Archive for the ‘Model Lifestyle’ Category

Accessories Today

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

tate

by Tate Morales

It’s the oldest saying in the fashion world that “you can change any outfit with accessories”, but as with most cliches, it’s based on truth.

For instance, any basics you have in your closet become the canvas for trendy boots or bracelets, which means you only have to update your accessories with the trends and that is a lot cheaper than trying to keep up with everything Marc Jacobs comes out with next month.

Headbands

My favorite way to accessorize these days are headbands. They come in so many styles and you can wear them so many ways that it’s almost impossible to find one you don’t love. I work with True Birds accessories company, a budding line created by two sisters that got their start in handmade headbands. I love getting paid by them in trade (aka headbands) because they are always on the cutting edge of fashion and go with absolutely everything. (I have 3 colors of the one shown below!)

Sample of one of Tate's "Flower" True Birds headbands

"Black Flower" head band by True Birds

Several Ways To Wear

One of the best things about headbands is that they offer opportunities for so many hairstyles. if you have a headband that is elastic you can twist your hair up in it (a half up or an up do) or you can set a firm band one back from your hairline a bit and leave your bangs in front and sweep back half or all your hair as well.

Something Different for Brides

I’ve been seeing more and more brides with headbands incorporated into their wedding day apparel and its a great twist on a classic up-do that is simply stunning. A thick firm satin band in the same color as your dress or veil adds pop to a classic frock, or even a beautiful decorative piece like this one. Why not be stunningly stylish on the most important day of your life?

Picture 30a

A Bridal Headband by Two Birds

Note from Pb: Tate is an outstanding young model with excellent prospects. Her career is just starting to take off. To view Tate’s portfolio click here.

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Creative Process

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

MaishaAnitaGaffneyb

By Maisha Gaffney

Sometimes, it’s nice to work on creative projects by yourself. That way you have complete control over all that goes into the process and the results are in keeping with your vision. When working with others, it’s often control and your own ideas that can be diminished or become lost. However, sometimes this can be a good thing. Following the lead of another, and being open to collaborating with them can yield surprising results.

For example, Last April I did one of my first fashion shoots with Paul Burlingame. At that time I was only just beginning to get to know him and I wasn’t quite sure where he was headed with it. He said that he wanted shoot in the Blick Art Store parking lot in Little Italy, which is mostly gray, cracked, crumbling, and pretty unexciting.

He asked me to bring colorful garments that would pop against the neutral setting. So, I’m thinking to myself that I should bring the brightest colors and busiest patterns and I still felt the parking lot was going to be a strange looking location. I went along with what Paul was planning.

As we spent the morning shooting, instead of patterns, he ended up selecting bold solids for me to wear… and the pictures came out great! You probably would never guess that I was standing in the old, crumbling lot next to Blick Art.  And, the garment choices stood out nicely against the mostly plain gray on gray background.

MaishaASb

Gray wall, clothes line, fence, netting and colorful Maisha.

Some of those photos from that shoot are among my favorites that I’ve shot with Paul.

The Blick Art Store parking lot and one of their most creative former employees.

The Blick Art Store parking lot and one of their most creative former employees.

Sometimes, it’s nice to just go along for the ride and be pleasantly surprised with the results. Especially, when you’re working with others to create art, half the fun is the journey even if you’re not sure you’re going the “right” way until you get there.

Note from Pb: As a model Maisha is a standout. To each shoot she brings her own signature enthusiasm, professionalism, look and style that no one else can create or duplicate. Maisha’s portfolio and contact info can be foundhere.

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Fall Trip to New York

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

paul

by Paul Burlingame

FASHION WEEK IN NEW YORK

Another memorable event of 2009 was a September trip to New York to photograph at Fashion Week. This Fashion Week was noticeably more active than the one held six months before. I had a full day-long shoot in a China town loft with models Allison Zervopoulos & Julie Max

Art shoot in Julie Max's China Town loft

Allison Zervo & Julie Max during our art & fashion shoot in Julie's China Town loft

and a fashion shoot in Williamsburg with model Bianca.

Bianca in a dress from Frock You (San Diego) & the New York skyline from Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

Bianca in a dress from Frock You (San Diego) & view of the New York skyline from Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

Bianca has become a dear friend and also tipped me off to her costumed posing at an outdoor Hungarian Fashion event just a block away from the main Fashion Week tent at Bryant Park.

