I love Eco-Chic! This shoot was right up my alley. I put Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics to great use. Their Kava Kava and Hush Lip Tars mixed together are a smoking hot combo. Shot by Alvin Nguyen, Styled by Alvin Stillwell, makeup by me, and hair by Niko Weddle. Our lovely model: Britt from Heffner managment. -
+ Read more…
Thank you Metropolitan Fashion Week for putting on a gorgeous show at the Museum of Flight and for giving me the honor of Makeup Artist of the Year! I’m so thankful to work with so many talented people. Thank you Seattle, I appreciate the love!!
Excited to share a new cover for Smitten Magazine shot by photographer Elizabeth Messina, featuring a beautiful head piece by Twigs and Honey. It’s one shot of a zillion gorgeous shots yet to come, stay tuned!!
The prettiest pinks..
NARS blush in Gaeity, Laura Mercier Lip Stain in Shy Pink
+ Read more…
Oscar night!! There was a big buzz in Hollywood on February 26th 2012, marking the most fabulous night of the year! Everyone tunes in and the camera’s tell what hair and makeup trends we should look out for. I feel very blessed to have had two amazing clients for the Oscar’s this year, Amelia Nardinelli and producer Judith Helfand, honoring their Oscar nominated short documentary ‘Daughter from Danang’.
Most important tip for creating a beautiful, long lasting makeup.. good skin prep. Consider doing a hydration mask the night before the event. I’ve listed some of my favorite products below to help you achieve the glowing skin and big time beauty seen on the red carpet..
Amelia and I, at Le Montrose Hotel in West Hollywood..
Starting with clean dry skin: HydroPeptide Cellular renewal serum + Face Repair and Protect to plump up the skin, and provide deep hydration. HydroPeptide Eye to banish dark circles and puffiness, and Lip plumper and smoother. NARS Pro Prime to fill in fine lines and give a flawless base.
Here is what I used on Amelia to create my favorite red carpet look, a cleaner version of Classic Hollywood. Strobe Cream by MAC, Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturizing Foundation, Laura Mercier Camoflage Concealer duo, Dior Skinflash in Candle Light, NARS Multiples in Copacabana and Orgasm, Stila Convertible Color in Camelia, Laura Mercier Eye Basic in Flax, Gel eyeliner by MAC in Dipdown and Blacktrack, Dior 3 Coleurs Eyeshadows in Smoky Brown, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder, Maybelline Falsies WP Mascara in Black w/ individual false lashes, Laura Mercier Redwood Lipstick (Amelia’s Fave) and liner.
+ Read more…
Back in December, photographer Patrick Kehoe and I shot a portrait and video interview of 84 year old activist Dorli Rainey for The Gaurdian (UK) Weekend Magazine. In the video, Dorli talks about the circumstances which led to being pepper sprayed in the face by a police officer during the Occupy Seattle protest. Below is a shocking photo by Joshua Trujillo for the Seattle PI, moments after Dorli was doused with milk to counter the effects of the spray.
Makeup side note: During the shoot, Dorli had a terrible black eye. Special thanks to Bobbi Brown’s BBU palette which helped conceal the deep bruise, you’d never know there was anything there when you see the video footage!
The beautiful girls at Seattle Bride Magazine are asking everyone to name their favorite Seattle wedding vendors! Please take a moment to vote..
Erin Skipley for Best Hair and Makeup
Photo: Elizabeth Messina | Model: Ashlyn | Hair and Makeup: Me!
xoxo
+ Read more…Super fun editorial for DList Magazine with photographer Fiona Pepe, inspired by the 60′s mod style. More editorials with Fiona coming out in the next few months, can’t wait to share!
Model: Elle from SMG
Hair/Makeup: Me!
+ Read more…
There’s nothing more inspiring than working along side one of the best photographers in the world and a visionary entrepreneur who’s changing the way that we shop online. I had the pleasure working with NY photographer Nigel Parry, stylist Alvin Stillwell, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for the cover of WIRED Magazine. The feature coincides with the launch of Amazon’s new Kindle Fire.
Jeff Bezos and I, prepping for the cover of WIRED Magazine
Jeff Bezos, stylist Alvin Stillwell and I.
Nigel Parry, Alvin Stillwell and I after a great shoot!
+ Read more…Ms. Wood Spring Summer Lookbook – 2012 from Carrie Robinson on Vimeo.
Fun video for designer Ms. Wood by a super-power creative team:
Photographer: John Robbins Videographer: Carrie Robinson Model: Paisha (Heffner Mgmt) Art Director: Katie Constans Designer/Stylist: Alicia Wood Makeup and Hair: Me!
Photos to come!
+ Read more…
I have five minutes of fame in the November issue of Ladies Home Journal (that’s me in the black jacket). I worked on the feature on free advice with photographer Andy Reynolds. Hilarious!!
+ Read more…Get Hitched Give Hope is a party you don’t want to miss, and tonight is the night!! Come down to the Four Seasons and help us raise $75,000 to benefit the Dream Foundation and the Young Survival Coalition, two important organizations that help provide relief to patients with life threatening illness.
Aside from being a great cause, it’s also an amazing opportunity to pick up wedding day goods and services (often at a fraction of the cost). My services will be included in the auction and my girls and I will be there early to prep the models for the event, come say hi! xo
Photos: La Vie Photo
+ Read more…It was a crisp Seattle spring morning when we shot the worldwide Starbucks campaign for Fall/Winter 2011, with a mostly LA crew. Photographer Elizabeth Weinberg captured Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte and Salted Caramel Mocha perfectly, two things that make Seattle a livable place in the cold and rain.
It was super fun to see the posters in store when I met my friend Elise Hamamoto (the model in the photo) for coffee a few weeks ago. We were dorks and had to take a photo of each other with our poster, ha! I can’t wait to see what comes out for Holiday!
Bumble and Bumble’s ‘Hair Stories LIVE’ took place at the Writer’s Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, and was one stop on a nationwide tour. The film and installation documents the pure creative force of creative genius Howard MacLaren and the beautiful and talented Amanda Wall. I had the most amazing time as part of the creative team for the LA showing and had the pleasure of helping with makeup on several occasions for their video installations and some of the film content. I love Bb products, and i’m so inspired by the creative minds that have made the company what it is. It was a beautiful evening that will drive my work for a long time to come!
Such a wonderful surprise this month to be featured by Dripbook, today’s source book for creative professionals. Thank you!!
(photo above by Christine Hahn) xo
A wonderful collaboration in the gorgeous wine country outside of Santa Barbara. Photographer Elizabeth Messina, event designer Lisa Vorce, floral designer Mindy Rice, models Ashlyn Pearce (Vision) and Kyle Mullen (Heffner Managment), and me for hair and makeup. It was an amazing team, the best of the best!
For Ashlyn’s super natural look, I kept the products to a minimum. I prepped her skin with Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Primer, Tinted Moisturizer and Translucent Loose Powder, M.A.C. Cream Color Base in ‘Nude’, the perfect soft-peachy blush by NARS in ‘Sex Appeal’, M.A.C. eyeshadows in ‘Bronze’ and ‘Vanilla’, and M.A.C. lipstick in ‘Cherish’. For her gorgeous ‘undone’ hair, I used a little Bumble and Bumble Styling Creme with Surf Spray to add texture.
The first anniversary issue of Papercut Magazine is finally out and features actress Jaimie Alexander of the film‘THOR‘. I’m so happy to have been a part of this amazing team! Shot on location in West Hollywood, the superstar lineup was: Photographer Alvin Nguyen, stylist Alvin Stillwell (Celestine Agency), Jaimie Alexander (Kyle XY) of ‘THOR’, the gals at Papercut magazine, hairstylist Christi Cagle (Krop Creative), and makeup by me (Ajentse). I had the opportunity to test out some new products from NARS, and fell in love with a line of hair products by Rene Furterer that Christi used throughout the day.
Some new favorite NARS products in rotation: Illuminator in Copacobana, Blush in Sex Appeal, Eyeshadow in Fuji, Trio Eyeshadow in Calanique, Lipstick in Tzigane, and Pore Refining Primer. Love!!
+ Read more…Gorgeous editorial with photographer Christine Hahn, stylist Alvin Stillwell, hairstylist Christi Cagle and makeup by me! The location was a beautiful field in east LA, amazing team. Love this shoot!!
I’ve truly found my dream team in Los Angeles. Working with photographer Elizabeth Messina was so inspiring. It’s truly a beautiful thing when powerfully creative women bring their talents together. Designers Lisa Vorse and Mindy Rice did a wonderful job with sets and locations. Seeing how the two artists worked together was incredible, they make it look so easy!
