His name is Shail Upadhya. He’s a retired U.N. Official from Nepal who is now a stylist in NYC. He also makes his own suits. He’s styled them after the iconic YSL Mondrian print, Kandinsky artwork, stripes, dots, checks, you name it. This week, he came in a jacket he imagined up to pay tribute to The Beatles.

In celebration of the anniversary of The Beatles coming to America on February 7, 1964, Shail Upadhya crafted a suit with John Lennon‘s self portrait on repeat.

When The Fab Four came to America, Shail was in London where he lived with his ambassador parents. “At that time I had heard of The Beatles. They weren’t as popular in London as they were in the U.S. London and Liverpool also had a bit of a rivalry. London kind of looked down on Liverpool.”

Soon after their arrival in the U.S., the negativity was shattered. Like many a-boomer, he grew up with their music as his soundtrack.  His fav fab tunes?  Here Comes the Sun and HELP!

Shail Upadhya loves paying homage and saluting people in different fields of art through fashion.

And hopefully he’ll help fight back against people who tweet “Who the hell is Paul McCartney??” Seriously kids, watch yourself.

But then John slips away and, while Paul [McCartney] is drinking a brandy, John comes up with a pillow and smacks him in the back of the head with it, and from then on it went from room to room and all the rooms were messed up. The worst was George [Harrison]’s.”

A photo of Benson holding this photo will be featured in the new book Behind Photographs: Archiving Photographic Legends by Tim Mantoani for which each photographer has chosen a picture that means something to them. Benson was originally assigned to photograph The Beatles in Paris against his request to be sent to Africa to cover the independence movements, but looks like all things worked out as they should. Benson recalls, “It was a good time. I was close to the Beatles. The reason they were so successful was because they spoke to everybody, there was no public relations person stopping everyone from doing their job.”

John Lennon understood the impact of his personal expression, he emanated his self in every medium and it magnified to the world. This of course includes his iconic self-made style that he continued to experiment with throughout life. Between originating the mop top with The Beatles, and metaphorically branding his own circle sunglasses just by wearing them, he wore radical yet polished clothing that suited his every moment; what would have been to come? His revolution was peace, and today on the sad anniversary of his unnecessary death, we reinforce his vision. We also get a glimpse at photos previously stored in the shoebox of his former lover, May Pang, released for the first time, today on Rock Paper Photo. So, like we did for George Harrison last week, put on any John Lennon song that moves you right now, and give peace a chance.

Now, where would Johnny Depp fit into the picture?

Wilhelmina Cooper (1939-1980) Before starting her own modeling agency in 1967 (yes, that Wilhelmina), the Dutch-born Cooper appeared on some 300 magazine covers, and still holds the record for most covers of American Vogue: 27. Though Gwyneth Paltrow is slowly sneaking up on her.

Photo: The Fashion Spot

The early Beatles in their most iconic look: cuban heels, near-Nehru Pierre Cardin collarless jackets, mop tops. This might be how you remember them at their earliest.

The Beatles started wearing them in their Cavern Club nights, aka that hole in the wall in Liverpool, where John, Paul, George and (eventually) Ringo would literally drive the kids into a frenzy. The Fab Four meticulously honed their look. When they hired Ringo in ’62, it was under the condition that he too brush his hair forward into a mop top. Soon, that hairdo, the Nehru jacket and the winklepicker, renamed the Beatle Boot, became just about as internationally crazed as the boys themselves. Stores across the world went wild making and stocking the Beatle Boot, and Andy Warhol even immortalized the advertisements in a work of art.

[Clockwise from the top]

Snaz it up in silver snakeskin. Guiseppe Zanotti

With a toe dipped in patent leather, this ain’t no old brown shoe. Alexander Wang

In betwixt side buckles are cutouts for a summertime winklepicker. Opening Ceremony

Solid black like The Beatles like ‘em. Alexander Wang

Dig it?

Wilhelmina Cooper (1939-1980) Before starting her own modeling agency in 1967 (yes, that Wilhelmina), the Dutch-born Cooper appeared on some 300 magazine covers, and still holds the record for most covers of American Vogue: 27. Though Gwyneth Paltrow is slowly sneaking up on her.

Photo: The Fashion Spot

Veruschka (May 14, 1939) The Countess Vera Gottliebe Anna von Lehndorff was forever immortalized in Michelangelo Antonioni‘s 1966 classic Blow Up, writhing around on the floor, turning, giving and generally destroying everything in the room. At 6’1 with size 13 feet, some might say she was tranny…”some” like me. Either way, before Lidna refused to get out of bed for $10,000, Veruschka was making that in a day. Go. Head. Tranny.

Jean Shrimpton (Nov. 7, 1942) Shrimpton was a sensation almost immediately when she started modeling in 1960 and is perhaps the world’s first supermodel, despite Janice Dickinson‘s drunken claim to the title. One of the most iconic faces and bodies of the 1960s (her slim figure earned her the nickname “The Shrimp”) Jean caused a stir in 1965 when she wore a mini-dress on Victoria Derby Day in Melbourne. It was so easy to cause a stir back then; now someone has to smuggle blood diamonds just to get some attention around here.

Naomi Sims (1948-2009) Before there was Naomi, there was Naomi. The first black supermodel, Naomi Sims worked overtime to break into what is still a largely racist industry. With a little help from Wilhelmina Cooper, Sims officially made it when she appeared in an AT&T commercial in 1968 wearing a Bill Blass ensemble. And I bet she never threw her phone at anyone…no, she probably did.

Photo: Life

Twiggy (Sept. 19, 1949) A boyishly short haircut in 1966 shot Leslie Hornby to superstardom as the international supermodel, Twiggy. At 5’6 and only 91 lbs at her discovery, she ushered in a new concept of female beauty and a whole rash of eating disorders. A tradition she continued as a judge on America’s Next Top Model.

Photo: Life

Peggy Moffitt (1939) My personal favorite 60s model, Peggy Moffitt was the original edgy girl. With her dark bangs and dark, Kohl-line eyes, she had one of the most distinctive looks of the decade. As a model, muse and eventual collaborator of Rudi Gernreich, she was immortalized when photographed in his topless bathing suit, the monokini, in 1964. How’s that for a stir, Shrimpton!

Donyale Luna (1945-1979) Peggy Ann Freeman escaped the slums of Detroit for the glitz and glamour of New York City. Here, as Donyale Luna, she was exotic and intriguing whereas in Detroit she “wasn’t considered beautiful or anything.” At 6’2, with her already striking features and ultramarine contacts, she was in high demand, scoring the cover of British Vogue in 1966. Donyale lived like, partied like and dated rock stars and died like one when she OD’d in 1979. Then 6 years later she was reincarnated as a sassy fashion blogger (Ahem!)

Penelope Tree (1950) The ultimate 60s “It” girl, Tree was the daughter of socialite Marietta Tree and British member of Parliament, Ronald Tree. When Diane Arbus took some photos of Penelope, her parents threatened to sue the photographer if the photos were ever published. Nonetheless, The Tree became rival to the Twig and inspired John Lennon, when asked to describe her in three words, to respond: “Hot hot hot! Smart smart smart!” Meanwhile, that’s either 2 or 6 words. Pull it together, Lennon.

*Bands. No solo acts were considered for this list. Or we all know Bowie would be up here.

#10 - NIRVANA

Kurt Cobain embodies the grunge revolution of the nineties. He synced the music to the laying low layered baggy flannel I-couldn’t-care-less look. It was an anti-fashion statement, a call to his own philosophy with reckless comfort, and thus it became fashion.

#9 – GUNS N ROSES

Of the glam metal hair bands that existed in thick of the eighties, Axel Rose and his lusciously locked bandmates were some of the most authentic in the genre. Their punk tinged solid rocker look made their shaggy manes manly. Power leather, head banging bandanas, faded shrunken graphic tees and hand cut effects complement their genuine rockstar songs.

#8 THE KILLERS

The intrinsic cool of Brandon Flowers emanates throughout The Killers. They create the kind of music that so easily sounds contrived when attempted by others, and the same goes for their look. Their polished quality with major statement, like feather shoulders or fur jackets, embodies both music and style in the best light.

#7 – OUTKAST

Big Boi keeps it hood. André 3000 blasts it into the future while tossing around a twenties vibe. He raised his waistline when no one else did and created mayhem with his look in “Hey Ya!” Their music is as smooth and superfast-paced as their appearance.

#6 – THE CLASH

As key players in the original wave of British punk, their shredded, zipped and right tight aesthetic weighed heavily in the formation of the genre. Their politically driven lyrics are backed by their F-you look and general badassery.

