![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
Collateral Has Arrived!
Jan. 27th, 2009 | 09:56 am
music: David Byrne & Brian Eno- Strange Overtones
Hi Everyone!
It's been FOREVER so i must apologize for that :)
Life is busy as ever so unfortunately Cycle-Two.com is going on hiatus until the summertime when I am able to redevote myself to that project.
In the meantime, I have finally completed the presentation/lookbook/site for my project Collateral:
www.CollateralConcepts.com
In the most recent issue of Scoute is a writeup of the line as well.
Please let me know what you think!
The project is constantly evolving as well with new pieces being created as the experimentation/development process completes for each concept and design.
This summer I will try to present everything in a trunk show in NY. If this occurs, everyone will get early notice!
K and I also recently purchased a 1971 Karmann Ghia that is about 80% of the way to complete restoration. This week I'll either be putting in a new engine or timing/tuning the one currently in it, then it's cosmetic work! Photos soon once I get this baby running and purring again!
Also got another journal publication to add to my CV:
In the International Journal of Neuroscience:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19116
These are busy days....
Link | Leave a comment {1} | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
Notoriety
Nov. 19th, 2008 | 06:04 pm
So Billy called me to let me know that a bboy at practice saw him on here... who knew things would come full circle like that?
This is why I love the internet. Semi-anonymity with virtual presence at the same time.
This reminded me that:
a). I need to post Florox Reunion photos
b). I need to start practicing more (I've volunteered to be part of the first year vs. second year halftime show this saturday)
c). I need to buy my Boston/NY tickets so that I can meet up and hang out/session with everyone again
d). School needs to wrap up asap so I can focus on Collateral, Cycle-Two, and everything else not school related!
Here's Billy's Finger:
... after dipping it into Neoguri ramen flavor packet!
Yeeeaaahhhhhh son!
Yes, that's right.
and then, the piece de resistance....
Billy trying to throw up the Florox sign by Bboy Born and then some girl comes up to him right in the middle of our shot hahahahahahaha
Love it!
Well, that's it for now. More to come soon as I'm traveling to Vegas for next week's holiday. Not only will gambling be had, I'm bringing my climbing shoes to do some bouldering over at Red Rock Canyon.
Woohoo!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
Obama!!!!
Nov. 7th, 2008 | 02:55 pm
Here are some photos from the night of election. Doesn't matter if you voted for him (or at all), these are great shots of the man, and this pivotal moment.
Let's Begin!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
New Items!!
Oct. 29th, 2008 | 12:50 pm
I've been crazy busy with academics along with the requisite designing and store maintenance... not enough hours in the day!
Cycle-Two has just been updated with many new and rare pieces from CCP, Linea, CDiem and LMaltieri. Please take a look!
Collateral has been coming along well... slowly but steadily. I just completed another bag for the capsule collection and will be launching a temporary website soon that at least lets everyone know that it's there. The collection is nearing completion as I've got all the materials needed to create the pants, and i've got at least some of the materials for the coat. Collateral as a line will be introduced once the pants are done, and as new pieces are developed they will be added to the collection. The line is completely seasonless.
There's heavy experimentation with treatments, structuring and construction with each piece and so as each piece is finalized, it will be made available. When the collection is presented, each piece will for the time being be able to be ordered on a custom basis. I am in some preliminary talks with people for physical store presentations/distribution but that's in the early stages.
When the capsule collection is ready, it will have the following:
1 shoulder bag
1 weekender/doctor's bag
3 shirts
1 pant
1 wrist wrap
4 rings
1 scarf
currently in experimentation stages are another shirt, another ring, a coat and a few other things!
Stay tuned and thank you guys for being so supportive and patient!!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
Yikes
Aug. 25th, 2008 | 04:46 pm
Things have been busy, but we've just updated Cycle-Two with new items (including a CCP overlock leather jacket!) and I have been just as busy working on the Collateral capsule collection.
Currently in the works to get the footwear made and in the meantime I've acquired some really beautiful leathers that will blow your minds!!!
Also managed to sneak off to Hawaii for two weeks before returning to the continental US and soon after got slammed with second year med school. Yes, it is indeed living up to the ridiculous amount of material that everyone says it is. Pure insanity.