Elizabeth’s vision really came to life in TRU LOVE, she is an amazing artist. The story was shot in Santa Inez and several other locations in wine country. Enjoy.
Special thanks to models Ashlyn Pearce (Vision) and Kyle Mullen (Heffner Managment) Lisa Pearce, Corinne Williams, Claire Pettibone, Ivy and Astor, Twigs and Honey, and stylist Alvin Stillwell.
For Ashlyn’s naturally flawless look, I prepped her skin with Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Primer, Tinted Moisturizer and Translucent Loose Powder, M.A.C. Cream Color Base in ‘Nude’, the perfect soft-peachy blush by NARS in ‘Sex Appeal’, M.A.C. eyeshadows in ‘Bronze’ and ‘Vanilla’, and M.A.C. lipstick in ‘Cherish’. For her gorgeous ‘undone’ hair, I used a little Bumble and Bumble Styling Creme with Surf Spray to add texture.
Just in! New shots of Scream 4 star Nico Tortorella are out in MF Magazine! Shot on-location in West Hollywood with photographer Alvin Nguyen and stylist Stacy Zimmerman. Super fun day. Love that boy’s hair!!
Vivid colors seem to become much more wearable in Spring/Summer and this year they’re especially HOT! I had the opportunity to play with lots of bold color for the Beauty.com Spring 2011 Campaign with photographer Elke Van de Velde .
If you’re not into bright eye shadows or don’t have time in the morning, try a bold lip! I like a bright orange for lips and nails this year {try Stila Longwear Lip Color in Outrageous and Butter London Nail Laquer in Jaffa}. It’s a great look for those who want to be unique and fabulous but like to sleep in. Just be sure to add a little concealer for under eyes and bronzer to finish off the look.
Here are the some of the must-have products I used to create the look on our model Paisha: Stem Cellular Repair Moisturizer by Juice Beauty, Primed and Poreless Primer by TooFaced, Smashbox HD Foundation and Concealer, Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion by Smashbox, Blush in Sex Appeal by NARS , Smashbox Brow Tech To Go in Taupe, NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Palladium, NARS Trio Eyeshadow in Okinawa, Jane Iredale PurePress Triple Eyeshadow in Sea Foam, Stila Lip and Cheek Stain in Yumberry Crush, Stila Silk Shimmer Lip Gloss in Kitten, Urban Decay 24-7 Glide on Lip Pencil in Wicked.
Go behind the scenes..
The Bride & Bloom Magazine :: Spring 2011 Shoot
From photgrapher Elizabeth Messina:
“this beautiful little film, takes “behind the scenes” imagery
to a whole other level…cinematographer KRISTEN* of BLISS
was completely unobtrusive & thoughtful while i created my photographs…
there is a gentle dance that takes place between artists who work side by side…
what i simply love about this BLISS piece is that it is completely & utterly
her own work of art….a delicate blend of the fashion shoot i conceptualized
(alongside a team of creatives: EDEN & ERIN SKIPLEY & FAYE DINSMORE
& JACK SNEED & LAUREN NAPIER) beautifully balanced with
moments that KRISTEN* found & created, and was able to
share her own vision through moving images…xoxo
_______________________________
gowns by DAVID FIELDEN & lingerie by CLAIRE PETTIBONE
(filmed in the french countryside at CHATEAU ST. JULIEN L’ARS)
I was so excited to see the spring issue of The Bride & Bloom magazine, featuring a wonderful cover and editorial with photographer Elizabeth Messina and Faye Dinsmore, one of the most sought after models in the world . It was a magic time, working and staying in the gorgeous Chateau St Julien L’ars in France. Working along side an incredible crew to create a vintage inspired, modern love story… beautiful memories.
Spring 2011 has arrived! Here is the campaign that I worked on for Beauty.com, shot by photographer Elke Van de Velde. Check out the latest hair and makeup trends for spring here, including a behind the scenes video of the shoot.
Our model Elina has a perfect face for a fresh spring palette. We love peach tones for cheeks and lips, bronze skin, and a softer version of a cat-eye with neutral tones. Of course, a bare or bright lip is also great if the occasion permits!
For hair that goes day into night, we love the top-knot, beachy waves, easy styles that look effortless.
Aside from the products listed above, here is my must-have list from the shoot:
Smooth Operator Illuminating serum by Tarte , Too Faced Primed and Poreless, Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion in Glow, It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores HD Silk Micro powder, NARS Multiple Bronzer in Palm Beach, Smashbox HD Foundation and HD Concealer, Cargo Blush in Sunset Coast, Tarte EmphasEYES HD Eye Brightening Pencil and Brow Pencil, Lip Insurance by Too Faced, Stila Longwear lip color in Coral.
+ Read more…A day well spent with amazing photographer Elizabeth Messina, shooting Tinted Wedding Dresses for OnceWed.com. The location was a beautiful estate in Santa Barbara. Dresses from Vera Wang, Claire Pettibone, BHLDN, and Claire LaFaye. The colors and textures are to die for. I was absolutely in love with the flowers that Mindy Rice put together, she incorporates so many natural elements/textures in her design. The mushroom cake by Erica O’Brien was the perfect accent piece.
The Oscar’s!!! It’s Hollywood’s most prestigious event and the top of the mountain in the Entertainment Industry. The paparazzi, the gowns, the jewels, the security, the celebrities, the excitement of being in LA on Oscar night is overwhelming. It was so cool to be in the mix at the Four Seasons Hotel, where I prepped Oscar Nominee Jed Rothstein and his gorgeous wife Mira Jacob for their stroll down the red carpet. Jed was nominated for his documentary ‘Killing In the Name“. It was an honor to be there and work with such inspiring people.
Some of my favorite products that night..
Caudelie Radiance Serum, Smashbox Primer Light + Smashbox Artificial Light , Dior Airflash Foundation, MAC Blush in Raz, NARS Blush in Exhibit A, NARS Multiple Bronzer in Palm Beach, Urban Decay Eye Potion Lid Primer, Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Night Dust, MAC Fluidline Eyeliner in Black Track, Too Faced Lip Insurance primer, Stila lipstain in Coconut Crush, Dior Addict lipstick in Garconne 330, Smashbox Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss, Skindinavia Makeup Fix, Moroccan Oil conditioning treatment, TIGI Sleek Mystique Hairspray.
Behind the scenes at the Four Seasons Hotel..
I was so happy to work on the Report Signature campaign for Spring/Summer 2011 with photographer Elke Van de Velde. Every pair of shoes that we had on our lovely model Teela (Photogenics LA), I wanted to take home.. to die for! Styling by Hope Misterek.
Gorgeous shoot with photographer Elke Van de Velde for Report Shoes at Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas, NV. The location was incredible, but HOT!! Holy cow. It was a long day in the sun, but the wardrobe was amazing and our model Ricky (Ford LA) couldn’t have been better. My NARS Bronzers were working over time! We had a great RV to prep in and get out of the sun. Stylist Hope Misterek did a wonderful job with the clothes, I wanted to buy every outfit! After the shoot we had our wrap dinner at Eva Longoria’s restauraunt on the strip called Beso. Great trip, it was nice to get outside of Vegas and see the amazing desert terrain. I’d like to go back for a weekend of shopping and have more time poolside!
behind the scenes, watching the sunrise in the Red Rock Canyon and the sunset by the pool : )
+ Read more…Dream shoot with photographer Autumn De Wilde for Capitol Records recording artists The Decemberists, one of my favorite bands of all time.
After a cozy night at the Ace Hotel in Portland and really really strong coffee from Stumptown next door, we headed to a location called ‘The Farm’, Pendarvis Farm to be exact. Home of the indie roots music festival called ‘Pickathon‘ and fertile ground for The Decemberists new record ‘The King is Dead’ to be brought to life. They are such beautiful and talented people inside and out, the day couldn’t have been better.
I set up my kits in back of the barn next to super power stylist Shirley Kurata. She pulled an amazing rack for wardrobe, I always love her style. There were impromptu jam sessions between shots, and I had a big Hollywood lighted mirror set up for me. Nice!! The Farm had an old school bus with bull horns outback which served as someone’s living quarters, a few horses, a gorgeous field backing up to woods, and.. a recording studio. Autumn had so many great places to shoot, and I can’t wait to see more of the photos released.
Check out behind the scenes..
