Wind In My Sails

I will go with my ancestors from Das Land der Dichter und Denker (the land of poets and thinkers) on this one. What flatterers say, try to make true.  ~German Proverb


I received my first compliment from a fellow blogger yesterday, and being a rookie, this has put some much needed wind in my sails. Nesha of THE BUTTON OWL writes, "It’s nice to see a blog that isn’t all about pretty pictures but has meaningful content too.". Thank you so much Nesha. I have always loved to write, and I am finding that having a modern day journal or sort, regardless of how offensive the grammar, is quiet therapeutic. I see, or errr... hear, that you too have a voice in your writing. You are absolutely right, finding a pretty picture and posting it is the easy part, it takes a whole different skill set to express to others how the picture makes you feel. Your thoughts are deeply appreciated. 


Photo Via Flicker


KMGEUKNMUUDD

I Have A New Screen Saver...

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Tokion Factory Magazine featured this editorial shot by she is frank, in collaboration with stylist 
Sassie Bare and make up artist Lasse Pedersen. Normally, I am all about the comma. For the
first time in a while, I am struggling to create a stream of consciousness to channel my thoughts and feelings on this... The color... The personality... The braids... The eye liner... The sequins... 
The accessories... The cigar... THE HOT DOGS!

I Love It!

Pictures Via She Is Frank Blog

Girl Crush - I ❤ Chloë Sevigny

Pictures Via Fashion Gone Rouge


"The queen of independent cinema"..."It girl"... Why wouldn't this actress/model/fashion icon be crush worthy? Whatever her craft is at the moment, Chloë demonstrates her talent effortlessly. It is a mix of sophistication, intelligence, and eclectic style that makes her so captivating. 


http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/02/20/fashion/1194817120693/profile-in-style-chloe-sevigny.html


Love the Chloë Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Resort 2011 Lookbook.

Pictures via thefashionspot

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Clothing Parade

You are lookin' at my favorite shirt for the moment. Funny how something that you have had for years, all of a sudden moves up to one of the important hangers in the closet. It has got to feel good for the lil guy. Front and center, ready to fulfill his destiny set forth by the designers at Urban Outfitters. For all you self righteous clothing snobs out there that use terms like mass produced individualism, your not going to rain on my clothing parade. This shirt makes me smile, and I will wear it until the holes grow too large, then sew 'em right back up, and keep on smiling. *wink wink


(Urban Outfitters Vintage Collective Shirt, Urban Outfitters Jeggings, Steve Madden Boots, Irish Catholic Rosary)


Photo by Ted Saunders

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

Owning a boutique has been a dream of mine for quite sometime. In 2005, sporting my most professional threads, I headed to the bank with a business plan in hand, and started on the road to making this dream a reality. Having been born and raised in the corporate epicenter of the 1990's Bath and Body Works big boom, my friends and myself grew up smelling of freesia, juniper breeze, and sun ripened raspberry. I can only imagine how the variety of scents blended, overwhelming innocent fresh air breathing bystanders. Ten years later it seemed time for Columbus, Ohio to catch up, and hop on the natural bath and body bandwagon. With organic goods flying off the shelves, it seemed to me that people were beginning to care more about what they put in there bodies, so naturally... pun intended, they would care more about what they put on their bodies. With funding secured, I got to work creating Lave, a handcrafted bath product store. Its color, ambiance, and sophisticated display methods provided a trendy and modern retail environment. Lave offered a unique shopping experience with an intense customer focus and unconventional point of sale process involving the cutting and weighing of soaps. I took pride in what I had created, a shop, a brand, a one of a kind line of signature scented products exclusive to Lave, and lastly a place to come to everyday where I was able to work for myself. Needless to say, the three years that the store was open were an up hill battle, the new shopping and entertainment development where I opened was unable to full fill on the promise of a place where people would flock, and perhaps even more disappointing, a market demographic that resisted change and innovation. In 2008, with a surprising amount of ease, I decided to cut my losses, close up shop, and get out of dodge. The disappointment of my failure was a little lighter on my heart in sunny California where I landed. I was there to flex that creative muscle that I had awoke just a few years prior.

Many thanks to my parents for their abiding support and encouragement, as well as friends who helped me believe that it was possible. 

Golden Hour to Twilight at Griffith Park

An evening at Griffith Park with my brother.

Practice Photography by: Andrew Karst

LE-GIT!

