Fashion Meditation II

 

San Francisco is such a rich and full city. Even though I've now been there twice I still feel like I've barely scratched the surface. I'm not even taking into account Oakland and Berkley which only deepen the Bay Area's culture and history. I'm not worried though because I will be living in LA eventually and I will be able to take in the beauty of the Bay Area whenever I want!

This dress was made by this amazing women in DC. You find her stall in Eastern Market on the weekends. I borrowed the Sunglasses from Valerie when we had our photoshoot in Bernal Heights. 

Grinnell is still foundational to my fashion and style. Not only was it the place where I decided to start the process of living my life on my own terms I still have so many great pieces that I found in the thrift stores surrounding the college. One of those great finds is the silky blouse I'm wearing under the cape. It's a bold look from far away but up close you see that the spaces in between the black lines are filled with an intricate flower design. I paired it with my purple Timberlands and forrest green lipstick as I explored the alleyways of Chinatown.

I wore this look on one of my last days in San Francisco when I visited Dolores Park. The denim dress is from Asos and the African print jacket is one of my favorite pieces. You will see it a lot when I'm in Japan it's just such a versatile piece. Sadly, for all of you it's thrifted from my days in Grinnell. The beads are from Jamaica and a gift from a dear friend. The sunglasses were thrifted from Beatnix in Chicago.

Dark Leo Fashion Film pt2

 

The sun's rays filtered through the trees at the location of Mundy and I's second film shoot for her song Dark Leo. This time around I was armed with the knowledge you can only receive by getting behind the camera. I used spend hours watching tutorials about how to get the "film look" or the best camera settings for getting great footage so that when I finally picked up a camera the resulting images would be perfct. But that's not how things work in reality. 

The idea behind this shoot was to break her song Dark Leo up into three sections and film mini fashion films around each one. My thighs were on fire squatting to ensure the shot came out just how I wanted to. Thankfully, I have since invested in a tripod so film shoots need not double as my exercise regime. 

For part two we wanted to do a single take, to mimic the idea of an alien awakening on planet Earth. This merged perfectly with Mundy's space glam rock inspired music. If you haven't seen her live you are truly missing out. Mundy brings so much raw kinetic energy to her shows.

While we were filming the video Mundy's cat Monster was roaming the grounds and we couldn't pass up the photo opp. 

Without further adieu, I present part 2 of Dark Leo. Don't forget to buy the single here and follow Mundy on Facebook. 

SF/ Chinatown

 

The streets were slick with rain but they didn’t stop us or the umbrella’d masses from exploring San Francisco's Chinatown. Which makes sense considering it is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest in North America. 

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After a quick bite of a clay pot dish we went looking for the Peace Heart Doctor Banksy artwork that lines the walls of one of the many alleyways in Chinatown. We couldn’t find it, the address is 720 Grant Ave,  but what we did stumble across was a fortune cookie factory.

Now as someone who can’t stand the taste of fortune cookies I have to say that fresh cookies taste infinitely better than the ones that you receive in a restaurant. 

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For 50 cents we were allowed to snap photos inside the factory. 

Despite my new appreciation for the creation of these cookies I'm still traumatized by the last fortune I got which told me I was not being paranoid enough. 

We kept exploring down the maze of alleyways and discovered another cool handmade desert by the name of Dragon's Hair. Think of it as the Chinese take on cotton candy. 

This delicious desert can be ordered at Dragon Papa 752 Grant Ave.

I exited Chinatown and made my way to Oakland wondering what other cool foods I would discover during my travels.

Bernal Heights

 

Five and a half years ago, Valerie and I ran away from the tour guide on the military island of Pompus in the Netherlands. We noticed a room with the perfect aesthetics for a photo shoot. Valerie laid down on a reflective surface as metal rods hung from the ceiling; I snapped a few pictures before we swapped places.

Never content with the ordinary, we became fast friends in Amsterdam. Wherever we explored need to look like the inner pages of a fashion magazine. We’d prep outfits together in our dorm before biking off to some new location. Our time creating art (her painting, my photography) paved the road for my love of urban photography with a fashion twist.

Valerie and I were reunited on the corner of 25th and Mission. The last time we saw each other it was too cold for us to engage in our ritual of photography. Thankfully, winter in the Bay gives you plenty of nice sunny days. We made our way to the top of Bernal Heights and were both astounded by the size of this hill and the grand views it gives of the city. 

Unlike LA I wasn’t going into San Francisco blind. I spent a few weeks in San Francisco two years ago. There is something very interesting about the first two times you visit a city. The first time you are overloaded by the information you are receiving. Everything is so new and fresh. I find the second trip to a city reveals so much more about the energy and tone of a place. What shined brightly on the first trip might be duller upon a closer viewing. 

The sun was setting fast and in our attempt at chase after we ran off the hill and explored more of the neighbor behind the behemoth. Valerie and I found steep hills and gorgeous houses to photograph as we continued our urban exploration. 

If you are looking for things to do after a fun day exploring Bernal Heights I suggest going to this amazing bar Old Devin Moon right down the street on Mission. And if you want a bite to eat then please go to Culture of Nepal which happens to be right next door!

As I'm typing this I realize I only have two more weeks until I move to Tokyo. Friendships like the one I have with Valerie allow me to go to Japan with comfort because I have been able to make life long friendships with people in foreign countries over a shared love of art and fashion. Make sure you subscribe below and follow me on Instagram and Facebook so you don't miss a thing!

Fashion Meditation

 

My fashion journey began in the maternity section of a Goodwill. Track Suits used to adorn my body before I fell in love with scarves and bright lipsticks. The only thing the stopped me was the belief that I needed to be skinny to dress nicely. 

 

No longer a slave to an illusion of future perfection I began the daily practice of loving myself. Fashion became an avenue to reclaim my identity. In the outfit above I'm wearing a pair of my favorite sun glasses from Witch World Wide. A velvet cape gifted to me by my bestie Winsome.  Finally, one of my greatest thrift finds a vintage Ralph Lauren Polo shirt. The greenery in Echo Park was a perfect backdrop for this outfit.

In Venice Beach I wore a thrifted grey trench coat. A scarf I got from a thrift store in Grinnell Iowa. Wrangler jeans, a button down from TopMan and some thrifted loafers from Beatnix an iconic store in Boystown Chicago.  

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I'm so happy that Brooke took me to her company office party in the Hollywood Hills. Because it allowed me to wear my Eloquii sleeveless cape gown. This dress always makes me feel like a movie star. I paired it with a dark grey lipstick from Pretty Zombie Cosmetics called Tombstone. The look was brightened with gold accents: a necklace from The Opulent Hippo and a vintage gold clutch.

The looks I served in LA are a small part of what I've learned on my fashion journey. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss my next Fashion Meditation. 

Dreams and Cardigans

 

"Hopped off the Plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan," A wise philosopher once spoke those words.  As the plane began its descent into LA they rang like a song in my head. When I graduated from college, I faced a dilemma. I could either move to LA and chase my dreams to become an artist or take the practical route get a job and wear cardigans year round because cubicle temperatures hover below freezing. Surprisingly I took the practical route and four years later I am now able to travel the world and dedicate 100% of my time to my creative process. Coming to LA was surreal for me because I always imagined myself living in this city. 

 

I exited LAX and into the car of a friend from Amsterdam who whisked me to Hollywood so I could settle in and grab some food.  The very first thing I noticed was the sheer reliance on cars and while everyone tries to make the experience better. I couldn’t help but feel passenger-seat road rage due to the fact that rush hour is a 24/7 affair.  

After grabbing a bite to eat we wondered around Hollywood.

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My friend and I went back to where I was staying and talked. Those small intimate moments are the ones I’m going to miss the most when I’m abroad. There’s nothing more comfortable then talking with a friend you’ve known for multiple years. Part of me is really sad that I'm going to miss those moments with people I really care about. However, while I will be missing out on small moments with old friends I will be creating new memories and connections while abroad.  

By the end of the first week, I had fallen in love with LA, even though my friends expected me to hate it. In truth- I expected to hate it as well. I imagined a city full of fake people the same way people imagine D.C. as a city full of stuffy bureaucrats. LA has a large and vibrant culture from the beautiful area of Little Tokyo. 

To the holiday office party I went to with my friend Brooke who graciously housed me during my stay. 

LA Surprised me and in a lot of ways, I surprised myself. I went to California as a test before my move to Tokyo. As you will see from my upcoming posts I think I aced it. Subscribe so you won't miss any more of my LA adventures. 

Haus of Jung

 

      There’s something so lovely about old friendships dovetailing with new passions. I first met Natalia in college. She lived on the same floor as people I knew from DC.

We were both so different then that I can’t even believe where we are now. The path towards growth doesn’t always take the direction you anticipated.  She’s weaving her love of psychology into an accessories line called Haus of Jung. While I am taking my knowledge on gender, philosophy, and race and weaving it into every image I make.  I guess what they say is true; a liberal arts education applies to everything you do.  

    I went to New York before my birthday and got a chance to see Natalia in her studio.  The light was so gorgeous and soft.  I almost didn’t bring my camera with me. But I’m so happy that I did. 

What I loved the most was the small details in her studio for example the vintage sewing machine with the dried flowers.  

What started off as a chill session turned into a photo-shoot with our mutual friend from college Sejan.  Her line has really gorgeous hats along with fanny packs and custom made pieces. Definitely follow her on Instagram and support the amazing work she is doing by commissioning a piece or two. You will definitely be hearing a lot more about her in the future.