That's a Wrap!

This year went by much too fast...and so here it is, 2010. It's been a great time writing and working on HOT + COOL and thanks to all of our readers! This blog was started out of a passion for life, art, music, film, stylish things and inspirational things. We hope that this blog can also serve as a small break from someones hectic day.

HOT + COOL was created by myself and my good friend Renon Bosarge this year. With Renon's influence as a musician/band director and my creative background this blog started to evolve into a great collaboration. The name was borrowed from the Tony Bennett album, "Hot & Cool" and ended up describing the kind of content we wanted to have on this blog.


HOT & COOL - Bennett Sings Ellington

We hope to do some exciting new things with the blog this year and really take it to the next level. This year has been a life learning experience through the good and the bad and what I've come to realize is that life is all about what you make it. The attitude you carry and the life you decide to live is all up to you. You're in the driver's seat.

And besides, life is beautiful! There is no time to be cynical or to hate. It isn't hard to see the beauty in life. All you have to do is step outside, from the vibrant colors of the leaves, the taste of a strawberry to watching a baby smile or a beautiful woman walk down the street.

So take the iPOD off, stop twittering, stop face booking, hell, stop reading this blog right now and run down the street like a wild man, tell a joke, skip work, learn a new language, get a new haircut, ride a bike, do something you've never done before, make new friends, visit old ones, go to the gym, roll in the grass, sing loudly, wave at your neighbor, give someone a compliment, burn something, cause a bit of havoc, drink an expensive bottle of wine (life's too short), read a good book, take care of yourself more, travel more, put on your Sunday's best just because, chat up an older stranger, stare at someone for no apparent reason, call your enemies and ask how they are, don't have any enemies, love more, live life! Have a great 2010 everyone! Chase and conquer all your dreams!



I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate,
A poet, a pawn and a king.
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing:
Each time I find myself, flat on my face,
I pick myself up and get back in the race.

Frank Sinatra - That's Life

Girl on Film

There's no better time than the Holidays to lay around with a good flick and a stiff drink, especially one with an extremely gorgeous girl riding a motorcycle. I've been wanting to watch the movie, The Girl on a Motorcycle featuring iconic Actor's Alain Delon and Marianne Faithfull for a long time but kept putting it off until now.


Alain Delon and Marianne Faithfull, The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968)

This film has that classic 60's flair from the sexy black leather suit worn by Marianne Faithfull to the plastic frames and threads worn by Alain Delon. I usually get my style inspiration from films and music and I just bought a new pair of 60's style frames similar to ones worn by Delon in the movie. According to some reviews the film isn't much on storyline but has awesome cinematography and a heavy dose of 60's era psychedelic charm. Looking forward to watching this tonight!

How was your Holiday?

Hope everyone is enjoying their Holidays and is stoked about the new year! What's everyone up to? I always go overkill every New Year and I'm thinking of keeping it laid back and relaxed this year. Either way, my goal is to start the new year fresh...clean condo, new threads, new beginning! 2010 is going to be a great year and I look forward to getting involved in some exciting new projects and doing some great things with this site! Look for some new posts this week!

The Go Find - New Year

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Charlotte Gainsbourg with French Band, AIR

So, I was searching for YouTube clips of Radiohead performing the song, Creep for another project I'm working on when I stumbled on a clip of a French movie called, Happily Ever After that came out in 2005 that stars Charlotte Gainsbourg. Charlotte Gainsbourg is the daughter of French Composer, Serge Gainsbourg and British Actress, Jane Berkin. As I dug a bit further Charlotte Gainsbourg has done acting and music and has even worked with musicians like Beck and the French Band, AIR.


Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck


Jane Berkin, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Serge Gainsbourg

The clip from the movie also features none other then French import, Johnny Depp. The movie looks great and grabbed my attention when I heard the background soundtrack go from Radiohead to The Velvet Underground to Henry Mancini. Watch how both actors use their body language and movements to express their emotion without much dialogue at all. I also, can't help but envy Depp's specs. Those classic specs are awesome and I need a new pair. Any suggestions?

Tie One On

Everyone should own a scarf. Not only because it's winter and damn cold but because a scarf is both stylish and functional. The first time I started using a scarf was when I visited Paris in winter. It was hand numbing cold and if you didn't have a scarf on you were an idiot. So I purchased a scarf and foolishly wrapped my scarf over my neck a few times and walked out the door.

Later that day one of my Welsh traveling partners pulled my scarf off and shook his head. He quickly looped the scarf in half and pulled the longer end through and placed it over my head and said, "In Wales, a man wears his scarf like this." I've been rocking a scarf ever since.







The great thing about scarves is that you can wear them anytime. In summer try a light colored cotton scarf and I guarentee you will get noticed. The scarf makes you stand out. Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones was always known to wear a scarf and it gives his look that extra edge. Below are some great tips and ways to wear your scarf.

Have a Smashing Good Weekend!

Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
And don't try to dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

The Who - My Generation

BLACK

Back in black
I hit the sack
I've been too long I'm glad to be back
Yes, I'm let loose
From the noose
That's kept me hanging about
I've been looking at the sky
'Cause it's gettin' me high
Forget the hearst 'cause I never die
I got nine lives
Cat's eyes
Abusin' every one of them and running wild

AC/DC - Back In Black

Le Mans Style

Just watched the racing movie Le Mans with Steve McQueen and I dug the style of the film. Not only does Steve McQueen deliver a great performance but the film is a must for car enthusiasts like myself. I was hooked from the opening scene when McQueen is driving a British Racing Green, Porsche 911S around the streets of Le Mans.

1970 Porsche 911S featured in the movie, Le Mans

I also couldn't help but notice the Tag Heuer, Monaco 1133 watch he wears in the movie. You can pick an original blue model like the one below for a cool $9,000. Worth it? I think so.
Tag Heuer Monaco 1133 watch worn by Steve Mcqueen in the movie, Le Mans

The Language of Legs

Vintage Playboy article about women and how they cross their legs...Click on the picture to enlarge the article. The copy is hilarious. Read the one about the girl who doesn't cross her legs, The Philanthropist, she "has a lot to give and gives it freely."

*Article reposted courtesy of The Selvedge Yard

Have a Rockin Weekend!

I'm in love for the first time.
Don't you know it's gonna last.
It's a love that lasts forever,
It's a love that has no past.

The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down

Speed Rendez Vous

The 1978 Ferarri 275 GTB flying around the streets of Paris with no sound effects and no stuntman. The throaty growl of the high reving engine in the winging streets of early morning Paris is awesome! Below, the original Director, Claude Lelouch explains the making of the film.

Years later the Nissan 350Z tried to recreate Claude Lelouche's masterpiece on the streets of Praugue but in my opionion lacks the raw engergy of the original. Besides, a Ferarri or a Nissan? Not much of a comparison.

So what sparked all of this car frenzied madness? The new 253 Mph top speed, Bugatti Veyron video I just viewed below. With a top speed close to most jets takeoff speed it's enought to make the hair raise on any car junkie.

Life List

Earnest Hemingway, San Fermin Festival

Do you have something that you always wanted to do in your lifetime? A dream burning inside of you just waiting to get out? What's stopping you? Time? Money? Age? Well, I'm here to tell you that none of those things matter. Accomplishing your dreams and goals is easier than you think.

One of my favorite Authors and most celebrated figures of our time, Earnest Hemingway led his life like one of his own novels. Hemingway ran with the bulls in Pamplona, won the Nobel Prize in Literature for Old Man and the Sea, served in two World Wars, hunted big game in Africa with Theodore Roosevelt and was apart of the 'Lost Generation' artistic movement in Paris.

Hemingway and the 'Lost Generation' in Paris

Hemingway lived his life like an adventure and became my inspiration for world travel and for running with the bulls which I did this past July.

Pamplona, Spain aftermath of the bull run

Another inspiration of mine is World-Famous Adventurer John Goddard, who at the age of 15 created a list of 127 goals he would like to accomplish in his lifetime. He titled this list his "Life List". He has since accomplished 108 of these goals which "included climbing the world's major mountains, exploring from source to mouth the longest rivers of the world, piloting the world's fastest aircraft, running a mile in five minutes and reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica."

You can read his entire Life List here.
Watch the video below to hear John discuss how he didn't want to live what he describes as a "Vanilla Existence" and as you can see John's existence has been everything but.

Here are some of the things John outlines in the video to accomplish our dreams and goals:

1. Put pen to paper: Without writing your goals down you will not be able to fully visualize your goals. Make sure to write it down and keep it somewhere visible like a whiteboard.

2. Deadlines count: Add a deadline and stick to it i.e. I must read 5 business books by January 27, 2010.

3. Visualize your goals: See yourself doing the goal you are trying to accomplish...if it's writing a book, visualize what the book will look like, how many pages it will have and where it will be sold, this gets you in the mindset of taking the steps necessary to accomplish your goals. If you think of even the most simple tasks you do on a daily basis you always visualize it first before doing it.

4. Believe it: You are no different than any other person who is successful at accomplishing their dreams. Just believe in yourself and go for it. It's far worse to have not tried than to have failed trying. Failure is learning and without failure there would be no improvement. Believe in yourself and you can do anything. Want that new promotion? Ask for it. Want to ask out the model/actress who works at the coffee shop? Ask her.

5. Do it: Break out of your comfort zone and just do it! Don't over plan! Nothing and no one is perfect! just take the first step and the rest will follow. When I took my trip to Spain to run with the bulls I did my research, made the appropriate phone calls and made it happen within 30 days. Had I not made the first move I would still be telling myself...one of these days. Remember, we all can live exciting and fruitful lives, you just have to do it!

"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would truly astound ourselves."

-Thomas Edison.

Claxography

William Claxton (Oct 11, 1927 - Oct 11, 2008)

The photographs of William Claxton define the essence of cool--"jazz for the eyes" as he said. Claxton's portfolio features many of the most influential and indelible artists of the 20th century, including Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando.


Frank Sinatra HOLLYWOOD, 1954

In the 1950's, his album covers for Pacific Jazz Records reflected a sound born of beachside jazz clubs and balmy California nights. Claxton's unique and sensual images of Chet Baker have become icons in the world of jazz photography. He often claimed that Baker's relationship with the camera taught him the the true meaning of the term "photogenic."


Chet and Helima REDONDO BEACH, 1955

Arguably his most revealing and accomplished photographs capture the legendary film actor Steve McQueen: Over the years Claxton photographed McQueen on numerous occasions, a 1962 shoot that yielded a celebrated shot of the actor peering up over the rim of his sunglasses while navigating his Jaguar along L.A.'s Mulholland Drive.


Steve McQueen, at break-neck speed in his Jaguar XKSS, Mulholland Drive - 1962

Claxton's photgraphs of jazz, Hollywood, fashion have appeared in numeruos publications including Life, Time, Newsweek, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Playboy, and Paris Match. In 1967, he directed and produced acclaimed fashion film "Basic Black." It is now part of the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection, alongside a number of Claxton's still photos. Two books that showcase his Claxton's imagery and experience, are JazzLife and Steve McQueen.



Clax's Theme, Composed and Performed by Till Bronner

www.williamclaxton.com

Required Listening: Tahiti 80

The French-Pop group, Tahiti 80 just released their long awaited album, Activity Center. I haven't given it a good listen yet but this track caught my ear. Tahiti 80's influences draw heavily from 60's pop groups like the Zombies and Kinks with a twist of French electronic rock. Enjoy!

www.tahiti80.com

Have an Adventurous Weekend!

Hemingway with trophies 1934

What are your plans this weekend? I will be seeing some interesting Asian art this evening at the Crow Collection in Dallas and hopefully spending some time reading, relaxing and fit in some work here and there. Stay tuned next week for our piece on constructing your personal Life List or list of goals you want to achieve in your lifetime.

Whether it's hunting big game in Africa, writing your own book or learning five languages we'll tell you how to achieve these goals and make them happen. If you think I'm kidding I can discuss how I ran with the bulls this past summer. We'll also discuss Life List creator John Goddard and Earnest Hemingway who although lead a somewhat troubled life, also lead one of the most extraordinary. Have a good weekend readers!

The Pocket Square

The pocket square dates back all the way to ancient Greek times when wealthy aristocrats wore perfumed hankies to protect themselves from the stench of the streets and to wipe away the tears of a damsel in distress. By the 1900's a gentleman never left the house without a pocket square. Today, the pocket square has gone the way of top hat and tails but this is one accessory that can add quirk and flair to any suit or sports coat.

There are several ways to fold a pocket square, the most popular is the straight fold which is the pocket square folded in half and stuffed in the breast pocket. I prefer the puff fold which is attained by pinching the middle of the pocket square and stuffing it in the breast pocket. Try a high-quality silk or linen pocket square for best results. You never know when you'll need to wipe the tears of a woman who just got her heart broken by the uncultured bastard who wasn't wearing a pocket square.

Straight Fold

Puff Fold

Mixology: The Classic Martini

Know how to make one drink and make it well. Nothing beats the classic Martini: Suave, sleek and sophisticated. Mix one up right now. You know you want to you. And of course...shaken not stirred.

Classic Martini

Ingredients
2½ oz Top shelf vodka
1½ oz dry vermouth
3 Green Olives

Instructions
Rinse martini glass in dry vermouth and pour out. Shake vodka with ice until chilled. Pour into martini glass, add olives.

Women of Style

Hepburn


Monroe


Bardot


Moss


Dunaway


Victoria


Nico


Sienna

There's something extremely sexy about a woman with style. For men, when looking at a woman it's all in the details; the way a woman puts on her lipstick, the way she walks, the way she stares at you from across the room.

Her attitude and how she wears her clothes become much more sexy than what she's wearing. When I was in Paris, European women had a flair for dressing sexy without showing too much skin; it was all in their charm and charisma. From past to present the women above exude a strong and stylish sex appeal that is well deserving of the term HOT + COOL.