My City in Color

Unfortunately it is time to face reality: summer is ending. But while it lasts, I'm going to wear bright colors.  For this look I wanted to create an assortment of color, without overdoing it. The key to this look was femininity. I chose a soft turquoise skirt with an ombre fade, and paired it with a floral headpiece and pink lipstick. What's more girly than that? For a little bit of edge I added neon heels and a leopard print bra to show through under the sheer black shirt. It is a little dangerous to pair a sheer skirt with a sheer shirt, but the look I wanted was soft and sweet. 

Heels: Aldo from Nordstrom Rack

Ombre Fade Skirt: Forever 21

Black sheer top: Urban Outfitters

Leopard cotton bra: Ross

Earrings: Betsey Johnson (gift)

Floral Headpiece: DIY project (my tutorial HERE)

All photos credit Shuttereye Images

Thanks for reading! XoXo

Blackmilk in the Sun

This look was inspired by the Mechanical Bones Leggings in White by Blackmilk Clothing. The easiest way to wear printed leggings is with a solid color top, since print mixing is a difficult skill. I paired my leggings with a faux leather peplum top for a hardcore look, and added Jeffrey Campbell buckle Litas to make it extra badass. For my accessories I chose skeleton pieces: a bone bracelet from Hot Topic, a few plastic bangles. and a hair clip made by gluing a plastic skeleton hand (found in my mom's basement) to a pin curl clip. The rest was up to Sacha of Shuttereye Images.

Faux Leather Peplum top: Forever 21
Mechanical Bones White Leggings: Blackmilk
Skeleton bracelet: Hot Topic (similar here)
Jeffrey Campbell Litas: Karmaloop (similar)

All photos credit Shuttereye Images

Thanks for reading! 

XOXo

You've Got To Earn Your Leather In This Part Of Town

That's right, it's back.

The leather jacket and corset combo that I added spikes to for the Gaga concert. 

But this time there's a message:

Now, it's in motion in my first ever modeling video.
(If the video isn't working watch it on YouTube)

This look was about attitude. 

It's about fierce.

And maybe you wouldn't rock all of this for an everyday occurrence, but there are style notes you can take away from it:

• It's ok for your tights to go above your shorts if it's obvious you meant it to be that way.
• Same is true with showing the pockets of your shorts. Feel free to decorate them as well.
• The more rings the better.
• Leather + Spikes = instant badass
• Combat boots are an absolute must-have item
• Attitude is everything. If you look uncomfortable, it is obvious. If you act like you're totally pulling it off, other people will think you are too. 

See the making of the jacket/bustier here

Learn how to make your own studded leg garter here

All images and video courtesy of the talented and creative Ivan Mrsic. Check out his Tumblr and Flickr for more from IM Productions. He was a delight to work with.

Jacket-originally from Ross

Bustier-originally from Forever 21

Fishnets- from Target (holes not included)

Shorts- These were originally jeans. I added all holes, bleach spots, etc.

Boots- Steve Madden from Nordstrom Rack

Urban Doll

Part I. Fade to Black

Part II, Doll of the Night

Embrace the grime and let your spikes show

Anyone can be a little rough around the edges

After all, you're headed to the top girl

No one can tear you down

Not in these shoes

XoXo

All images courtesy of Imaginessence Photography and Videography Services

All rights reserved

Shoes: Pointe MC and Shadow Spike by Jeffrey Campbell from Karmaloop

Dress and Sequin Bustier: Motel Rocks from Karmaloop

Leather Skirt: Value Village

Leather Jacket: June from Nordstrom Rack

Tights: Ross

Lipstick: Mint to Be by Lime Crime from Karmaloop

Get the look! How to do your hair like this here

Masculine Femininity

The inspiration for this shoot was menswear.
Women have the ultimate power of fashion. We can wear anything we please, or nothing at all, and still find a way to be sexy.
For these looks I dressed in menswear, or masculine womenswear to show that confidence is the sexiest thing a woman can wear.
As with any artistic project, it took on a life of its own, and luckily I'm happy with what this shoot became.
Now I'll let you be the judge.

All photos courtesy of Shuttereye Images and Harold Mayo

How to Make Naturally Straight Hair Unnaturally Curly

I've said it before, I'll say it again. My hair is naturally straight. It's also thin. And it doesn't like to hold a curl very well.
But just to be difficult, I wanted to get as close as I could to an afro for a look at a recent shoot.
I modified the recipe for no-heat curls known as "cocoon curls" and this is what happened.

What You'll Need:

• Dirty, unwashed hair
• A spraybottle full of water
• Some spraygel (optional)
• A bandanna or headwrap

What to Do:

• Take a small section of hair and spray it lightly with water. It should be damp, not wet. You can also spray a small amount of spray gel. Twist it until it is tight.

• Place two fingers at the top of the twist and bring the hair up and behind, wrapping it around itself.

• Wrap the hair around itself, with your fingers in place as many times as you can, while keeping it twisted.  

• When you can't wrap the twisted hair around anymore, grab the tip with the two fingers inside the loop of hair, but don't pull it all the way through.

• Slide the top of the knot down so that the loop tightens and holds the hair in place. The little tail should hang out so you can easily untie it the next day.

After I did this to all the hair on my head, using small, 2-3" sections, I wrapped it up in a bandanna and went to sleep. Luckily when I took out all the knots, it was exactly how I wanted it. HUGE.

I think next time I'll combine the faux hawk and these crazy curls for a whole new look!

Here's a sneak peek from the shoot!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO