Give your smartphone a glimpse into the legendary world of Hermès by downloading the brand’s new interactive mobile application entitled Tie Break. The fun and informative app—which hit Apple and Android app stores this morning—targets the man on the move, and is intended to give users a random dose of the French fashion brand’s newest collections and patterns, as well as a whimsical view into its men’s silk universe. With the pull of Hermès’ signature orange-colored tie, the app reveals one of seven “breaks,” which include animated gifs, video arcade games, funny phrases, as well as how-to’s (the tutorial on knotting a tie is particularly helpful). Users can even post the results of their luxurious experiences on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. Along with the new app, literal ties from the house’s upcoming Spring/Summer 2015 will don QR codes located on the back of specially marked pieces, enabling users fast access to to the mobile program. Ideal for those times when you’re waiting for a car, in a tragically long line for lunch, or to keep from dosing off at a boring meeting at work, Hermès’ Tie Break will ensure your jam-packed day is infused with a little style.
Tie Break is available for Apple and Android devices now.
Whether you’re an avid entertainment addict or just an occasional tube-glancer, it’s hard to have missed Teddy Sears’ rise on the small screen. From a random role as an extra (“fashion show guy”) on an episode of Sex and City early in his career, to a two-year stint on the daytime drama One Life to Live, and appearance on American Horror Story last season, the actor has certainly seen a range in roles. But despite the many guest spots that have added up to over a decade, it’s Sears’ latest work—as Dr. Austin Langham on the hit-Showtime series, Masters of Sex—that has caused us all to take notice. We recently caught up with the actor to discuss his fifth year motorcycling for change in the Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR event, playing doctor on a critically acclaimed TV series about sex, and possible baby names.
Essential Homme: How did your involvement with Kiehl’s and LifeRide come about?
Teddy Sears: In 2009, Kiehl’s did their first LifeRide from San Diego to San Francisco and put the word out that they wanted to have some riders join them in Los Angeles. I was doing a TV series there and—as a lover of bikes and a supporter of amfAR—I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it. I’d always used Kiehl’s, so the whole thing seemed like a no brainer. At the time I didn’t know how philanthropic Kiehl’s is, and the more I’ve [gotten] to know the people behind the brand, the more committed I’ve become to helping in any way that I can.
EH: How important is it to lend your name to a cause like amfAR?
TS: It’s very important. I believe that AIDS is a disease that can be cured in our lifetime, one that’s taken too many people prematurely, and one that’s affected all of us in one way, shape, or form. If showing up and being a part of LifeRide helps to raise the funds that drives the research that ultimately ends the epidemic, then I’ll die a happy man.
EH: Do you ride a motorcycle regularly?
TS: Yep. I ride one every day. Well, every day I leave the house. I like to joke that it’s my car, which is pretty true. My wife has a car and I have a bike. As long as I’m not loading up on groceries or carrying heavy things, then my bike is what I use to get around.
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I believe that AIDS is a disease that can be cured in our lifetime, one that’s taken too many people prematurely, and one that’s affected all of us in one way, shape, or form.
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EH: You’re known for having done many TV guest spots. How does it feel to now be on a successful cable show like Masters of Sex?
TS: I love to work, and I haven’t ever been in the position that I can just pick and choose my projects. I audition for things just like most everyone else, and hope to hear my name called, especially if the project is a great one. In the case of Masters of Sex—which you’re right, is a successful cable show and wonderfully crafted in all aspects—it feels satisfying, challenging, fun, scary, and ultimately rewarding. I’m over the moon, really.
EH: Were you at all hesitant when you learned of the show’s subject matter?
TS: Not at all. I was thrilled to have the chance to be a part of this world. A period drama on a leading cable network with top-flight writing, acting, and directing? Sign me up, no questions asked.
EH: Your character in Masters of Sex is kind of a bad guy. Do you see any redeeming qualities in him? How would you like to see him evolve in future episodes?
TS: I don’t think Dr. Langham is a bad guy at all. I think he’s able to compartmentalize what he does at work and what he goes home to at night. He’s a bit of a libertine, especially for that time and place. Outwardly, it does seem that his actions would make him a bad guy, especially how they relate to his family, but he’s doing the best he can with what he knows about himself. He’s desperately seeking to have his needs met in a way that even he isn’t aware of—and not sexually either. Sex for him is a vehicle to satisfy deeper needs, longings, and sadnesses that he’s carried with him all his life. He just isn’t in touch with [them]. I think that’s where his charm and sense of fun come from too. It’s all a veneer masking deeper wounds. As for the future of Dr. Langham, I’d like to see him begin to touch those scary places and see if that changes anything about him. That would be fun.
Photo: Speak Music TV.
EH: Was taking an intensive acting course at the start of your career a defining moment for you?
TS: Without a doubt yes, though it’s taken me some time to see it. I’m actually reading a book that my teacher Bill Esper recently wrote and it’s helped me appreciate how truly important those years were to me. You can’t build a house without pouring the proper foundation, and I couldn’t appreciate what an art form acting truly is without that training.
EH: We’ve always thought of soap operas as the Olympics of TV in terms of the shooting schedule and hours. Was it that intense?
TS: It’s funny to hear you refer to working on a soap that way. I want to agree with you, but calling it the Olympics would imply that it’s populated by the best of the best, which it isn’t. Not that there aren’t great actors on soaps, there are, I just wasn’t one of them! But I see your point. It was a great introduction to basic on-camera acting, [learning] lines quickly, making quick decisions in limited rehearsals, and nailing scenes due to tight shooting schedules. Unfortunately, an actor can develop bad habits that way and not really learn much about the character’s inner life. It taught me that there were certain things I could do, but that ultimately I needed to improve. I guess what I’m saying is, I sucked. Let’s not sugarcoat it. I needed to go to school and that’s what I did.
EH: You’ve always gone by Teddy even though you were named Edward after your dad. Is that a nickname or a middle name? Any chance you’d name a son Edward if you had one to keep up the tradition?
TS: Teddy is a nickname. My dad is an Edward like me, he goes by Eddie, but my folks have always called me Teddy..probably to have my own identity or to not confuse things around the house growing up. I don’t know, but every time my mom would yell “Eddie!” I’d think she was talking to me, and when she [would call] “Teddy!” my Dad would think she was talking to him. So that didn’t really work. As for naming my son Edward? We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it…
The vintage-loving jean makers of Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren have teamed up with Grammy-nominated DJ and producer-of-the-moment, Avicii—as well as artists Alexa Meade and Arran Gregory—to bridge together the worlds of fashion, art, and music with their latest endeavor: Project Warehouse. The creative initiative kicked off earlier today, August 4, 2014, with Avicii inviting his Instagram followers to submit original videos showing their best dance moves under the hashtag #PROJECTWAREHOUSE for a chance to be featured in a teaser for his upcoming album.
Image: Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren.
But if dancing isn’t really your thing, there’s still plenty of more fun to be had. LA-based artist, Alexa Meade—who is known for putting art in motion—takes over after the DJ, using her signature techniques to paint 2D portraits on live models, while British sculptor and illustrator Arran Gregory will use the brand’s fabric of choice (denim) as his canvas to inspire geometric-sketch style artwork. Avicii’s portion of the collaborative project will last through out the month of August while, Meade and Gregory’s involvement start in September and October, respectively. To top it all off, the three leading artists—as well as a few other new faces in art and fashion—were shot by famed photographer Mark Seliger for Denim & Supply’s fall advertising campaign.
Image: Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren.
Participants eager for the chance to showcase their moves for Avicii, be a live model for Meade, or have a photo turned into a sketch in Gregory’s signature animation style can click here, for more details.
Next season, Etro—the iconic Italian brand and masters of print-on-print—launches its first men’s sneaker collection and the results are the unexpected mix of colors, textures, and fabrics that fans of the Milan-based design house have grown to love. The luxury brand’s inspiration behind the new footwear collection for Spring/Summer 2015 comes from the desire to create a casual shoe that incorporates the elegance and contemporary edge that the design team—headed by Creative Director Jacopo Etro—has been known for, since its inception in 1968.
Image: Etro.
Standouts from the collection include a high-top (shown above) which couples one of Etro’s signature paisley patterns with chocolate brown leather trim, an all-white paisley-embossed low style with hints of orange, and—our personal favorite—a playful, and more athletic approach that infuses lemony-yellow with navy blue and green. The colorful and versatile collection will be part of a re-launch for Etro’s in-house footwear lines and the offerings are sure to be a hit when they arrive.
Before mega-movie-musicals likeChicagoand Les Miserables set out to marry stage and the big screen, it was the rock and roll drama, Purple Rain that started it all. The semi-autobiographical film—which celebrates its 30th anniversary this month—stars the multi-platinum recording artist Prince as The Kid, an aspiring musician in Minneapolis who struggles with a violent family life and an up and down romance with then-newcomer Apollonia Kotero. When the movie premiered on July 27, 1984, it grossed $70 million dollars in the US (ten times what it cost to make), and despite its jam-packed amount of feathered hair, heavy eye-makeup, and pirate shirt-inspired wardrobe, the film continues to strike a chord with fans to this day through its soundtrack. This is most evident in Prince’s live performances of classics like, “When Doves Cry,” “Lets Go Crazy,” and the intensely alluring, title track. Although the movies plot seems a little random at times—in that cheesy ’80s way that we all love to hate—Purple Rain will always hold its place as the quintessential rock-music-movie of its time, causing generations, both old and new, to continue to press play.
Today, July 24, 2014, dynamic retail duo Johnny Pizzolato and Virginia Craddock see the opening of the second installment of their downtown-fashion-forward-hotspot, International Playground. Located on a coveted Broome Street block in Soho—the retail world’s answer to the Holy Grail—the new, charming multi-brand boutique is a veritable sandbox of eclectic (and mostly European) designers set against the backdrop of an elegant interior. “We were inspired by Art Deco and the 1940’s department store vibe,” says Craddock, who met Pizzolato at Carlos Campos— the menswear brand where the pair worked before going into business together. “Johnny and I are both attracted to the glamorous side of things, and [the new store] is a beautiful space to showcase really amazing designers and the things that we’ve discovered,” she continues.
Image: Shelby Gates.
The first location—situated in the historic Bowery district of the Lower East Side— boasts the quirkiness and destination appeal that the neighborhood suggests, while the newest International Playground sets a more elevated tone. “The store is in the middle of Soho, so we are really hoping to tap into the New York set and the European tourists,” Craddock explains. “We have really gone to a very international mix with the designers that we’ve brought here.” Reading like a who’s who of some of Europe’s most popular designers, the store’s stock list includes the likes of menswear brand Soulland from Denmark and edgy, French-fashion-meets-art label Andrea Crews. Shoppers will also find labels closer to home, like LA-based Anzevino Getty—which launches exclusively at International Playground this Fall.
Image: Shelby Gates.
In addition to offering men’s and women’s clothing, the new store will also carry a well-curated (and beautifully displayed) selection of scents, candles, books, and periodicals. The shoe gallery—which holds a number of artistic shapes floating against classic leaf-printed wallpaper and resembling framed art—is a stand out and a delightful focal point for anyone who enters.
Image: Shelby Gates.
It is the art of discovery that inspires both owners in selecting designers for their stores and with offerings as varied as its clientele, International Playground will, undoubtedly, continue to attract playmates for years to come.
Just in time to celebrate the kick-off of Comic-Con International 2014 tomorrow, we are excited to break the news that there will be an Iron Man 4 movie, starring Robert Downey Jr…well, maybe. The Marvel-blockbuster-film-star—who was just named Hollywood’s highest paid actor by Forbes—recently revealed from the set of the Avengers: Age of Ultron,that the fate of a fourth movie is contingent on whether the powers that be can all agree on a proposal for it. Downey Jr. is no stranger to talking proposal after last year’s news of the tense salary negotiations concerning his future with the Marvel franchises. Now, the stylish big-screen actor will likely ask for a higher paycheck since Iron Man 3 joined the billion-dollar club following its release in 2013. Perhaps this will be the first time an actor playing a billionaire actually becomes a billionaire.
