Thursday, November 20, 2014

New Venture!!

Hello All,

In my last post, I stated that I had some exciting news to share with you.  For those of you who have been following my blog, you know that I am an independent fashion designer.  Well, there is also a new website, which is an online trunk show that makes it easier for independent designers to create their garments, and do what they love, which is designing great clothing.

The name of the website is called is called Trunkist.  I designed a dress through this site, and I'm happy to say that my dress is now on sale! The dress, the Bandeau Skater Dress, is inspired from the 1950s and Rockabilly style.

Here is the link to my dress: http://www.trunkist.com/products/bandeau-skater-dress.

I'm so excited about this new venture.  Fashion is fun, but it takes a lot of hard work to get your product out there, and I'm glad that sites like Trunkist helps independent designers like me make great products for you.

Until Next Time!

Monday, November 17, 2014

New Artwork

Hello All,

With teaching, doing freelance gigs, and revamping my website, I haven't had time to talk to all of you.  I feel I have a great audience, so I can share what I have been doing lately.  I had been feeling down a bit with certain things in my life.  Most of the time, when there is a circumstance that I cannot control, I think about it to the point that it starts to stress me out.  I know this is not good, and I am working on that.  So, when this circumstance occurred, I prayed about it, and instead, I went back to an old medium that I have not used since college, watercolor painting.

I started looking at Pinterest (my favorite site), and I started looking at watercolor fashion illustrations for inspiration.  Afterwards, I started creating my own.  Besides watercolor paints, I use gouache as well.  In addition to watercolor painting, I have been continuing to use markers to create my fashion illustrations.  This is what I have been creating so far:

Marker

October 26, 2014

October 26, 2014

October 5, 2014

Watercolor and Gouache

November 9

I'm currently working on this painting


This is still a work in progress.  I also have a pattern for a skirt that I'm still working on.


This skirt is also a work in progress.  I have to finish both of these projects soon.  I'm excited about the skirt because it is something that I have always envisioned, but now that the weather has turned very cold, I may have to wait until Spring to wear it.

Also, I will be sharing some good news with you soon.  I am so excited about this new venture in my life, and I can't wait to share it with you.

Well, now I have to prepare for class tomorrow.

Until Next Time!

Saturday, October 11, 2014

New Fashion Illustration

Hello All,

So, I just completed another fashion illustration.  It is my rendition of Sanaa Lathan wearing one of my original designs.




I have illustrated this, and now I'm speaking this into existence.  I love Sanaa Lathan.  She is one of my favorite actresses (I have many!), and I have always envisioned her as my muse!  Again, I'm speaking it into existence. Sanaa Lathan will be my muse for my fashion empire!

What do you guys think?

Until Next Time?


New Fashion Illustration

Hello All,

It has been a while since I have actually created an illustration.  I'm in the process of changing my prices, so I will be doing more illustrations, technical flats, tech packs, and I will be sewing more.  I have created a new illustration called Golden Beauty.


Hope you all like it.  Now to start another fashion illustration, and actually start timing myself!

Until Next Time!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Pin Up Girls

Hello All,

I love posters of pin-up girls.  They are so creative! From the vintage photos to the illustrations, I love everything about pin-up girls.  I especially love the clothing, hairstyles, and makeup that is inspired from pin-up girls.  I haven't done this in a while, so I'm about to give you a history lesson on pin-up girls, and how the style came into existence.

Pin-Up Girl- also known as a pin-up model; a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as popular culture.  Pin-up girls can be glamour models, fashion models, or actresses.  Also known as cheesecake photos.


via Pinterest

via Pinterest

Although the term didn't become popular until the 40s, Pin-up girls were actually in existence during the 1890s.  During this time, burlesque dancers and actresses used photographic advertisements to promote themselves.  These dancers and actresses self-constructed their identity to make themselves visible.  During this time, the way society viewed women were also tied to their sexuality, so the more "public' the woman, the more "public" her sexuality.  Because these women were sexually fantasized, famous actresses during the 20th Century film were drawn, photographed, and put on walls for personal entertainment.  These photos became most popular during the World Wars.

The first pin-up girl was Fernande Barrey

via celebrities.top5.com

Barrey was known for her display of ample clevage and full frontal nudity.  Her pictures were cherished by all soldiers during he First World War.

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

The most popular pin-up girl is Bettie Page

via www.bettypagemovie.com

via www.fanpop.com

Other pin-up models include:

Betty Grable

via www.ew.com
Jayne Mansfield

via www.parade.condenast.com
Joan Crawford
via www.fineartamerica.com

Hedy Lamarr

via www.gopixpic.com

Pin-up girls are still popular to this day.  The most popular pin-up girl of the 21st Century is Dita Von Teese, who was inspired by Betty Grable and other popular actresses of the 40s

via www.glamour.com

www.justjared.com

One popular style that has derived from the pin-up girl craze is Rockabilly.

*All pictures are found on Pinterest





In addition to Rockabilly, fashion lines have also been created from the inspiration of pin-up girls.

Well, that is my history lesson for tonight.  Hopefully all of this information was helpful

Until Next Time!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Inspiration

This is my inspiration for the day! Don't give up!

Until Next Time!

Project Beauty: Neiman Marcus Fort Worth

Hello All,

Since I have been in Dallas, I have been so consumed with making my mark in the fashion industry, teaching, and learning my new residence that I have been neglecting my duties to talk with you all about fashion, art, and beauty.  Today, I decided to get out of the house and go to Project Beauty, a beauty event at Neiman Marcus in Fort Worth.

Neiman Marcus Fort Worth is one of the smaller Neiman Marcus stores, but they still have a ton of trendy items, accessories, and beauty products.  Upon my arrival in the store, I was greeted by Ryan, one of the managers at Neiman Marcus.  It was set up like a mini-runway show with programs, notebooks, and gift bags in the chairs.



Many representatives from companies such as Dior, La Mer, Katy Somerville, and many others were in attendance to talk about their new products.  They also had lots of giveaways for the guests.
Jo Malone

Kate Somerville

Trish McEvoy

Dior

BKR

La Prairie

Sisley

I also won two gift bags, one from LaMer, and the other from Kate Somerville!  Afterwards, I had a chat with Chuck Steelman, the Corporate Manager of Special Events at Neiman Marcus in Dallas/Fort Worth.  Besides the gifts, the best part of the event were the take home goodies.  Because MasterCard sponsored the event, we received these cute cookies!


After visiting the makeup counter, I decided to take a picture of inspirational clothing.  This skirt was my favorite item in the store.


Although this event was at 9:30 AM, I had fun.  Afterwards, I came back home and continued my beauty rest, until I woke up to continue my projects.  Today was a wonderful day, and I was glad to experience it.

Until Next Time!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Looks from the Emmys 2014

Hello All,

I'm sorry to say this, but I didn't watch the Emmy Awards on Sunday, August 24, because I was watching another show that aired at the same time, but I did see a few clips.  Even though I didn't get to watch all of the Emmys, I saw some amazing looks from some of the celebrities through social media.  So, even though I am three days late, I will show looks from the Emmys 2014 that I liked and disliked (you have to excuse me b/c there are some people whose names I do not know).

 Favorites

KeKe Palmer

Halle Berry

Heidi Klum

Julia Louis- Dreyfus

Julia Roberts

Girl from Orange is the New Black

Gwen Stefani

Angela Bassett

Unknown Actress

Another Unknown Actress

Amy Poehler


Okay (Something Else Can Be Done)

Kerry Washington- not feeling the details on dress

Unknown Actress- length can be longer

Claire Danes- this dress makes her look frumpy, plus 
she blends in with the red carpet

Unknown Actress- dress is too basic; simple neckline
with mermaid skirt; should have added some type of jewelry

 Not So Favorite


Lena Dunham- a hot mess!!

I want to leave with this picture of Heidi Klum and Zac Posen


Until Next Time!