Thursday, March 29, 2012

Proprpostur x Alibi Boutique

So I'm on a roll with keeping myself busy and productive lately, and it feels great. The days of waking up at a complete loss I really do not want to have to go back to and deal with. Sometimes you just got to get up and do whatever you feel, even if you don't even have a full plan on how you're going to attack it just go with the flow. Hunting for models, scouting locations, and drawing up concepts are quite the time filler.

One of my recent projects was a little shoot I put together with Alibi Boutique. Alibi is a retail space that caters to the passions of lifestyle, art, clothing, and skateboarding. The moment I stepped in I can feel the authentic within the space. Alibi is quite discerning when selecting what brand they want to carry within their space. What I genuinely respect about Alibi is that they believe clothing should not just be worn but also should accompany a lifestyle and be lived into. With that being said, in their methods of deciding on who to carry. Only brands with high quality, strong branding profile, and a strong philosophy behind their products are considered. 

I picked up a few pieces they are currently carrying for the upcoming Spring/Summer inventory. And I just really went crazy.For those in the Montreal area Alibi is located : 506 Rachel East Montreal.

As well check out their Site |  Tumblr | Facebook




Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Dr. Martens Octavius Shoe

Quality, durability, style, character, and most importantly comfort. The 5 main things every person should be looking for when purchasing a pair of shoes for the spring/summer. One brand that never fails to impress me is Dr. Martens, at first growing up everyone seemed to feel they only represented the rugged skin head movement. But as we grow older with anything our presumptions on things begin to change with knowledge and experience. With the times of today Dr. Marten continues to lead the pack with great designs and durability. I purchased my first pair of Dr. Martens 4 years ago, I was very sceptical at first. But as soon as I slipped them on I was blown away by how comfortable they are along with their durability. Really there was no way I was losing with such a purchase.

As you know I'm a big fan of anything that is printed, and for the spring/summer season on its way I've been in wanting for a shoe that can satisfy my neediness in prints. The good folks at Dr. Martens recently gifted me a pair of their Octavius Cherry Red shoe. I instantly fell in love with them, not only are they a printed but it's a paisley print. Can you ever go wrong with paisley? I don't really think such a thing is possible. These will be a great contrasting piece for the upcoming season.

Get you own pair here


Sunday, March 25, 2012

Etiquette : Humility


"Honestly Spencer I didn't expect you to be like this, you're so down to earth and chill" not to toot my own horn but the amount of times I hear this is countless. People seem to off the bat feel they should have a certain expectation from you or a image off of how you portray yourself. Off the fact that you are somewhat involved in the industry of fashion or even just arts as a whole. The stereotype remains that we are vain, self centred, arrogant, and rude individuals. But really in some cases that is not always true and sadly there are some individuals who carry themselves a particular way mainly because "they feel they have to". This is an issue that has always bothered me personally. Always lingering in the back of my mind "what makes he/she feel they can treat others lower then them or feel as if they are bigger and better than anyone and everyone they interact with".

You never know who is who or what is what, everyone we encounter in our lives I believe are there for a reason. For the good or even for the bad they may have some type of role even if it's not evident right off the bat. That one person you met in English class 3 years ago and you constantly dissed, just might be your only connection to a contract you might need 5 years down the line. See where I'm getting at ? I have met countless amazing people since moving to Montreal, which some may have just walked up to me themselves and introduced themselves. Did I try and play the asshole role and act as if I were too cool? No of coarse not. Really where would that have landed me though, if we cut our veins we all bleed the same way. No one is more human than the next.

Too many individuals really get too caught up in their own hype, they lose their sense of self being and 9 times out of 10 they eventually end up breaking down. Because they don't really remember who they are and what their nature really is.

Keeping your circle tight is a great remedy to avoid such events from occurring. Not saying welcoming new friends is a bad thing, but being too much of a social butterfly that is always in the mix can leave a bad taste in your mouth. How does this tie into falling for your own hype? Having too many Yes Men in your surroundings thats how. Yes Men will do whatever it takes to remain on your good side if it is beneficial for them and their plans. They will never be able to look you in the eye and tell you "thats a horrible idea" scared that you just might cut them off. So since everyone around is feeding you spoonfuls of how great you are 24/7 you'll just eventually get caught up. Get it?

