Posted on 11/14/2007 9:12:19 AM PST by shrinkermd
The newest sensation at the center of Hollywood's fashion scene isn't a famous designer or starlet. It's a 56-year-old homeless man who spends his days dancing on roller skates....
In a plot twist worthy of Tinseltown, Mr. Jermyn now has a clothing label named after him. Since it was introduced last month, "The Crazy Robertson" brand of T-shirts and sweatshirts, created by a trio of 23-year-olds, has flown off the shelves at Kitson, a haunt of tabloid stars like Paris Hilton. The clothes feature stylized images of Mr. Jermyn, including one design -- available on a $98 hoodie -- that has a graphic of him dancing and the phrase "No Money, No Problems" on the back. At the largest of Kitson's three boutiques on Robertson, shirts bearing Mr. Jermyn's likeness are sold alongside $290 "Victoria Beckham" jeans and $50 baby shoes designed by pop star Gwen Stefani.
The label's owners, who grew up in Beverly Hills, have created a MySpace page for Mr. Jermyn. It doubles as an ad for the clothing brand and their nightclub-promotion venture, which is also named "The Crazy Robertson." The young entrepreneurs spent months trying to forge a relationship with Mr. Jermyn -- who now goes by the name John Jermien -- before gaining his approval. They have consulted him on design decisions and had a photographer shoot him for publicity images.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Mr. Jermyn seems to be this generation’s Mr. Bojangles.
It would seem, despite his sister’s objections, this really is a good deal for him...
Fashion sophisticates, or fashion haters.
If you want to read a great, funny novel about the nature of fashions, and how they work, I recommend Connie Willis, “Bellwether.”
So, exactly how much will it cost to dress like a homeless person next fall?
State of the art.
A small amount of wit = a large amount of money if you put it in front of the right audience.
“Mr. Bojangles” is a popular song written and initially recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker in 1968 and covered since by many other artists. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band took the song to #9 on the Billboard pop chart in 1971.
It was about an obscure alcoholic but talented tap dancing drifter (not the famous stage and movie dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, as sometimes assumed). Bojangles is thought to have been a folk character who entertained informally in the south of the US and California, and some say he might have been one of the most gifted natural dancers ever. His actual name is not recorded. Authentic reports of him exist from the 1920s through about 1965.
According to the lyrics by Jerry Jeff Walker, he met Bojangles in a prison cell in New Orleans (the first precinct jail to be exact). The two began to converse about life. Bojangles began to dance as Walker admired his skill.
Walker has said that the character was based on Babe Stovall, a guitar player and singer who worked in New Orleans in the late sixties. He played a National Dobro steel body guitar, with, as he used to say “...just a finger and a thumb... I don’t read a note of music...”
Artists as diverse as Dave Jarvis, Chet Atkins, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Harry Nilsson, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Harry Belafonte, Elton John, Arlo Guthrie, Nina Simone, John Denver, David Bromberg, Neil Diamond, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tom T. Hall, John Holt, Bermuda Triangle Band, Robbie Williams, David Campbell, Coulson Smith, Josh MacAulay, Jamie Cullum, Ray Quinn, Bryan Cox, Todd Snider and Edwyn Collins have all covered the song. Further, the character is mentioned in Philip Glass’s opera Einstein on the Beach. Patrick Sky has parodied the song as “H Bromovitz”. The song has also been shown on The Simpsons episode “Milhouse Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.”
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From Wiki, so apparently there really was a “Mr. Bojangles,” though no one ever knew his real name. But according to the song at least, he was a drunk, not schizophrenic.
This guy apparently really is sick, but these young fashionistas are going to considerable lengths to make sure they cannot be accused of taking advantage of him.
His long-suffering sister, however, disagrees strongly.
The vacant world of Hollywood and high fashion never fails to astound me.
$98 for a hooded sweat shirt?! What are they thinking?
I was thinking of the Mr. Bojangles in the song — although I was also aware of the stage performer (who was before even my time). I must have heard that song ten thousand times.
Lootie in New Orleans, call your agent.
I am a courier in Los Angeles and have seen this guy for years out there dancing around on skates like a lady looking for attention from all the drivers passing by. He has some real problems but I am glad that maybe this deal can get him into a more normal life?
Thanks. I’ll take you up on that.
I’m intrigued by fashion. Lord I wished the average American knew how much our economy is affected by fashion. How much our every day lives are affected by fashion...in fact.
The clothes we wear are the “fur” of our animal colleagues. The fact that we are not born with fur is testimony to the human’s ability to live anywhere on the planet. Animals confined forever to a fur that cannot be removed are also confined to a small surround that matches that fur here on this planet earth. Which is not to say animals can’t live in areas incompatable with their fur, they won’t thrive. Humans are not restricted as we can don “fur” made from reeds, plants and/or the pelts/hids of other animals, depending on the surroundings then upon.
So okay...I’ve waxed on too long....just wanted to make a point about fashion that those who deride maybe don’t know.
Besides, fashion is so much fun.
You understand that lots of money won’t make him any more normal, and MY GUESS is that most of the Hollywood folks, as nice as they might appear on the surface, laugh about this guy behind his back.
IMHO fashion, like the lottery is a tax on stupid people.
Fashion= Waste of good money. At least it is in my world.
I am satisfied with jeans, shirt, leather jacket and boots...or...my robe. ;>) On vacations, hiking shorts and silk shirts or t-shirts are comfortable and easy to pack.
Recently, I was forced to buy something to wear to my son-in-laws graduation from Police Academy. $268.68 later, I had a pair of new designer jeans, a Cardigan sweater and a new leather belt. A barbershop haircut cost another $13 + tax and a $5 tip. I would have rather spent my money toward the purchase of a new hunting jacket. ;>)
Well, at least I now have something to wear to a funeral should I ever find the need to attend one, standing up. :>)
Aw gee.
I guess you’re calling me stupid but really I’m not. I was just trying to make a nice comment on a happening thread.
However I am very impressed at how intelligent you are.
And so gifted with words!
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