Bohemians

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The Quintessential Bohemian: Laren Stover

 

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Laren Stover is the author of The Bohemian Manifesto: a Field Guide to Living on the Edge.  It is a literary treasure with the most beautiful illustrations by Izak Zenou.

Laren has the beauty, elegance, style and curiosity that perfectly captures a true Bohemian.

This Manifesto is so exquisite to own I cannot tell you how many times it has uplifted me in moments of melancholy and I always get swept away by the romanticism of Bohemianism every time I gaze at the pages. 

 

 

Laren Stover

She is the Editor-at-Large of Faerie Magazine  Stover has also published a darkly comedic novel called Pluto, Animal Lover: A Novel

Begin 2017 with a Bohemian Bang akin to the sound of champagne Muselets catapulting on the walls of a Nouveau Bohemian’s Upper East Side apartment in the Winter… Well you’re not going to stay in the freezing abode of your Beat or Zen Bohemian friend’s place… Nouveau’s are your friends in Winter they can afford heating and food! Zens and Beats are for the Summer when you’re On The Road… Dandy’s are your all seasons friends because they’re always so charming and chic! But wait what kind of Bohemian are you? There is a delightful Quiz at the end of this Quirky Field Guide to tell you which one you are…

If you’re someone who relishes in curious details from counterculture style, to bohemian must-reads (yes there’s a reading list) then this book is for you. The most charming pages of all are the Case Studies which tell you where these curious creatures live, work and their background. So charming, so dreamy! This book will make you delve into Bohemian Consciousness and maybe make you feel less alone about the freedom and rebellion we crave.

Oona the Actress: Case Study

“Oona is tall Swedish and, unbeknownst to her Bohemian friends, a princess. All her actor friends live in squalid Lower East Side, Brooklyn or Harlem apartments. Flickering lights in hallways, mattresses on the floor, candles in wine bottles, crooked stairs. She was jealous!”

If glamour, creature comforts and beauty still can’t quite escape you then have a peak at The Bombshell Manual of Style. The allure of dazzling beauties became another one of her anthropological quests as she felt they were an “exotic species” as discussed on The Early Show in her interview for the book. The interview was conducted by Lisa Birnbach, author of The Preppy Handbook.)  Another video teaser of the book to watch.

Laren On Bombshells: 

“A bombshell believes in her fantasies, she may be wearing a rhinestone bracelet but in her mind it’s Cartier… She doesn’t need to be perfect she still believes she’s a Goddess.”

Purchase The Bohemian Manifesto here.
The Blurb:

Bohemianism is a way of life, a state of mind, an atmosphere. It is not a trend, its a timeless movement. It is about living beyond convention. THE BOHEMIAN MANIFESTO explores and joyfully celebrates the creativity, the originality, and the splendor of a lifestyle and spirit shared by free-thinking, free-living artists, poets, writers, sculptors, musicians, and intellectuals. This is the first book to distill and categorize all the ingredients of Bohemian life. In a witty and engaging style, Laren Stover examines the contents of a Bohemians closet, bathroom, and bookshelf. She explains the allure of absinthe, why it isn’t wise to leave a Bohemian unattended in your home-you could return to find nude nymphs painted on your lamp shades-and how to identify what type of Bohemian you might be.

For the Bombshell in your life or those seeking a New Year Makeover get this book!
The Blurb:

In this glittering beauty and lifestyle guide packed with pearls of wisdom, Laren Stover has compiled everything a woman needs to know to live the Bombshell life: from how to dress and make an entrance to what to eat and where to shop. It tells readers what makes a Bombshell tick; road-tested outfits for 25 occasions; must-have Bombshell sleepwear, handbags, and fragrances; what’s in the Bombshell library; and what she looks for in a man. With scads of little-known facts about real-life bombshells like Liz, Mae, and Lana this fun and ever-so-practical little book is certain to bring out the inner Bombshell in every woman.

Connect with Writer, Editor & Melancholy Connoiseur Laren Stover

LarenStover.com
Instagram: @Faerie_Style
Twitter: @Reine_Des_Fees

Read her article for The Paris Review: Pimped for a part

Laren for The New York Times:

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Lord of Bohemia: Melvyn Bragg

Melvyn Bragg presenting his forthcoming programme 'Culture and Class': 'Imitation of the old has been replaced by delight in the new' - British culture may be our new great industry

Photo: BBC

This month’s selection is a very dear figure who really touches my heart. Lord Bragg is a beloved British UK broadcaster,  Novelist and reigning Arts doyen.

He’s had a staggering career and many struggles which is why I’m so fond of him, if anybody takes a moment to uncover his past you can’t helped but be moved by him. From humble roots he began as a trainee for the BBC and went on has very candidly discussed his struggles with depression and was a former President of Mental Health Charity MIND.

