State of the Art

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I am swamped with sketches.
I think this is a good problem to have, but I AM frustrated that I don't have time to get them colored and finished. I mean, I have sketches going back to LAST APRIL still to be completed.
(That darn need for income, forcing me to work the day job. Sigh.)
My latest summary in unpainted sketches of the Simply Stylist event didn't look so bad, so I'm going to go through my backlog and get the rest posted event by event. Maybe if I get bored I can work on them during my road trip.
We shall see...

Let's enter the way-back machine and see the unfinished sketches from Lucky FABB West 2013, a Fashion/ Style/ Beauty Blogger conference that was held at the SLS Hotel on April 4-5, hosted by Lucky Magazine. I wasn't invited to buy a ticket, so I lurked outside the conference in the public areas of the hotel. (You can see five completed sketches on the "Fashion Sketches 2013" page, tabbed up top.) I found a good vantage point next to a blogger photo session Lucky Magazine had set up, and sketched the bloggers as they posed for the professional photographer. None of them knew I was doing this.

unknown identity

unknown identity

Sophie of Angel Food Style

Kier of Fashion Addict

Ashley of Side Smile Style

 Rachael of Everything Hauler

Another spot that I lurked was near the front entrance of the hotel.
Recognize  either of these two?

 

All my sketches were done live with a Pentel brush nib marker.
When I get these sketches painted up in Photoshop, I'll post them in my Society6 SpyGirl portfolio.

Tomboy Style and the Older, Larger Woman

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The Lucky Community asked us to blog about the Tomboy look.
Hmmm.
Is it possible to be old, overweight, wear mens clothing, and not look like a slob?
A challenge! Let's see what I can come up with!

What do you think of when you hear the word "tomboy"?
This perhaps:

that's me between my brothers, 1962

Not this:

I think to pull off a tomboy look, one needs to have a "boyish" figure: slim, athletic.
And for me, those days are long gone (despite what my mind says).
I certainly wear mens garments, however, as you already know.
And with a little effort, I can wear them out and about and not look too schlubby.

I found the boxers in the sample giveaway box at work and pounced on them. A rare 3-pack of XL [sample size is usually S] -- one even had my print design on it! Score!

details:
Severo's embroidered shirt: Cubavera, Ross [borrowed]
mens boxers: Michael Morgan, Fred Meyer [free sample from work]
leggings: BJ's [bought]
socks: Ross? [bought]
mary jane clogs: White Mountain [gift from Leslie]

Have you worn a tomboy look lately?
Join in on my 52 Pick-me-up -- this week's theme is Boyfriend/Girlfriend

In the Mix

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tee - plumpynuts x Uniqlo
tunic - I designed and sewed it
socks - Happy Socks (same dot, different style)
shoes - White Mountain (gift from Leslie)

I ordered this tee on a whim. It's a plumpynuts x Uniqlo colab and only $19.90. I ordered a medium (I think large was sold out) and you can see it's very roomy! I think I'd even fit in a small. Yesterday I swanned around with it over my cityscape tunic and was very comfortable. It's an odd, deconstructed styling -- it's giving me some ideas for the scads of stripe sample yardage I've dragged home from work.

I'd never heard of plumpynuts before, but they do some cool designs. Here's the blurb about them from Uniqlo: After building their careers as designers at foundation addict from 2005 to 2008, Miyuki Omichi and Ayumi Kita started a new brand, plumpynuts, and opened their own boutique, SHOW CASE by plumpynuts, in Tokyo's jingumae area in 2009. In 2011, plumpynuts organized a first fashion show in VERSUS TOKYO, an industory event produced by Yuichi Yoshii. The plumpynuts brand specializes in high-quality, coquettish, and playful designs for women.
Here's their link.

Foot Fetish Friday: Fluevog

4.19.10
Fluevog Chunky Retro Sandal
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1990ish
Sonnie's  So Pasadena
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These are so over the top crazy.
Designed in the 90s
Look like the 70s
Comfortable too.
=========

Time for another shoe sketch! Friday crept up on me like a stealthy cat.

I love these sandals. They have been sitting on the speakers in my hallway, waiting to get repaired. They have been there a REALLY LONG TIME! They have a minor problem - the rubber soles have come partly unglued, so they flap around (trip and fall waiting to happen). I even got some strong shoe glue from a student (two years ago?) who was also taking a shoe design class. Not doing so well on the DIY shoe repair, SpyGirl.

styled with my CMYK Happy Socks (this style no longer available)

Live Sketching at a Photo Shoot

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Kelly, Gina, Kelsi

I brought a ginormous apple pie, grapes, and my sketchbook.
I came home with about 30 fashion sketches.

The photoshoot for the ASOS Marketplace LA Fashion Council Le Shoppe was a lot of fun.
I will post more about it sometime soon...  [and will link up Le Shoppe when it goes live next week] LINK [link not working until new merch gets added]


Gotta go to the day job and work on some mens boxer prints right now. Sometimes I'm frustrated by the constraints of my economic situation.