First off, I will just come out and say it. Yes, I was googling myself. Look at what I stumbled across... Paper Magazine (Hint: Scroll to the bottom of the page) Makes me feel legit! This was shot at the Roosevelt Hotel by Autumn De Wilde and styled by Johnny Wujek.

All Else Fails... Photoshop The #@!% Out Of It - What Am I Wearing?

For those of you who know me well, you will understand immediately where I am coming from with this post. As a matter of fact, you can probably tell me exactly what I'm thinking. I am a highly critical person, not of others, but myself. For example, the photo above. If the subject of the photo was anyone other than myself, I would likely admire the image. Regardless, I tell myself things like "nobody is perfect, that's why pencils have erasers", or in my case, that's why computers have photoshop. It usually does not take me long to get past these little vanity hangups, and on to what is most important... The clothes. It just so happens, that I am wearing several of my go to pieces. First, and my newest favorite, is the grey loose knit over sized cardigan from Top Shop. It is one of those garments that gives you a false sense of warmth because the air goes right through it, perfect for when you want to cover up on a warm day. Second, and possibly my most used article of clothing is the hat. I am obsessed with Bailey of Hollywood hats, because they actually fit my smaller than average head. I am also wearing a killer vintage Aerosmith tee shirt that my brother found at the Rose Bowl Flea Market... Love it there! The skirt I'm on the fence about, it's purple crushed velvet, from LF, so I should love it. And the best way to finish off any look, you guessed it... Jeffrey Campbell boots.

(Top Shop Cardigan, Vintage Tee Shirt, Bailey of Hollywood Hat, LF Store Skirt, Jeffery Campbell Motorcycle Boots)

Candy Land

While attending The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, I was given the opportunity to assist celebrity stylist Johnny Wujek. For those of you who don't know him... Get with the program. He only styles one of this generations greatest pop stars, Katy Perry. He is the genius behind her playful stage costumes, sultry pin up girl image, and daring red carpet wardrobe appearances. For the short time that I worked with the duo, it was clear that they were a match made in comedic heaven. From this rapport, comes some of the most creative, unpretentious, and good-hearted creative styling in the business. With Katy's latest album releasing in three days, Johnny's career is moving full throttle. As with pop music and fashion, you all know I have a great love for candy. See where I am going with this? This affinity... we'll call it... for candy, has lead me to countless hours on the Internet indulging in all things confectionery related. This was when I first fell in love with the sugar coated art of Will Cotton. I humored myself with thoughts of posing for such art, and someday hanging the piece on my wall. Needless to say, I was thrilled to learned that the cover of Teenage Dream, Katy's new album, is the work of non other than Mr. Cotton himself. He was also the artistic director for the California Gurls video, and you can see his artistic touch in many of the scenes. Johnny Wujek, Katy Perry, Will Cotton, and Snoop Dog, now that is a recipe for quite a treat.

Prima Ballerina

From a bionic baby to a blushing bride, I spent the better part of a decade dancing. Like many things in life, I left my dream of becoming a ballerina behind, only to discover later just how much I loved it. Perhaps it is this void that draws me to ballet inspired fashion; Dresses made of tulle and pastel pink. The opportunity to slip on a pair of pointe shoes and dance will never likely present its self again, so through fashion I can let my memories inspire. You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart.

Picture Via melloveschallah's photostream

Pictures Via Fashion Gone Rouge

Military Chic - Basic Training

When it comes to following orders from several of this year's highest-ranking designers, I felt it was my duty to click my heels and fall into line. Sir, Yes, Sir! This fashion cadet marched directly to the shop and found a vintage army field jacket. It soon became my uniform for the summer. Wearing it with many of my summer favorites, including my peach pedi coat from American Apparel, my hot pink cut offs from LF Stores, and my favorite little sundresses from Night Cap Clothing. I was thrilled to see that this must have spring/summer trend was still holding strong on the front lines, carrying on into the autumn/winter collections. The trend has evolved into what is being called "Military Chic". The look is more refined, with a greater diversity of color in the overall pallet. Collections showed greens, grays, blues and browns, of all shades. There was also a wider range of influence, stretching beyond the US Army flack jacket, to historical European military trends and aviator uniform trends. My orders are clear looking at designs from Burberry Prorsum, Max Mara, and Balmain. I will be squared away in no time.


Photo by Ted Saunders

(Animal House Vintage Army Jacket, Vintage Belt, Vintage Bracelets, American Apparel Pedi-coat, Jeffrey Campbell Boots)