Moving (really this time!)
We've moved, and check out our sweet new layout!
http://wastemylifepretending.onsugar.com/
We've moved, and check out our sweet new layout!
http://wastemylifepretending.onsugar.com/
Ok... we are ALL going to miss Gossip Girl over the summer (I've already started watching all the season 2 I've had recorded) but seriously? American network Bravo have decided to play their hand at easing our withdraw symptoms with their brand new reality show NYC prep that "chronicles the lives of a group of privileged teenagers who are key players in Manhattan's elite high school scene. (sounding familiar?) Students who travel in packs (girls on the steps?)
I have become, not wore than ever aware of the art of a cliche, especially girl bands all dressing the same. Not the same as each other; but the same as other girl bands.
Photo love form Lipstick Royalty featured, UK alternative model Ulorin Vex...
I have just discovered one of the coolest handbag, clutch and wallet designer on the planet - Matt & Nat. (Their UK based too!) All the designs are, according to their site "Luxury, Eco Friendly & Vegan" as well and super cool, stylish and stunningly beautiful!
MTV Exclusive sneak preview of the "Good Girls Go Bad" music video by Cobra Starship and Leighton Meester...
To celebrate the launch of their new online store, up and coming label ALEX&RA are running a competition for one lucky lady to win a custom-made ALEX&RA skirt!
Scuttle along to their website now to enter for your chance to win!
Look out for an exclusive interview with ALEX&RA in the next issue of Lipstick Royalty Magazine!
I'm not really a fan of reality tv shows. (Ok I hate them!) Except for Britiains/ America's Got Talent or American Idol/X Factor (which are so funny!) I can't stand them... thought I'm into fashion Project Runway and Project Catwalk are so boring, no one seems to get that everything you see on Next Top Model is fake.
Problem is I've never come across a reality TV show featuring people I actually like. Cue the Aussie singing sensation The Veronicas, and the reports they'll both soon be staring in their own reality show on MTV, which have recently been confirmed by Jessica, one of the Veronica sisters.
I'm really worried about this you see, though I'm against most forms of reality television (cue Living Lohan), I'll have to watch it because I'm a Veronica's fan. But will I still love them as much as their music once I've seen them air their dirty laundry on their own reality show. They're not exactly shy pansies either; the pair have had their fair share broken engagements, AWOL boyfriends, leaked nude photos and rumored lesbian relationships...
What are your opinions on reality television?
Source: MTV Buzz, Nine MSN Image Source: Teen Hollywood 411
There are loads of cool people I come across who don't really fit into the concept of Lipstick Royaty... In the first in hopefully many interviews I caught up with Shawanda, one half of the husband a wife team behind the up and coming clothing line Sassy Divas!
How did you and your husband come to found Sassy Divas?
As a little girl, I was always sketching and drawing designs. Instead of reading school books, I was always leafing through the latest issue of Vogue or Cosmopolitan or the latest book on fashion. After a small detour in obtaining my Masters Degree in Business Administration, I decided that fashion was much more fulfilling than crunching numbers. Sassy Divas was founded in 2007, to pursue a lifelong dream of being a fashion designer.
Where did the name Sassy Diva's come from?
My husband Tom and I were kicking around names and ideas. Tom came up with Sassy because when thinking of his wife who has a wicked, but fun streak, Sassy came to mind. When we looked at our target customer, we envisioned a sophisticated, hard working woman, who knows what she wants. Sassy Divas encompasses the idea that fashion should be uncomplicated, stylish, and for the Diva that resides in every woman.
What inspires your designs?
At this point everything, I am inspired by music, art, and films but my biggest inspiration stems from traveling, classic movies, to influential designers. The summer 2009 collection was inspired by childhood experiences, thing that was sweet and innocent but not forgotten. I try to design with the idea that a women does not have to follow trends to be stylish. Therefore, I am inspired by making classic staple pieces, that is well defined, but relaxed and fun.
How do you develop the theme for each collection?
I take elements of each piece and infuse them into one modern perspective. This could be from similar attributes within the design phase, to color combinations, to fabric and prints. But, I always try to infuse the Sassy Divas philosophy and principle behind each piece within the collection.
Who makes your designs, and where?
I design each collection personally through digital base programs. I use Adobe Illustrator to create the line drawing and illustrate the technical aspect of each piece. Also, I have a WACOM tablet, that I use to sketch the designs and then import it into Adobe Photoshop for the final revisions to incorporate colors and fabric prints. I scour the country for fabrics and prints that will compliment the upcoming collection. The actual pattern, samples, and production are manufactured in Las Vegas.
How did it feel, making your first sale?
Ecstatic. Fulfillment of a lifelong dream. I hope to build momentum and a strong customer based; that way each sale feels like the first sale every time.
How do you think your background in finance help you build "a strong base for the company?"
Strangely, a degree in accounting and business administration does prepare you with getting together a “business plan” and forecasting sales, but in reality and in my opinion, a distraction to the creative process of designing. That is why my husband handles the day to day operations and finances. Having a strong business acumen is important in running a successful company, but I have learned that having a concise and focused vision is just as important.
You've thought about designing since you were a little kid. When was the moment when you decided 'I want to b a fashion designer', and you started Sassy Divas?
By trade, I was a banker. However, when I came home every night to relax, I would sketch and draw the designs that were seared in my head. After a certain point, wanting to be a designer is a far more satisfying experience than looking at spreadsheets and balance statements. My revelation came to me in early 2007- that I loved what I was doing in the evening (and not what I was doing during the day) and I simply decided to start my own Fashion Design Company.
Where can we buy "Sassy Divas"?
Each season’s collection will be available on our web site – http://www.sassydivas.com. Wholesale inquiries, please contact us at 702-324-3856, sales@sassydivas.com, or our sales agent- Stephanie Camputaro at 678.781.5205.
What's next for you, and your line?
We are in the process of releasing our Fall/Winter 2009 collection which be ready for release in mid June. Currently, we are starting the initial phase of our Spring/Summer 2010 collection, with the anticipated release for October this year. We will definitely will keep you posted on any upcoming events and samples sales!
THIS is an example of what a music video should be... it tells a story and its a pic of artwork...
As some of you may remember from a previous blog post I was mourning the sale of an iconic dress made by my favorite designer of all time - New York Couture's Cassie.
Photo: Lotus Josephine for Glamour Kills
...wow what a day...
So... lets see, something I love...
Ok so I've been catching up on the blogs I've not been reading while I've been so busy and I've come across a recent post from my personal favorite, the Doe Deere Blogazine about if young ager is an obstacle or not...
Today is all about preparation... things I hate. I'm now starting to realized how good I had it at London Fashion Week. I was there with the Raw TV film crew, and I had someone there to drive me to London (albeit having to get up at 5:00am), I had someone liaising with the PR company running the event for me, and my interview with Erin O'Conner was all scheduled and organized for me. All I had to do was the research...
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The most tragic thing happened to me this afternoon - a chain broke.
I've got this long silver neckass I brought in Cario, a really pretty, indvividual link patterned Egyptian silver chain and Kartouche, an ancient Egyptian nameplate saying, well my name. On the same chain I have a little Athenian owl, the symbol of the goddess Athena and the symbol of wisdom I brought on a tiny Greek island I have been to several times and I'll never remember the name of last October, and a little greek column of the ionic order of architecture I brought at Olympia the day after I brought the owl, representing this capitol I took a photo of at the ancient site of Olympia when I was ten years old. It was my first time is Greece when i took that photo, and it was that photo that made me become a photographer. I've hardly taken this chain off in fiver years since my Daddy brought it for me in Egypt. (This tells you a) how much I love my Daddy & b) I'm obsessed with ancient cultures and the fact I know this much about ancient architecture is an indicator that I study classics!)
Well the chain broke today... snapped. Clean in half. Can't be repaired. I was gutted. Thankfully I didn't lose any of the charms but I couldn't wear it anymore!
First moment I could I went out to all the silver shops I knew but I couldn't find one the same length the same. I ended up getting one as it felt all weird only having my gold locket round my neck and not my silver charms. I tried putting the charms on the same chain as the locket but it still felt odd - and I don't like mixing gold and silver...
I don't like my new chain though. Its not as pretty and individual as my egyptian one - its not individual. Its shiny too... I never took it of in water or even swimming pools (until I discovered that is you swim in a chlorine pool then get into a bromine hot tub silver turns as black as night and its a hell to clean up shiny again). So my charms are this lovely dark but shiny silver with black in the detailed bits, like my old chain was in the swirls - the new ones all light and shiny and it will take ages to get it nice! And there's o detail so it will never have the black bits...
And the moral of this story is?
To add insult to injury I had to pay over 4 times the price of the original chain for the new one. Silver isn't exactly expensive (the chain cost £14) but I always buy my silver jewelry in Greece of Egypt where its dirt cheap and you get prettier, more individual less commercial pieces. Also sometimes when you replacing something you find something nicer. (my greek eternity bracelet for example - my little cousin tore it of my wrist (it hurt!) and I found a better replacement - a gorgeous silver eternity bangle on my next visit to Greece)
The replacement cost £14, and the original in a jewelers at a Cairo bazaar right next to the pyramids, in a better design and a better grade of Egyptian silver... it cost me £3. Moral of the story is if you find that good a bargain buy two. Oh how I wish I'd grabbed two of those chains... Ladies... its not just the perfect pair of jeans you should buy two of...
Check out the STUNNING concepts, styling and photography from my new discovery on the designer front... PINaR ERIS: Edginess & Feminity. I spent a whole ten minutes looking at this last photograph...
Ok, so I love my guitar... I really do... (and I'm going to ignore the fact that in the above picture All Time Low's bassist is playing a bass, not a guitar) but when I brought mine why didn't anyone tell me, or why didn't the shop have them... I WANTED ONE THAT COLOUR... And when I came to draw my guitar under the subtopic of colour it would have looks SO much cooler!
That got me thinking about my dream guitar... and funnily enough for me, its not colourful, its black and white. But then, again its still very me; its an exact replica of Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine's custom made First Act instrument, and its BEAUTIFUL! The shape, the colour, the frets the wood... bliss... Shame it would set me back $2799. A girl can dream...
Well Happy Sunday everyone...
Just reposting a blog post Amy wrote from the magazines Bebo page today... it made ME go all sentimental!
Well I usually don't obsess over music videos much, unless they are works of art (enter Gaga stage right), or they are by Maroon 5 (you'll most likely have to wait until early next year when their album is out for to find out how dedicated to the M5 cause I am!) but seeing as I am, like, OBSESSED with Cobra Starship ft. Leighton Meester's new single, "Good Girls Gone Bad" right now, I was quite excited to get my hands on a couple of screenshots from their up coming video! You've gotta love Buzznet music news... I don't know what I'd do without it!
You may have heard me mention that even though I don't own any of their pieces New York Couture is one of my favorite design houses of all time...
While I should have been studying I was doing two things. Writing questions for my interview with Xenia from Lime Crime, and reading my two favorite blogs: Gala Darling's iCiNG and Xenia's Doe Deere Blogazine. These two wonderful ladies got me thinking... and I have a list of things I want to do once my exams are over (which I should really have been studying for!)
1. I will STOP taking myself so seriously!
2. I will try to loosen up a bit...
3. I will TRY to have more fun...
*Ok... I'm getting worried now... if I can even admit this, what type of person am I?!?*
Ok so I've been putting together the line up for September's issue of Lipstick Royalty (I know working ahead... but the August issue is coming together so nicely!) and this morning I confirmed a product review I'm really excited to do - Lime Crime Make-Up! I'm going to be interviewing them about their company and how it came about, but what I'm really excited about is getting the samples for the product review. Not just because it means free samples (but thats an added plus!), but because according to their website all their make up is ok for use by people with sensitive skin. Most make up makes my skin go red and sometimes peel off (nice I know!) so I have really limited brands I can use! I have almost all Clinique stuff in my make up bag, some Benefit which I seem to be ok with and M.A.C eyeliner as I'm only allergic to their foundations, face powders and eyeshadows. This means that bright colours are pretty much out the window for me. They opened a mineral make up stand in Fenwick the other week but I tested some of their really bright gold eyeshadow pigment on my hand and it rubbed off in about five minutes!
I'm in the mood for another fix of the pink hair I so admire... I was looking at pics of Amor Hilton's locks when I was planing the Hocus Focus LA ad campaign for the August edition of Lipstick Royalty, and I was doing the Gala Darling iCiNG ad at the same time... So I went looking for a new prrretty picture of Audrey Kitching to post but then I found someone who's hair I LOVE even MORE!
I don't know what Perez Hilton was going on about when he said Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester couldn't sing... she sounds a bit like Hilary Duff... but well... better.
The fabulous Chelsea (a.k.a Tragic Glamour) at C.TA Glam Couture has posted FANTASTIC guides to customizing her custom print shirts on her new look website... check them out HERE!