One of our favorite events on the east coast, New York Men’s Day (NYMD) will celebrate the Spring/Summer 2015 season on September 3, 2014, and this fall the ten participating designers are working on more than their menswear collections. Cadillac—who is sponsoring the event for the second year in a row—has asked each designer to create a bespoke Cadillac ATS Coupe in the name of fashion. The results are a study on the graphic-printed, floral-bloomed, logo-charged collections that we saw during the European menswear shows that—if the Caddys are any indication—will be echoed on the New York runways as well. Pushing the contest one step further, starting today, Cadillac is asking all of its Facebook followers to log on and vote for their favorite designer ride. The winning car (the vehicle with the most ‘likes’) will be produced and presented at NYMD. Check out some of our favorite style-driven designs below and watch out for the winner on September 3, 2014.
This Thursday, July 24, 2014, comic geeks and fan-boys and girls will don their best caped-crusader-costume to descend onto San Diego, California for the annual Comic-Con International 2014. The huge convention—which celebrates the role of comic books in pop culture and art—began as a small event in 1970 and has grown to attract 130,000 people annually. Each year the fair includes A-list celebrity attendees, daily panel discussions, fan-based art, and an opportunity to get your hands on a rare comic book or two. Fans this year can look forward to sneak peeks of some of the most anticipated movies coming to the big screen like, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, as well as get some juicy updates on cult TV favorites like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. There will also be a special pilot screening of the highly-anticipated NBC TV show Constantine, which is based on the DC Comics series Hellblazer. Comic-Con 2014 will not only be celebrating another year at the San Diego Convention Center, but the four-day event will also pay tribute to the 75th anniversary of Batman by including several screenings and panel discussions surrounding the dark knight. We can’t wait to see who the best Batman award goes to.
Notorious for portraying canoodling couples in often controversial advertising campaigns, designer Tom Ford has selected his next male face for fall eyewear: Patrick Schwarzenegger. Patrick—the eldest son of actor and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver—appears in the Fall/Winter 2014 women’s eyewear campaign looking dreamily at Ford Models-favorite, GiGi Hadid as she gives her best blue steel through an oversized pair of the Tom Ford sunnies. The 20-year-old actor—most famous for his role in Grown Ups 2—is no stranger to fashion, having founded a philanthropic clothing line at young age of 15. Schwarzenegger also recently signed with LA Models in an attempt to bring awareness to the fashion line, which donates a percentage of its proceeds to various charities. In the fall eyewear campaign—which debuts in magazines this September—Patrick wears a classic Ford-esque look complete with slick backed hair, and a sleek black turtleneck and coat.
In this week’s bizarre news: Karl Lagerfeld’s pet Siamese cat, Choupette, has been chosen to be the official test animal new face of Japanese beauty brand, Shu Uemura’s holiday campaign. The collection, labeled Shupette by Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura, is speculated to include items like furry eyelashes and—more than likely—various products that promise the perfect cat-eye for all the cat-loving ladies in your life. This marks the second collaboration between the Chanel Creative Director and the make-up brand, following a successful holiday 2012 collection that featured Lagerfeld’s design and illustrations. Lagerfeld, who photographed both partnerships, first laid eyes on his furry companion when he was asked to cat sit the animal for Christmas and never returned her afterwards. Now with two maids, a twitter account with upwards of 30 thousand followers, and an upcoming book, Choupette is poised to take the world by storm and if you’re a model, your job too.
If the sight of a sailor-clad marshmallow man terrorizing New York City, the possibility of being slimed, or the question, “who you gonna call?” sets your heart a flutter, then mark your calendar for Aug 29, 2014: the date the firstGhostbusters film returns to theaters in honor of its 30th anniversary. The 1984 sci-fi classic starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson will enjoy a limited re-release in 4K (take that 3D!), meaning the cheesy 80’s special effects that you love to hate (and Sigourney Weaver’s hair when she’s possessed by Zul) are back and more epic than ever. Ghostbusters will re-haunt the big screen for one week only, but fans can also enjoy the cult classic at home, when a special anniversary edition DVD arrives Sept. 1, 2014.
Watch the newly released trailer below at your own risk:
