The Way We Were

BEAUTY: Clothing--ERL

Newish brand ERL is pretty much a one-man operation, headed by Eli Russell Linnetz. Born and raised in Venice, California, he is a multi-talented screen and voice actor, director, photographer, and stage designer who studied screenwriting and costume design at the University of Southern California. In 2016, he directed Kanye West’s “Fade” video, starring Teyona Taylor. By the following year, he was photographing a campaign for Comme des Garçons perfumes. He subsequently directed several music Videos for West and photographed celebrities like Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez. 

Only in its third season, ERL sports a specific Californian vibe and while the clothing in this collection might not be revolutionary or singularly artistic, it is this exact vibe that tickles me. A sort of 1970s/1980s daydream of California surfer/ski boys in underwear and long johns, it feels like an homage to gay porn from that period (if anyone dares, Google "The Summer of Scott Noll").

Titled "The Final Frontier," his Fall-Winter 21-22 collection riffs on the Space Age, the shaggy/Glam ’70s, and a tiny bit of the gaudy ’80s with some Liberace-like eveningwear. He collaborated with French sportswear and equipment brand Salomon for a few ski-inspired pieces, but I especially love the fluffy, furry shearling that is made from...wait for it...a newly invented corn-fiber material so it is completely sustainable and vegan!

https://www.elirusselllinnetz.com/erl

The Urban Cowboy Catskills and The Dive Motel

Designer, hotelier, and real estate broker Lyon Porter and his business and life partner Jersey Banks have opened up a string of wonderfully atmospheric hotels but they seem to have outdone themselves with their two most recent creations. I would love to stay at both of these for a weekend!

The Urban Cowboy Catskills is nestled on the side of a mountain in the Big Indian Wilderness, only 2 1/2 hours away from New York City. The historic Lodge dates back to 1898. Being an interior designer, I can really appreciate working within a theme, and this entire property is delightful: mountain-lodge-rustic-Ralph-Lauren crossed with a fun, retro 50s lake-side summer camp aesthetic. The lobby and bar alone are jaw-dropping in their use of iconic materials and objects like antlers, oars, and Pendleton blankets.

There are 28 luxurious, uniquely designed rooms in five buildings which have been artfully revived by Porter’s signature design of bold patterns (the hand-printed wallcoverings wrap up the ceilings!) and hand-picked Americana antiques. Some suites feature clawfoot bathtubs for two with forest views and pot belly stoves. Others include outdoor cedar soaking tubs on their private deck. In The Dining Room, Chef Tara Norvell cooks locally inspired dishes from an open indoor/outdoor kitchen.

And switching gears, let's look at one of their Nashville creations, The Dive Motel. While the Catskills lodge has a Romantic sense about it, The Dive is pure kitsch. But both derive their look from pure Americana. A mash up of 60s and 70s cultures--"Easy Rider" meets disco--each of the 23 rooms at The Dive are uniquely designed and one of a kind. All rooms come with a ‘Party Switch’ that spins a Disco Ball to the tunes of "Dive Radio," an in-house music service consisting of 4 channels: Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, and Sleep. The awesome graphics on the bedroom walls are reminiscent of Verner Panton, previously here (in fact, I can see the Panton molded plastic chair in the orange and yellow bedroom!). And I can absolutely imagine Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper pulling up to have a beer at the bar.

Dive Motel photos by Ben Fitchett

Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks

https://www.urbancowboy.com/catskills/
https://www.thedivemotel.com/
http://www.lyonporter.com/