact body type. No longer are the too short of sleeves or too loose of collars. This brand lives to send you a better way to shop. Sign me up.

First.
You make an appointment, an Outfitter comes to you and in 30 minutes, you're done.
Wait, what just happened? How did you get in my living room? Woahhh...

Second.
A fashionable style-savvy consultant works with you to customize your perfect shirt.

Third.
You interrupt your half-asleep teeth brushing sesh to buzz the delivery guy up and suddenly your weekend is made. So long dreaded mall trips, hello perfect hand-delivered outfit for Friday night.

Click here to learn more.

Construction Complete

After a short hiatus from WEYS, I'm back and ready to share. It has certainly been an interesting and eventful roller coaster following the first five months post college in New York City.

Stay tuned!

You go J.Crew

Love to see stores like J.Crew spice up the denim jacket and sundress adorned mannequins with neon high-top sneaks. 

Love at First Sight: Duane Reade Edition

I can't tell you how many times I've left Sephora feeling like the $100 I just spent on two teeny beauty products could've probably been avoided if I had A) any self control whatsoever, B) a less fervent, fiery, passionate attraction to makeup and C) entered a drugstore. It's unbelievable what I can find when I stalk the shelves of discounted over-the-counter beauty products. I've tried bushels of YSL mascaras, tons of NARS lip glosses and one too many Benefit skin products. Sure, some are great, and I'd love to own them all, but I can say with confidence that some of my must-have items were just under $12. If you want to cut back on the over-priced lip stain you just can't live without, check out your options first.

Maybelline Volum' Express Pumped Up! Colossal Mascara, $7.99

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain, $9.99

CoverGirl + Olay Facelift Effect Firming Makeup, $18.49

Essence Of Beauty Stand-Up Powder Brush Face, $3.15

TumblrMania

Check out my aesthetic.

B&W Inspo

*insert praise tha lawd emoji here*

Isn't it Lovely?

My family informs me that I'll be getting home from Israel and leaving for a family vacation in Newport Beach, CA two days later. Well isn't that fabulous. Naturally, my first inclination is to look up the resort we'll be inhabiting for a week. If I had done this preliminary research a few years ago, I would have typed in www.facebook.com, navigated my mouse to the internal search bar and pressed p-e-l-i-c-a-n h-i-l-l on my keyboard. It would have opened up a decently maintained Facebook page with some reviews and a beautiful, yet slightly pixelated cover photo. Did I do that in present day? No. You might have guessed it, but I went straight for my phone. Straight to Instagram.

It's wild how social media platforms truly change the way we seek and access information. My "sub-generation" of millennials went to Facebook. My sister's friends went to Twitter. Now, all the tweens are goin' to the 'gram. Why is it that they type up notes, screen shot it and post it as a photo to Instagram to incite conversation? Isn't that the complete opposite point of said platform?

It's interesting to question if we encourage cross-platform communication or if it just happens because we need to spread our thoughts. A photo is worth a thousand words, but those words aren't necessarily clear. I invite you to explore all platforms for how they were created. It might just feng shui your social media life.

Drip

@helloooooo

Since the day MySpace infiltrated the Internet, I have been intrigued and engaged in social media. The means of communicating has been completely revolutionized by smart phones, tablets and other electronic devices that have undoubtedly improved and personalized social engagement. Today, the use of social networks in business is imperative to generate conversation and create brand awareness. While it may take some time to see the effects (whether positive or negative) of this digital insurgence, I believe there is no better way to amplify a brand message in a more cost-effective way. Everywhere I look I see a "@" or a "#" and you know what? I like it. I understand it. I'm always around it. It works. Get with it or get lost.

Snap Fo A

Make me LOL

You wouldn't think anything of this Twitter feed from R29 during the Grammy's, but I did. It caught my eye that without glancing at the logo, it looked like one of my friends was composing these tweets. I sat back on the couch and thought, huh. I really like the fact that their feed has news and embedded hyperlinks, but they're bringing casual, humorous content into their social media. Other fabulous social media updaters such as Marie Claire and Giorgio Armani know how to get clicks, but do they know how to keep a loyal following? Bringing sarcasm, wit and humor into a company's social media could be the future. In my opinion, that's what catches someone's eye and keeps their interest. I always use my group of girl friends as a reference base. They like to be entertained by things that truly make them laugh. Kudos, R29. I think this is the way to go.

 

 
 

Perfectly Horrifying.

Less is More?

I think it's interesting that we don't remember many things because we don't think we have to try. Why is it that my father remembers what specific songs were played at his high school prom but I can barely remember the plot of a movie I saw six months ago? I think it's because of pictures. The Internet. Sharing. Social media. So many of us live through a camera lens because we want to capture the memory, but it's never quite the same. We think we'll remember, but we're just recording.

