Go Where The Love Is

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I was reading the 2011 Spring/Summer issue of AnOther Magazine this morning when I flipped to this Burberry ad and my heart did a little flip. I got that oh-my-gosh-I-have-a-crush drop in my stomach. Over a picture. But look at it! Part of my surprised joy was that the normally vanilla-white monster-brand Burberry finally featured black models in a campagin. 'Bout time! (Last we saw a black model in a Burberry ad was Naomi Campbell ten years ago.) Gorgeous 20-year-old British model mama Jourdan Dunn is here with French-Senegalese model Sacha M'baye, shot by Mario Testino.

Little Miss Sunshine

Wowza Britney looks saucy! As long as someone else is styling her and she gets out of those dang jorts (Britney, I love your jorts), she should be fine. Good styling plus soft fluffy lighting and colors created here by Mario Testino in this month's V magazine equals Britney's (really) Back Bitches. It's about time I got some color on this blog--lighten it up a bit. But this is the last blond I will voluntarily post for a while (except you Kate, your blond is always welcome!) I promise. Oh, and I really am keeping the random celebrities to a minimum. Just let me get some Brit out of my system. Thanks.

Take Me With You Emanuela

Beach beach beach beach beach. Get me there now! And get me into some flowy soft *sheer* fabrics like this one model Emanuela de Paula is wearing in Vogue Brazil January, shot by Jacques Dequeker. My college bestie Alison Nicole just got back from a couple month-long yoga teacher training on the soft magical beaches of Brazil. She's now enroute to the big apple--how's that for some culture shock! I only have a couple more days of gray Portland cloud cover in me before I pack up and head South.

Spring Giddiness

Last Friday I had the honor of doing make up for employees of Dove Lewis Hospital for the Boutiques Unleashed fashion show and auction, produced by Jillian Rabe. As an extreme animal lover, I was in doggie (and kitty and chicken) heaven. Several of my family members and closest friends (plus all my poor Twitter followers) got deliriously happy (and possibly quite boring) updates about the slightest animal happenings that night. Project Runway winner Seth Aaron designed a dress, hat and booties for the alpaca as well the chicken cape. Emma Pellet (shot here by Oblique Foto) rocked the runway in some hot Popina swimwear. Time for spring!

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Spring

Again, the violet bows to the lily.

Again, the rose is tearing off her gown!

The green ones have come from the other world,

tipsy like the breeze up to some new foolishness.

Again, near the top of the mountain

the anemone's sweet features appear.

The hyacinth speaks formally to the jasmine,

"Peace  be with you." "And peace to you, lad!

Come walk with me in this meadow."

Again, there are sufis everywhere!

The bud is shy, but the wind removes

her veil suddenly, "My friend!:

The Friend is here like water in the stream,

like a lotus on the water.

The narcissus winks at the wisteria,

"Whenever you say."

And the clove to the willow, 'You are the one

I hope for." The willow replies, "Consider

these chambers of mine yours. Welcome!"

The apple, "Orange, why the frown?"

"So that those who mean harm

will not see my beauty."

The ringdove comes asking, "Where,

where is the Friend?"

With one note the nightingale

indicates the rose.

Again, the season of Spring has come

and a spring-source rises under everything,

a mood sliding from the shadows.

Many things must be left unsaid, because it's late,

but whatever conversation we haven't had

tonight, we'll have tomorrow.

-Rumi

Sing Me A Sweet Melody

Lovely Melody and her hoops. Shot by Cohen. Make up by moi. Face painting: joint Melody/Carrie effort. Costumes handmade by Melody. You gotta see this girl in action! She's a spinning, dancing song.

Natalia Vodianova In All Her Nude* Glory

More bb** for upcoming shoots. The ever-beautiful Natalia Vodianova here in Harpers Bazaar Russia, shot by Bruno Barbazan. I've been doing some variation of this brown/light gold/smokey/nude/gloss for my last couple shoots, but the tones and shape of the smokey here feel fresh. Am I speaking in make up jibberish or are you following?

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*nude glossy lip, that is

**beauty brainstorming

Beauty Brainstorming

Beauty brainstorming for next Sahlia Michelle Jewlery shoot. This time we're heading to the beach, and that's all I'm going to say right now! That, and Ben Pigao is shooting it, and we'll be working with some gorgeous models (and jewels, duh). Okay now that's really all I'm saying. This shot is model Marloes Horst from MiH Jeans 2011, shot by Magnus Klackenstam. 

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

Aa thank goodness. I have been pulled far from my computer lately, preparing for next steps and new projects, as well as immersing myself in some wonderful stories. Exciting, but sometimes that takes hold and I neglect for a short time my other beloved creative outlets, like this blog. And yes, something of the world in pain causes me to pull away, to bring my energy back to myself. Bailey, my kind of art/fashion pen pal, posted a link to some gorgeous Dazed and Confused photos of model Magdalena Frackowiak in Victor and Rolf, shot by Josh Olins. Thank you Bailey for reminding me that it's still safe to create and share!

