Slowing down (for just a second)

It's been about a month now since I've been promoted, and it's a big reason why my online presence has been dwindling. It's awesome and terrifying and stressful all at the same time. Awesome because I'm making a ton more money, and now I'm well on my way towards having a career rather than just a job. Terrifying because I've never had a position in management before and I always feel like I'm going to screw something up horribly. A lot of responsibility falls on my shoulders now. Stressful because I work six days a week, averaging 50 hours a week. Already I've learned so much. Some things, I wish I didn't have to learn. I've realized just how superficial retail can be, and it drains me some days. Work has been taking up a majority of my waking hours. But once I take a moment and stop thinking about it, and start modeling or making something, it re-energizes and breathes new life into me. So I definitely need to make time for myself where I can forget about work and just create.

I shot with Jim Nicholson again yesterday. I had been putting off shooting for a while, trying to spend my spare time with my husband and my family. But I had finally gotten two days off in a row so I went for it! And it actually took my mind off of everything. I've got one shot I'll share, and I'll post more photos once he processes them and forwards them to me... I think it was one of my better shoots.

You may have noticed a new addition to my look - I now have a labret piercing. It's a look that I've loved for a long time, and on a whim I had it done one day last week before I went to work. I've never even had my ears done, so as my first piercing it was a pretty horrifying experience for me! But I had it done at Deep Roots Tattoo, and the piercer, Colleen, was wonderful. She was very quick, had lots of advice, and put me at ease instantly. I plan on going to her for any other piercings I may want done in the future, and I recommend her to anyone looking for a piercer in Kitsap County. It seems to be healing very well. I've only had it for a week but I was able to shoot with it and it didn't look red at all. It's such a new experience for me but so far I love it!

That was one of my splurges in the past two weeks - I also got the Black Milk Clothing mermaid leggings and the cheshire cat leggings. I LOVE THEM. My co-workers think I'm crazy for spending $80 on a pair of leggings but I'm too distracted by the shiny-ness on my legs that I don't care what anyone says! I'm so excited for payday... because this is next on my list!

Anyways... just wanted to catch up a bit with you guys and let you know where life's been taking me. Still don't know where exactly I'm headed but feel free to join me on my adventures and let me know what you think.

xoxo,
Sugar

Summer

We've had an abnormally warm springtime season for my area, so it's got me SUPER stoked for summer! I'm already shopping for shorts, sandals, and tank tops... that usually doesn't happen around here til June. But hey, any excuse to shop is a good excuse to me! I've never been much of a fan of Vans or of snapback hats, but two finds last week changed my mind. First I spotted (hehe, get it) this leopard print trucker at Pacsun. It was so girly I had to have it. And it has actually served a good purpose - it keeps my poor little pale face safe from getting sunburned! I wore it to the beach last week and I kind of fell in love with it.

Secondly, these pretty mint green Vans were too pretty to pass up. These are my very first Vans! My seconds ones will be the leopard print to match my new hat.

Anyway, speaking of shoes... I got promoted on Saturday to the assistant manager of my store. Although that means a huge time sacrifice, I am so excited for the opportunity to move up while working in a fashion-based job that I love! Not everybody dreams of a career in retail but I love it and I'm excited to see how I grow in the company I work for. As a little added perk, I'll be making more money too... so I'll be doing a lot of shopping in my free time. :P And of course blogging. I really want to get back into DIY projects when I get the chance too... I was given a sewing machine and I wanna see what I can crank out. In my opinion, the best looks are the ones you come up with yourself! And there's a certain pride in being able to say "I made this" instead of "oh, I got it at..." So expect to see some crafty creations coming up in the near future as well!

NOM NOM NOM

Nomfest 3 is upon us! For anyone who is not familiar with the Australian fashion label known as Black Milk Clothing, I would highly recommend for you to head on over to their site and take a gander at their goods. Nomfest is when they release awesome new stuff. Sadly, a lot of times these items are limited because they can only obtain a limited amount of the fabric... so they sell out fast!

I grabbed a couple of things tonight as soon as I got home from work - sadly I was too late to get my hands on the black merman leggings I was hoping to snag, as they were already sold out! So if you're interested in checking out the new stuff go now before it's gone! Not telling what I got until it arrives, but I will say this: my next paycheck is going towards the capsules leggings if there are any left!

