Good news! As you could tell from yesterday’s post, I survived my third Coachella … and, once again, I did it without using alcohol, drugs, or face paint. It’s possible, so don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise. My Day 1 was actually Day 2 of the festival’s first weekend. I missed Friday, when The…
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The Waiting Is the Hardest Part of Coachella
My thoughts and prayers go out to the people currently nearing the end of their long wait at the front-stage barricades during Coachella’s second weekend. Last Sunday, I spent over 12 hours doing that — with no choice but to stand for about 10 of those hours — so I could be front row for…
The Week in Review
In case you missed it, here’s what was on the blog this week. Monday, April 9: Talking about the generation gap in jewelry manufacturing. Tuesday, April 10: I put together a playlist of my fashion-related videos to celebrate my YouTube channel’s first anniversary. Wednesday, April 11: I recently reorganized my jewelry line into collections focused…
A Long and Shady Business Story, Part 1
The Coachella music festival starts tomorrow in Indio, Calif. I’m excited to go for the third year in a row. At the same time, I’m dreading it a little, because I know I will be spending about 10 hours standing in the sun, cheek-by-jowl with kids as young as 13, in order to secure a…
Music on Repeat This Weekend: Cardi B
I love me some wimmin rappers and I’ve long wished there were more of them hitting it big — like there were back in the day — so I’m thrilled to watch Cardi B turn into a huge, huge star. It’s all happening for the 25-year-old right now, and I mean “right now” literally: Invasion…
Throwback Thursday: Viv Albertine and the Slits
Actor/director/artiste Vincent Gallo — the self-proclaimed “Donald Trump of Cannes” — wrote an “open letter” for Another Man Magazine that inspired this remark on Twitter: Vincent Gallo is what would happen if Axe Body Spray manifested itself into human form. — Ken Simon (@KenSimonSays) March 22, 2018 That’s a good description of an essay that…
Happy Valentine’s Day From Hi-Rez and Me
If you need an emergency Valentine’s Day card, I suggest that you print out this romantic message from rapper Hi-Rez. Happy Valentine’s Day pic.twitter.com/QqnMrbuLMA — Hi-Rez (@HiRezTheRapper) February 14, 2018 Who wouldn’t be charmed by that missive? Especially when you point out that Hi-Rez is wearing the awesome nameplate necklace I made for him ……
Music on My Mind: Halftime and the Grammys
I’ve been thinking of the truth-in-jest plea, “God, give me the confidence of a mediocre white man,” since Justin Timberlake’s ho-hum Super Bowl halftime performance last Sunday night. There have been many more-spectacular Super Bowl performers, starting with Michael Jackson, whose 1993 appearance permanently changed the halftime show from a snack/drink/bathroom break to a must-see…
My Best Dressed at the 2018 Grammys Is …
While there were many 2018 Grammys fashion statements worthy of honorable mentions, there was one clear winner of my prestigious Best Dressed/Wear What You Want combo award. That winner is not Andra Day, but she came so close in her candy-colored, custom-made Victoria Hayes tuxedo gown. Embed from Getty Images This dress was my personal…
My “Almost” Best Dressed at the 2018 Grammys Are …
There’s so much to be said about the 2018 Grammys — who won, who should have won, the way Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said more women would win if they just worked harder (fuck you, Neil, the average woman works twice as hard as a dude like you). I’m going to have to save…