A real update is coming.... Promise!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
New(s)
Apr. 23rd, 2008 | 09:01 pm
The school year is winding down so the coursework is revving up. Bastards. Had a horrific neurology exam to start this week off and then next tuesday is the clinical examination exam, next friday is the microbiology bacteria, fungi, parasites exam, followed the week after by the comprehensive microbiology exam, the human behavior exam and then the comprehensive neurology exam.
Please kill me. It's getting downright ridiculous now.
________________________________________
In other news... we've received a mish-mash shipment at Cycle-Two!
Label Under Construction
Sartoria
LMaltieri
Rick Owens
Pieces disappear fast so please just let me know if there are any pieces that you would like!
I've begun the patternmaking and construction/experimentation on several pieces and concepts that I have sketched out in the last year. The key project this summer is to develop a capsule collection and at least launch a bare-bones site for all of my creative projects (wearable and otherwise). The domain has been locked down and will at least be accessible around mid-May.
The site will be:
www.CollateralConcepts.com
I have about 6 clothing concepts to bring about along with a small selection of jewelry/accessories. My medical background factors heavily into this first capsule collection. Definitely one of my main influences along with everything I've learned from the designers that I wear (Carol, Luca, Maurizio Altieri & Amadei among others).
I hope everyone likes it.
I also plan on making my very own Edra Boa couch:
90 yards of fabric stitched into a tube and filled with polystyrene chips. Shouldn't be difficult and should cost around $500-800 to complete with all the raw materials. Considering how MASSIVE it is and how lovely squishy fun it's going to be... I can't resist. Know how much the Edra version costs?
$20,000.
No thanks. I'll make the damn thing.
In looking for Dior Homme photos from Red/Boys Don't Cry to sell these dress combat boots I have from that collection, I came across this blog. Best thing about the entry here:
http://inmyparadigm.blogspot.com/2007/05/d
Is that although the first photo is runway, the closeups of the blood wound shirt are.... dun dun duuuunnnnn, MY handiwork!
That's right. My personally made blood wound shirts have spread enough that people who have seen the closeups have actually been convinced enough that it is the real thing. I'm flattered and amazed that something I made sitting at my desk back in Boston could have made it all around the world in blog format.
More coming soon....!!!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
Whew!
Apr. 3rd, 2008 | 12:53 am
It's been a few weeks!
Right after spring break, we got HAMMERED with Microbiology and Neurology. Finished both exams today and everything turned out just fine!
A new shipment will be coming in likely this weekend to Cycle-Two so stay tuned!
In other news.....
The new season (Spring/Summer 2008) Label Under Construction and Carol Christian Poell has arrived at Atelier!
If you are in/around New York City.
Go.
See it. Touch it. Believe in it.
Have it change your life.
And while you're at it. Meet JoJo, James, Satoru and Karlo and have a good time with these wonderful guys.
.... and drop some hot bills on some baller pieces.
Go and be happy there!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
The Rick Owens "Barf" Shirt
Mar. 14th, 2008 | 02:35 am
Oh yeah!
I managed to find the fabled Rick "Barf" shirt... although in a sleeveless version, it's a hilarious layering piece. Seen here on Jude:
One of the greatest Rick tees ever made. I'm loving it!
Link | Leave a comment {1} | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
Woo Spring Break!
Mar. 14th, 2008 | 01:46 am
*flashes breasts*
Woohoo!
Ok, so not quite... mostly a lot of catching up on sleep, lots of traveling around, and hanging out. Loving every minute of it.
I had initially planned on studying Neurology this week to see if I could test out of that module for the coming month but my god... I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I'll take the course just like everyone else and be done with it. I need this break.
Traveled to the outskirts of Boston and immediately K and I made a GIGANTIC vat of wonton soup:
I folded a billion.
.... and then we ate until we died.
A couple of days later, K got a bit of money and so we had to take a requisite "Big Baller" photo!
... please note the floating 20. It took many many shots to get the floating-bill action. Oh Jackson.....
The money immediately went towards home furnishings required for K's brother. Bedsheets, pillows, food, the necessities.
On tuesday early (too early...) morning I hopped on the good ol Peter Pan busline for a quick jaunt to NY to hang out with Billy, Luke, Kevin and the rest of FRC along with meeting up with some good folks from Stylezeitgeist.
