The Elegant View of David Fuller

Aristotle opined that we are what we repeatedly do.  "Excellence, then," he said, "is not an act, but a habit."  

One visit to TheFullerView.tumblr.com, and it becomes obvious that for David Fuller, excellence is something that happens every day.  

And with just a click, we too can be privileged citizens of his elegant world. 

With boundless style and a flawless eye, David consults on visual merchandising, product development, and brand positioning.  

He also uses his photography and graphic design skills to create archives of branded images for his clients to use on their own blogs, social media,

 websites and print campaigns. 

The Fuller Collection is a cultivated range of personal stationery and photography which he hopes to expand to include goods curated from other creatives.  

His images are genteel, aristocratic even, 

and describe a life of exquisite serenity, privilege and beauty.  

But the world of David Fuller is also welcoming, comfortable and kind, 

and that, at the heart of it is his message.  

That grace, goodness and beauty can "inform our minds and inspire our souls." 

 What is so charming about David is his complete lack of pretension.  

His photographs are breathtaking, but he insists that he is not a professional photographer.  

His singular ability to cultivate collections illuminates our understanding and appreciation of life, like the very best art, poetry and music, and yet he says that he is not an artist.  

“I actually started the tumblr site as a convenient place to post my own photos alongside the work I admired from professional photographers.  I would compare my images to theirs and challenge myself on composition and so forth.”  

David describes his background in merchandising as a key factor in his creative success.  

The experience he gained working with talented artists, fashion designers, photographers and art directors creating visual communications for iconic businesses such as Ralph Lauren, Coach, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, and Samsonite, helped him acquire the disciplines and intuition that have developed into a finely tuned understanding of what people respond to visually.  

  

Ultimately what sets David apart is his character, his kindness and his ability to express the values of his clients through his work, as well as, I imagine, his own.  

In this recently completed project for the Trinity Boston Foundation, David said that he specifically chose "a non-traditional size for the annual report so it would feel more like a marketing tool with a longer reach than just an annual report.  Our hope is this will make others wish to be a part of such a vital organization."  His clients, he is delighted to say, were thrilled.

A native Bostonian, David tells me that sharing his view of the world he sees every day is his expression of gratitude for time spent in a place he loves.  

"I believe we live up to the standards of our surroundings, in people, and places.  A life immersed in grace, goodness and beauty raises the bar.  Like music, poetry and literature- the visual arts inform our minds and inspire our souls.  The environments we choose, and the ones we create matter- these spaces refresh and renew us for the journey to reach our potential.”  David Fuller

Visit David Fuller at www.mindingshop.com




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Big Celebrities

I was looking for that old EDS commercial "Herding Cats," for a friend, and in the process, stumbled upon some interesting footage of Robin Wiltshire, the Australian-born animal trainer behind those amazing Budweiser Clydesdale commercials.  I always thought that funny feats the Clydesdales perform in the ads were done with computer graphics.  Not so.





The horses, the punt, the streaking sheep- all real, and all trained by Robin.






Robin trains the horses at Turtle Ranch, his Wyoming home, and shoots the commercials on location.  In this ad, the cowboy on the right is a local veterinarian in real life.






A great clip of Robin training some of the tricks.  I think the most endearing thing about the Budweiser Clydesdale commercials is that the animals appear to be having fun.  Here you can see why.






For "The Snowball Fight" the horses practiced the tricks with basketballs.  To see how he trained these tricks, click here.






Above, an interesting interview with Robin Wiltshire from RFD-TV where he talks more about what it's like working with the animals.

To learn more about Robin Wiltshire, and see more of his funny Clydesdale Superbowl ads, like "Born a Donkey," visit his Turtle Ranch website, here.






And for my friend, here's "Herding Cats," also a classic.

If the boot fits...

Vogue 2009 via

Equestrian dressing in the country never goes out of style.  Everywhere else, it cycles as a fashion trend on a regular basis, probably because riding clothes are comfortable and utilitarian while giving the wearer a patrician aspect and a certain swashbuckling, outdoorsy sexiness all at the same time.

Grace Kelly in Central Park via

The trick to pulling off this look while you browse antique stores or sip a latte with the Sunday crossword at a sidewalk cafe, is knowing something of the origins of the gear and staying authentic.  Of course, you can always break the rules, but that's way more fun to do if you know what they are first.

For example, if you're wearing this snazzy boot while you ramble around the farmer's market, don't be surprised if someone asks whether you play polo.

Want to see the boots in action?  Click above.

Captain George K.H. Cousmaker, 1782
by Sir Joshua Reynolds

There are generally two types of tall boots worn by riders in English disciplines, the field boot, and the dress boot, and they haven't changed much in hundreds of years.  Non-riders rarely consider this, but one can buy beautiful authentic riding boots which are reasonably priced and better quality than typical fashion boots at any tack store that sells English riding gear.  No horse required.

