Working with Courtney Davis & Garrett Lund

I recently had the pleasure of working with the beautiful Courtney Davis. We went to fashion school together and often collaborate on styling for local fashion events. Courtney has modeled for me in the past but this shoot was my favorite!

Garrett Lund not only provided us with an immaculate space, but also shot the photos using some really interesting experimental lighting techniques. I learned a lot in this shoot, not only about lighting but also the use of space and different ways to demonstrate said space.

Courtney really captivated me with her smoky blue eyes, and rocked Jennafer Grace & Brooke Catherine designs with her sexy little figure. Overall, this shoot went great and I am proud of the final result!

To check out all final images from the shoot, check out the photo gallery featured on Garrett's shuterfly page.
glundphotography.shutterfly.com

Apart from being a fantastic photographer, Garrett is part of Lund Team Realty. A dear family business, Lund Team Realty has one of the nicest offices I’ve ever seen, and boasts an award for building it with all recycled materials! www.lundteam.com

LA Opera Costume Sale

I often work with a magnificent entertainment company who creates incomparable shows with only the most talented singers, dancers, and acrobats in the world. I am honored to be part of such a world-class production. Imagination Entertainment is a talented San Diego based company who produces shows around the world.

http://www.imaginationent.com/

 Last week, we made a small trip to the Los Angeles Opera House costume sale. I never thought I would see anything so beautiful! Racks and racks of glorious, beautiful costumes!

Thankfully we got there early, because a line formed halfway around a city block in downtown Los Angelas. It was pretty intense-thankfully we were within the first twenty people in line, because they only let a few in at a time. It was mayhem, and our shopping rack was often mistaken for a sale rack-we literally needed someone to circle it at all times, just to keep what we'd picked out!

I applaud the sewers at the Opera. Magnifique! The armor, hats, and other whimsically-shaped costumes had my patternmaking head spinning. There were items so beautiful that I was afraid to stand too close...

There were one or two that were meant to gross you out a bit-this handmade six foot creation was called "The Fly", and was going for a well deserved $5000.00

A lot of the helpers at this sale were incredibly long and lythe, with graceful walks that made them appear to float. They were ballerinas! In fashion we have a term for a beautiful model who is unconsciously setting trends in her scrubby cut-offs and glamorous cocktail jewelry; Model Off Duty or MOD. I hereby announce that Ballerinas Off Duty are equally gorgeous and inspiring, if not all the more unique for their dramatic backgrounds. Cheers to you, BODs!

I ended up hauling a fair amount of grandeur back to my own closet, including a gigantic pair of harem pants that hang literally as tall as me! A fabulously floral 1990's off-shoulder-romper, a floor length magenta Studio 54 robe, a gorgeous black sultan's hat, and a super ugly-cute hand beaded granny sweater now grace my collection! I double dare you to look out for costume sales at local theatres, you never know what sort of genius they may contain!

Fashion Photography

Fashion is an extremely vast industry with many types of creative people. Without fashion photography, the allure of unique and fine quality garments might never exist!

Recently I have had the extreme privilege to be working with a truly talented style team. Mahal Style are exceptionally professional and dedicated. Though their work speaks for itself, I must mention that Minh and Rochelle are some of the most delightfully warm people….ever. Everyone feels instantly comfortable around them, and I dare you to check out their work on www.mahalstyle.com, or become a fan on facebook!

Here are a few picks from my point and shoot at some of our recent shoots.

Looking forward to the next one, guys!

Orange County Fashion Week

I was very excited to help Nordstrom with Orange County Fashion Week. Held at the Irvine Spectrum, this week long series of fashion shows showcased the newest in designer couture that Southern California has to offer. I worked all week with Nordstrom, and learned a lot about both the process of building a show, as well as the projected trends for 2010.

In my opinion the strongest of these new trends was the 90s. Industrial/grunge is accessible to the masses and reflects some of the economic status and tones of current society. It is arguable the Bohemian Luxe trend is a parallel reflection on the population’s political or lifestyle outlook, but that is another paragraph entirely. I feel that surfer-style layers and biker jackets have been so present this year that they are almost mandatory staples. Flat boots with lots of hardware, mineral wash denim and deconstruction will compliment these trends-but I always prefer a juxtaposition.
Try pairing sweet & girly items, such as vintage dresses or cozy knee socks, to create an irreplaceable look.

Back to Boho. Feathers and peace signs, brooches oh my! In a way, hippie is never out, but it has made a huge impact on this season. For inimitable holiday glamour, pair a huge, cozy sweater with a super-skinny sequined leggings. Enormous platforms can be improved with exotic clip-on earrings in place of shoe clips. To stand out, wear a huge cocktail ring with a gem-toned frock, or warm grey tights with a glitzy little holiday dress. Bohemia is about personalization and mixing old with new.