+ Read more…
“Just Hitched” with photographer Kari Pearson for Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom + Portland Bride and Groom. The day started bright and early on the ferry to Bremerton, studying tearsheets with the crew and getting inspired for a lovely day outside of the city. The location was a quaint little farm by the beach. Stylist Laura Cassidy made country magic with the wardrobe and accessories and art director Samantha Gardner kept us on track with great ideas, love those girls! Stained lips and dewy natural skin for our model Teela (Photogenics LA), she was perfect. Luminizing foundation + lip stain in Mango Crush by Stila. Catering was provided by the amazing duo from Pic-Nic, who kept us in organic vegetarian cuisine all day long and topped off with Theo chocolates. I love my job. It was a great day and love the photos!
Photography: Kari Pearson
Art Direction: Samantha Gardner
Stylist: Laura Cassidy
Set Styling: Alan and Jodi Davis
Makeup/Hair: Me!
Transmission is a a hi-tech study in architectural fashion put together by my favorite Alvin’s and I. Super-power photographer Alvin Nguyen and visionary stylist Alvin Stillwell, such a great team!
Photography: Alvin Nguyen
Model: Rachel Cook {SMG}
Stylist: Alvin Stillwell {Celestine}
Hair/Makeup: Me! {Ajentse}
+ Read more…Here’s inspiration to put together your winter makeup arsenal! Check out the winter/holiday campaign that I worked on for Beauty.com, shot by photographer Elke Van de Velde. The look was inspired by an angelic ice queen.. silver metallics (on lips too!), supernatural skin, cool pink stain under an icy gloss. Beautiful textures. Hair: ethereal and effortless..
The behind the scenes video is a showcase of everything that I used on the model including trade secrets to add into your own routine. Check it out!
Some of my favorite products on this shoot.. Luminizing foundation by Stila, Lip stain in Yumberry Crush by Stila, Photo Op under eye brightener by Smashbox. Vincent Longo Two-Tone blush in Botecelli Dawn, Smashbox eyeshadows in Bliss and Platinum, Lorac eyeshadow in Enlighten, Tarte High Definition eyeliner (kit essential), Urban Decay 24-7 lip and eye pencils, Smashbox Reflection high shine lipgloss, Faux Dry Shampoo by Blow, Beautiful Hold Hairspray by Ted Gibson.
the winter 2010 catalogue..
Over the last few years I’ve had the pleasure of working with renowned photographer Chase Jarvis on his book release “Seattle 100, Portrait of a City” featuring some of Seattle’s most influential characters. It’s a documentary on the who’s who – of the who’s who of the city. Ground breaking artists, architects, restaurateurs, musicians, scientists, the movers and shakers! If you live in Seattle, you should own this. Get your copy here.
A few photos from the release party..
Congrats Chase!! Inspiring work, as always.
+ Read more…
Join my team and I at The Four Seasons downtown Seattle 10/28/10 for the Get Hitched Give Hope benefit party, raising money for the Making Memories Foundation. It’s the best excuse to get dressed up!! I’m super excited to get the models ready for the couture bridal gowns and to visit with the other amazing wedding vendors who will be donating their products/services for the auction. It’s going to be a great time, see you there!!
I had a great time shooting Fall Fashion with photographer Ryan McVay and the super rad ladies of Seattle Met Magazine. It was a beautiful sunny day, shooting on the roof top of the Bemis Building. We had the most stunning view of the city, waterfront, and the beloved Alaskan Way Viaduct. Stylist Laura Cassidy pulled together an impeccable fall wardrobe with some truly amazing designers. Perfect day.
Photography: Ryan McVay
Assistant: Kari Pearson
Styling: Laura Cassidy
Hair/Makeup: Me!
Model: Stephanie Wood
+ Read more…Super power Accessories story with my favorite gals, photographer Kari Pearson and stylist Laura Cassidy. Inspired by geometry and slight of hand, magic was in the air that night at Studio Lucile. It was so fun to play around with two tone lips, displaced color, and makeup ‘as accessory’. I love the shots!
Our lovely model: Arlene from Heffner
+ Read more…
I went online to make my routine order from Bumble and Bumble and was excited to see images from the Bb Surf Spray campaign that I worked on a while back, on the main page! Art director/Photographer: Howard McLaren, Models: Amanda and Anamae.
Go here to see an earlier post of behind the scenes at the bumble photo shoot..
One of the most beautiful and interesting brides that I’ve worked with this year, Rae. She had an all-star lineup of wedding vendors, amazing venue, designed her own wedding dress, and had the coolest band in Seattle to play her reception, The Dusty 45′s. Love it!! Photography by Laurel McConnell..
View the entire Real Wedding post of Rae and Rob on Junebug Weddings..
+ Read more…This shoot with photographer/visionary Kyle Johnson may be one of my favorite tests this year. He has such a great eye, and authentic raw style. He’s one of the most talented photographers I know, and the nicest guy on the planet. Can’t wait to shoot more together! We shot this story at the house of the stylist Amanda Rosenthal, owner of boutique La Rousse. The model is Terra Clarke from Heffner. xo
Amazing shoot with photographer Melissa Ohearn for NEST Diaper Bags. I hate to say the word diaper bag because it really doesn’t do justice! NEST diaper bags are designed with fashion conscious celebrity moms in mind (it’s a NEST diaper bag that carry’s around Heidi Klum’s baby stuff btw)! We shot two beautiful SMG models at Golden Gardens that day, I love the photos..
Behind the scenes.. (Thank you for the photos Eunice!!)
The Nest girls..
From left to right: Allison Abreu, Cristie Schrader, Tenelle McCormack
+ Read more…
Another great shoot with my favorite girls at Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom and Portland Bride and Groom. Swept Away was shot by photographer Melissa O’hearn in her magical daylight studio in the Sodo district. Gorgeous light, immaculate styling, set design by Steven Moore Designs, I didn’t want the day to end. My inspiration for makeup and hair was windswept but softly sophisticated..
Photographer: Melissa O’hearn
Styling: Laura Cassidy and Jill Spitznass
Art Direction: Samantha Gardner
Props/Set Design: Steven Moore Designs
Hair and Makeup: Me!
+ Read more…
I recently had the chance to work with iconic actress Molly Ringwald. Molly starred in Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club. I was thrilled to do her makeup and hair while she was in Seattle. She was in town to promote her new book Getting The Pretty Back with It Books (HarperCollins Publishers). I love the idea that being ‘pretty’ is something we can choose to feel and cultivate, and that it doesn’t have to go away with age.
I WON!! What an amazing honor to be voted Best Hair and Makeup for 2010, thank you Seattle Bride Magazine and every one who gave me their vote! xoxo
I had the opportunity to work with photographer Kari Pearson and wardrobe stylist/superhero Alvin Stillwell on a blustery spring day near Green Lake. Our model was Alessandro Roberto Pirzio-Biroli from Heffner. We were excited to shoot with him before he shipped out to Milan.
A Suitable Boy
Alvin’s styling really shines, LOVE everything.
Hair and makeup.. matte textures, finished by the elements.
Kari captures the unstructured off-moments perfectly, can’t wait to work with her again!
+ Read more…
Photographer Melissa O’hearn is a super genius! It doesn’t matter what she is shooting, she finds the magic and captures it. I love working with her and feel so fortunate that we are able to work together quite often these days. Recently, we worked together on the spring fashion story ‘Fresh Air’ for Seattle Metropolitan Magazine.
Stylist Laura Cassidy put together the decadent wardrobe with pieces from Balenciaga, Baby and Co, Prada, and from her own secret stash. Some of my favorite things were from local Seattle designers Kimberly Baker, Jessica Milton, and local boutiques Hitchcock and Gossamer Collective. I wanted EVERYTHING!! Absolutely gorgeous, I was drooling the entire shoot.
Our lovely model Paisha (Heffner Mgmt) is on her way to great things overseas. Good Luck in the UK girl!!
The dream team is back for the up coming issue of Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom, stay tuned..
+ Read more…
Last month I teamed up with photographer Elke Van de Velde, wardrobe stylist Hope Misterek, and hairstylist Megan Oliberos for a gorgeous editorial and the cover of Kouture Magazine out of Atlanta GA. See below..
What a dream to design your own clothing line and sell it all over the world! Nicole Richie is doing it with her line Winter Kate, and best selling Accessories line, House of Harlow. Her style is hippy-chic, her pieces are unique and totally wearable. I had a great time doing her makeup, she was a doll. We bonded over baby stuff and being new momma’s..
always setting up in odd places..
Note to self: standing sideways to the camera is much more slimming than standing square on.
