Friday, December 21, 2012

Polyvore Whore

So, I don't know if you guys play around with Polyvore at all, but I recently discovered it and I'm a little bit in love. It's perfect for financially challenged fashionistas such as myself... you're essentially putting together dream outfits from an unlimited virtual wardrobe. Pretty much as close to heaven as it gets! I can already tell I'm going to waste hour upon hour drooling over imaginary outfits... Anyway, if you guys wanna see some stuff I've put together here are my two first creations. If you haven't already, give it a go! It's a really fun way to let your creative fashion juices flow without spending a dime.
Galaxy Grunge


Seattle Outing



Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I lied

Okay, maybe I can't stay away from blogging until after Christmas.

Yesterday I scored an original copy of Nirvana's 1991 Nevermind album. I have a huge crush on Kurt Cobain... oh and the music is alright too. ;P I've always loved the whole Northwest grunge music/fashion scene, but I have a special affinity to it since Seattle is my home. I love that the nu grunge look is taking over the streets everywhere else as well. Speaking of fashion... another outfit of the day for you guys to hype on Lookbook, please and thank you. 


It snowed last night, big feathery puffs around 2 AM. But when I got up in the morning it was gone. Sad! I guess that is a hidden blessing though, because I couldn't have gotten to work if it stayed. I live at the bottom of a hill and when the streets are icy and full of snow, my neighbors and I get stuck!

On another note, I finished all my Christmas shopping. And since I've been pretty good this month with my spending, I gave myself a little present too. I reaaaaally wanted Jeffrey Campbell litas, but I decided to settle for these cute platforms by Shi. Same look, less dinero. Cute, right? I'm kind of bummed because I got them right before they went on sale, but if you guys want to take advantage of the sale you can find them here and here!




Thursday, December 13, 2012

What's up December?

Wow, it's December already. This has been one of the most eventful, difficult, drama-filled years of my life so far. I may be only nineteen, but still. 2012... it's been crazy. I survived some pretty rough times and I feel like 2013 is gonna be MY year. I want to end this period of my life on a note of optimism. Oh, and I survived the supposed end of the world yesterday, so I suppose that's saying something.

Anyway, I recently had a huge financial burden lifted off me and I feel like I'm finally starting to move forward. I'm a little late in the game but I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts for my parents, four sisters, best friends, and co-workers.

For my female co-workers I think I'm getting the Eye Candy Full Face Collection from Lorac. It is a set of eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lip palettes shaped like chocolate bars, but they flip open into a compact. It's awesome because I have six female co-workers, and they all get a full-size designer makeup palette but I'm only spending $10 each on them. Shhh ;) Still trying to figure out what my best friend would like, but she's easy to please so I'm not worried. Same with my family.

As for me... I treated myself to another pair of Dr. Martens last week! I'm loving these indigo 1461 shoes. Super comfy and more versatile than they seem. As always, I posted an outfit on lookbook.nu so check it out if you have an account. Just leave a comment for a hype back!



















Anyway, I hope you guys have amazing holidays and you all get to spend time with the ones you love. I probably won't be blogging again until after Christmas since I'm so busy with work... But in January I will back in action, better than ever. See you guys soon. :)

-Sugar

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Teal Fever




I had a fun night last night at one of my favorite spots in Tacoma, The Cobra Lounge. It's a chill hookah bar full of comfy couches, cool decoration, and dim lighting, not to mention sick hookahs. The shisha is always amazing too. Last night we tried mint... but my favorite so far has been Blueberry Dream and O.J. Kush. Anyway, this is what I wore! Please hype it on Lookbook if you like it. :)

My makeup is Urban Decay eyeshadow in Kush and Half Baked, and Sephora Collection eyeshadow in My Boyfriend's Jeans. Speaking of cosmetics, I tried out the Ciate Caviar and Velvet manicures yesterday just to see how they look. Not so keen on the velvet; it's just a weird thing to me to have fuzzy nails. But the caviar is pretty cute! I tried the rainbow, below, and it also comes in black. I may just have to buy the whole kit now!


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Pose Factory

Hello all, sorry for the lack of posts! Work has been increasingly crazy as of late. It's never fun working retail this time of year. But I did manage to squeeze in a photo shoot with a wonderful photographer I just met, Jim Nicholson of the Pose Factory! Just wanted to share a favorite shot. You can check out more of his work here and here!

Please stay tuned for more stuff coming... I've got a Victorian Gothic fashion shoot planned for this Friday, and a mermaid shoot coming this month too. :) I'm excited! Meanwhile, let me know if you like this. I had lots of fun at this shoot with Jim.




Monday, October 29, 2012

Pink Dr. Martens!

I'm happy! I just ordered some pink Dr. Martens, and they arrived yesterday. So of course I had to wear them. These are Dr. Martens Pascal in Raspberry. They're a lot like the classic 1460 style, but these are made of a softer, more flexible leather. I love them! So comfy and cute at the same time. I also just got these cute heart tights from Forever 21 that went with it perfectly! And for those of you who read my last post about Maybelline ColorSensational lipstick, this one is the coral I was talking about, Coral Crush. My favorite. :)

Please hype my outfit on Lookbook if you like it!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Maybelline ColorSensational Review

Most of the time I gravitate toward designer names and department stores when it comes to makeup. I feel that it's okay to buy cheap clothes and accessories, but when it comes to your face you just cannot skimp on the quality. And in the world of cosmetics, good quality is often synonymous with expensive. But at the same time, I don't want to be a brand whore so I try out products from drugstores every now and then. Which is how I found this little gem... Maybelline ColorSensational lipstick!




All the colours in this line are categorized into pinks, reds, plums, and nudes. They also have "pearl" which is basically clear and very pale shimmery lipsticks. I chose a pink, red, and plum to try out.

From left to right: Pink Me Up (pink), Coral Crush (red), and Deepest Cherry (plum).

First things first - if you're looking for a matte lipstick, this is NOT it! These are almost lipgloss/lipstick hybrids with a high shine. I actually quite liked the texture because most lipstick leave my lips feeling dry and cakey. These feel luxurious and moisturizing. I wore one to work and it still had a pretty sheen to it when I left eight hours later!

I really love the colour of Deepest Cherry (yes, I jumped on the oxblood bandwagon :P). But it seems like it was actually too shiny. The formula is more slippery than the other two and the colour looked uneven after I applied it. A few hours later, it had feathered out of my upper lip. Not cool! Maybe I'll try a lipliner with it next time.

Coral Crush is amazing in every way! I wish the photo was true to its colour though - it is definitely a pink based coral, while in the picture it looks more red. The colour is so pretty and it lasts for hours. I used to be scared of coral (hello... old lady territory), but this one is perfectly shiny and bright. And the colour stayed put!

Pink me up is a purple based mauve pink. It's the least shiny of the three, with a teensy hint of shimmery pigment in it. Very natural and pretty on, and the colour doesn't bleed at all.


In these swatches (in the same order as picture above), they appear to be a little shimmery but that is actually just the moisture. Coral Crush and Deepest Cherry have zero shimmer. I'm happy with these lipsticks, and I can't wait to try a nude one and a pearl! Have you tried Maybelline ColorSensational? What do you think about them? Comment below!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Golden Beauty Giveaway!

Real quick post (and a freebie for you girls!) 

I just landed a modeling job with The Golden Beauty, an up-and-coming company that specializes in high quality tanning products made in the US and Canada. I know, it sounds ironic if you have seen my porcelain skin. But for pale girls like me, they have GORGEOUS body shimmers, self-tanners, cellulite-combating skin firmers, and more awesome stuff. What I really love about Golden Beauty products is that they have a high content of natural oils and botanicals. The highly penetrating and non-greasy formulas are fortified with natural ingredients like pomegranate extract, red grape seed extract, green tea, hemp seed oil, avocado, antioxidant vitamins A, C, D, and E, and omega-fatty acids... what's not to love?

As a spokesmodel I got a ton of gift cards to give away... but I'll give you guys the code here ;) Go to http://www.thegoldenbeauty.com and for a free $15 gift card enter the word "GOLD" at checkout. They make it easy and uncomplicated, you don't have to make an account or anything to buy something and it always ships in 2-4 days.

