be@rbrick-to-wear

From bearbrick passion to bearbrick fashion: These 70% bearbricks are the perfect accessories – they've got clasps that can be attached to cellphones, bags, necklaces, and bracelets. These were created by Medicom to promote Pepsi Nex soda and 20th Century Fox movies and televison shows in Japan early this year.

(Upper right) The Devil Wears Prada.

(Below, left to right) The Day After Tomorrow, Prison Break, Alien, Planet Of The Apes, Die Hard.

(Below, left to right) Night At The Museum, 24, Titanic, Fight Club, and The Omen.


(Left) My favorite is the one inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger's hit film, Predator. It's edgy and logo-free (so it doesn't look very commercial). Looks good on a Tiffany chain, too.

The wearable bearbrick. If you've got it, flaunt it! ;-)

Note: If you missed this collection of clasped bearbricks, then watch out for the forthcoming Star Wars series which includes Darth Vader, Darth Maul, R2D2, C3PO, Yoda, Chewbacca, Stormtrooper, Clone Tropper, Boba Fett, Jango Fett, Wicket, Jawa, etc. All must-haves!

let's get loud!

My neighbor, Mr. Y, is a friendly old man. Whenever I bump into him in the corridors of our condo, he greets me with a smile and chats me up. (Never mind that he always gets my name wrong.) He's particularly chummy with Mrs. X, a sexy middle-aged divorcee, who only wears short shorts and tank tops, and goes for a drive in her BMW practically every night. ;-)

Once I hosted a party for a friend. Around midnight, my place was packed with drunk guests while Hed Kandi music blared from my JBL speakers.

Then the doorbell rang.

Uh-oh. Was the music too loud? Did we wake up the neighbors?

I opened the door and peered outside. Mr. Y was in the corridor, intoxicated and swaying from side to side. No, he wasn't about to fall – he was dancing to the loud music!

"Hi, I just got home and I heard you guys havin' a party in there. You know, I like to dance – I'm a very good dancer," he blurted while thrusting his hips a little harder. As I opened my mouth to answer, his door opened and his maid (a hefty and dour-looking woman who only spoke Visayan) quickly dragged him in, despite his drunken protests.


Several months after that incident, my driver, Guido, told me that he saw Mr. Y get out of the elevator, shirt tattered and face bruised. He asked me, "What could possible get a nice old man like him in trouble?"

I could only think of three L's. Liquor. Ladies. Loud music. :-D

(Top left) This Boombox-inspired Bearbrick was created by Hong Kong illustrator and toy designer Jason Siu. It was among seven bears that were released during the 2001 Hong Kong Toycon. Siu's work, including his fanciful speaker collection entitled 'Speak Your Mind' (above), reflected his fascination with 80s hiphop street culture. Check out his toys here.

Info / speaker pics from jasonsiu.com

elvis for hire

I finally got my 100% Elvis Bearbrick!

Don't you just love the campy white jumpsuit? Very 70s! FYI, Medicom Toy and AllRound Music Japan created this bear for the King of Rock & Roll's 30th death anniversary last August 16, 2007.

Elvis is the most impersonated man in the world – there are as much as 50,000 Elvis performers worldwide! In Las Vegas alone, one can pick from more than a hundred Elvises online. To book one for your grandpa's birthday, click here. :-)

The best Elvis-for-hire is Shawn Klush of Pennsylvania (above). He won the first-ever contest for Elvis 'tribute artists' endorsed by Presley's estate in 2007. An Elvis of his caliber gets paid up to $50,000 for a show!

But nothing compares to the real King: Elvis (right), during a live television broadcast from Hawaii in January '73, the same year he got divorced from wife Priscilla.

After that year, health problems, exacerbated by drugs and middle-age crisis greatly affected his stage act and self-esteem.

“The image is one thing and the human being is another...it’s very hard to live up to an image.”
– Elvis Presley, during a press conference for his record-breaking Madison Square Garden shows in New York City, 1972.

Just wondering: if it was difficult for Elvis to live up to his own image, how much more for the thousands of poor Elvis wannabes?

Info and Elvis Presley pics from Wikipedia, www.abc.net.au, www.gigmasters.com, www.toybeast.com, usatoday.com, spitting-images.com, mainetoday.com, bbc.co.uk, canadianchristianity.com, quotesandsayings.com

chameleons

One bear, different designs. Below, left to right: (1.) One of Series 12's secret bearbricks is this bat-bear in black from Japanese fashion brand Roen (2.) A blue green surrealistic bear from the 2007 San Diego Comic Convention, by New York Pop Artist Ron English (3.) Pink bearbrick by David Flores for Los Angeles streetwear store, X-Large (4.) Bear in shades of blue with the symbol of singer/songwriter/actress Hamasaki Ayumi to promote the 2003 A-Nation concert tour in Japan.


One babe, multiple looks. (Above, left to right) Dutch supermodel Kim Noorda looks (1.) understated in Bottega Veneta, (2.) glamorous in Christian Dior, (3.) trendy in Emilio Pucci, and (4.) corporate in Moschino.

Because of Kim's classic, soft features, her face is the ultimate canvas for any make-up artist. Her brows can be darkened to convey strength, her lips can be thickened to look more sensual, her eyes can be outlined for that edgy goth look, etc.

That's why fashion designers love her. Just last spring 2008, she walked the runway for more than 50 different brands. From Diesel Jeans to Louis Vuitton. From pret-a-porter to haute couture.

Just like a Be@rbrick, she's the consummate chameleon.

Kim Noorda pics from style.com / info from bellazon.org

survival of the fittest fashion

Isn't it interesting how the theory of natural selection also applies to clothing? Through centuries, impractical garments such as long capes and veils, petticoats, corsets, and kilts have practically gone extinct. But essentials like coats, dresses, hats, belts, shoes, shirts, etc. have evolved and survived.

Sexual permissiveness encouraged the switch from old-fashioned pantalettes to today's skimpy thongs. Global warming transformed the chemise undergarment into outerwear. Likewise, today's focus on fitness and six-pack abs lowered pants' waistlines to hip level.

Take denim jeans, for example. They are among the oldest garments that ever existed, yet today – more than a hundred years after Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis invented them – they have remained young, hip and in fashion.

The reasons are obvious – denim jeans are comfortable, durable, and look better with wear and tear. Better yet, fashion designers can reshape, embellish, dye or distress them – and the results always turn out fab.

Denim jeans are undoubtedly durable, but thanks to their amazing adaptability, they've truly endured the test of time.


JEANS TODAY (Above, left to right): Loose hiphop style at Yohji Yamamoto's Y3 show. Slim and sexy at Dolce & Gabbana.

(Top) The Levi's Jeans Bearbrick comes free with every purchase of Levi's special 501 jeans or 'Origin' t-shirt. Check out the official website here. Produced by Levi's Taiwan and Medicom Toy.

Info from hypebeast.com & levistrauss.com / Runway pics from menstyle.com