Back In New York (*sigh of relief*):
Of course the first stop was Atelier, but on the way I saw a little accident that occurred on Crosby:
The cab obviously hit something... but nothing else was around. The above is my supersecret paparazzi photo.
Drink it in folks. A is moving to Hudston St. in a couple of months! Triple the space, triple the awesome! Even so, I will miss the little walk down Crosby St.... although I'm happy to not have to deal with all the tourists stopping everywhere on Broadway and the rest of SoHo.
... I couldn't leave A empty handed (even though Satoru shipped me the MA+ deep V hoodie just last week). I picked up the new dark green DRKSHDW short sleeve tee and it's fucking beautiful. My new goal is to replace all my tees with Rick Owens tees.... slowly (at $250-280 a pop... it's gonna be slowwwww). They're so damn soft and comfortable and the colorways are spot on. Killer!
Some fun graf in SoHo:
Billy showing his utter contempt for NY manhole covers.
Then we tried going to Cafe 69 in Chinatown. A place I have been going to for YEARS. They're most well known for having all of their walls plastered with dollar bills (and even some 5's, 10's 20's and even a couple 50's on the wall!). Every inch of the wall was covered with bills and writing:
Even Cuba's been!!!
.... but Billy and I show up there on tuesday and this is what we find:
BARREN!!!!!!
The sign said they were "remodeling."
Hell no. What they were really doing is CASHING IN!
I can't believe it.
Cuba can't believe it.
..... so Billy and I went to Tasty Dumpling instead:
Yes. Tasty Dumpling.
Where else can you get:
- 20 pork and leek potstickers
- 20 pork and nappa cabbage potstickers
- 1 snapple
- 1 sweet soy milk
for $14?!!!!!!!!
It's beautiful.
A testament to a delicious nature of Tasty Dumpling... my brother eats there regularly. About 2 years ago, he ate there and got food poisoning. After feeling like hell and throwing up for a day or two. He took a little break and then... came right back to Tasty Dumpling. Now that is allegiance!
Then a night of vodka drinks with friends, passing out, meeting up with Katy at NYU Hospital as she wrapped up a carotid case on wednesday afternoon, ate a buffalo burger and then made it onto the bus back to Amherst with literally 30 seconds to spare before they pulled out of Port Authority. Talk about cutting it waaaaaaaaaay too close!
Got back to Amherst and passed out.
Goodnight everyone!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
In Cycle-Two News...
Mar. 10th, 2008 | 12:48 am
All original items are now at 30% off!
(discounted prices are as marked)
We also received a shipment this week with Rick Owens, LMaltieri, CCP, Cloak and others in it! Please stop in at Cycle-Two and take a look!
We are expecting another shipment in approximately two weeks so stay tuned everyone!
Thank you all for your continued support and well wishes. It brings me a lot of joy to be able to bring people together with those items that they've been hunting for. As always, please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
More Stuff To Cram Into The Closet
Mar. 10th, 2008 | 12:25 am
...also just got a couple more articles out from my research at Harvard... one in Muscle&Nerve and the other in Development. Once online publications are up, I'll link em here!
A number of new acquisitions in the interim:
MA+ S/S 08 Deep V hoodie in carbon green. Clean and simple but fucking awesome.
CCP early collection double zip fencing jacket (still would prefer the current fencing... something may be done about that!) and Rick Owens double layered short sleeve tee in darkshadow color.
MA+ SS 07 gray thick aviator jacket (probably one of my best purchases of the last 6 months!), and CCP horse cordovan & paper oxfords from SS 07 as well. I've been looking for the perfect dress shoe and this is it.
LMaltieri wool cardigan. Love it. Love it!!!
Also picked up:
FeS2 purple/gray tee
Cloak black slim pants
MA+ long sleeve shirt
CCP object dyed gray circular belt
MA+ black side bag
CCP dress shirt (as seen in PC Cafe/Bouchee photos)
LMaltieri black heavy coat (as seen in PC Cafe photo)
LMaltieri mitten/gloves (as seen in PC Cafe photo)
LMaltieri elf hat
Currently my "to-get" list is pretty short:
SS 07 or FW 08 CCP Black Fencing Jacket
SS 07 of FW 08 CCP Overlock Jacket
For the most part, I just see what older collection pieces pop up on ebay/SZ/Yahoo and see what strikes my fancy. I'm always on the lookout for LMaltieri button up shirts as they are the perfect balance between dressy and casual. I wouldn't mind a LMaltieri thick linen shirt and the LMaltieri blazer with extended sleeve linings either. Just gotta keep a vigilant eye out!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
Everything!
