SPRING COLOR BLOCKING

I asked my friend Lucy to help me with a project I'm working on for Vintage Vixen (more to come on that later), but it took a conceptual turn and I found myself with a model surplus. Lucy was still game for playing dress up, though: here she is wearing a gorgeous silk blouse by French label Equipment and vintage Escada trousers with vintage accessories. The red with fuschia feels very current and a high waist + gold = never better. Consider this post a trend "how-to" piece, if you will! I shot Lucy last year as well and have included some snapshots of that action below...

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VLOGLOVIN'

Just a few screencaps from my webcam show last night, turned into the opening credit sequence of a 90's Nickelodeon show. I kid! I made a little video about dating, sort of...I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately, so it's pretty off the cuff. I'm not sure I have the energy to continue The Love Week tomorrow, I may need to just drink tea instead of shooting the faux lingerie campaign I envisioned, called "He Wears the Manties." Sorry about that.

DEAR BLOGGING No. 2

I managed to leave the state of Virginia only once in the entirety of 2011, compared to traveling through nine different countries in 2010. Whoa. I still got around, though, taking my camera with me to shine a new light on various places including the Crozet Mudhouse (above), Artifacts, Low Vintage, JohnSarahJohn (right before they opened), and Coogan's workspace in Random Row...

I also scoped out a few area homes including my aunt and uncle's custom abode and design-and-build firm owner's Joey Conover and Jeff Erkelens' now former residence, not to mention my friend Debbie's incredible country compound and its ducks!

The one out-of-state trip I took was to NYC, where I visited the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and took this picture that makes it look like I maybe visited Japan:

And then I shot some "country living" scenes with my Holga, including these trees:

I think coming back to the States in a traveling mindset helped me keep my eyes open for interesting things going on around me. Hopefully I'll continue being pleasantly surprised by living local...

Speaking of the pleasant surprises of living local, next week I launch/reveal/unleash my first big project for the new year, The Low Lookbook. Styled and photographed by yours truly, the digital book highlights some of the best spring outfits for modern vintage dressing from the incredible (and local!) Low Vintage. Keep your eyes peeled and brace yourself for awesome!

DEAR BLOGGING No. 1

It's like my usual love letters to the internet, but to myself...

starting with a few outtakes! (all by Fareine)

And then some spring/summer outfits that didn't get posted to this blog:

And because I'm not completely obsessed with myself, a lil' compilation of street photos I took for The Charlotte and/or just for fun:

Check back tomorrow for some of my favorites places & spaces from the last year!

GIRL OF MY DREAMS

From a brief portrait session with Chelsea.

LET'S CELEBRATE

Some snaps from my book party Friday night, courtesy of Fareine Benz (except for number 3, which I stole off Facebook.) The exhibit is up through all of October and signed copies of the book, which retail for $25, are also available. Any image from it – included in the exhibit or not – is available for printing if you’re interested! So stop by, peruse the images, and feel free to get in touch with me about anything that catches your eye. Contact information is to your left!

In all too typical fashion I decided at the very last minute that I hated the outfit I’d planned out over a month ago for my party (inner critics declared it, “Draconian,” and compared me to Count Chocula) so I kicked it to the curb in favor of an ensemble grounded by high-waisted trousers. The pants, from Ike’s Underground, are actually part of a vintage Boy Scout’s uniform (the Boy Scouts have been good to my closet) and they fit mah-velously. Please note the red piping around the pockets – holy crap that’s awesome, right? I mean, pants just aren’t that cool these days. Add to that my current fervor for the high-waisted look (Oscar PR Girl and the Kenzo collection come to mind for inspiration) and I’m living the dream! Not to mention I could pair the pants with my itty-bitty American Apparel shirt without fear of coming undone, or the need for elastic undergarments.

The fedora was my grandfather’s and the shoes, which you can’t really see despite their glossy fabulosity, are from Low. A few friends have already declared the overall effect a bit costumey and one immediately brought up Indiana Jones, who seems to be the only person someone can be reminded of by a man wearing a hat – and he’s not even real! Balls. What do we think?

Thanks so much to everyone who made it out Friday night, including the gorgeous (and tall) Steph and Cate of The Charlotte and Abby of Little Stories! And a super special thanks to Artifacts owner Todd for allowing me to hold this event in his incredible store, not to mention Beate Casati of La Linea Bella for helping me frame all of the pieces – they look fantastic! Besitos~