I live in Washington State (aka vampire region) so I'm sure this company will be a big hit here in Seattle. But you can say you saw it here first! Let your friends know about the gift certificates - they expire on November 30.


P.S. If by chance you totally fall in love with this stuff, The Golden Beauty gives you a free clutch every five purchases. (And they're really cute!)

Let me know what you think of their stuff!

xx, 
Sugar 

Monday, October 15, 2012

I'm a Mermaid! (Make a Sea Princess Headdress)

I have a mermaid shoot planned out for this month which I am VERY excited for... my inner little girl is still very much alive, and what little girl wouldn't want to be a mermaid?

I already found the perfect mermaid gown, and now I am trying to figure out what to do for accessories, hair, and makeup. Last night I was looking at an old hairband and wondering what I could do with it, then I remembered I had some seashells... and a shell crown was born! Just wanted to share, because I'm so happy with the way it turned out.
First I wrapped the headband in a burlap-texture ribbon and glued it in place (it was originally black satin). Next I just took sturdy raffia-wrapped craft wire and bent it into the shaped of a tiara, and twisted it around the hairband. Then I used a hot glue gun to attach the shells... Simple! Oh, and the pearls were beads from an old costume necklace I had lying around. They added a pretty touch to it, I think. This only takes half an hour to make and you don't need many materials... if you're a crafty person you probably already have half the stuff around your house!

I can't wait to shoot with this! Now I'm going to try to find some pretty mermaid makeup ideas. If anyone has suggestions for makeup, or ways to make this mermaid costume even better please leave a comment!

xx,
Sugar


Saturday, October 13, 2012

"Not a Model"

Just a brief note... I took a modeling hiatus for a bit to try to figure out the direction I wanted my work to go. Now that I am back into it again, someone made a comment that I'm not a "real" model. Apparently, real models make hundreds or thousands a day and appear on the cover of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. I, however, make up to sixty dollars an hour for a shoot, and sometimes I don't get paid at all. I am most often the one to do my own hair and makeup and provide wardrobe. I've never been a cover model or done commercial work. Does that mean I'm not really modeling?

I'm not trying to defend myself by making what I do sound better than it seems. Modeling is not always glamorous, professionally or as a hobby. But the payoff - the outcome of my work - is worth it to me. I love having ideas and being able to capture that in a photo, or convey emotions and thoughts. I love making fantasy seem real. Dressing up and making costumes and doing crazy makeup is awesome to me! And when the shoot's done, I have something cool that I'm proud of in my portfolio. To me that's what modeling is about. I do it for the fun, creative side it brings out of me. Not to be a clothes horse for commercial photographers dictating what I'm supposed to do. I once ventured down that road, and realized it didn't make me feel happy or proud of what I was doing.

I love the wonderful freelance photographers and models I have met through my work, who are on exactly the same wavelength as I am regarding what modeling should be about. I'm sure I'd enjoy strutting down a catwalk in designer duds, making thousands a month, but honestly I don't think it could give me the same type of satisfaction as my unpaid artistic collaborations have given me. So if you're a model working for free, forget about agencies! Take advantage of the creative opportunities you have by working for yourself, and dream on! You are your own boss.

On a more positive note, I have a few more shoots in the works along with the ones I mentioned in September... involving dolls, mermaids, and dia de los muertos (not all at the same time :P).

If you'd like to see a small portfolio of my work, unpaid and otherwise, please visit my Model Mayhem profile: https://secure.modelmayhem.com/1774242  And if you're an aspiring model (or photographer, fashion designer, makeup artist, or anything else in the fashion industry) you can apply for a Model Mayhem account. It's a great way to connect with like-minded people.



Thursday, October 11, 2012

Oxblood

Dark red has many names... bordeaux, merlot, burgundy... this year it's oxblood! This version is a deep blood red with various amounts of plum and chocolate undertones. It also happens to be my personal favorite colour, so I am very excited to be seeing it all over the runways and in the streets!

The deep crimson hue is perfect for the upcoming wintery days. That rich red just gives you a holiday feeling, doesn't it? :) I've added a little inspiration below. This gorgeous peacoat below is only $75 at Miss Selfridge! 

Don a bow for a subtle nod to the trend!