I can tell you right now that these aren't just any expensive leggings you'll find elsewhere online like on Nasty Gal or Modcloth. Black Milk is quality clothing made in a small warehouse in Australia, fronted by founder James Lillis. They don't have their labor done in China for cheap, and they use high quality nylon blends for their products. I was so impressed with my first pair of Black Milk leggings. I had heard that they were worth every penny for how expensive they are, but once I actually saw them in person and felt them myself, I knew it was true. They far surpassed what I had expected. Anyone with a legging addiction NEEDS at least one pair of Black Milk leggings in their life! I'm in love with them and I will be counting down the days for my order to arrive. And for anyone who wants to invest in some Black Milk of their own, they're offering free standard international shipping in May (and free express shipping if you live in Australia). So go take advantage of it!

You're welcome.

xoxo,
Sugar

Absence . . .

It's been over a month since my last blog post, and I've sorely missed writing! I do apologize to anyone who follows my posts, but it is a bit hard to get the chance to write now that I no longer have a computer of my own. My husband and I recently moved (again!!!) and money's been tight, so a computer is a bit further down on our list of priorities. But! I just got promoted so hopefully the money issue won't last too much longer.

As most of you know, I work at a shoe store. Since my work at See's Candies has ended, I work full-time at this shoe store. I got promoted as well and also get commissioned pay, so that is a nice perk. I love just having one full time job rather than multiple part-times... makes life a lot less complicated!

Since I've had to be a bit more watchful of the money I'm spending (and since I have a raging clothing/shoe obsession) I've been shopping the clearance racks at my favorite places that I usually shop. I've discovered that I'm broke at the perfect time of year, because all the winter stuff and leftover stock from last year has been marked down ridiculously low. I found these cute Charlotte Ronson silk floral pants for five dollars, Betsey Johnson heels for ten bucks, and the glitzy gold Buffalo Jeans skirt below for only four bucks! And it was originally $45.

I've also come across a few makeup steals as well - a lot of Kat Von D cosmetics are now on clearance at Sephora, and some Charlotte Ronson stuff as well. I've never tried Charlotte Ronson cosmetics before, but on a whim I picked up a liquid eyeshadow (something I've never tried either! Two birds, one stone) in a metallic pink colour called Sky. It's so pretty and easier to blend than I expected. I also tried a Kat Von D "Painted Love" lipstick in Lolita, a matte dusty rose. It was only eight bucks on clearance, so I had to try it! I always use Kat's Tattoo Liner as my liquid eyeliner, and now her lipsticks are a new favorite as well.

My favorite wardrobe acquirement this month though was Black Milk Clothing's unicorn leggings! I am wearing them as I speak. Super comfy and cute for chill Saturdays like today. I got them as a birthday gift and I love them to death. My next BM purchase is gonna have to be the mermaid legs for sure. (I'm a mermaid at heart!)

I'll make it a point to try to write more often. I miss it!

Also, I've taken a hiatus from modeling for a bit... not sure how long. My heart just isn't in it right now. But I'm sure inspiration will strike again. Meanwhile, feel free to comment if you guys have any ideas or themes and concepts you think would be cool!

By the way, here are a couple of the photos that were taken at the beach shoot I was talking about in my last post. Styled by me, photographed by Mike Bay, and the entire outfit can be found at Forever 21!

Changes

Well, some sad news for me... I recently found out that I will be losing my job at the end of the month, as the candy store I work at will be closing. Needless to say, I am a little sad about this. Not only is it my main source of income, but I enjoyed working there for the year I got to be a part of the company and learn about the candy industry. However, since the other job I have is part time, that means I will have the chance to do a lot more modeling until I find a full-time position.

I recently did a photo shoot with a Seattle photographer, Eric Paguio of typenamehere.com. It was my first time shooting with him, and I had an idea to do an editorial type theme with flower garlands and neutral coloured outfits. We also played with lighting afterward, and these photos were the result. I had a lot of fun meeting him, his photographer friend Molly, and his studio kitty cat Peanut!

I have a shoot later today that will be a fashion editorial at a rocky beach. Should be fun, and super cold... it's very windy, drizzly, and overcast today. Welcome to Washington State!

Things I'm Loving This Month/Birthday Challenge!

Hello lovelies!

Since this month is my birthday... I decided to make a wish list! I'll be twenty years old on March 26... oh man. Old lady status. No longer can I write myself off as a flighty, irresponsible teenager. Just kidding. Kinda.

Anyway! These are the things that I'm lusting after this month. Hoping my friends and family see this and take a hint or two. ;)

1. Hell Bunny cancun dress. Roses, cactuses (cacti?), skulls, guns, pretty pin-up girls... Is a description really necessary? This dress is badass. I need it. That is all.