If you ever get a chance I would highly recommend you watch the talk between Lord Bragg and Joanna Lumley. I bought this series on DVD as individual full episodes cannot be found online. Get yours here. I watched this a couple years ago when things were pretty horrific for me and it always gave me hope that someone who was struggling the way I was not only found relief in the arts but made a career out of it. Rarely would I say someone as a person is admirable but Lord Bragg truly is. When I decided to write about Melvyn on my site I started to cry like Kim Kardashian ugly tears crying that’s how big of an impact he has on me….

Bragg’s article on The Telegraph: British Culture may be our great new industry

“Snobbery still exists, but it is comical or pathetic and no longer has a cutting edge.”

“How would you really describe yourself? I suggest it might be through the type of music you like, the sport you follow, the radio station you listen to, the authors you read, the ballet or the opera or theatre you go to, the soaps or the galleries – or a mix of all. The old snakeskin of class falls away when we look at what we really do, or are given half the chance to be as we really want to be.”


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The Media Mastermind turned Boho Photographer Joe Simpson

Joe Simpson is now a photographer based in Malibu. His career has been epic and a tad rebellious ergo Bohemian from his early days as a Baptist Youth Minister, to managing his superstar daughters Jessica and Ashlee Simpson plus his genius plan to give both daughters reality TV shows that catapulted their careers from music into most notably the eldest daughter’s billion dollar fashion line: The Jessica Simpson Collection. He has always been streets head of other music managers as seen by his initiative to produce reality TV shows for his musical daughters and his recent foray into fine art photography. This man may be behind the scenes but his vision is often waaaaay ahead of time.

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Simpson is a creative pioneer in his own right whether exploiting emerging new markets such as reality television to producing music or editorial fashion photography Simpson serves the edgy trends ahead of time. I find him inspiring and respect him a lot, truth be told there’s not a whole lot of media/interviews on him. I wish I could learn more about him, about what drives him and influences his creative and executive decisions in his own and offspring’s careers. I think he’s a phenomenal talent with a discerning eye in the music industry and visual arts.

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Sadly we don’t get to hear more about his vision as things tend to stray toward the superstar sisters he has raised and managed.

Joe Simpson is Bohemian worthy for his life-long career in the arts and music scene plus he has a forward-thinking ideas in arts and pop culture.

www.JoeSimpsonPhotography.com

instagram: @JoeSimpsonPhoto

 

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The Folk-turned-Techno-Music Boho Babe: Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding is the Musical Pride of Herefordshire! She has arisen to astronomical success and her music goes from strength to strength. She’s living the Rockstar’s life and is an eclectic talent from the early days of her folksy debut album Lights to her recent electronica album Delirium. She also likes poetry and it even inspires her song-writing: “I like dark, funny, humorous stuff. I read a few books of poems, Staying Alive, a compilation of poems that are really real and raw, and quite explicit, so I use those.”

A personal favourite track is “The Writer” as it sounds quite artsy. It takes me back to Summer 2010, a time in my life where I appeared to have it all, law school, friends and I was dating someone but my Bohemian longings were stirring and little did I know that following Autumn the seeds of Bohemia were being scattered….

“The Writer”

You wait for a silence
I wait for a word
Lying next to your frame
Girl unobserved
You change your position
And you’re changing me
Casting these shadows
Where they shouldn’t beWe’re interrupted
By the heat of the sun
Trying to prevent
What’s already begun
You’re just a body
I can smell your skin
And when I feel it
You’re wearing thinBut I’ve got a plan
Why don’t you be the artist
And make me out of clay?
Why don’t you be the writer?
And decide the words I say?
‘Cause I’d rather pretend
I’ll still be there at the end
Only it’s too hard to ask
Won’t you try to help me?Sat on your sofa
It’s all broken springs
This isn’t the place for
Those violin strings
I try out a smile
And I aim it at you
You must have missed it
You always doBut I’ve got a plan
Why don’t you be the artist
And make me out of clay?
Why don’t you be the writer?
And decide the words I say?
‘Cause I’d rather pretend
I’ll still be there at the end
Only it’s too hard to ask
Won’t you try to help me?

You wait
I wait
Casting shadows
Interrupted

You wait
I wait
Casting shadows
Interrupted

You wait
I wait
Casting shadows
Interrupted

You wait
I wait
Casting shadows

Why don’t you be the artist
And make me out of clay?
Why don’t you be the writer?
And decide the words I say?
‘Cause I’d rather pretend
I’ll still be there at the end
Only it’s too hard to ask
Won’t you try to help me?

Why don’t you be the artist
And make me out of clay?
Why don’t you be the writer?
And decide the words I say?
‘Cause I’d rather pretend
I’ll still be there at the end
Only it’s too hard to ask
Won’t you try to help me?