Today marks 30 years since the suicide of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. I thought it might be fitting to encourage anyone to watch the film Control, if you haven’t yet. It was really really good and flew too far below the radar.

The black and white film follows Curtis’ life from 1973 to 1980, focusing on his marriage, the formation and rise of Joy Division, his struggle with epilepsy, and ends with his untimely death. A very grim story, but if you are a fan of Joy Division and New Order, you’ll find the story enthralling and heartbreaking all at once.

The lead actor in the biopic—Sam Riley—does such an amazing job. Watch the clip above as he transforms himself completely to Curtis, providing pitch perfect vocals and all.

My father was one of 7 kids in a very poor New England family. He moved to NYC with nothing, renting a place at the YMCA for dollars a day, while working two jobs and going to school at night. I’m inspired by his ambition to make something of himself. He’s a true entreprenaur who never waited for things to happen, and instead created opportunities for himself and others.

What made me think of this was the above video made by Grasshopper. It’s really nicely done and inspiring as well. 

Roman & Williams is a definite source of inspiration. I think Sabrina and I refer to them constantly when thinking/talking about design work. Recently, I find myself citing spaces they have created as some of my favorite in NYC, from the Ace Hotel to the bar at the Standard. I love the way their work evokes a moodiness in textures and found objects, that often pay homage to another era. They mix this vintage romanticism with a balance of contemporary and modern touches.

Above is a video originally posted on The Scout, of the principal designers Stephen Alesch and Robin Standefer speaking about their process. 

via The Scout

Completely charmed by Lou Doillon in this video for Vanessa Bruno’s SS10 collection.

Wooster Collective interviews artist Rebecca Ward at the Kate Spade store in Soho, New York for the opening of her latest installation.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you probably have come to suspect that I’m a big Ryan McGinley fan. Yesterday I tweeted about his ethereal photo series for the New York Times Magazine, which captured Winter Olympians in mid-flight draped in Rodarte.

The above video, McGinley made for Opening Ceremony’s collection of Levi’s cords. In it, he captures models mid-air to the music of Pictureplane’s “Goth Star.”

One of the better finds in my new neighborhood was the Steven Alan outpost. I’m a big fan of the designer and with this recent cute and charming spin on the traditional lookbook, even more so.

A favorite on constant rotation as of late, Raphael Saadiq, performing live for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. Check out this charismatic fellow in his dapper suit in the video clip above.