Alexander I of Russia, 1837
 by Franz Kruger

Tall boots are made from cowhide, calf, or pigskin and their purpose is to prevent the rider's leg from being pinched or rubbed by the saddle and stirrup leathers, and to give some protection from brush and brambles.

The boot has a roomy, firm toe box to protect the rider's foot when on the ground, and a low heel to help prevent the rider's foot from sliding through the stirrup (and the rider possibly being dragged) should she unintentionally dismount.

Boot hooks

Both types of boot usually have a spur rest to support the spur, and these days are available with a zipper that runs down the back of the calf to make them easy to put on without the aid of boot hooks.

Important note:  Authentic riding boots do not have zippers on the inside of the leg.  If you want to appear horsey, this is a dead giveaway.

The topline of riding boots has morphed periodically through history.  The popular "Spanish" topline is cut higher on the outside of the boot to elongate the appearance of the rider's leg when seated in the saddle, while still allowing his or her knee to bend comfortably.

To get a long, elegant look with breeches, leggings, jeans or skirts without the annoyance of having your boot poke you in the back of the knee when you sit down, measure from the bottom of your heel to the crook of your knee when seated in a chair, then add about an inch.  That number is the height of boot that will likely be most comfortable for you.  That extra inch is added because most boots will drop a bit as they break in.   The sales associates at your local tack shop can usually help you with the specific break-in characteristics of your chosen style and brand.

While you're at it, measure around the fullest part of your calf.  Boot length and calf width can vary considerably between manufacturers, and even between models by the same manufacturer.  Shops that sell riding boots usually have a chart for the various brands and models to help you select the most comfortable boot length and calf width.

Field boots with a high Spanish topline, lacing, toe caps,
stitched down outside leather tabs, rear zippers and spur rests

Field boots have lacing at the ankle to allow the rider to be more comfortable riding with the highly flexed ankle and shorter stirrup length required for riding over fences.

Field boots are generally tied with a straight bar lacing so they can be cut easily with a knife if necessary.  The shoelace ties at the center, or the ends are tucked in.

Brown field boot, plain toe, inner tabs, straight bar lacing

Field boots are preferred in most jumping disciplines, but are not considered correct for dressage or formal fox hunting meets.  They have inner or outer leather tabs, and sometimes an extra layer of leather over the toe, called a toe cap.

It is acceptable for field boots to slouch a bit around the ankle.  Black boots are standard.  Brown boots are correct for schooling or less formal "cubbing" meets.

Dress boots with moderate Spanish topline, spur rests and rear zippers

Dress boots are plain black without a toe cap.  They do not have ankle lacing and should not slouch.  To this end, dress boots may be either kid glove thin and form-fittingly sleek, or they may be firm or lined leather constructed with boning or stiffening in the ankles.  They are worn by dressage riders, eventers in the dressage phase of their tests, for everyday schooling and training, and by both men and women for formal fox hunts (unless the rider is wearing scarlet, or a frock coat in which case see the boots with "cuffs" below).

There are a few equestrian boot traditions that either originated or perpetuated through the sport of fox hunting.

Start of a fox hunt at Downton Abbey via

I don't want to get too off-topic, but for Downton Abbey fans, Jane Asten's World at www.janeaustensworld.wordpress.com, has an interesting, balanced, and fairly comprehensive post on the history, traditions, attire, etc. of fox hunting here.  

Lady Mary at Downton Abbey via

Men's dress boots with brown cuffed hunt tops and outer tabs

Black dress boots with brown cuffs are traditionally worn at a formal hunt by male members of the club who have been awarded their "Colors," and in modern times, a female Master or Huntsman.  Colors are considered an honor, awarded by the Master of Foxhounds (MFH) at his discretion.  For long-standing members of a hunt, wearing Colors means one has earned the privilege of wearing the club's color on one's jacket collar, club insignia on one's buttons, and certain other attire.

Ladies of the hunt who have been awarded Colors wear black dress boots with black patent leather cuffs.  The wearing of cuffed boots is a tradition still known and actively practiced in the countryside, so do be aware of that when choosing riding boots for non-hunting wear.

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Images: 1. Vogue, 2009 via mermaidinmadras 2.  via Mermaidinmadras 3. Dehner 4.  Metropolitan Museum of Art, 5. Hermitage Museum 6. Cavenders 7-8. Vogel 9. Fieggen 10. Dehner 11. Ariat 12. Powderham Castle, Devon 13-14. Downton Abbey via janeaustensworld.wordpress.com 15-16. Dehner