Mar. 9th, 2008 | 08:56 pm
I will use a massive photo montage to cover various aspects of it:
First up.... a trip back to Boston with some shots of my old place on Commonwealth Ave (Kenmore Square... right where all the riots love to occur hahaha):
The apartment and the view from it. Loved that place!!
A nice shot looking into rainy Boston Commons
Newbury at night
Commonwealth Ave.
Boba at PC Cafe (Harvard Ave in Allston). They used to have the BEST BOBA IN THE WORLD but they just changed ownership and it's only mediocre now. Such a shame.
K at PC Cafe
Oysters and Clams at Bouchee
One of the (many) dishes consumed. Delicious!
Another delicious dish consisting of most of the creatures in the ocean.
K's aunt and uncle from Germany
@ dinner
________________________________________
Florox Reunion!
First we break at MIT
Jun, against the wall
The alarms in the lobby where we practice.
Then we eat Shabu Shabu
...and Billy remains pensive throughout.
How Billy signs his receipts. That is indeed a dinosaur fighting a tank.
The aftermath.... then we moved on to Sunset and drank. The lesson learned that evening is that the Sam Adams Triple Bock is NOT something you want to ever consume. Yes, it will put hair on your chest, face and arms, but at the cost of a small part of your soul. Be warned.
________________________________________
Back in San Antonio......
A Vietnamese spring roll dinner made by K! Deliciousssss
Winning baller amounts of tickets playing trivia answering all 5 random questions correctly and faster than everyone else!
Pool with the guys after yet another round of exams
...you gotta love Texas right?
** EDIT: Billy has brought to my attention that the vehicle is Japanese made... making this racist bumper sticker all the better**
The resident deer in the backyard.
Dinnertime fortune cookies!
Lunch at Taco Taco. Voted best tacos in the nation! Delicious...
________________________________________
..... and a few random photos:
Port Authority in NY
11 pm at Wal Mart
My brother's msPainting of me
The indian food court in a plaza in Dallas
Made-to-order PaniPuri!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
CCP Lookbooks Of The Past
Mar. 9th, 2008 | 08:17 pm
CCP S/S 02 Expectance
CCP S/S 02 Traditional Escape
...and some more recent collections:
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
Maurizio Altieri's Atelier & Avantindietro Footwear
Mar. 9th, 2008 | 08:06 pm
These are some shots of Altieri's Perugia atelier along with the showing of Avantindietrio right next to his atelier:
And current season Avantindietro footwear.... 
All the footwear uses laces that have a needle end to them. Designed so that you do not have to knot the lace in a traditional manner!
...some detail shots
and also a pair of Augusta boots from the coming season:
It's stingray... and it's ridiculously expensive.
Current season Augusta boots are a sight to behold! Barneys has picked up Simone's line for the first season but their buy is on the conservative side. To see the real capability and prowess of Augusta, see what Atelier is stocking! Heat-sensitive color changing leathers, diagonal zip boots, wraparound boots and more! Most of the Augusta footwear now at Atelier was specially commissioned by the folks at A. Simone himself stopped in and they worked out everything from the colors, leathers, silhouette and style and these were then made to order.
Link | Leave a comment {1} | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
MA+ F/W 2008 Preview
Mar. 9th, 2008 | 07:38 pm
This is MA+ next fall:
In my opinion it's just a LOT of rehashing of things Amadei has already done. There are definitely some lovely footwear items along with accessories in the mix but don't count on any shoes/boots being less than $2k per pair. The silver wallet chains/necklaces are also very lovely but the price makes them pretty unreasonable... I made some chains using the same tarnished silver and material cost was about $50 per chain... compared to Amadei's $600+ charge for the same chain in the past... pricewise it will probably be much higher next fall.