2. Black Milk unicorn leggings! These come in black or white, I love the black ones though. They're covered in cute little pink unicorns and just absolutely adorable. I'd love to rock these at work. (Side tangent: My friend and I were discussing these mythical creatures the other day, and asking, why are they called unicorns? Why not unihorn? Since uni means "one" in Latin... and they have one horn... der der der. Anyway, so we looked it up and apparently "corn" comes from the Latin root "cornus," which means horn. BAM! Bet you didn't know that. Now you can astonish your friends with your newfound knowledge of the Latin language.) Anyhow, these leggings are definitely something I'd love to open up on my birthday. I'm sure I'd be wearing these all the time.

3. "Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children." This is a book by Ransom Riggs. Every time I go to the bookstore I pick this up and read another chapter. I'd love to have it so I can read the whole thing! It's equal parts mystery, thriller, and historical. eerie and sad and interesting... I'm only halfway through it though, so I don't know how it's gonna end. Definitely keeps me in suspense though, and I've never read anything like it.

4. Twilight Esme Barbie doll. I've always loved Barbies since I got my first one at five years old. But one thing I've noticed is that there have never been any Barbie dolls with pale skin tones. When I saw this doll, I honestly didn't know it was from Twilight. I've never even seen the movies. I was just drawn to it because it was so pretty! And I'd like to add a porcelain-skinned doll to my collection.

5. Jeffrey Campbell x Black Milk galaxy damsel wedges. These are so cute. I'd wear them with just about anything! Dress them up with a little black dress and tights, or more casual with skinny jeans and a loose-fitting sweater. I like them just a little bit better than the litas because they have higher platforms, and not as many girls wear them. And as much as I love galaxy print, I don't want to overdo it. These shoes provide just a little pop of intergalactic prettiness. :)

Although these are some "things" that I'd like to have, what I really want for my birthday is to have a day off from work and spend some time with my family. I was also inspired by a story I read about someone who spent their birthday not as a "me me me" day, but instead went out to do random acts of kindness for others. So I decided that since I'm turning twenty, I'll challenge myself to do twenty kind things for other people. It's something I've always wanted to spend a day doing, so I think it will be both a fun and memorable birthday - not just because I got what I wanted and partied hard, but because I'm doing something positive and making people happy! I'm excited. Other than that, I don't have much in the way of plans. We'll see what happens!

xoxo,
Sugar

Thrifty fashion shoot!

I had another photo shoot the other day with Jim Nicholson of the Pose Factory. I think we make a pretty awesome team! The cool thing about these outfits is that they were all thrifted, or purchased at super-discounted prices... Always a plus in my book. I posted the one below on Lookbook so please hype it if you have an account. :) This Gap sweater was found at a thrift store for $5! It is so big and comfy and I wear it all the time. I have a thing for ugly sweaters... The liquid leggings I got at Ross on clearance for six dollars. The shoes are clearance Forever 21 (just eight bucks!). The necklaces in both photos were borrowed from the photographer.

The colourful outfit was really fun to shoot. My friend Bre and I found matching sweaters at Goodwill with this crazy neon Aztec print. It's pretty awesome. And what are the odds of finding two of the same thing at a thrift store? The gold foil skirt is fun, I wore it a lot during the holidays. The skirt and shoes were cheap finds at Forever 21. The pink glasses were a dollar on clearance at Hot Topic and really cute, although impractical. But I figured I could use them for a shoot at some point... so I'm glad I got them!

Galaxy Glam

Well, I finally jumped on the galaxy bandwagon... here is my first attempt at playing with the print. I liked how it turned out, actually. I wore the skirt work yesterday morning and got compliments on it all day.

What are your thoughts on galaxy print? I know everybody is wearing it now. I think it can definitely be a cute look, and I'm sorry I waited so long to get my hands on a galaxy piece. If you want to go back to the original makers of galaxy print, that would be the wonderful minds behind the Australian company known as Black Milk. Find the blue galaxy skirt here. However, at $63 they are a bit expensive (although high quality, no doubt.) If you're looking for something easier on your wallet, though, my skirt is from Hot Topic. It is made in the U.S. and it's only $14.50. It can be found here; however, the skirt has been very popular and last I checked they were sold out. They didn't even have a small in the my local store so I had to go up a size. But the skirt is very cute and definitely worth fifteen bucks if you can find one.

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 by sugar-price featuring brian atwood

Seattle Outing by sugar-price featuring pendant earrings

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!

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

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.

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!

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

"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.

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!

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.