Nicole had beautiful skin, but I still used a tiny bit of foundation by FACE Atelier , a little goes a long way to create glowing skin. She looked gorgeous!
+ Read more…
The beautiful people at Seattle Bride Magazine want to know who you love the most! Even though there are a zillion other things requiring your attention, please take a minute to vote!
Erin Skipley /Bellatrix Studio for Best Hair and Makeup!
Tony & Giao in Seattle Bride’s Real Weddings
Photos by Sean Flannigan
Hair and Makeup by me!
+ Read more…I love spending time with talented people, it’s the best part of doing my job. The girls at Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom are wonderful! I had the pleasure of working with them again on a recent bridal editorial with photographer Howard Petrella.
The shoot took place on a beautiful sunny day at Discovery Park. We met early in the morning and then carpooled together in a big RV. It was totally loaded with designer wedding dresses and gorgeous accessories, handpicked by Seattle Met’s Laura Cassidy and Jill Spitznass of Portland Bride and Groom. It’s dizzying to watch how fast those two can style a model.
While I did hair and makeup in the RV, there was a fat Uhaul outside stuffed full of Props brought in by The Adventure School.
The art director Samantha Gardner did a beautiful job setting up the shots.
The car was brought in by a local collector, totally made the shoot!
Photography: Howard Petrella
Models: Erin [SMG], Eric [Heffner]
Prop Styling: The Adventure School
Hair and Makeup: Me!
+ Read more…
Tegan and Sara’s new record Sainthood is officially released and has hit the shelves! It’s the band’s sixth full length album (Vapor/Sire Records) and Spin Magazine gives it four out of five stars. Nice work girls!
While they were in Seattle finishing up the record and playing a sold out show at the Showbox, they managed to squeeze in a two day photo shoot for the album artwork and press junket with Los Angeles photographer Pamela Littky. I was sooo happy they called me to do hair and makeup, I’m a huge fan! Their record ‘The Con’ is one of my favorite favorites! We shot most everything at Ben Gibbard’s (Death Cab for Cutie) capitol hill loft, and Gasworks park.
It was magic watching Emy (super-genius art director) pull out props that she made for the shoot. She jumped from the laptop to sewing machine, to set, back to sewing machine. Her graphic projections brought the set to life. I can’t wait to see the other photos in print. Especially the shots at Gasworks park, Pamela spotted a tuba player rehearsing with a Scandinavian dance troop, and ran over to borrow the instrument. It was massive!! Somehow, Tegan was able to navigate it for a few shots..
The show was AMAZING! It’s no wonder they sell out venues.
+ Read more…
Mark your calender’s for 10/29! The beautiful girls behind Get Hitched, Give Hope have put together a first class event that’s not to be missed! This year it will be bigger and better than ever, showcasing Seattle’s most talented wedding professionals and the chance to acquire their goods and services for a fraction (not to mention a perfect excuse to get dressed up with your girls, have a few drinks and mingle!). Last year, the event raised $30,000 for the Making Memories Foundation, to grant wishes for terminally ill cancer patients.
Nothing kicks off the Fall like dressing up for a good party, and giving to a great cause! My girls and I will be doing hair and makeup for the lovely models behind the scenes, we’ll see you there!
+ Read more…
The fall ’09 REPORT Footwear ad campaign was inspired by nature’s green fields and wood-filled landscapes. In addition to nature, the ’90s music scene provided inspiration with its grunge clothing, including worn denim, layers, plaid scarves and belts, that give a roughed-up, casual and laid-back vibe. The photoshoot took place in the countryside in Duvall, Washington featuring Ricki Lander from Ford Models. Images tell a story of a young woman visiting the country from her urban lifestyle. She brings with her sunglasses and a beret, making the photos up-to-date and feminine, with a touch of French countryside. The setting is cozy, warm, soft and very inviting. Photography and Art Direction provided by REPORT’s own Assaf Ziv. Hair and makeup done by Erin Skipley.
Yaaay!! You never know when you’ll see work in print, so it feels like Christmas when you discover something new. Seems like i’m always at Easy Street Records in West Seattle when it happens. The Big Takeover and Sound Magazine both featured the Decemberists in the last months issues. All the shots were from a Portland shoot with LA photographer Autumn De Wilde .
If you haven’t heard the Decemberist’s new record The Hazards of Love, it is soooo good… Just FYI..
+ Read more…Zac Posen in Seattle, really? In the flesh!! I LOVE his clothing, and it was so exciting to meet him in person. Neiman Marcus will be opening a new store in Bellevue this fall and brought the famed clothing designer to town last month to show his Collections to the who’s who of the NW retail world. It was a beautiful presentation at Pravda Studios on Capitol Hill. The head stylist was from Dallas (his name was JP) and he was a genius!! We did huge bouffant updo’s with studded leather head bands, it was the first time that I had ever used paper towels inside of a hairstyle. Learn something new every day!
Super fun shoot for Alternative Press Magazine with Seattle photographer Lydia Goolia and Patrick Stump, lead singer of Island/Def Jam recording artists, Fallout Boy. Patrick was rad!! He was wearing the coolest Chanel glasses that I’ve ever seen. We bonded over the video games on our Blackberry 8190′s and it warmed my heart to know that he is as addicted to the Word Mole game as I am. Ha! The shoot took place at a recording studio in Ballard before the Fallout Boy show at Key Arena. The rocker arrived in a Lincoln Town car complete with a body guard. Nice.
It’s a really cool thing when a wedding photographer gets married. They’ve seen everything that’s out there, know people who know people, and the result is a super-fabulous unforgettable wedding. Eliza Truitt is one of Seattle’s most talented wedding photographers, and such a doll!! It was an honor to do her hair and makeup for her wedding day. Her photographer did an amazing job documenting the magic, Sean Flanigan. LOVE these photos!
LOVE!! xo
+ Read more…Eye candy! Just recieved images from a shoot with I worked on with photographer Elke Van de Velde, and SeattleMagazine’s Style Editor, Hope Misterek. She outfitted darling Emma (Heffner Managment) in four outfits from designer Zac Posen. Ahh! Everything was exquisit.
A mention in Daily Candy.. awesome!!
Attributive Clause
Capitalize on your best attributes with the help of makeup and hair artist Erin Skipley of Bellatrix Studio, whose natural styling and airbrush technique will leave one adjective on everyone’s lips: beautiful.
I’m so excited about this Summer’s weddings and more weddings!! It’s the most magical and wonderful time to be a part of.
+ Read more…
I was soo delighted to receive an email from the lovely ladies at Lulu Weddings, saying “You’re our Favorite!” Lulu was created by a group of some of the most talented photographers in Seattle, who know the Seattle wedding industry inside and out! It’s super cool because it’s a completely non-profit wedding planning site with vendors chosen on the following criteria:
- extremely high level of customer service to both brides & grooms
- extremely high level of customer service to other vendors in the industry
- product & service excellence at a recent wedding where a Lulu photographer could experience your services firsthand
- frequency of which that a Lulu Photographer has been able to work with you to ensure that your service and products are consistently fantastic
Lulu Wedding is a great resource for finding the best vendors in the industry because there are no paid listings, only the vendors they choose to list. Love it!! Thank you girls!!
Over this past year I had the pleasure of working with skin artist, Ariana Page Russell. Her inspiration comes from the intricate patterns of her own skin which she photographs and creates beautiful images and installations. We worked together with photographer Laura Totten on a series of photographs for a recent exhibit for Magnan Projects at PULSE, Contemporary Art Fair in NYC.
In the artists own words..
A body becomes an index of passing time. Skin reveals how bones shift, muscles loosen, freckles and wrinkles form, and bruises appear. I am interested in this as a fashion of skin, including the way a blush decorates one’s cheek, freckles form constellations on an arm, or hair creates sheen on skin’s matte surface. Skin also protects us while revealing internal emotions, offering a translucent space for adornment.
My skin is very sensitive and I blush easily. I have dermatographia, a condition in which one’s immune system exhibits hypersensitivity, via skin, that releases excessive amounts of histamine, causing capillaries to dilate and welts to appear (lasting about thirty minutes) when the skin’s surface is lightly scratched. This allows me to painlessly draw patterns and words on my skin, which I then photograph. Even though I can direct this ephemeral response by drawing on it, the reaction is involuntary, much like the uncontrollable nature of a blush.
I also make wallpaper with photographs of my skin cut into decorative designs, then attached to the wall or onto board. The patterns I use range from adaptations of Greek and Etruscan vases, Medieval wall coverings, and Renaissance pottery designs to contemporary wallpaper found in domestic spaces. My father is a wallpaper hanger and working with him off and on over the years fostered an interest in this form of decoration.