Foot Fetish Friday: Witch Shoes

4.18.10
"Witch" shoes
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1979 (?)  Roxy's (?), Thayer St, Providence, RI
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I wore these shoes A LOT in the 80s
In one of my "pound the pavement" trips to NYC I lost one of the heel taps. I wore that heel down 1/2". A great shoe repair guy sawed off the other side to match. Now 1" [height] wide base kitten heels.
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They're really beat up, but oh so comfortable

Yesssss, my pretty...
I still have my 80s Witch shoes (cue scary Margaret Hamilton cackle).

I did indeed get them at Roxy Deluxe.
I have since found out that the family moved the business from Providence to North Hollywood and now they rent costumes for film and television. It's a small world, my friends.

Album Cover Outfit

I was inspired by an album cover today!

Escape to Paradox Island, by Martin, Luther, Lennon (1999)
has a simple, eye-popping design using magenta and cyan, with some white text.

The inside is equally well executed:

"Armageddon surfer girl, rock on..."

EPIC LA Eco Fashion Show. part 2

Echo Park Independent Co-op [EPIC] hosted a fashion show on 3/14 featuring SOLDAT, ISM Mode, Hovey Lee and PERI. 
In Part 1, I was positioned along a display wall...

I was in the middle of drawing this girl in the crowd:

"Excuse me, but you're going to have to move. You're too colorful."

And so I was relocated from my excellent spot near the model platform to an area near some clothing racks where I could see the models for a minute or two as they posed. I was so rattled that I left my "camera" (phone) on a shelf and couldn't retrieve it until after the show. The sketching suffered. I did what I could [apologies to Hovey Lee -- I didn't realize what your segment was showcasing until after your scene was over]:

SOLDAT

ISM Mode

PERI

I could rant on and on, I'm still very annoyed. However, I will be gracious and act like a lady.
It was unfortunate, my creativity was hampered -- but the show wasn't "about" me, was it. I understand.
Next time, I will dress "more professionally" and wear Suzy Menkes Black.*
And if I'm STILL asked to move, I will know that it's for other, uglier reasons.

I'm linking up with Patti's Visible Monday -- she appreciates a stand out look.

*I'm referencing this post by Suzy Menkes, "The Circus of Fashion"

A Day at LACMA -- From the Colossal to the Miniature

Deborah and I spent Thursday traipsing around LACMA, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 
As always, we made some interesting discoveries!

First things first -- the giant rock.

Michael Heizer: Levitated Mass 1969-2012
340-ton granite megalith over a 456-foot-long slot
more info

A massive installation in the Resnick Pavilion

Walter De Maria, The 2000 Sculpture, 1992
10 x 50 meters (approximately 33 x 164 feet)
on exhibit until 4/1/13
more info

We explored the Pavilion for Japanese Art

start at the top and walk down through sinuous curves

Deborah and an antler guy
[sorry, forgot to notate info on these pieces]

unusual kimono print with western style plates motifs

We could not resist the gift shop

cotton stripe scarf with stitching and a hint of dots

detail of silk scarf with appliques, sequins and beads

bracelets made from semi-precious stones

An intimate exhibition on the 4th floor of the Ahmanson Building

delicately detailed Indian painting about 6x4"
part of Unveiling Femininity in Indian Painting and Photographyon exhibit until 7/28/13
more info

Refreshments were in order

persimmon scone at Coffee + Milk cafe

Our wish to go in the yellow spaghetti was thwarted by the weather

Jesús Rafael Soto, Penetrabile
all tied up and unpenetrable due to the rain
return visit required!
more info

Los Angeles Fashion Council Fall 2013 Collections Day One

I met up with Heather of The Style Confessions and Amy of A Sunny Day In LA outside of 838 So Los Angeles for the Los Angeles Fashion Collections shows, hosted by the Los Angeles Fashion Council. The venue, in downtown LA, was a beautiful space to view the collections of ISM Mode and Sarine Marie.

free lunch!

First sketch. That's Sarah of 365hangers on the right [but not in the sketch].
I don't know the name of the gal I sketched.

The ISM Mode presentation:

The "backstage" dressing room was upstairs.
The models sidled elegently down the staircase.

My favorite piece from ISM Mode: 1/2 dyed striped skirt

One of my ISM Mode sketches

Designer/owner Inka Sherman after taking her bow.

Between shows, we took a coffee break (no pix) next door in the Cooper Building.
Then, returning to 838...

Heather gave me some classic Style Confessions poses --
it took me a while to catch on to what exactly she was doing!

People watching...

Ms Sassy!

Cindy worked the room for 1st Class Fashion

The Sarine Marie presentation:
I stood and sketched almost every look.
[I'll do a recap of all my runway sketches in a separate post -- very happy with the results].

the ruffle sleeve sheath

Sarine Marie Berberian, designer/owner.

The shows over, I got this one last shot of some manly color blocking:

Thank you LAFC for a wonderful time!
I wish I could return today to see SOLDAT, 8000 Nerves, and Odylyne.
Alas, I already had a prior meet up scheduled at LACMA... but ya never know, plans could change!

"About Los Angeles Fashion Council:
Los Angeles Fashion Council was founded in 2011 by Kelsi Smith, to promote, educate and support Los Angeles fashion designers through shows, show rooms and other retail and promotional projects in Los Angeles, nationally and internationally.
Designers are selected by our team, and must be L.A based, in business for one year and have produced a minimum of two collections. There are no fees for designers and participation in any of our programming is either free or at cost price." [from LAFC press release]