At The Jazz Age Lawn Party

Michael Arenella after his show, Governor's Island, June 2012

On Saturday we headed out to the Jazz Age Lawn Party for the first time since it began in 2007 (!).  It happens now twice every summer, and the crowds are growing.  Here is just a few snaps of the gentlemen I found...

Matthew Karl Gale

Matt Fox of FineAndDandyShop.com looking adorable 

Robert E. Bryan

A dapper Italian fellow with an unusually colored straw hat

Working Class Dandy from Philly, David P. Lochner

Vintage Elegance: The Home of Robert E. Bryan

The living room

Robert E. Bryan has collected Art Deco and vintage modern for thirty plus years, and his elegant East Village home is a personal showcase for his collections.  Take a good look, and then another.  As I edited the set I kept noticing more and more details that I didn't have time to absorb when I was shooting.  This is what I love about photography - it allows you to look...as much as you desire.

The iconic portrait of the football player resembles Mr. Bryan, but is a found image.  It was reproduced on the back cover of his book American Fashion Menswear.  The other photos are family portraits.

Lovely ashtray inscribed with "Sonderkurs, Mai 1933"

I want that Savoy Cocktail Book!

Living room vignette

The entryway

The bedroom vanity.  Beautiful portrait is of his mother.

Mr. Bryan getting ready for a portrait

Tie label reads "The Chief - Hand Loomed by Indians"

Ties in the spare room are displayed for a visit by a collector

Mr. Bryan's vintage ring collection (!!)

A portion of the vintage record collection

Labels on the record collection

A kitchen vignette

Looking south towards the new construction in the Lower East Side from Mr. Bryan's kitchen

Vintage Elegance with Robert E. Bryan

Robert E. Bryan at home, NYC, April 2011

I met Robert E. Bryan thru Sean Crowley, who thought that Robert's impeccable style and exquisite collection of vintage would make for a great addition to the project.  Mr. Bryan is the author of American Fashion Menswear, and was the men's fashion director of the NY Times Magazine, the men's editor at W, fashion editor of Men's Wear Magazine, and fashion director of 'M' magazine.  The Trad did a great extended interview with Robert when his book came out  - much better words than I will even attempt!

I can only tell you that I was just a wide eyed observer trying to take in all the glorious details - the art, the clothes, the jewelry, the furniture, the books, the records!  I am a great appreciator of Art Deco and vintage modern from early 20th Century, so I was in awe.  Mr. Bryan has collected for 30 plus years - and at times when not many others had an eye for these gems - so he has the cream of the crop, folks.  Matt Fox of Fine and Dandy accompanied me to witness the splendor...

Let's just take a moment to look at his outfits, shall we?



Notice the horizontal stripes.  White linen.  Tie bar is from 1939 NY World's Fair.

















Next up are more shots of the interiors and collections!