Recently I’ve turned some of the patterns made from skin into temporary tattoos, adorning my skin in a different way than drawing on it directly. Scanning the cut photographs of my skin adapted from clothing and wallpaper, I turn them into temporary tattoos, affixing them to my body. These tattoos become an intimate fashion, as their own sort of clothing, and an additional translucent layer for the fashion of skin. Some of the tattoos also go on the wall or window after they’ve made contact with my body, leaving traces of cells and hair, and holding a record of skin’s map.
I am investigating where one surface ends and another begins, the bloom of adornment, and how shifting exteriors reveal as they conceal.
My recent photoshoot with Capitol Records recording artist The Decemberist’s was an adventure! The photogragraphy for their new album Hazards of Love was shot by LA photographer Autumn De Wilde. I carpooled with Jenny Jiminez, Autumn’s assistant and Sarah Murphy, producer. We piled into the Subaru at 3:30 a.m. in Seattle and made our way to Portland, Oregon on one of rainiest mornings in Washington’s history. It continued to rain throughout the day.
We arrived just in time for our 8AM call time at the Ace Hotel, grabbed coffee from Stump Town and headed out to Colin Meloy’s house. It was on the outskirts of Portland and up a huge winding hill, felt like we were in the middle of a forest. We quickly set up in Colin’s garage and I did makeup for the five band members and two guest vocalists, Lavender Diamond out of Los Angeles and My Brightest Diamond out of Brooklyn. When makeup and hair was set, we headed out for a fifteen minute hike up to the first location, in a down pour!! Garbage bags and umbrellas were used to protect the camera’s and equipment, and it was hard not to slip on the muddy trail. The location was incredible and worth the soggy journey. I was soaked for the entire day!
The second location was the studio attached to the Ace Hotel. Dry land!! Autumn had a gigantic backdrop ready and had built a diorama out of black cardboard panels and cut-outs of cactus’ with weeping willows. Her creativity has no bounds. It ended up being a 14 hour day and at the end we discovered that all the freeways into WA were closed due to a huge sweeping flood. We ended up staying at the Ace that night, then I flew home next morning. Can’t wait to see the photos come out in print, it was truly one of the most memorable shoots that i’ve ever done.
Band members: Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query, John Moen
Guest vocalists: Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond), Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond)
Photography: Autumn De Wilde Assistant: Jenny Jimenez
Stylist: Shirley Kurata Makeup/Hair: Me!
The LA premiere of the The Makeup Show took place March 15th and 16th at the California Market Center. It’s put on by the The Powder Group and normally you have to make the trek to NY or Miami to check it out. Not as big as the New York show but there were big names in makeup around every corner.
I went to see Billy B speak about his celebrity career, Sharon Gault (photographer David La Chapelle and Lady Gaga’s favorite makeup artist) speak about makeup for music videos shot in HD, Ve Neil, about her career in Film (she was the department head for all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies), and attended a workshop with John Hennessy on ‘Perfecting Beauty’ (he lives the dream, travelling the world doing runway shows in Milan, Paris, Tokyo, and runs his own agency ‘Nobasura‘ in Vancouver BC ). Dior artist Pati Dubroff was there as were the guys who started Smashbox Studios and Smashbox cosmetics, Dean and Davis Factor.
The best part was getting to look through John Hennessy’s makeup kit, it’s fun to see what other artists are using and getting in on their secrets! He gave me great feedback on the best foundations for modern lighting scenarios. I had to buy the entire line of Makeup Forever’s HD foundation as well as the miracle moisturizer by Embryolisse, couldn’t live without it.
It was inspiring to chat with these folks and see that they go to work just like I do. Ha! The next show in the LA area will be the IMATS in June. Can’t wait!!
+ Read more…Seattle’s own blonde bombshell singer/songwriter Zera Marvel is releasing her debut solo album ‘Birds and Bullets Fly’ this month. Her sound has been compared to Seattle superstar Neko Case, her songs are dark with sort of a mystical softness. Listening to Zera’s music will have you walking down an old dirt road with your heart in your hands. I did Zera’s hair and makeup for her cd artwork with photographer Troy Critchlow, and i’ve worked with her on other shoots as well. Amazing beauty and talent.
Behind the scenes..
Zera’s cd release party is tonight at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard, free cd w/ paid admission.. good excuse to get out of the house!
+ Read more…Move over Portishead! Seattle’s music scene has fostered some of the most iconic musicians of all time, it’s a gold mine. According to Seattle Sound Magazine, Barbara Trentalange is a musican to look out for. Her music is in regular rotation on Mtv, VH1, and The Oxygen channel. Trentalange is a Seattle gem, and about to release her second record ‘Awakening: Level One’ on Coco Tauro Records. I had the pleasure of doing hair and makeup for the shoot with photographer Renata Raudys, a beautiful sunny afternoon at Discovery Park.
The cd release party is tonight, 8pm at the Mars Bar. Don’t miss it!
It takes an army to put together a dream wedding, and nearly that for a bridal editorial! I did hair and makeup for the recent issues of Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom and Portland Bride and Groom, shot by canadian photographer Renat Touichev. (The winter issues so hurry and grab your copies!). The shoot took place over two days at the beautiful Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood WA. I’ve included a few shots from the magazines (the shot on the blue fabric below is my favorite favorite!) and behind the scenes photos from the day..
what it takes to put a dream together..
Summertime and the livin’ is easy! In late July, I spent a sunny afternoon working with Howard McLaren, VP and creative genius behind Bumble and Bumble . I died and went to heaven! The man is a visionary. We started hair and makeup at the Hotel 1000 downtown, then made our way over to a park near Elliot Ave. Howard’s inspiration for the shoot was 1950′s beachside in the UK. Strong black eyeliner, darker brows, fresh skin.. Of course I dream about seeing the photos on a billboard next time I fly to NY, but most likely it was a spec shoot for a Bb Surf campaign that will be shot in the UK this year.
West Seattle on a Sunday AM, I was at Easy Street Records eating a Beck omelet and working on my fourth cup of decaf coffee. Out of the corner of my eye I notice the the new Big Takeover Magazine sitting on the rack with Death Cab for Cutie on the cover. It took a second to register that it was the Death Cab shoot that I worked on with photographer Autumn De Wilde a while back. Woo!! I love seeing work in print, so cool!! Especially since I am a HUGE fan : )
To see more behind the scenes photos, go here.
+ Read more…
I’ve never seen anyone who can pull outfits together and make them work like Laura Cassidy at Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, she is one of the most talented stylists in the biz. In the January 2009 issue she brought some truly amazing clothing and accessories for the editorial ‘Winter Light’, shot by photographer Melissa O’hearn. Beautiful! Manicurist Noni Creme, Art director of Butter London was there attending to the model’s nails, she gave us the inside info on the new colors coming out for spring!
+ Read more…
Allure Magazine is giving away free haircuts, hair-color sessions, makeup applications, and personal-training workouts from 92 top experts in 14 cities, including me! Log in here for your chance to win!
+ Read more…
In the December issue of Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, I found images from the Get Hitched, Give Hope event on October 23rd, 2008. It was exciting to find a picture of myself included! I did hair and makeup for the models, and also donated my services for the auction. It was a great party, and the money raised will grant wishes for stage 4 breast cancer patients. The night was a great success and I look forward to participating next year.
+ Read more…“Alternative exists to promote the quest of free-thinking people to individuate by wearing t-shirts when and where they want.” -Alternative’s Reason for Being
Alternative Apparel recently launched a line of 100% organic cotton garments, including the best fitting, most comfortable t-shirts imaginable! I recently worked on a shoot for their new Earth line with actress Elizabeth Mitchell, aka Dr. Juliet Burke on the ABC television series LOST. It was a quick shoot since she was heading back to Hawaii in the morning to begin the next season of filming. Photographer Michael Oneil did a great job finding the most perfect set ups her back yard and around her house. She was a dream to work with, so so sweet and beautiful (inside and out!). It was a fun day.
PS. Mark your calenders, the new season of Lost premieres on January 21st (sooo excited for it)!!
+ Read more…Gold chain, gold nugget watch, only Captain Sig Hansen can wear designer jeans and maintain a tough guy persona. I recently worked with the captain for his up and coming line of packaged Seafood. He wasn’t thrilled about the film crew that set up in front of the Northwestern, being the star in a super bad ass tv show on the Discovery Channel brings alot of glamourous attention to the boat yard. He’s a real life bad ass, and has definitely earned his celebrity following. Aside from the tv show, he’s created his own xbox game Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm, his own Deadliest Ale in collaboration with Rogue Ales, and he’s the captain of an award winning crab boat that dominates the Bering Sea. Sig is a cool charachter.