To keep true success/hype one must be constantly on the move and constantly be pushing to find the next "thing" to reach the masses. Versus sitting back and relaxing because they had one good hit with a recent project. Personally I am never 100% satisfied with anything, I always see my own imperfections in anything I work behind. Lets just say it's a gift and a curse, a gift in the sense that I'm constantly trying to better myself as well as my craft. But a curse in a sense that I just might never be satisfied. The thought of knowing there is always bigger and better out there makes me want to keep pushing to eventually grasp it and surpass it within the same breath. Having a taste of success is good but to maintain that success and continue to build off of it and expand is greatness.

Stay humble, focus, keep building, have consistency, and keep your faith.

Inspired By Justin 

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Katherineisawesome X Area 51

So as a fan of style many assume I probably follow a good hundred fashion / style blogs, Well sorry to burst your bubble the truth is I kind of only follow two blog religiously. Those to blogs being Isaac Likes & Katherineisawesome , and they both just so happen to be close friends and natives of New Zealand. I was scrolling through Tumblr last night and something magnificent grabbed my attention.

Katherineisawesome , recently styled and shot the look book for a local street wear store in New Zealand called Area 51. In my opinion the styling was impeccable it was sicking ( in a good way ). Not only did I rave on Facebook that I wanted to have the female model (Seon Hwang) hand in marriage. But I had to message Katherine personally and share my  love and thoughts on her latest work. She's extremely humble and sweet just how I like my people, especially those in the "fashion industry".

(The first shot is actually now and will forever be my desktop image)

Check out:












Sunday, March 18, 2012

Peaks & Valley's : The Winner Is.....




Peak

  • I promised myself that this summer will be my best yet, by being more productive, experimental, and gain as much knowledge as my head can obtain. That being said the above shot I actually took yesterday spontaneously with a friend of mine. I just grabbed my cam and starting shooting away, just to mostly practice and work with sceneries. There is a lot more from the day just keep up with my Visual Diary over the next few days and weeks if you want to get a look.
  • I plan on doing a hell of a lot more photography over the next few months even some studio work. I'm crazy excited.
  • I wore a bowtie for the first time the other day here's how it turned out .
  • Before Twitter = Facebook. Before Facebook = Myspace. Before Myspace = Life
  • K so if a tomato is a fruit right, than ketchup must be a smoothie no?
  • Let passion drive you.
  • CONGRATULATIONS! ! ! ! To Jessy Diamond winner of the Simons Homme Giveaway.

Valley's

  • One of my biggest pet peeves : If I am engaged in a conversation with you via text or any form of social media. And I ask you a question DO NOT completely ignore the question and reply with something completely irrelevant. Example : Me : So did you send the email last night like I requested Her : OMG! its raining!
  • "Spencer, serious question..... so like are you gay?" ,she asks " No I'm as straight as it gets", I replied "WAIT WHAT YOU'RE NOT GAY" , her friend yelps. -______- I guess if you're clean and somewhat dress well and don't carry yourself in a douche bag manner. You're gay hmm ignorance.
  • DHL has the worst delivery service on the face of the planet, I must now travel across the city to pick up a package they have failed to deliver THREE TIMES.
  • Sucks when people only want to talk to you cause they feel they can get you to where you want to be. But never really supported you in the beginning.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Palladium : Streets In Focus

Recently Palladium launched their first collection under the new Palladium sports label. This collection they featured their signature canvas in bright athletic colours - red, kelly green, indigo, and with the classic Palladium rubber outsole in white.

Along, with the launch of the new collection Palladium set out to and created a film series which highlights the new collection through Palladium's "urban exploring" lens. The three - part series, entitled "Streets in Focus", showcases three young photographers as they offer first hand insight on their craft and the hidden terrain that inspires them within their home cities



Sunday, March 11, 2012

The 48 Laws of Power – Robert Greene

In some sort of way or form we all strive as individuals to land ourselves in a position of power. Nobody really wants to have to answer to anyone or really be over ruled that just seems to be the greatest desire we all hold within. To get to that level of power/success is the tricky part, and sad to say but we all don't manage to make it there. Like they say only the strong really survive right.

A few weeks ago I seemed to have stumbled upon "The 48 Laws of Power" it really intrigued me as well as many of my peers that I shared it with. In this book Robert Greene formulates elements from various political and influential figures to come up with these laws.

Now, a few of these points really hit dead on in my opinion and there are a lot that really don't sit well with me. To each his own.