Hungarian Fashion event near Bryant Park, that's Bianca on the right.

Hungarian Fashion event near Bryant Park, Bianca on the right.

NEW YORK COUTURE SHOW

Bianca also arranged for me to shoot the trendy New York Couture runway show at Webster Hall in the East Village, a large old theater-like venue that is reputed to have been America’s first night club.

Outside Webster Hall September 12th 2009

Outside Webster Hall September 12th 2009

There were DJ’s and dance floors downstairs, dinner and the fashion show upstairs. In making my way upstairs I decided to keep on going and shoot from the balcony since there were literally no other photographers there. Downstairs next to the runway was crowded with cameras. From the balcony you could see the models getting ready back stage.

The colorful opening of the New York Couture Fashion show.

The colorful opening of the New York Couture Fashion show.

Bianca is 5′ 11″ tall and she walked very lively in the show.

Friend and model Bianca, one of the liviest models in the show.

Friend and model Bianca, one of the most experienced models in the show. This is NOT her first NYC.

The clothes are very youthful & brightly colored, the crowed loved them.

The grand finale with lots of photographers.

The grand finale, with lots of fanfare.

After the fashion show the band Ultraviolet Sound kept & rocked the audience at the hall. They made big use of a vocoder and had a surprisingly smooth, polished sound. I liked them alot.

UltraViolet sound rocked the house after the models. That's Bianca waiving.

UltraViolet sound rocked the house after the models. That's Bianca to the right of the stage waiving.

After all the picture taking I had a fabulous Asian dinner in Williamsburg and was one happy traveler as I packed up my memory cards for the trip back to San Diego. :o )

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Tib Nelson Designs Spring 2010 Fashion Shoot

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

Maresa Cogger

One of my favorite movies is captured on 8mm film and stars my mother as a young girl, running through a sea of fashionable ladies, elaborate spreads of pickled foods and gin martinis! I recently began obsessing over the impeccable details of the garments from this era. The fashionista’s of the 1960’s (including: Edie Sedgwick, Jackie O, and countless others), oozed with a timeless sense of sophistication that I am envious of and has inspired my latest collection of party frocks!

Once I had a clear vision, I knew that Paul would be just the photographer to work with me on this project!!!

On Saturday, December 5th, with latte in hand, I invaded Paul’s north park photography studio with a dozen models, a rockin’ hair stylist (Rachel Stegura) and a rack full of sparkling dresses! Although the actual photo shoot only took a number of hours, the planning process for such an elaborate event began months ago, with countless hours spent in my dress design studio, the beloved library, and in the kitchen (attempting to re-create passable delicacies from this era!). The intense preparation for the shoot was well worth the effort, as all of the details, from the lime green jello-mold to the powder-pink cupcakes, aided in creating the perfect 1960’s style birthday party!

60s Birthday Croquette Party shoot for Tib Nelson Designs
If you are interested in TND and live in the San Diego area, you can check out my latest designs at:

The Brokers Building, 4th and Market Downtown San Diego
TND Studio
Interested in a private viewing of current collection or a custom garment?
Contact me @
maresacogger@gmail.com

Maeve Riley, in South Park
www.maeveriley.com

Hunt and Gather, in University Heights
www.huntandgathershop.com

Otherwise, check me out online @

www.smashing darling.com/store/1896
www.myspace.com/tibnelsondesigns

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Breaking into Modeling: Part 2

Monday, December 14th, 2009

allisonAllison Zervopoulos

There is a lot to consider in launching your modeling career or hobby. In my previous post, I discussed a few kinds of modeling and provided some get-started tips.  Today I’m going to give you a few more tips to kick-start your career.