I worked with Seattle band The Believers recently to create the artwork for their latest cd release Lucky You (Chinese Baby Records). It was shot in and around the Sunset Tavern, the venue where Cynthia Frazzini and Craig Aspen first met and where they played their first show together seven years ago. Their sound has been described like this: what Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three would sound like if they jammed with the Whitestripes (Rock and Reel Magazine, UK).. The Believers are about to kick off a west coast tour and will be back in Seattle on November 19th at the Tractor Tavern.
scenes from the day..
Band Members: Cynthia Frazzini, Craig Aspen
Photography : Troy Critchlow
Hair/Makeup: Me!
Styling: Samantha Pierce, and me!
+ Read more…It’s November! Now that life is slowing down a bit, my pre-new years resolution is to collect photos of the lovely, lovely brides that I worked with over the summer. One down! I ran into Kim & Adam of La Vie Photo a few weeks ago at the Get Hitched, Give Hope Breast Cancer Benefit party. They sent me to their blog, to find these beautiful photographs.. Thanks guys!! Truly lovely work as always. Emory & Matt’s wedding was one of the most beautiful events of the season! The best of the best. I really enjoyed working with Emory, her look was clean, natural, and so elegant..
Photography: Kim and Adam of La Vie Photo
Makeup and Hairstyle: Me!
Location: Cedar Brook, Seatac WA
Wedding Planner: Stacy Kvam of SK Wedding Day Design
Flowers: Woodland Flowers
Dress: from Voletta Couture
Music: Jake Bergevin Band
Cake: New Renaissance Cake
Invitations, etc: Ephemera Custom Letterpress
Linens: Linens by Alice
+ Read more…
Time to dust off those Manolo’s that you’ve been hiding away in your closet, this is a party you won’t want to miss! Mark your calender for Get Hitched Give Hope, Thursday, 7pm, October 23rd at the Arctic Club Hotel. Wear your swankiest outfit, mingle with the most talented folks in the wedding business, and give to a great cause. It’s an opportunity to aquire amazing goods and services for your wedding, while 100% of the net procedes will benefit breast cancer organizations who create the ability to grant personal wishes to cancer patients in their last year.
Please join us to toast to this wonderful cause that celebrates life and love and the fabulous spirit of giving! It’s an evening not to be missed, where the most stylish way to give is to get!
+ Read more…
The beautiful girls at Junebug weddings are putting out a must-have book on wedding planning and they asked me to do hair and makeup for it. The day was filled with beautiful models, dresses, accessories, amazing flowers, and cakes. Decadence! I’m soo excited for the book to come out!! Junebug is the best wedding blog in the universe. In the mean time, you can see a preview of the new book in the fashion report “Whats your wedding style?” on junebugweddings.com . I’ve attached some of the photos below, and some of the production shots from Pravda Studios.
Behind the scenes @ Pravda Studios..
“In an increasingly stressful and gloomy world, photography should serve as an extra source of imagination, happiness and beauty.” – Leo Lam (林力)
model: Anglea (Heffner Managment)
These images were recently published in Life Element Magazine (Hong Kong) along with other beautiful photographs taken by my good friend Leo. When we worked on these shoots we joked around about being a dream team, but really, Leo’s talent is something special. And! He’s one of my favorite people in Seattle. Click here to be inspired..
model: Stephanie (Next)
Photography: Leo Lam
Hair/Makeup: Me!
Check out more of Leo’s work here: www.leolam.com
the studio where all the magic happens..
YAAY!! I got to work with Death Cab For Cutie and LA Photographer Autumn De wilde for the recent release, Narrow Stairs, on Atlantic Records. Super-star crew, including stylist Brandy St John (who made those amazing button suits for The White Stripes!). We shot at the Stimson Green Mansion on Capitol Hill (Seattle), and around First Hill. It was the one of the best days ever. Ben Gibbard is my hero. I’m a HUGE fan, there are three death cab cds in my six disc changer as we speak! I’m the luckiest girl on the planet.
Band Members: Nick Harmer, Jason McGerr, Chris Walla, Ben Gibbard
+ Read more…
If you haven’t seen the recent fashion report on Junebug Weddings, go now!! The photos from our shoot in France are up and i’ve posted a few of my favorites. The story: An American Bride In Paris. It’s so inspiring, and especially coming into wedding season. It was shot by Kim & Adam Bamburg of La Vie Photography, amazing talent!! The wardrobe was from Seattle designer Madina Vadache, and hair and makeup by me! Much was shot in Paris, and the rest in a town near Poitiers call St Julien d’Lars. What MAGIC was made!! It was a dream shoot, for 2 weeks..
band members: Matt (lead vocals & guitar), Thom (bass & backing vocals), Ollie (guitar & backing vocals), Steve (drums).
+ Read more…
Elizabeth Raab’s stylized photography is dark, dreamy and draws you into another world. We did a shoot for Cynthia Smith, an indie swimwear designer. The location was the garage basement of a West Seattle home that looked like a motorcycle graveyard. Bultaco, Motoguzzi, Suzuki bikes, and dirty parts everywhere. A few of my favorite shots:
Cynthia Smith Swimwear
Photography: Elizabeth Raab
Model: Cayte (Heffner/Seattle), Jess-C
Makeup: Me!
Hair: Ava Fiasco
Location: West Seattle
Production shots!
thanks for the garage guys!
I recieved my copy of Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom magazine, and found two full pages of my work!! Yaay!! The first is an ad for Junebug Weddings (some of the most talented people on the planet), the other is an ad for La Belle Reve, which was shot on location in France (yes, that’s the Louvre in the background!!). So lovely!
ooh! and an ad for Isadora’s too..
Style me pretty is a wonderful online guide to the most innovative and unique designers, planners, and bridal industry professionals. It was recently featured on the Martha Stewart Show as one of her favorite blogs, providing readers with a chic, stylish approach to weddings, regardless of budget. Bellatrix Studio is now featured on Style Me Pretty as a Seattle Favorite, in their elite Little Black Book of Vendors. Woo!
+ Read more…I just recieved the photos from Deana & Guillaume Wiatr’s Point Loma wedding last year, and it was like Christmas all over again! Every detail of this stylish wedding was well thought out and the bride was absolutely stunning. It was an honor to be there to work with Deana and her bridal party. I love weddings!!
what a dream..
makeup for Deana and the girls..
Deana wanted a smokey romantic look with dramatic eyes. I used Smolder black liner from M.A.C, Dior wet/dry eyeshadow duo in Dior Chic, M.A.C. eyeshadows in Vanilla and Dazzlelight, Diorshow Waterproof Mascara in black, NARS blush in Desire, NARS bronzer in Laguna, and Nars lipstick in Pigalle..
and mom too..
touch ups before the reception..
The couple now reside in Lyon, France and just had their first child, ‘Max’.
Location: Point Loma, San Diego CA.
Photography: The Image Is Found
Makeup: Me!
Flowers: Flowers By Azhar
Cake: The French Gourmet
Honeymoon: Tulum/ Playa Del Carmen
+ Read more…The recent Fashion Report for Junebug Weddings, “Girls Night Out” features fun alternatives to blah bridesmaids dresses!! Dresses that the girls can wear over and over again, not just on the Wedding day.
FASHION REPORT: Girls Night Out
Dresses available at Luly Yang, Tulip, Moms, Maids and More, and La Belle Reve
Jewelry and Accessories available at Tulip and Abaloria
Hair and Makeup by: Erin Skipley of Bellatrix Studio , Assistant: Olivia Rozell
Location: Tavolata Restaurant, Belltown (Seattle WA)
Models: Jessica Andrews, Kellie Sholdt, Lander Sholdt, Jaimie Bratz and Alicia Orrico
Photography by: La Vie Photography and Positive Light Photography
To view the full piece click here.
+ Read more…Greetings from the most civilized place on earth!
I’m on a TGV train, travelling from Poitiers to Lyon, the 10 day shoot for dress designer Madina Vadache is finished and I finally have some time to write about our fabulous adventures! We started in Paris and finished at a 12th century chateau in St. Julien de l’Ars.
The superstar team:
Photographers: Kim and Adam Bamburg
Model: Amanda Wall (Mode/Portland)
Hair/Makeup: Me!