Blake Lively gets it right in a
sparkling minidress.
Selma Hayek opts for drama
in a pretty pleated gown!
Model-off-duty look: leather
skinnies, booties, and a
slouchy  sweater in
complementary colours
do the trick.


Oxblood nails are vampy and classic! For lips, just add some dark mascara and  keep
everything else simple and clean.
And if you're really brave, try the colour on your eyes! Again, keep everything else simple!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Secret Garden

I have this secret garden I found a while ago, and I visited it the other day to see the dahlias. I was happily surprised to find that there are also still roses in full bloom. In October! Just wanted to share the prettiness with you :) Click the photo to see full size.





Sunday, October 7, 2012

NARS x Andy Warhol Pop Collection

Yesterday I went to the NARS and Andy Warhol launch party event at Sephora to try out the new palettes inspired by Andy's pop artwork. I must say I am quite besotted with them!
First we have the Debbie Harry eye and cheek palette, based on Warhol's piece by the same name. It includes four eyeshadows in Twinkling Purple, Sparkling Turquoise, White Shimmer, and Starry Black; a blush in Shimmering Pink Champagne; and a highlighter in Brilliant Cream.



Then there's the Kiss Mini Lip Gloss Coffret featuring five 0.11 ounce Larger Than Life lip glosses in new shades (from left to right, below): Silver Factory, Chelsea Girl, Drella, Blue Movie, and Myths. I love the little Andy Warhol soup can it comes in (perfect for holding makeup brushes)! The glosses are ultra-shiny and thick. Some might not like them because they are a bit sticky, but they definitely stay on for hours, which is always a plus. The only negative thing I have to say about these is that the applicator brush is too tiny to work with - just use your finger - and the once the gloss is on, the colours are not as vibrant as they look in the tube.





























Next is my personal favorite, the Flowers compact. They come in three different colour groups, simply titled Flowers 1, Flowers 2, and Flowers 3. They each contain black and grey shadow, and then three other shades. I decided to be brave and try out all the colours in Flowers 1, which includes a bright mustard yellow, purple, and orange-y red. The others are more neutral; Flowers 2 being a pastel blue, white, and grey; and Flowers 3 being deep chestnut brown, soft fawn, and white.


One detail I like about these palettes is that they each have a little Andy Warhol quote inscribed on the mirror. 

Flowers 1: "If you can convince yourself that you look fabulous, you can save yourself the trouble of primping."
Flowers 2: "You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you." (my favorite Warhol quote!)
Flowers 3: "All is pretty."


Here's my eye look the Sephora makeup artist gave me using all the colours from the Flowers 1 palette! They are very blendable and complement each other so they are wearable - all in all, not as scary as they might look.



The Walk on the Wild Side set includes an illuminator in Silver Factory, nail lacquer in It, and lip gloss in the classic Orgasm shade. The lip gloss is in the Larger Than Life ultra-shiny formula, rather than the classic formula. It is a mini at 0.11 ounces, although the illuminator and polish are full sized products.

The illuminator is EXTREMELY glittery, so I would suggest not wearing it on your face. The photo does not do it justice. It looks great on your shoulders, back, and clavicle for a night out though. The nail polish is a lovely deep violet in the same formula as other NARS nail lacquers.

It comes in a lovely keepsake box featuring Warhol's piece "Flowers."











Friday, October 5, 2012

socks & sandals

I know, I know... the first thing you thought of when you read the title was your dad. Or airport fashion. Or those boys in high school who wore Nike slides and tube socks (I still will never understand...). So, socks and sandals are a fashion pairing that have gotten a bit of a bad rap. But now that October chills are in the air I decided to figure out ways to incorporate socks into my wardrobe while extending the life of my cute summer shoes! I bought a pair of satin platform sandals the other day and began experimenting with outfits to get a little wear out of them before it is too cold.

Then I went online to get ideas on how to style them without looking like a seasonally challenged slave to fashion. Turns out I'm not the only one who thought this could be a cute idea! Here's some of the lovely ladies I discovered who have stylishly paired socks with sandals.