Tips for the aspiring model

Tips for the aspiring model: Image by Paul Burlingame Photo

Tips for the aspiring model:

  1. Take your measurements. Include: height, bust, waist, hips. Use those measurements to determine what areas of modeling you fit into.
  2. Look up agencies in your area. See what requirements they have and if you fit them. Find out how to submit to their agency, or if they have an open call.  Submit the required information and photos or go in.
  3. Look up Websites where you can meet and connect with others.  This is especially important if you are modeling as a hobby. Use your new connections to book some shoots, and have fun!
  4. Do some test shoots, but be careful. Once you have an agency interested in you, you will likely need to do some test shoots with photographers they recommend. DO NOT pay for any in house photographers. Do not pay the agencies directly. The agency should be RECOMMENDING photographers, not forcing you to use theirs, or asking you to make payments to them.
  5. Purchase a portfolio and comp cards. Agencies may ask you to purchase is a portfolio. Some agencies request that you purchase theirs with their logo on it; others may let you buy your own. Most will also require that you purchase comp cards, this is generally done through their agency since they will want all their models cards to have the same layout and logos. These generally cost between $150-300.
  6. Do reference checks. This is especially important if you are booking work/shoots off of things like craigslist or model mayhem. Always be safe! It’s also a good idea when booking model jobs to make sure a friend or family member knows where you’re going, how long you should be, and a number where they can reach you. It’s just smart to be safe.
  7. RESEARCH! Do as much research as you can about the industry, any agencies that you are interested in, or who are interested in you, and everything else you think you may have questions on.
  8. Trust your gut. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Want to know even more about being a new model?  Check out this site:

http://www.newmodels.com/modelintro.html

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What I Learned by Putting on a Fashion Show

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Sarah Sanaee

I have a clothing line I really love.  I opened an online store this year, but I wanted to go even bigger.  One day my good friend, Leah, was sifting through the racks of vintage clothing I have in my room when she was struck with a brilliant idea- ‘why don’t you have a fashion show?!’  I thought this was a great idea, and so we quickly began jotting down ideas of how to make it work and who we’d need to contact to make this happen.

Put on a Fashion Show

Put on a Fashion Show

I thought it would be cool to share what I did to get my show off the ground.  This was a great experience for me, and I learned a lot.

  1. We found “models.” We enlisted a group of about 10 of our girlfriends who were stylish in their own right and would be willing to strut their stuff down a runway.
  2. We located a venue. Our local watering hole, Bluefoot Bar and Lounge, hosted a fashion show last year so we knew it would be the perfect venue.
  3. We set a date. For me, music was important, so I worked my date around the music I wanted.  I knew I’d need good music to go with the 60s and 70s style fashions I was showcasing.  I really wanted to rock the house with Clean Cut DJ’s very own, Tyrone Taylor.  He DJs at the Bluefoot every 2nd Wednesday of the month. So it was settled- I would have my fashion show on the 2nd Wednesday of the next month (October 14th, 2009).
  4. We spent time deciding who should wear what. I think it’s important that each model feels comfortable in what they are wearing because it will show on their face if they don’t like the outfit. Conversely, I think they will look great (and make the clothing look great) if they are feeling confident and stylish! Leah and I went through the vintage pieces with each girl in mind and picked out the perfect garment for each girl.  We then had them come over for a fitting and were thrilled to find that each piece fit perfectly.
  5. We used our connections. We were lucky enough to know the owners of The Bluefoot who were more than willing to help us by getting a runway and a drink sponsor, Three Olives Vodka.
  6. We found a make-up artist. My friend Jessie is a makeup artist and was at our service to do hair and makeup for all the models.  This gave the models one less thing to worry about before they hit the runway.
  7. We found people to photograph our show. Photographer Tim Hardy has shot many fashion shows and offered to help coach us on our runway walks.  He along with Anthony and Marissa of the Paul Burlingame Photography team were there to photograph the event. Having 3 photographers there allowed for various angles and shots!
  8. We advertised our show. Leah wrote up a nice press release and sent it in to Citybeat, a local paper, who happily featured the event in their ‘City Week’ section.  We also printed posters & fliers and promoted the event all around town!
  9. We made fun a priority on the big day! Having so many wonderful people helping out made this event run smoothly.  The bar was packed, the music was bumping and the models were excited. (Not to mention a little less nervous due to a pre-show champagne toast!)  The girls all looked beautiful and rocked the clothing like I knew they would!  The Love Street Vintage fashion show was a success.

To see a few of the threads that were on display at the show visit: www.lovestreetvintage.etsy.com, where you can find anything from a mod stewardess dress to a men’s rocker button up to a vintage 60s wedding dress!

