What Is It You Are Setting Out To Find?

Gorgeous Hannah in another teaser from last weekend's Sahlia Michelle Jewelry shoot.

Look For Something, Find Something Even Better

 Our pretty badass crew last Saturday, all working to create a beautiful masterpiece of a campaign for Sahlia Michelle Jewelry Design: Shot by Ben Pigao, makeup by me, hair by Kim Namanny, clothes from Lizard Lounge, jewelry by Sahliah (duh). Everything about this shoot was so perf and gorge. Amazing day shooting down in the rubble in South East waterfront... The sun was right, the girls were hot... it was all the best! (And as usual when I am working with the most wonderful people in the world, I am doubled over laughing pretty much the whole day.) Models were the so best Hannah Gale (Option), Natalie Morris (Muse) Erin Dierking (Option).

Models were the so good: Hannah Gale, Natalie Morris and Erin Dierking. (Hannah is an animal lover too--adopted momma pit bull for the day.) Shaun Mendiola came to hang out and assist Ben. Stay tuned for muuuucch more.

Earth As A Place Of Enjoyment

Today we begin the journey with the smell of spring and the taste of fruit and coffee. Also, a Chanel tattoo, Balenciaga jacket, Alexander Wang dress, and Acne boots, worn by fashion editor and blogger Carolina Blumst in the light of the Stockholm sun.

Below we have a pretty sequined look from Naught Mess Vintage's dreary blog. A couple good finds on the etsy site. Has my impatience for junk really reduced me to shopping for vintage online?? Sigh, I guess one has to sift through piles of useless crap even in the virtual world. All the more reason to shout and holler when I come across something cool!

Sahlia Michelle Jewelry Shoot Inspiration

Here's what Sahlia is thinking for the model styling and makeup for the upcoming shoot for her jewelry collection. Check out her blog to get an idea of the range of different looks she has: everything from hammered metals to stones to leather and mixed metals. I love her work because it is delicate but tough at the same time--a feat that is often attempted but seldom carried off with this level of grace. I brought a case full of her jewlery to China and paired it with May Tee's designs in our fashion show. May wouldn't let me use any other jewelry, and I totally understood.

Manhattan Milieu

Still writing, on draft 15ish. To give myself a brief moment of reprieve, let me share with you my dear friend Lydia's jewelry and headband collection, Manhattan Milieu. After graduation we had a one week intensive art philosophy course together, then she was off to NYC to study fashion merchandising at Parsons and internships at Burberry and Marchesa. Obviously a busy girl. Recently caught up with her on a brief trip into town for some drinks at Portland City Grill. Lydia on her budding accessory collection: "One of the best pieces of advice I've been given since moving to NYC is that the most successful people have things they do on the side. Top executives golf, Marc Jacobs paints, Ina Garten passed her free moments during a career in politics cooking...all inspirational! I've decided to approach this the other way around, so while I'm interviewing, calling and emailing, I'm getting into my 'on the side' project of making headbands and accessories."

Hey DJ, Turn That Sheet Up

I'm sitting with my computer in Bridgetown Pizza on the water (top 40 blaring at top volume), attempting to fend of free shots (failing) and TRYING to write a first draft for a story about our China adventure (again failing), due TOMORROW MORNING. Oh how I love a tight deadline. It's the only way to work, right? At least with writing. Part of my desire to work in makeup was the immediacy of the thing. Do it, it's here, now and over with one round of Clean n' Clear. But writing? Whole other beast. I love it though, and it is making me feel sane again for the first time since I left PDX airport last Friday evening, saying goodbye to my new family of beautiful, inspiring Portland fashion people. It is them I am anticipating tonight (texting them every few minutes, confessing my love and inquiring about ETA), but really I know once they get here, all bets are off (as they say). No more writing, just talking and discussing, dreaming, etc. So despite appearances, I am actually grateful for a moment to begin processing what we've been through, the growth I've experienced.

When One Deals With Words, One Deals With The Mind

This morning... on the last 300 pages of Atlas Shrugged. Feeling inspired by Juliett K, this adorable Polish fashion blogger. Photo from lookbook.nu, my favorite way to start the day.

Starry Eyed Travelers

Here are some of the photos by Shaun from Claire's senior project. The makeup is so dreamy and pretty--Nadia and I had a great time doing it. 