1. Never Outshine the Master
Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.
2. Never Put Too Much Trust In Friends, Learn How To Use Enemies
Be wary of friends – they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
3. Conceal Your Intentions
Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelop them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.
4. Always Say Less Than Necessary
When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.
5. So Much Depends On Reputation – Guard It With Your Life
Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once it slips, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.
6. Court Attention At All Costs
Everything is judged by appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious than the bland and timid masses.
7. Get Others To Do The Work For You, But Always Take The Credit
Use wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save your valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you.
8. Make Other People Come To You – Use Bait If Necessary
When you force the other person to act, you are in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards.
9. Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument
Any momentary triumph you think you have gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory. The resentment and ill you will stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.
10. Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky
You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as diseases. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.
11. Learn To Keep People Dependent On You
To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so they can do without you.
12. Use Selective Honesty And Generosity To Disarm Your Victim
One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.


13. When Asking For Help, Appeal To People’s Self-Interest, Never To Their Mercy Or Gratitude
If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees, something to be gained for himself.
14. Pose As A Friend, Work As A Spy
Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still: Play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.
15. Crush Your Enemy Totally
All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed, completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way). If one ember is left alright, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.
16. Use Absence To Increase Respect And Honor
Too much circulation makes the price go down: The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity.
17. Keep Others In Suspended Terror: Cultivate An Air Of Unpredictability
Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.
18. Do Not Build Fortresses To Protect Yourself – Isolation Is Dangerous
The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves. A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from – it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people, find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd.
19. Know Who You’re Dealing With – Do Not Offend The Wrong Person
There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs’ clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person.
20. Do Not Commit To Anyone
It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you.
21. Play A Sucker To Catch A Sucker – Seem Dumber Than Your Mark
No one likes feeling stupider than the next person. The trick, then, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.
22. Use The Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness Into Power
When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first. By turning the other cheek you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power.
23. Concentrate Your Forces
Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time.
24. Play the Perfect Courtier
The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the most oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to have far you can rise in the court.


25. Re-Create Yourself
Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define it for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.
26. Keep Your Hands Clean
You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement.
27. Play On People’s Need To Believe To Create A Cultlike Following
People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.
28. Enter Action With Boldness
If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.
29. Plan All The Way To The End
The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others. By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.
30. Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed. When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more. Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions. Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you.
31. Control The Options: Get Others To Play With The Cards You Deal
The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice: Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets. Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose. Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose. Put them on the horns of a dilemma: They are gored wherever they turn.
32. Play To People’s Fantasies
The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes from disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert: Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.
33. Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usually an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.
34. Be Royal In Your Own Fashion: Act Like A King To Be Treated Like One
The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated: In the long-run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.
35. Master The Art Of Timing
Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.
36. Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignore Them Is The Best Revenge
By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem.


37. Create Compelling Spectacles
Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then, full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.
38. Think As You Like But Behave Like Others
If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share you originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.

39. Stir Up Waters To Catch Fish
Anger and emotion are usually counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.
40. Despise The Free Lunch
What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power.
41. Avoid Stepping Into A Great Man’s Shoes
What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.
42. Strike The Shepherd And The Sheep Will Scatter
Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoner of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.
43. Work On The Hearts And Minds Of Others
Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn. And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.
44. Disarm And Infuriate With The Mirror Effect
The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of the Mirror Effect.
45. Preach The Need For Change, But Never Reform Too Much At Once
Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.
46. Never Appear Too Perfect
Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.
47. Do Not Go Past The Mark You Aimed For; In Victory, Learn When To Stop
The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat. Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.
48. Assume Formlessness
By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never be on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Simons Giveaway

Spring is slowly creeping up in most areas in the world ( Montreal feels like it will be an iceberg forever )every time we think the blizzards and crazy low temperatures decide to show mercy.  We once again will get bombarded by snow fall or a ridiculous blizzard.

But nonetheless I'm here to keep the hope alive along with Simons . With spring / summer coming up we all know nautical stripes well always be a must have staple for the season. So here's a chance to get your own set of stripes with me.

I will be giving away this long sleeved crew neck nautical inspired Marin Shirt, accompanied by a great pair of socks to really boost up your sense of spring fever.

GIVEAWAY RULES (Giveaway Closed)
1) Like Simons Homme Facebook HERE
2) Like my face book page HERE
3) Lastly tweet " I have entered the @SIMONS_eng X @Proprpostur Giveaway http://tiny.cc/Jozf2b "

Give away will end March 15 (One Week).

Good Luck!!!!

More Treats
Up until March 20, Simons will be drawing a $50 gift card for every 100 new fans they get. Four grand prizes of up to $1,000 will be awarded during this period.