And here is my version, both with knee socks and with the socks scrunched:

The verdict? Socks and sandals can be a totally cute, stylish pairing for fall. Go and and rock your open-toed shoes into winter months ahead! A word of advice: stick with heels and platforms, flats can lead you dangerously into airport dad territory. Also, if you're not loving the socks so much but you want to wear your summer shoes, you can get a similar, more classic effect from wearing warm winter tights instead of socks!


PS... if you want these sandals, they are the Harper sandal by Metaphor, only $6.99 on clearance at Sears right now! They have a satin finish so you could even make them work with dressy outfits for the holidays coming up.

 Let me know what you think of this style, or if you are going to try it! I'd love to see all the outfits and ideas you come up with.







Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Photo Shoot with Bre Z Photography!

I got the opportunity not too long ago to collaborate with the wonderful Bre Zinter on a fashion shoot! We decided to shoot with a rabbit mask which definitely added a creepy element to the shoot, and which was exactly what we were hoping for. Here's a few shots we got... let me know what you think :) I am very happy with how it turned out!




Tuesday, September 25, 2012

DIY Lace Crown


Want to know an easy DIY project that adds instant elegance to an outfit? Try a lace crown! I spent only eight dollars to make this one. Here's how! (Sorry in advance that the pictures aren't very good; my camera sucks indoors.)



WHAT YOU NEED:
  • Wax Paper
  • Paintbrush
  • Mod Podge
  • About 12-15 inches of lace (flat on one side, ridged on the other.)
  • Glitter
  • Hot glue
WHAT TO DO:

  1. Wrap the lace around your head to see how much you will need for your crown. Plus add about an inch more as you will be overlapping the ends when you glue the ends of the crown together. I think they are prettiest when they just sit on top of your head like a true crown, not completely wrapped around like a headband. Cut the amount you are going to use based on this measurement. I used Simplicity brand Flat Venice Lace.
  2. Lay the lace across a piece of wax paper protecting your work area. This prevents the lace from sticking to the surface it's going to be drying on.
  3.  Use your paintbrush to start painting the lace with the Mod Podge. Make sure it is really saturating the lace fabric, otherwise it won't stiffen and you'll have a floppy crown. (Side note: Did you know that Mod Podge makes a glitter formula!? Too awesome. It's called Mod Podge Sparkle. I saw it and thought it would be perfect for this craft! However, you can use any type of Mod Podge you like. They have satin finish, matte, metallic, and many others!)


4. Once you have painted the entire length of the lace, let it dry for about twenty minutes. Turn it over and paint the other side. Let it dry again.
5. Repeat! (After it dries, this is the point where you can paint it. A silver or gold metallic would look lovely. I like the white lace so I left it and added sparkles instead!)
6. Before the Mod Podge becomes tacky, start applying glitter. I just used the paintbrush to scoop it up and paint it on! Only paint one side of the crown, the other side will not be visible when you wear it! (Plus you'll get a bunch of glitter in your hair.)


7. Let the crown dry for twenty-four hours.
8. Use a hot glue gun to glue the edges together. Let dry for five to ten minutes.
9. You're done! Go out and wear your crown like the beautiful princess you already know you are!
Lace crown made by me and modeled by my lovely sister!
That was easy, right? I think my next one might be pink, maybe with some rhinestones glued on! Please leave me comments and pictures if you have tried this project, and let me know how yours turns out! :)

xxo, 
Sugar


Back In Action!

I'm super excited because I've had the opportunity to work with some awesome photographers this month, and my creative juices have started flowing again and are giving me even more ideas for future projects! My modeling portfolio definitely went through a slump in the past few months, but the new and improved Sugar is back and better than ever! 

I won't give it all away, but here are a few things that have inspired this months projects:

  • rabbits!
  • fire!
  • wedding gowns!
  • hot rods!
  • And more!
Hmmm... imagine a shoot with all those combined! Now that would be something to add to my portfolio. Stay tuned to see the final product of my work (and of course the hard work of the wonderful people I collaborated with who made it all possible!)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Welcome to Sugarland!

So I am moving from my old blog to this one, pretty much for the sole reason that I cannot change the domain name of my old one. :( Boo, Wordpress. I have been going through some changes in the past couple months and creating a lot of awesome stuff under my new pseudonym Sugar Price. So hello from sugarland to everyone, and hopefully you all find me here!