Perched on a hill top apartment overlooking the statues of Monument Avenue resides the Cowboy Prince. Offering a hospitable invitation into his Walden-esque refuge and freshly made biscuits, the Cowboy Prince is a costume designer by trade and a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Bringing elements of a past time into modernity, the apartment serves as a greater extension of the personal outlook of the artist; encouraging others to live in pursuit of the heights of their wildest dreams and become the kings and queens of their own worlds.
“I am not that unique in my values, and interests - hell I know many people who wish they lived in another time period. What makes me different from the norm is that I embrace those inner most wild dreams and live my life in the pursuit of their realization. My true vocation, all though I am a tailor and folk artist by trade, is the pursuit of life. I want my life to be my message, and that message is for other people. My weird dressing style, art, home and interactions in the world are invitations for others to join in to a life of intentionality.” -Cowboy Prince
Visit Dirty Richmond tomorrow to read an open letter from the Cowboy Prince.
Sneak peak: Charlie C. Umhau photographed in his Monument Avenue bedroom for an upcoming feature.
Rachel and Chris are quite a busy couple. Rachel is popularly known in Richmond as the model for Need Supply Co., but when she is not in front of the lens, she serves as the boutiques’ blogger, website writer, and assistant stylist. Apart from that, Rachel has her own jewelry line, Academy Jewelry. A line that she officially started in the fall of 2010 but previously dabbled in jewelry design for years prior. Chris has an equally sized plate as a menswear buyer for Need Supply Co., soccer coach, occasional cook at The Roosevelt, and undoubtedly the best dressed middle and high school teacher in Richmond’s West End. On a rare not so hectic weekend for the couple, I had the pleasure to spend a Sunday afternoon with the pair in the home they share on the outskirts of the city.
Chris was at the hull of an exclusive collaboration between The Alden Shoe Company and Need Supply. Chris’ meticulously designed Seven Hills Indy Bootfeatures a rugged waxed calf tan dakota upper, white vibran out-sole, and Alden’s tradition of superior quality craftsmanship.
VISIT DIRTY RICHMOND TOMORROW FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO ENTER TO WIN A NECKLACE FROM ACADEMY JEWELRY!
Academy Jewelry: Etsy, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter.
See Bree Davis’ video from the shoot here.
On a mid August afternoon, I was fortunate to met Andrew and his wife Joanna at their cozy home located off a quiet street in the Little Italy neighborhood of Toronto. Andrew and Joanna are a creative pair; Andrew being a menswear writer in the day and moonlighting as DJ Stroke on the weekends, and Joanna, a graphic designer for the National Ballet of Canada. Their home of ten years is full of character, and an eclectic mix of vintage and modern adornments.
Toronto is an incredibly easy city to navigate with streets running parallel and perpendicular. While Andrew and I were talking, Joanna disappeared and returned with this map for me.
While in Toronto, I met so many congenial and wonderful people and Andrew and Joanna were of the best! Their will be more collaborations with Andrew but in the mean time, follow his blog, properclobber.tumblr.com for Toronto street style and latest in fashion.
During four years without moving, it’s amazing how much a person can accumulate inside one tiny apartment at the edge of the Fan. I started moving out of my seventh story apartment about three weeks ago and what I realized is that 1) I hate moving and that I’m really bad at it 2) I’m probably too sentimental because I want to hold on to everything and 3) WHY DO I OWN SO MUCH?! Before throwing all of my belongings into boxes, or at least pretending to, I took a few pictures of my apartment and a few of the things that I refuse to let go.
#GratuitousPicturesofYourApartment.
In two short weeks from now, my friends Chris and Molly are putting everything on hold, leaving their lives in Richmond behind, and spending the next three months traveling across the country. A few days ago, we spent a breezy summer evening sipping on sweet French wine, discovering hidden treasures in their apartment, and for me to find out more about the inaugural journey of The Travelogue Appreciation Society.
What started as a conversation about the surreal landscape of Arizona’s badlands, eventually grew to a wanderlust adventure and the creation of the Travelogue Appreciation Society. The couple wanted a way for others to share the experiences and joys of traveling, beyond taking photographs, and videos and posting it on their tumblr (although they will be doing this too!). In an age when documenting experiences are becoming more and more digital, rarely existing in physical form, and quickly lost or forgotten; the couple wanted to provide a more tangible and personal way for people to be a part of their cross-country travel rather than passively reading about it.
The Travelogue Appreciation Society is open to anyone, and after paying the initial dues of $30 when signing up, each member will receive a membership card and two packages filled with souvenirs from across the United States and delivered through the mail during the summer. Molly and Chris already have a few ideas of what will be included in the packages but not limited to: recipes from roadside diners, drawings, handmade books, flora and fauna specimens, and soundscapes from remote locations. What is most exciting is the complete mystery and uncertainty of their discoveries and what will be shared because what determines the content of the packages is dependent on the gems they happen to discover, and this is something that is impossible to predict.
After spending several evenings with Chris and Molly, I quickly felt the genuine love they share through the sincere way they speak of each other and the kind way they interact. The two have interests in creating through several mediums and their house is filled with gifts, crafts, and trinkets that they have made for each other on holidays and other occasions. The two see the care packages as a way to keep motivated, creative, and way to continue to collaborate.
They both had initial reservations for their trip but realized that there is never a perfect time to do something. While taking to Chris he added, “You’re just going to keep putting it off and eventually you have to make the decision to go and just do it.”
To find out more about the Travelogue Appreciation Society, follow their tumblr, facebook page, and contact them by email at: traveloguemailorder@gmail.com. Chris and Molly will be in Richmond until the middle of July and it is better to sign up sooner than later, but registration will be open until the first package is sent out in August.
During karaoke night at Cous Cous while we were drinking cans of PBR, I started to think; out of my friends living in Richmond, I have known Lilly the longest. It is true, we were neighbors growing up and I spent many childhood afternoons playing with her bunny rabbits and eating the grilled cheese sandwiches that her mom would make us after school.
Lilly is one of the best, and because I have known her for so long, since I was 5, I always look forward to seeing her and especially to hear her hilarious, unbelievable, and sometimes slightly awkward stories of her life.
I have only ventured to the North Side of the city a hand full of times (well only four to be exact). This is where Lilly now lives; no longer in the miniature apartments of the Fan, to a house with an actual yard (I haven’t had a yard since moving to Richmond), and a home filled with incredible character.
This house has one of the best record collections. It had been raining all morning, so what is better than to listen to Simon and Garfunkel?
Lilly has had Romeo for over 9 years now. When Lilly used to live in the Fan, I would accompany him on his walks (but I don’t think he remembers). He is easily one of the most hansom dogs in Richmond.