The double sided foldable wallet is a beautiful evolution of his single-piece wallet construction. I picked up the original one from his first collection and have been carrying it in my pocket ever since. Absolutely genius design that is simple, elegant and eye catching.
I see the clothes as the greatest weakness of this coming fall. Definitely a shame because Amadei up to this point has produced some seriously "must-have" pieces including his aviator jacket, deep V hoodie and his leather shirt. Amazing fabrics, genius construction and really just overall artistic works.
.... and the prices keep climbing!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
SALE!
Feb. 22nd, 2008 | 05:32 pm
It's sales time at Cycle-Two!
20% OFF ALL ITEMS!
(Prices Have Been Changed To Reflect Sale)
CYCLE-TWO
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
Exams.
Feb. 5th, 2008 | 10:37 am
Everything degenerates and life becomes ruled by notes, books, x-rays, anatomy lab, library, and the constant hunt for cheap-yet-satisfying food so one doesn't have to cook.
I haven't shaved for 5 (or 6?) days and don't plan to until this weekend.
Laundry has not been done.
The bed is a mess.
... and there are fabric scraps, bits of thread and pieces of metal all around the living room from the last sewing project.
To finish out this week of exams there is:
Virology
Histology Final
Anatomy (written component)
Anatomy (laboratory component)
then it's Chinese new years!!!!
to quote one of the greatest comedians of our time, Dave Attell:
"Who likes fireworks? Raise your hook hand!"
Photos taken in the anatomy labs:
That's right. Passed out from studying.
Love it!!!!
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
More to Come
Feb. 3rd, 2008 | 11:22 am
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
Tragedy Strikes
Feb. 3rd, 2008 | 10:52 am
While at the medical examiner's office this past weekend, I happened to lean over in between cases and out fell the phone... onto the concrete floor. This was the result.
I suppose I should count myself lucky as a quick glance on ebay yields quite a few search results on people who have done similar things and their screens are in MUCH worse condition. The phone still functions fine with full touch screen capability. I promptly drove out to the Apple store and got a cover film for it and K got me a case (Thanks Love!) in case I ever drop it again.
Poor phone... I've really beat it to hell already and its been but a mere few months...
In lighter news, the little Chinatown-purchased turtles Speedy and Gonzales are happy and fat. A trip to Petsmart yesterday yielded them a floating ceramic lily pad that they can climb on, a new basking light, and I used some rocks and built them a cave in their large-cat-litterbox-home.
They immediately swam under the lily pad and didn't come out until I fed them their delicious Turtle Treats (aka lyophilized shrimp bits) and their pellet food.
Ah... the life of a turtle.
________________________________________
In the last two weeks I've been lucky to have been able to track down a few pieces that I have been hunting for for a while. The LMaltieri knit cardigan, MA+ long sleeve tee, CCP classic black belt and the CCP rabbit shearling (how does he do it?!) frankenstein gloves have been my latest acquisitions.
The gloves are a true work of art:
The construction is amazing. All those components are serged (ie-overlocked) and the gloves have the curly rabbit fur side of the rabbit shearling on the interior for perfect warmth. When relaxed at the sides of the body, the gloves actually curve slightly to follow the contours of the hand. The right glove is also constructed differently than the left so you get a lovely asymmetry in the stitchwork.
Now for some random photos taken around the medical center and within the hospital:
Instead of marking it as "trash," someone decided to use more updated nerd vernacular to deem this item ready for disposal.
One of the best headlines I've seen in ages. Plastered in the front window of a Chinese restaurant near the medical center.
and finally:
Alas, true tragedy struck when I was tapped for a surprise Anatomy lab evaluation. A good 20 minutes of being asked "what is this?" "please point out the ______" "what are the branches of ________nerve/artery/vein" "what innervates the _______" "What is the embryological derivative of _______" and so on and so forth.
Not a problem though! Smoked it!
...now onto the Endocrine/Reproductive/Aging Physiology exam tomorrow, soon followed by the Virology exam, Histology Exam, and Anatomy exams.
Welcome to Medical School.
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
On!
Jan. 31st, 2008 | 12:23 am
We will be adding CCP, LMaltieri, Cloak, and DRKSHDW pieces in the next few days with more coming in the next couple of weeks!