We were sent with 3 huge boxes packed with Madina’s bridal, couture collections, and ready to wear, along with shoes, hats, etc. It was a dream shoot. We did 3-5 looks each day, and we still could have done more. In addition to the set up for Madina, we shot an editorial for Junebug Weddings (Fashion Report, April 08), another bridal story for publication, then some fashion stuff. At night, we couldn’t sleep so we shot even more!
The jet lag was intense. Luckily, we had two days in Paris before shooting! Our apartments in Paris were located at opposite ends of the city; Kim and Adam stayed in Montmartre, Amanda and I in Le Marais. We shot at the Hotel de Ville, Le Louvre, in the metro, in front of the Pompidou, all over Paris (gueriilla style of course to avoid the crowds).
I brought a huge suitcase packed with hair extensions, wigs, hair tools, and a makeup kit (more fake hair for the shoot than clothing for myself!) I wasn’t able to use any of my hot tools, or the air compressor because of the crazy voltage, so the hair extensions came in handy. I brought a power inverter and adapter, but still didn’t work! *&#%!!
We took full advantage of being in such an amazing place. Every look was our new favorite, and inspired us to start again. It was a match made in heaven: stunning model, super talented photographers, and incredible clothing. Everywhere we went, we attracted a huge crowd of onlookers with their cameras snapping away.
After we were done shooting in Paris, we squeezed into a rental van and headed for the Chateau (about 3hrs south). We were greeted by Nash and Linda, the wonderful owners (from the Fremont neighborhood in Seattle!). Linda made Earl Grey tea for us, with good bread and chevre cheese, and grapes from their own vines. Lovely!! At night we ate dinners in front of a huge roaring fire with lots of candles on the table. The picture perfect chateau sits on 60 acres, has a chapel next door, and caves undearneath. If you are thinking of a destination wedding, the rooms there are gorgeous, and the history is mind-blowing. Truly a magical place.
I’ll be in Lyon for a few days, then i’m headed back to Paris to catch my flight back to Seattle. Home soon! XO
+ Read more…
I spent last weekend backstage at the TIGI World Release Hair Show as a hair model! They gave me one of the best haircuts that i’ve ever had, and I learned a TON. For two days, I looked on while world class stylists executed some of the most impressive hairstyles that i’ve ever seen. The show was at the Convention center in the Mandalay Bay Hotel. The entire TIGI creative force from around the globe was there, working crazy long hours to get every models hair colored, cut, and styled for the show. Mine too!
Sunday night was the big night on the runway, there were a few different themes. One was Street/Grafitti inspired haircuts, color, and grafitti-like makeup. The makeup was very 80′s (I had nothing to do with it!). TIGI just released a new hair color line with colors like pale lavender, fire engine red, bright yellow, deep copper, etc. Models were bathed in glitter, topped with fantasy afro wigs, others were dark and gothic. Looking through the wardrobe, there were amazing pieces from Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Miu Miu, and other designers.
The coolest part of the runway show, was the last segment. The models came out in gothic clothing, with huge whimsical afro style wigs that were tipped with white spray paint, and smoldering! The hair pieces had dry ice machines installed in them to create billowing smoke. Brilliant. Why haven’t I ever thought doing of that!
Isn’t that the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?
The show was super cool, there was a magician on stage who made Anthony Mascolo (co-founder of TIGI) disappear from a huge tank of water where he was appeared to be trapped and drowning. The after party was also quite a scene! There was a dj from the UK on turntables, expensive bars serving huge drinks, and a crowd of insanely stylish people.
Global TIGI stylists Michelle and Richie, and me!
+ Read more…I was walking down Union street in San Francisco on a Thursday afternoon, when I got a phone call to do actress Devon Aoki’s makeup for the Hollywood premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s new film, Sin City. The film starred Bruce Willis, Benicio Del Torro, Jessica Alba, Elijia Wood, and Rosario Dawson. The premiere was to be held at the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the call time for makeup was 2pm on Sunday afternoon, at Devon’s house. I love my job!
I flew back to Seattle on Saturday afternoon, watered my plants, organized my makeup kit, and decided to sew a jacket for Devon. When I did her makeup for the DEBS premiere, she fell in love with the jacket that I was wearing (which was part of my clothing line, Yoshimi). It took me all night to make a custom jacket, but it was rad and I couldn’t wait to give it to her! At 4am, I took a 30 minute nap in my cozy apartment, and at 5am headed back to the airport to catch my flight to Los Angeles. The adventure begins.
Going through airport security was a nightmare. Already late, they made me go back and check my makeup kit. I was so flustered and sleep deprived that I left the directions, contact phone numbers, etc, all in the kit, along with my phone charger. I slept a few hours on the flight, and arrived into Burbank around 9 in the morning. I waited until all the bags came out on the carousel, and mine wasn’t there. I kept my fingers crossed that the bags would come in on the next flight, and went to pick up a rental car.
In the meantime, my phone battery was dying and I realized that I was going to have to go buy a charger. The time to be at Devon’s was quickly approaching, what if my baggage ended up in another city? What if I couldn’t find her house? Ahh! I couldn’t be without a phone. It should have been an easy thing, but it turned out that my nokia phone was obsolete, and I had to go to six different stores, in LA traffic, before I finally found one.
Thank god, when I returned to the airport at 12:30pm, my bags had arrived. I found the directions, navigated my way to Devon’s house in the Hollywood hills, and arrived on time!! YAY!! I gave Devon a hug, and gave her the jacket which fit her perfectly! She loved it, and danced around the house.
The makeup was the easiest part! I used Studio Tech foundation by M.A.C. mixed with a luminizer. Dior lip pencil in Tile, with #434 Dior Addict lip color. Blush was Dior #849, and eyeshadows were from M.A.C. Waterproof eyeliner by Dior in Trinidad black (best black eyeliner ever), liquid eyeliner by Bourgois in black.
After Devon left in her limo, I got back in my rental car and headed to the airport to go home. Finally could breathe. All that, for a makeup application that took 30 minutes!!
Photographer Chris Cumming and I shot the lovely Michelle Kim for the cover of Seattle Magazine’s ‘Shopping Issue’. Michelle is the owner of RUE, a french street-inspired boutique that showcases up and coming designers from around the globe. Her collections are feminine and sophisticated. She also has a handpicked assortment of vintage dresses and super cool accessories from NY designers. If you’re shopping downtown Seattle, RUE is only a few blocks from Sway & Cake, definitely worth checking out!
Cover: Michelle Kim
Photo: Chris Cumming
Hair/Makeup: Erin Skipley
Location : RUE
611 Stewart St.
Seattle, WA 98101
206.264.0788 
ps. look what I found on MSN!
Walt Disney’s High School Musical superstar, Ashley Tisdale, recently celebrated the release of her debut CD Headstrong on Warner Brothers Records . I worked with Ashley during her visit to Seattle for a benefit show sponsored by KISS 106FM. I love doing performance makeup, I was in Heaven.
Ashley was delightful to work with, truly a professional. We did smoky dramatic eyes that smoldered with metallic shimmmering Gold Mode pigment from MAC. Foundation and luminescent lotion by Armani, best blush in the world by AMP, and lips were ultra-shine #612 by Dior, on top of a nude lip stain. I used big whispy false eyelashes, that gave her an exotic cat-eye look on stage.
+ Read more…
Glossy eyes. One of my favorite tricks for creating drama that plays with light: Start by using a base of waterproof eyeliner smudged out over the lid (try waterproof power point eyeliner by M.A.C.), concentrate the color at the lash line. Then press in a light layer of shadow up to the brow, and bronzer in the crease (Laguna or Casino bronzer by NARS are my favorites). Use the smallest amount of Glossy Touch by Yves St Laurent (Vaseline works almost as well) and press onto the center of the eyelid. Don’t rub it in! Let the gloss to disperse on its own. Model Sascha is wearing Dior ultra-shine lipstick in #222.
Photography: Leo Lam Model: Sascha Makeup/Hair: Erin Skipley
To view more photos from this editorial in 180 magazine, click here.
+ Read more…I had the pleasure of doing hair and makeup on Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter for press shots on their latest release Love, Lust, and the Open Halls of the Soul (Barsuk Records 2007). The photographer was Autumn De Wilde from Los Angeles, and Jenny Jimenez assisted.