Quick post before I leave for China! I'll take lots of pictures, I swear (I hope). I have so much to talk to you about already! Beijing Fashion Week, watch out!

Fashion Pie

I'm leaving for China in 8 days!! Wow I feel like I have a million things to do. Especially because I am leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow for the whole weekend. Here are photos from the group's trip last year. Top, pre-show rehersal with a beautiful red Sarah Seven dress, then the crowd, all there to see what Portland fashion is all about, then two Sarah Seven looks from the runway. (All the photos are by Leah Nash.) We will be having a show again this year, all thanks to the good fashion people at Beijing Fashion Week and of course the Portland Fashion Synergy board. More about the trip I promise...

Alice And Her Impossible Journey

Mid-high school I gave up trying to be cool and began to crave the light, imaginative weirdness that was so natural to me in childhood. I came to my senses and worked to discover escapes from the daily convention that threatened to deplete my imagination and creativity. In a moment in December 2003 that pulled together all I loved from the past and from the future, I discovered the bright, creative, weird, wonderful Alice in Wonderland shoot by Annie Leibovitz in Vogue.

I had always loved clothes--my mom says the outfits I dressed myself in when I was little were quite... impressive in their originality, and I worked all through high school to support my obsession with beautiful dresses and shoes. I was also forever obsessed with fashion journalism, declaring from 8th grade on that I'd be the next Anna Wintour. When I saw this Alice in Wonderland spread, the possibilities started clicking into place--and since that moment, every time I flip back through the spread something new pulls and inspires me. My favorite model, Natalia Vodianova is a perfect moody, lovely Alice, and designers Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano are several of the designers who take shape as the Caterpillar, the Mad Hatter and the Red Queen. When we re-read Alice in Wonderland in English class later that year, I brought in the issue to show the class, and I didn't even care that most the class didn't really get it or care. Because frankly, fashion just isn't for everyone.

This post is to celebrate all versions of Alice, and as a thank you for the artists who engage in a dialog with the impossible! Thank you Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Annie Leibovitz and Grace Coddington. The challenge this week--every day think up six impossible things before breakfast! It's a lovely practice!

Time Traveler Girls

Shoot for Claire Wolfson's Ai senior fashion design final today at the Ace hotel! I spent the whole day pretty much doubled over laughing. That's how great the people I get to work with are!! Hair and makeup turned out LOVELY, and Claire's designs were so sweet and in control. Claire's inspiration for the line and the shoot: "My collection was inspired by an old [Cape Cod] house that was built in the 1700's and filled with hundreds of antiques from all different parts of history. My concept is piecing together different times in history through seams. The theme for the shoot is going to be the girls sort of getting ready at the hotel to go on some sort of journey--possibly to travel back in time." I'm pretty sure we achieve that today! Below, the inspiration sheets she sent us before the shoot.

Why Should We Grieve That We've Been Sleeping?

More from that great day shooting with Leslie. We had fun playing with the cream/white/silver/brown/gray/tan/black theme while styling our outfits for the group shot. By the time I was done doing all the girls' makeup and could jump in for a couple shots, I was exhausted! But it was the good, exhilarating kind of fatigue--the kind you get when you know you're doing something right. The beautiful coat Kelly is wearing in the top two pictures is Alison's, found at a vintage boutique in town, previously the owner's grandmother's coat. Her reaction to the sale: "She's crazy to let it go!"

You Are My Electric Girl

More shots from the shoot with Shaun Mendiola and Option Model Kyla Moran. Loving the hometown connection.

The Eye Of The Tiger

We rang in the Chinese New Year of the Tiger (our year '86 babies!) on Sunday with the the great Portland Chinese community. The event (complete with traditional dragon dancing and Chinese broccoli, my fav) was MCd by Kerry Yu and included our fashion show, organized by the kickass, hard working Jillian Rabe (above, working the finale on the runway). Megan Rabe and Tim Shroyer made perfect buns with chopsticks and bobbed wig hair, and Aimee Janik and I made beautiful models even more beautiful. In the end we went with a simple thick dark liner on top and bright, not-going-anywhere-red lips. With this simplification of makeup, we were able to rock through 12 models in under two hours! Genius.

All Along Our Little Watchtower

Hot kids in Shwood sunglasses by Shaun from our commercial shoot earlier this fall: