Be Reckless Enough To Gamble All Or Nothing To Follow Your Dreams

-Monsieur John Galliano

"All life is an experiment." - Walt Whitman

A very special xmas present from my Momma was Influence, the gorgeous coffee table book by Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen and edited by Derek Blasberg. I'm being inspired not only by the Mary Kate's chunky thick eye lashes (below) and handful of rings, but also by the many thoughtful interviews with some beautiful artists, photographers and designers.

Fashion show producer Alexandre de Betak is "light obsessed." When it comes to sex, Lauren Hutton says nature is always looking to make a masterpiece. (So be careful who you make masterpieces with.) Terry Richardson, master of the stark, grainy, emotional photograph (Batman and Robin 1996) says: "Every day we feel different; sometimes we're happy; sometimes we're sad. But to photograph someone as they are is my favorite." Oh! And brilliant Giambattista Valli says he always uses an art reference in designing collections. Art like the entire collection of of Peggy Guggenheim, then Rembrandt, then for his Fall 2008 collection, the question "What would happen if Little Red Riding Hood ate the wolf?

Urban Princess

I gave you a preview (and another and another) of this shoot long ago last summer. These talented peeps all worked together to make some beautiful fashion/beauty/city magic: shot by Peter Greene, styled by Alison Nicole Grisé, makeup by me, hair by Megan Rabe and model Jillian Rabe with the Raw Action Bboys.

The Prettier The Flower The Farther From The Path

My dear friend Katie asked me to model in a shoot for a photography class at Oregon last summer, and despite being incredibly uncomfotable in front of the camera (at least in a formal setting), I agreed (but only because I love her). The feeling of adventurous summer took hold and we wandered around Eugene and stumbled upon abandoned trains and into the dynamic little peacock park up on Hendricks hill. While we were wandering the train tracks in the Whiteaker district, I grabbed the camera and got the photo of her above.

Katie hand developed these in the dark room, making them even more special in our time of over digitalization.

Finding The Courage To Reach Unreachable Stars

"I sometimes think that all you tell me of knighthood, kingdoms, empires and islands is all windy blather and lies." -Sancho Panzo

Don't ask me why it's taken so long to post these finals (photog Shaun Mendiola, beautiful work as usual) from Jasin Weiner's senior project, but anyway, here they are!! Maria Blandino and I rocked the makeup and Critter Pierce styled.

The Harder To Get The Better To Have

I'm really excited for this upcoming shoot, with my beautiful buddies Brittany Powers and Tim Shroyer (below). Shaun is shooting with stark, bright lighting like the W shoot with Ginnifer Goodwin (top), and I'm going to style them with leather and black and a lot of bling. Kate Hudson's makeup by Dick Page (above) is perfect, like black leather. But just like black nail polish, black lipstick needs to be taken down a notch so as not to scream 2007.

I'm thinking twilight colored, not midnight.

I See You.

A perfect photoshoot, with some crazy talent. Shaun (as good as they make'um) rocking it on the cam, and Kyla as beautiful and natural as ever. I used Arbonne concealer and pressed powder, and blended out M.A.C. Carbon eyeshadow around her eyes for that seductive smokey feeling.

Ingenious Hidalgo Jasin Weiner de la Portland Art Institute

Our favorite literary hero, the Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha, takes form as four lovely ladies under the Quixote illusion that life is much grander than reality suggests! These girls de la Mancha dash about fulfilling epic fantasies of chivalric heroism and stunning knightly fashion. Everyone thought Don Quixote was insane (even his loving author Miguel de Cervantes and his loyal sidekick Sancho Panza), but perhaps he had it right: we wouldn't dream it if it wasn't possible, and yes, we do create our own reality.

Early Early Early Beautiful! Early

Come a.m., I'll be grabbing my coffee with pumpkin spice soy milk and rushing off to help bring together another senior fashion design project from the Art Institute of Portland. The designer Jasin has some pretty interesting ideas. (Like building a driftwood sculpture tomorrow onsite. This is why I love this job. People aren't afraid to dream crazy dreams!) His collection is loosely inspired by Don Quixote and will require some ethereal eyes and perfect skin, nothing too distracting. Here's the makeup inspiration Jasin sent:

As Jasin put it, we have some good news and some bad. The bad news: we are meeting at 5:45 a.m. for hair and makeup. The good news: We book it for the beach at 7:30 and will catch the light and play in the sand! I think you'll find me bundled up in my baby pink vintage Missoni puffy jacket and my little sister's fuchsia J.Crew earmuffs, keeping guard on the makeup...freezing in huddled stance. (Carrie, it is December 1st. We are hoping for an interesting sky, not tanning weather.)

Hello Birdy

On Erin's lips I used Clinique lip stick in Beach Coral (a personal favorite, a pink grapfruity color, very rich but wearable and young because the coral takes stage over the rosy undertones), and on her eyes Go MAC eyeshadow highlighted with Nylon. For her face I used Arbonne's super star cream concealer and the brand's pressed powders to even and contour. I've met few models I can't perfectly color match by blending those four powders ranging from Fair to Dark. I finished by lining with Arbonne black liquid liner, then MAC lash primer and Arbonne volumizing mascara.

Doesn't Erin look like a 50's NYC movie star detective here?

The Bird And The Canary

Isn't it amazing when everything that could possibly go right does? It is how life should be always, and is if you are aligned for it. Yesterday morning's shoot for Shwood glasses proved to be one of those deliciously aligned days when everything helpful to the success of our day happened (Gary and Stephen finding the mint condition forest green 1968 BMW randomly in Jantzen beach on Saturday, the owner being an awesome guy sticking around for the whole shoot, Erin's previous shoot being rescheduled, Shaun having time to come take pictures, American Apparel trusting us with gear... on and on) and there we all were, making beautiful pictures and shooting great footage. Sure, it was raining and freezing cold, and I felt so terrible for the sweet little stressed out birdy, but other than that it was perfect... We all collaborated on styling, and American Apparel loaned us some threads to round out the looks. The big silver dragonfly neckless Erin's wearing is my mom's. Erin, Chris and Austin rocked it on camera. I think our non-story line will be absolutely gripping. As with the last Shwood commercial, the story is basically this: PYTs, not much to do, relaxing, simply being beautiful and cool. Always the Portland attitude, definitely the Shwood attitude. Not cut throat. Just creative and cool.

Okay, okay, the story is a little more than that. Hot girl, with her hot forest green BMW, coming upon two dudes just havin' a good time hanging out on the hood with their tropical canary in its vintagey bird cage. They see her, duck and hide, and she's thinking, what are you doing putting a bird cage on my perfect car? They're thinking, dammnnn. Friendship ensues.

I took these pictures, but there will be more from Shaun, and the commercials will be out in December when the brand releases them. Much love!

Shwood Shop Shoot, Tomorrow

Tomorrow we are filming the second Shwood glasses commercial, and Erin Desiree Dierking is coming on as model. I figured she would be perfect for the brand, because like Heather and Jillian she has experience, plus a strong, beautiful face. Gary Tyler will be directing, and we will be up on a sky rise this time (no beach).

Australian Autobiographies

Model Mayhem inspiration... Does anyone know who this photographer is? I need to give her some proper credit (she's from Australia and only 17!), but in the mean time, can we just enjoy her style? Love the makeup, especially the black lips and bright pink raybans. I love the perspective in these photos, and the moody glamour.

Beautiful Girls, Beach, Kiddie Pool, Champagne...What More Could You Dream Of?

The finished Shwood commercial will look like these pictures, but moving. I can't wait to show you! The makeup was fun; did my signature lip of course. My favorite picture is the fifth one down. There is so much energy in the photo, with the wind and hair, but also such a peaceful calmness. This shoot is such a good one because of how funky the concept it...the story is sweet and pretty, but a little off. Like, who are these two beautiful girls, and why are they hanging out drinking on the beach in kiddie pools? Who is this guy filling up the tub, and what the hell is so funny? A little strange. Right up my ally. Model Heather Rieder on the right, Jillian Rabe on the left.

Art Direction: Tyler Mcleod; Photographer: Shaun Mendiola; Makeup: Carrie Hamm; Models Heather Reider (on the left) and Jillian Rabe (Right) and Benny.

China Design Prep at SmashCut

Here is the adorable model Erika Ellis pre wig and post makeup. What a sweetheart! Can't wait to work with her again!

China Design Now, Take 2

Models getting their hair did before the second China Design Now fashion event at the Portland Art Museum. This night required something a little different for the models...instead of a catwalk, they perched up on great boxes and preened while the guests mingled. It's nice to keep things fresh! Pictures are from OSI Photography.

Above center is May Tee, a leader in the Portland fashion design community. I have my eye on several pieces of from her Spring 2010 collection.... To the far left are models Reanna Cadmus and Libby Boggs, and to her right is Heather Shroyer from Portland Fashion Synergy and model Morayma Makay. I love this look that Caprice put together! It was really satisfying to smudge the bright red eye shadow all around Reanna's eyes and onto her upper cheek bones. I felt like I was doing something naughty ;)

Portland Model Megan Hodge getting her wig trimmed and secured. Megan, after I finished her makeup and her wig was perfected!