#5 – MGMT

This psych rock group from the here and now is a major reason that American Apparel stocked its shelves with blinding neon. Their exceptional style leads Andrew VanWyngarden and Benjamin Goldwasser to experimentation and wild inspiration. For instance, on their website a fan asks, “What inspired the fashion choice for Lolla[palooza] in Grant Park? You looked pretty hot in those jackets. (In every sense of the word.) Amazing.” Andrew’s answer? Quite amazing indeed.

#4 – LED ZEPPELIN

Gah, it’s effortless. The unbuttoned bare chested sexiness of Robert Plant is only upped by the fur collared leather trench of John Bohnam, complemented by the multi-tonal jacket on John Paul Jones and completed by Jimmy Page‘s slick tweed. Their ever present style had the same air as their music; the loudest, most soulful wails and riffs and rips always rode the chillest undercurrent.

#3 – JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

Jimi Hendrix dressed like the psychedelic royalty he was. Purple and mind altering patterns enwrapped him as he lit guitars on fire, shredded it with his teeth, and as LSD dripped down from the scarf tied around his head (allegedly). The Experience was a spectacle; heady music enhanced tenfold by the showmanship of Hendrix.

#2 – THE ROLLING STONES

The Stones are the greatest vaudeville act of all time, never ceasing. Clothing slings on their rockstar bodies with ease, as does some of the greatest rock and roll ever performed pour out of them. They started out, much like The Beatles and every early British Invasion band thereafter in straight suits and matching haircuts. With time and money they evolved into wearing spectacle-worthy designer pieces like Mick Jagger’s Prada cock feather fedora or these pants. Keith Richards sparked the eyeliner earringed look that Johnny Depp so famously adopted for Captain Jack Sparrow. Undeniable sex appeal lies as much in their music as in style of larger than life, gender bending (yet deeply masculine) cool. And they’re still at it now.

#1 – THE BEATLES

The boys who brought rock and roll to the masses went through a series of evolutions in their seven years as a band. They began clean cut and mop topped, singing sweet yet earth shaking songs of holding hands, sharing secrets, twisting and shouting above the echoing shrieks and screams of crazed fans across the globe.  Always the epitome of class, they experimented with the finest suiting in the world, and it was Pierre Cardin who introduced them to the Indian Nehru jacket. Once they receded from the touring spotlight, they blossomed further as style icons. Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour brought psychedelia to the forefront with neon military regalia, wild paisleys, beads, thin chains, moustaches and acid. Onto The White Album, which they wrote most of while practicing transcendental meditation in an ashram, they developed further spiritually and grew into newer versions of themselves. John Lennon was looking more like Jesus every day, and solidifying his round spectacle staple. Paul McCartney kept charmingly classy, now paring back the brights. George Harrison grew ever more spiritual, keeping a relaxed finery about him. Ringo was actually the most fashionably daring of the four, hamming up the giant rings and divinely accessorizing. The Beatles were indisputable trendsetters as their image and sound transformed through time, transforming the world around them.

For the gal who sang, “When it comes to love if it ain’t rough it isn’t fun,” the tables have turned.

Over fear of being gunned down a la John Lennon (the 30th anniversary of his death is in a few months), Gags has apparently increased the security around her New York apartment and has a bodyguard watch over her as she sleeps.

Poor Stef. All she ever wanted to do was love and be loved in return. Now that her devoted monsters are getting a little too impassioned (read: crazy), are the walls of the gothic mansion she’s built named Fame beginning to close in on her?

I’m sure the Gaga’s not going goo-goo, that there is an actual threat. Fame has permeated our culture to such an extent that the very nature of celebrity is something of a trap; a virtual prison cell. And in Lindsay Lohan‘s case, an actual prison cell.

Perhaps a break is necessary, a break from the public eye, a break from the grind of vejazzled bodysuits. But with a new album on its way and the monters yapping at her heel-less trannybooted-feet, there’s money to be made and expectations to be met.

Stef Germanotta’s rise to icon status has been nothing short of meteoric. But what good is fame and fortune and the like if you can’t enjoy it?

The French designer who revolutionized the runway took the prize as top earning dead celebrity. Since his death his namesake brand has taken in over $350 million in revenue. Other notable money makers included Michael Jackson ($90 Mil), John Lennon ($15 Mil), and Andy Warhol ($6 Mil).

LINK LOVE: Forbes

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Thanks Style!

Not particularly for me, but John Lennon would have loved these glasses.  I love the effortlessness of the overly stretched out t-shirt…and is that velvet?

SOURCE: Jak  Jil