How is it that my parents and grandparents know the exact date that the first Led Zeppelin album came out? There is such an influx of music, pictures and content readily available that we don't need to revere that album, remember those lyrics or obsess over a work of art. In my opinion, the arts 50 years ago meant so much more. People had no Candy Crush and Facebook mobile to occupy their time. Just something to think about...

Content with the Content

Not gunna lie. I'm not the biggest Miley fan. Regardless of growing older and expanding her horizons, she just doesn't convince me. She doesn't seem hard or badass. I still see her as Billy Ray Cyrus' southern sweetheart of a daughter because deep down, that is who she is. Don't ask me why, it's just my gut talkin'. All of that aside, Miley wants one thing... fame. And boy is she gettin' it. #1 on all the charts, the most tweeted about celebrity, the most in the spotlight 20-something-year-old girl. She's just wreaking havoc all over the globe.

With that being said, although she is one smart cookie, who do you think is the brains behind the mood swing? The haircut? The rebranding? None other than Skateboard P.

Pharrell Williams was the one who said, girl, go on and get that hairdo. Go on and act a fool on stage. Why? She's on the lips of every current influential artist, such as Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Juicy J, just to name a few. She's killin' it. What people don't know, is that Pharrell is the brains behind it all. With his calm and out-of-the-spotlight attitude, you'd never know.

Well, enough about Miley. This post is dedicated to one of the most unique advances I've seen in a while. Pharrell has created a 24-hour music video called "Happy." His joyous tunes act as a soundtrack to dancing individuals at each given second of the day. You can even bounce around between sunrise and sunset. There really are no words to describe the vid, you just gotta see for yourself.

EDM = LOL

I saw that my favorite NYC-based DJ's, The Chainsmokers, made a track in honor of their upcoming show at LIV Miami this Friday. They named it #Selfie (hashtag included, duh) and it is actually pretty funny. As we all know too well, I love when artists mix up the vibes. What's not to love about EDM with a bit of humor? If anything, it's also brilliant because it's shameless promotion. It's kinda like, "here's a free track we made announcing our upcoming show." I bet most people didn't even know they were playing at LIV this weekend. Brilliant I tell ya.

We in First Place

It only seems fair that I can post my choreography to my own blog right? First Place for Pike Halftime.

Trill

It's not too hard to tell what I'm constantly inspired by. Some daily inspiration on this #humpday.

 

MIAMI

Can't get it out of my mind.

cc: Barron Roth Photography

#LollyDance

Justin Bieber thinks he's created the new dance craze... The Lolly. I'm not feelin it yet but if you're curious, here's a tutorial by his choreographer, Nick DeMoura, and the real thing. *Facepalm*

Entertain Me

As NYFW comes to a close, we have social media to thank for taking us on the interesting journey of influencers' experience on and off the runway. I must admit, I'm pretty over the Insta vids of catwalks and emaciated models cluttering my feed, however, there were some moments that just totally wowed me-- and I'm grateful someone could share the experience with me. Whether it was on Vine, Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, it allowed us common folk a sneak peak into the wondrous, exclusive experience that is fashion week. What I enjoyed most was when fashion was portrayed in a very nonchalant way. Of course, I'll never not enjoy a gorgeous catwalk, but when the fashion just so happens to be highlighted while in ordinary, pedestrian settings, it catches you off guard.

Take a look at this...

When I first watched this video, the thoughts going through my head were "wow, that guy is good. Just look at his footwork." Then I thought, how could you make this about the shoes, not the dancer? If you changed the point of view of the camera to a birds-eye view, put on a pair of Armani sneakers, uploaded it to Instagram and marked it with #ArmaniMoves... then what? I'd want to buy those sneakers so much more than if it was just a still-shot frame of the feetless kicks.

A lesson to be learned from NYFW was that there are many ways to showcase fashion. Dance, for instance, is one channel of communication. Opening Ceremony used fancy cars. Remember when Louis Vuitton used escalators? I believe that getting creative gets you somewhere. It doesn't detract from the fashion, it doesn't disguise your message. It makes a show... and everyone likes to be entertained.

Pharrell- An Inspiration.

Resort 2014 - SSSSHHHOOOEESSS

I am aware of the fact that I post much too often about shoes, but I am bowing down to Resort 2014 Shoes, Bags and Accessories. I'm obv just posting the shoes, but to reiterate... oh my God.

Danielle Michetti

Edmundo Castillo

Jerome Rousseau

Casadei

Edmundo Castillo

Chloe

 

Alejandro Ingelmo

Sonia Rykiel