Jesse’s vocals and Phil Wanderscher’s guitar playing are synergistically perfect. They are so amazingly talented, and so down to earth. I am a huge fan! I ran into Jesse at Fred Meyer about a month ago, they had just returned from their European Tour. I made a jacket for bassist Bill Herzog before they left, and I think it got destroyed during a wild night after a show. Bill told me that a while back that they had the opportunity to play with Coco Rosie (my favorite, favorite, musicians from Brooklyn, NY) at a tiny venue in France with about ten people in the room. Those ten people must have been the luckiest on earth, I can’t imagine how cool it must have been.
I also had the chance to help with a music video of the song ”Troubled Soul“ ( Oh My Girl, Barsuk Records 2005), shot at the historic Capitol Theatre in Olympia. The makeup was clean and simple for all five band members, a team effort with stylist Jen Hensler.
When it comes to creating the most beautiful day of your life, Junebug weddings is a great place to start.
Junebug is an amazing resource of the most stylish venues, consultants, photographers, stylists, catering, music, etc.. It was started by four wedding photographers: Blair, Kim, Christy, and Jennifer. I recently joined their elite network of bridal vendors, and helped with the most recent Fashion report, ‘Vintage Weddings’.
FASHION REPORT : Vintage Weddings
Dresses, Accessories and Jewelry available at: Isadora’s
Hair and Makeup by: Erin Skipley of Bellatrix Studio
Flowers by: Bella Rugosa
Models: Sam Motley and Cayte Bosler
Location: Ornamo
Photography by: Cheri Pearl Photography
To view the entire piece, go here.
+ Read more…I guard this cd of images with my life. It was a collaboration by an amazing team in San Francisco: Photographer: Paul Trapani, Producer: Ernesto Qualizza, Model: Lana from Look (agency), Stylist: Tina Angel of Razor Bee clothing, hair and makeup by my self.
Tina the stylist could have starred in a comic book. No steamer, no clamps, none of the usual stylist tools, just one of a kind treasures stuffed into a vintage leather suitcase. Treasures. I was completely enamored with the clothing she brought. To die for. She designed everything herself, and used all vintage fabrics and vintage sequins from france. LOVE.
Lana worked it! I’ve never seen a 16yr old that could pose herself so well, it was great to watch her work. She had just come to San Francisco from Austria to her live with her mom Rose- who is one of the organizers of the Burningman festival in Blackrock city, NV.
To create the flawless fresh look in the two photos above, I used Purelight foundation by Dior, a Colorwash cheek and lip stain by Nars, lip balm, and black khol to rim her eyes. No powder! On her body I used a gold shimmer lotion by Body Fantasies to create her glowing skin.
Ernesto has since moved to NYC and is producing for Marek and Associates, one of the premiere photo agencies in New York. He produces for photographers Greg Kadel, Diego Fuga, and Maciek Kobielski. I’ts a pretty cool gig.
Paul resides in San Francisco with his wife, and aside from work in print advertising, he creates amazing fine art photography. He’s one of the most talented artists that I have ever worked with, and he rides a harley! Hot!!
+ Read more…The Decemberists shoot, Portland Oregon. June 23, 2006. Period styling. Press shots for Capitol Records.
A 14 hour day. The Decemberists had just signed on with Capitol Records and were getting ready to release their new cd, The Crane Wife.
Autumn de Wilde (the photographer) had flown in most of her crew from LA, and brought some of us up from Seattle. I had worked with Autumn on several other shoots for Barsuk Records, along with some of my favorite people in Seattle assisting and styling. My good friend Jenny Jimenez was Autumn’s assistant, Anna Lange (owner of the Pretty Parlor) was the assistant wardrobe stylist, and I was assisted by Jenni Hensler. The first location was the John Palmer House, a historical victorian estate on Mississippi Avenue. Rooms and decor befitting the band and it’s sound.
Here is the video of the shoot:
The sounds of obscure instruments filled the house, along with the banjo, guitar, and Colin Meloy singing. It felt like a party. Everyone was tinkering with something. The stylists were busy steaming vintage costumes, Autumn was busy framing different shots, and Jenni and I kept up with powder and lip balm. One shot featured a Geisha inspired look (the Crane Wife is a Japanese folk tale). We put Jenny Conlee in a black wig, used a white airbrush foundation by Temptu, and a MAC lipstick called Lady Danger.
The down time was spent in the kitchen with amazing food from the caterer (McMenamins), or out in the back yard laying in the grass.
The second location was the Crystal Ballroom on W. Burnside, a historical dancehall built in the 1920′s. The floor upstairs is built so that it bounces when you walk. A Huge backdrop of Mt Fuji was hung from the Balcony, and the prop stylists had brought these amazing hand made umbrellas. My favorite was the umbrella raining coins on the inside, shown in the photo above.
After a long day of shooting and hanging out, the crew was exhausted and starving, as were the band. We got the gear packed up, and headed back to home base at the Jupiter Hotel. There was a cool restaurant/bar called the Doug Fir next door, so we ate a huge late night feast without having to go driving around. We all got our second wind after dinner, so with four girls sharing a room, there were pillow fights and loud laughter until 3am.
We left early the next morning back to Seattle, and listened to the Decemberists’ album Picaresque on the way home. Jenny J. also played me a cd of a band she plays with called Night Canopy, I loved it. A few months later I walked into Sonic Boom Records on Capitol Hill and saw one of the images from the portland shoot on the cover of a magazine called The Big Takeover.
+ Read more…I wasn’t sure what to expect when I flew into LA that morning, but the call from Flaunt Magazine a few days before said that I would be doing makeup for a segment of Access Hollywood on Entertainment Tonight and for the premiere of a film called D.E.B.S. (Screen Gems/Samuel Goldwynn Films). I packed a bag, and headed to Seatac airport.
My first job in cosmetics was working behind a Lancome counter at the Bon Marche. On the sales floor, I stared for hours at an ad campaign called ‘Super Nature’, waiting for my shift to end. Devon Aoki was the model in that ad, and I was always inspired when I looked at it. So to do Devon’s makeup a few years later, as a national Dior Show Artist, was exciting to say the least.
The day began on set at Fred Segal in Santa Monica with the leading ladies of D.E.B.S. Before my lipsticks could melt, I did makeup on Jordana Brewster, Meagan Good, Jill Ritchie, and Sarah Foster. Up and coming Hollywood starlets. The girls were interviewed about the premiere taking place later that night at the Arclight Cinema. Devon Aoki also starred in the film, but she never made it to the set of ET and I was completely heart broken.
Before the Access Hollywood filming had wrapped, I got a call and a few minutes later I was picked up by a town car sent by “Mimi”, Devon Aoki’s agent. I love LA sometimes (where’s the wet bar in this thing?) !! It took forever to get from Santa Monica to Devon Aoki’s house in the Hollywood Hills. I was so nervous to meet her and it was hard to just be cool about it. I would need a steady hand for my fine point eyeliner!
When I arrived, Devon was sitting in the kitchen on her cell phone with the hair person working on her. Her mom and two sisters were going about their business as usual. Devon and I chatted about clothing design, her brother Steve Aoki (Dj) and the campaign she did for Donna Karan with her little sister. I love Devon’s street style, and exsquisitly thin features. Her look cuts so many ways: modern, classic, exotic, and furtive.
I used Dior’s #605 Beige Massai eye pallet and left it for her, along with some of my other Dior favorites (#131 addict lipgloss and #689 blush). We decided to make her eyes the focal point, used lots of single lashes. After we got the dress zipped up, I applied a shimmery lotion to her shoulders and a touch of powder. Minutes later, she was out the door and into her limo.
I arrived at the Arclight in time to see Devon on the red carpet. There was a sea of photographers swarming around. I saw Claire Danes in line getting popcorn. Devon’s character in the film kicked ass. After the viewing, there was a party thrown by Flaunt Magazine. I danced the night away and then headed to the airport to catch my 6AM flight back to the real world.
(This is the movie poster, I did not do the makeup here).
click HERE to see an interview with Devon at at the Arclight!
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If you need to get your skin into optimal condition fast, I highly recommend Three-Day Nutritional Face-lift™ . It aids in the elimination of puffiness, increases contours, firms jaw line, etc. I noticed that it also helped to heal exsisting blemishes. I hope you like salmon! You must eat it twice a day for the ideal effects of the DMAE, astaxanthin and the essential fatty acids to take effect. Your skin will be firm, glowing and radiant in three days, or atleast noticably improved. You can subsitute poultry or tofu, but the essential fatty acids and antioxidants in salmon give the skin optimal radiance, suppleness, and glow.
For further reading and a miracle working 28 day diet, read The Perricone Prescription . It’s a great resource on nutrition based skincare to keep your skin looking its best.
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