iSpy at the Otis Scholarship Benefit Fashion Show 2017

Remember the fluevog print dress?
Here it is at the Step-and-Repeat:

[David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images] 

While David shot me, I sketched him:

This year I went to the afternoon rehearsal, then lurked with the photographers and sketched.

I think I drew 26 sketches!

Later on, I was captured by an Otis photographer posing with photographer Kai He:

His sketch turned out a bit more abstract:

Um, VERY abstract! He just wouldn't stand still!

One of the highlights of the evening was getting a selfie with my Otis classmate Chris Chang.

Chris designs the line Poesia in Shanghai, she mentored one of the Senior Class projects.

I hadn't seen her since we graduated umpteen years ago.

(A sketch of Chris and photos of the student work later).

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday

Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week

52 Pick-me-up: Beige / Impartial / Fairness

••• 

Beige is this week's color? Really?
Are you ready for 7 weeks of neutrals, SpyGirl style?

Week 45/52, Beige. 

BOOM!
A Phillip Lim 3.1 x Target scarf that became the front panel of a tunic. 

I hear the Enid in you saying "I don't see any Beige, SpyGirl".

Oh yes there is!

Let's dance this mess around:

Dancing photos taken by Severo. He learned about the "Burst" feature on my iPhone.
Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday.

That's what I wore to my alma mater's Fashion Gala at the Beverly Hilton.
I actually paid for a night ticket this year, since Rosemary Brantley, the founding chair of the Otis Fashion Department, is retiring after 35 years. She was my boss twice -- first I was her design assistant for my initial job after graduation, then, a few years later, I taught digital design in the Fashion Dept. for 10 years.

I did my usual pre-show quick sketching at the Step and Repeat booth.
Here's a fast gif of the roughs:

Did you enjoy the seven-week PURPLE linkup party?
Now until June 25th, it's a NEUTRALS party. Can NEUTRALS party?
Let's find out!


Beige / Impartial / Fairness -- link and tell!

Freedom and Fashion Experience, the Sketches

Part Two of my report on the Freedom and Fashion event held last Saturday at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena. 

You met the designers on Sunday.

Today, I give you some more sketches that I did at the show.

SpyGirl caught in the act! [photo source] 

Did those guys know that I was sketching them? 

This one I randomly added people to make a crowd scene. 

Shan Boodram mounted the stage and got the show rolling:

Part 3 will be more photos from the show.

52 Pick-me-up: Lilac / Recovery

••• 

I hear that the Lilacs are starting to bloom in NYC and environs. Sigh. I LOVE lilacs!

More on my mind is this week's 52 Pick-me-up emotional word -- Recovery.

I attended a very uplifting event last night, celebrating a group of young women who designed a fashion collection under the guidance of the team at Freedom & Fashion. Freedom & Fashion's mission statement is: "Using the arts of fashion and beauty, we create empowering programs that mentor and bring freedom to at-risk young women and survivors of the sex trade."

These stars shined brightly and gave me a sense of hope for the world. 

The designers

Their designs

I'll share more of my sketches from the night later in the week.

For now, congratulations to everyone at Freedom & Fashion. It was a soul-stirring event.

 Lilac / Recovery -- Link up your Prince or your Purples and party like it's 1999! [RIP, Purple One]

William Bradley FW16 Fashion Show at the Mondrian Hotel

I went, I sketched:

I sketched 17 looks. It was dark and the entire presentation lasted for less than ten minutes!

(For THAT I drove to Hollywood, found parking, fed a meter, on St. Patrick's Night? Gah!)

I know, from past experiences, that William Bradley makes exquisitely tailored garments.

This was clearly not the venue to see that. Sigh.

Party On at UNIQLO

UNIQLO, the Japanese fast fashion chain, is opening some new stores today. 

UNIQLO Chicago's opening is being hyped online.
LOOK! Free shipping all weekend!

Last night I ventured down to the Del Amo Fashion Center for the UNIQLO Torrence pre-opening party.

Live DJ!

Wakame Salad in mini cups! (My dinner).

Deep discounts!

What was in my shopping bag?

Men's HeatTech Crew, Women's Airism Tank, Navy Tights, Men's Dry Tee in Aqua (not online, unless it's the Green)

The flannel shirt was too small (sad face), but I checked online while composing this post, and SCORE! Same for the TARDIS blue "dry" tee (which they only had in XS-L instore).

And what was originally in that $1 display?
SOCKS!!!!!!

SEVEN pairs for ONE DOLLAR!!!!!
[Hey Marlita on my left. Even just your fraction of your face is flawless!]

Can you believe that I debated whether to get these? That damn decluttering project.

It was fun running into Marlita, of Marlita On the Run and her friend at the event.
We were there until closing.

Then things got grim.


Word of warning -- don't stay inside the mall past 8:45.
I couldn't retrace my steps through Macy's to get to my car.
I had to go outside the mall.
I got totally lost and wandered around A LOT -- make that A LOT of LOTS.
Not fun. Scary even.
Del Amo is huge and everything looks the same in the dark.
Single woman wandering around in the dark, random dudes lurking in dark corners, construction crews...
Seriously, I had to use my phone's GPS to locate where I had parked.

Hello car! So glad to finally find you! Glad that I remembered that I parked near Sears.

Anyhow, this weekend is definitely the time to stock up on basics at UNIQLO.
From the comfort of your home.
Unless you want to try your luck finding ONE DOLLAR SOCKS!

Disclosure: I was invited to the store preview. The salad was free. Everything else I paid for.

All Aboard LA's Fashion Platform 2015

Frances Harder, founder of FBI, wears a cape from EIS LA

On Tuesday, I attended a fashion show at Union Station, hosted by Fashion Biz Inc.
I went with the intention of sketching the runway, but did not do too well.
I had a fantastic seat at the foot of the runway (thank you Kelly!) but it was very dark and I couldn't see what I was doing!

A recap follows with an assortment of photos and quick sketches.

EIS LA

MK Collab

Soverra

Odina Surf

Vene Ai

Nepal Pashmina

AS by DF

Designer  Denise Focil (in red) was presented with the Moss Adams Fashion Innovator (MAFI) award.

SpyGirl at the Otis Benefit Fashion Show, Part 2

CREATED/ LINKS/ 

There will be three parts to this saga. I'm rolling it out (very) slowly!

The Otis Benefit Fashion Show happened on May 2, at the Beverly Hilton.
I've made it a thing to lurk at the step-and-repeat photo area prior to the evening show
(in Part 1 I wrote about attending the afternoon rehearsal).
It's a great people-watching opportunity and I sketch the VIPs!

Kendra Bollenbach and Joan Ransohoff 

The McKnight family, framed by photographers Kai He/The LA Fashion and David Crotty/PatrickMcMullan 

Paul Wilson, Alaina Wilson, Liz Evans, Brian Evans

Jonathan Skow and Trina Turk

Peter Lai and Rosemary Brantley (chair of the Otis Fashion Dept)

In Part 3 I will show my sketches, cleaned up -- don't hold your breath waiting for this!
I'll document my progress on Instagram and Twitter.