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Creating a Look: Psychedelic Swinging London Circa 1967

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Jenea Zeek

Creating an authentic 1960’s look isn’t necessarily as easy as it seems. You may enjoy dressing in the 1960’s style as much as I do.  If you haven’t done it before, you want to make sure you pay attention to details and don’t fall victim to cliche.

My favorite 1960’s look is the psychedelic swinging London look from 1967.

1967 was all about creativity. Everything was new and exciting and the youth experimented with their style and weren’t afraid to look “weird.” The whole idea was for young people to separate themselves from their parent’s generation and create a look that was as much stylish as it was artistic and free spirited.

Skirts: 1967 was the year that the mini skirt (named by Mary Quant after her favorite car) became wildly popular in London and quickly spread across the pond and throughout the world. Mini dresses with dangerously high hemlines in particular were worn. They usually featured bright bold colors and psychedelic patterns.

Tops: A velvet vest was a nice accent, or even an ethnic looking cape or crochet shawl.

Shoes: The short hemlines were counter-balanced by wearing Mary Jane shoes or knee to thigh high low-heeled boots. Metallic lace-up sandals also worked, especially when the weather was warm.

Hair: Hair began to grow longer in the summer of 1967. Girls wore thick bangs or simply began to part it down the middle. They still teased the crown of the hair into soft bump to create height, but it wasn’t necessary as the year went on. It was much easier to place a few flowers in the hair and go.

Makeup: Eyes were the focus of the face while the lips stayed pale, using either nude or pink lip stain. Thick, long babydoll-like false eyelashes were applied and a dark crease was drawn onto the eyelid. Goldie Hawn’s look from “Laugh In” also worked.  She wore makeup all over her body!

60s style: Image by Paul Burlingame

60s style: Image by Paul Burlingame Photo

This image was taken by Paul Burlingame.  You can find the dress I am wearing in this photo, and wear it yourself at my online store.

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Breaking into Modeling: Part 1

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Allison Zervopoulos

Breaking into the modeling industry can be extremely hard and frustrating if you’re not familiar with the business, or what to do. This quick how-to post is designed to give you some insight into making wise career choices.

How to Break into Modeling

How to Break into Modeling: Image by Paul Burlingame Photo

  1. Ask yourself: Do I want to model as hobby or a career?
    1. If you are modeling as a hobby: There are a number of sites like modelmayhem and onemodelplace where you can meet and network with photographers, models, hairstylist and makeup artists. These sites help you meet relevant individuals who are just looking to make art, or have fun. Modeling as a hobby can be very rewarding because you can do more of what YOU want, versus just shooting what the client wants.
    2. If you are modeling with the hopes of having a career: You need to evaluate yourself and determine the types of modeling you would like to get into.  There are so many!

Types of Modeling to consider:

  1. Fashion Modeling:
    Fashion models spend their time on runways and in ads for brands like Gucci and Chanel. Fashion modeling agencies usually have a height requirement of 5′9 and models need to have measurements of 34-24-34, or very close. Models MUST be these sizes because they need to fit into standard sample size clothing.

    Fashion modeling usually requires that you have an agent. You you can look up agencies in your area and ask what their requirements are and how/what to submit to them. Some agencies have you mail in snapshots. Others have you come in for open calls. Generally, unless you have a portfolio full of tear sheets, fashion modeling agencies prefer that you come in with non-professional, simple snapshots.

    A fashion career is usually pretty short. Agencies generally will not accept talent over the age of 22 and prefer girls even younger. Most fashion models will start their career around age 14-16.

  2. Commercial Modeling:
    Commercial print models come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. These are the models you see in ads for medications, tooth paste, and more. Commercial print models need an agent. Agencies usually look for models 5′7 and up who are fit and healthy, but they do not have specific size requirements. Commercial print agencies usually ask prospective models to come in with a strong portfolio instead of just snapshots. It’s always wise to call the agents you are interested in and ask them about their requirements, and what to bring in.

Smaller areas of modeling include alternative modeling, art modeling, glamour, and more. Requirements and the type of work available will largely depend on your location, and the type of modeling you are interested in.

Do you model?  How did you break into the business?  I’d love to hear your story.

Stay tuned for part two: Tips for the aspiring model.

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