Sarah Seven's Luscious Frocks

Sarah Seven, Portland's queen of gorgeous frothy wedding dresses, has come out with a new line of ready-to-wear dresses that are just yummy. If any designer from this neck of the woods (or the world) can produce garmets that could be described as "poetic," it'd be Sarah Seven. New look book shot by Lavenda Memory and worn by our lovely Kate Troedsson.

Love To Japan

The damage done and the lives lost to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is horrifying. I can't even imagine how incredibly scary that would be to have phone and Internet cut off and not know the safety of family and friends. One thing that is fascinating is the Japanese infrastructure set up for the event of earthquakes and tsunamis of this magnatude. This bit from the NYT on The Lede blog quoted William M. Tsutsui, professor of Japanese business and economic history and dean of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, who was in Tokyo during the earthquake and noted how the massive buildings swayed, but didn't crack or crumble under the pressure: "'It's really a testament to Japanese construction methods,'' he said. 'I can't imagine a quake of this magnitude in Los Angeles or San Francisco causing almost no damage. The contrast to Haiti could not be more extreme.''" Of course there is considerable damage along the coast from the tsunami.

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Even as I write, there are more tremors going off, a 6.6 earthquake in Niigata, for one. I just texted my dad in Chicago to see if his Japanese friends are okay. Sending loving energy and prayers to our friends and fellow humans in Japan.

Finally I Can Be Honest About My Obsession With Cats

This morning I awoke to the horrible realization that I have severely underrepresented my love of cats on this blog. I don't usually ever post pictures of random celebrities, but today just has to be an exception with this stunning black and white of actress Amanda Seyfried in this month's Elle, shot by Alexei Hay. I just can't get enough of the styling and contrasts: the shadows, the make up, the high waisted Jason Wu... but really it's the cats I'm after.

Royal Bohemian

The currently Brooklyn-based Gretchen Jones has just launched her debut collection under her name and brand new website, and the clothes are just gorgeous. Some viewers and fashion-world people threw a fit about her Season 8 Project Runway win over the beloved and talented Mondo, but I was rooting for Gretchen the whole time for several reasons: She was a Portland designer helping to put our West Coast city on the fashion map, I adore my little white MothLove [her previous brand] dress, and more than anything, I think she has an incredible aesthetic. As I've argued, a designer doesn't need to be all flash and pomp to make a statement; Gretchen's debut line demonstrates her ability to cut flattering but Bohemian lines, and stays true to her minimalist aesthetic without getting boring. I especially appreciate the fresh lengths and shapes punctuated but standout South-Western jewelry. What color she did include is rich, and adds dynamism to the collection.

 

You Are The Season That Makes Me Forget That Things Die

What a small delightful world we live in! This morning I woke up to a message from Bailey, a friend whom I met this winter when she flew to Portland from NYC to sing with Just People for our Masquerade Ball. She wrote that her roommate is Alex Ustach, another poet featured by the Rugby Poets Club. Small small world! I'm going to try and get her on the phone to talk knits and poems. Keep you posted. Her poem here is called "Reborn."

All This Chaos A Symphoy The City Composed Just For Us

Ralph Lauren Rugby is putting on a contest to find the next great poet. They've already found one: Joshua Bennett. Go here see him at the White House Poetry Slam...oh my god, it's incredible. Today I got an email today from Nicole from 360i representing Ralph Lauren and describing the project as this: "In celebration of culture, art, and inspiration, The Rugby Poets Club is searching for the next great poet to share their self expression through written or spoken word." They say it's a series inspired by the city. I like that.

For Her

I

forgot
that falling
could feel like flight.
Barely remembered
How sorely my hands missed
the joy of juggling stars
until I kissed all your rough spots
in rapid succession. You taste like
moon. A slice of sky God let me borrow.

-Joshua Bennett

I Don't Love You As If You Were A Rose

Right now I am obsessed with two things: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (I know I'm not an early adopter, but now I'm hooked on the whole series) and the Brooklyn-based band Yeasayer. I can't get enough. And as always, I'm immersed in the study of love through poetry. Below is Neruda's take on the subject. Lovely Kerri, shot by Ben Pigao, with makeup (pretty clean lips and face, classic gold smokey eye) by me.

One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII

I don't love you as if you were a rose

I don't love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,

or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:

I love you as one loves certain obscure things,

secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom but carries

the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself,

and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose

from the earth lives dimly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,

I love you directly without problems or pride:

I love you like this because I don't know any other way

       to love,

except in this form in which I am not nor are you,

so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,

so close that your eyes close with my dreams.

-Pablo Neruda