game of thrones hair

I have now been obsessed with Game of Thrones since the 1st season aired on HBO, but now I'm also obsessed with the hair and wardrobe from the series. A few months ago I started wearing my hair in the signature Daenerys twist braids and I've never received so many compliments on my hair from random strangers. The greatest part about it is... it's so simple, and adds just the right touch to your look for the day. I've started experimenting with the more complicated braids that Sansa's character wears in the show, and I must say they make me feel regal and beautiful. If you want something more intricate for a special occasion, grab a friend and do the braids connecting with braids look like in the second photo above.

So my summer style tip for those of you who want to update your hair this season. Skip the hairdresser and just where your hair down in natural waves or curls, and then add the simple twist braids. It'll give you that extra special touch for summer. 

If your feeling super fun add some small flowers woven into the braids, and poof your a fairy princess.

the hunger games

I'm so excited for The Hunger Games it's insane. I read the first novel almost 4 years ago, and it instantly struck me as one of the most original and amazing stories I had read in a very long time. Most young adult novels do not hold the amount of perfection this trilogy contains within it. Not to mention the incredible heroin who exudes all the qualities we wish we had. But the thing about Katniss Everdeen that tugs on us is her inability to see what makes her special. She's relatable, brave, and flawed. Thereby belonging to  my small group of favorite literary heroins such as... Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Eyre, Anna Karenina, and Lisbeth Salander.

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With only 10 days to go until "the girl on fire" hits screens, I've got my tickets to see it at the Arclight Hollywood's DOME, and I haven't been able to top counting down the days for what seems like a year now! I've included one of my favorite stills from the movie that I have seen so far. It's of two of my favorite characters Cinna & Katniss right before she's lifted into the arena. It's moving and beautiful and makes me anticipate the movie that much more. 

fashion: awards season

My FAVORITE Oscar gowns from yesterday... Best Dressed in my opinion goes to Michelle Williams wearing a cute coral colored Louis Vuitton custom gown, then Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli, and I liked Shailene Woodley's quirky yet refined Valentino Couture dress.

The women from The Help all looked fabulous, and picture perfect. I have to admit I have an obsession with Jessica Chastain's custom Alexander McQueen gown. It was the the only dress to really WOW me for the night!

Emma Stone in my opinion was the Best Dressed for the consecutive 2012 Award Season!

& Michelle Williams get my vote for having worn the Best Dress now to two Academy Awards! (The stunning canary yellow dress was from 2006)

My favorite After Party dress had to be Katy Perry in Blumarine at the Elton John Oscar Party... she looked amazing and it was the perfect dress for her and her colorful fun style!

* Now as to the Awards... my votes were with The Tree of Life, The Descendants, and The Help. Yes, I loved The Artist and Hugo, but Best Picture in my opinion belonged to one of the three above.

inspiration...

This is my "styling" inspiration for one of my next shoots... 

coming soon.

inspiration for the day

The Artist - directed by Michel Hazanavicius, starring Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo 

I can see why this has been talked about all over, and why it has garnered the most nominations for the golden globes... it's FANTASTIC! I love watching silent films from the 20's, but this modern rendition of that era and type of film making was spot on and yet unique simultaneously. While Dujardin shines as the famous silent film actor of which he does it flawlessly, it's Bejo that steals the show with her stunning and uniquely endearing performance. Well and maybe the dog does steal a little of the attention as well while doing tricks and saving the day multiple times. From the phenomenal acting to directing to cinematography, it's one of the best things I've seen this past year. If you haven't seen it, I can't recommend a movie to see more than this one before award season. I hope it will be going home with a lot of the statues come February. 

photo shoot of the month

 

W's Golden Girls shoot with the beautiful and freakishly talented Fanning sisters...

for my favorite photo shoot of the month from my favorite fashion magazines.

inspiration for the day

The Tree of Life - directed by Terrence Malick, starring Brad Pitt & Jessica Chastain

I finally got the time to watch The Tree of Life, and like all Terrence Malick films it enraptured me. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen the entire 135 minutes. This film has been blown up, and charged with so many accusations I can't even count. But a film doesn't win the Cannes Film Festival for no reason. The problem clearly stems from people watching it with a closed mind. The only way you can watch an artistic deeply intrinsic film like this is to open your eyes, ears, and mind. From the 17 minute prelude of the creation of universe, to looking down upon a family in suburban Texas that has to deal with real-life issues while looking for God in everything that happens all around them. It's real and tragic and beautiful, and represents the way I personally look at faith. Grace... that's the word that's used a lot in Jessica Chastain's narration, and you see so much of it in this incredible film. In my opinion it must be one of the most underrated films of the year since it's getting such mixed ratings. It's a film that must be felt and adored, not criticized and critiqued.  

the selkie

            

 

A peek into my newest shoot with Lia. She wanted a shipwrecked feeling for the shoot, and it evolved into sea goddess. Though I just had to name this shoot the selkie from one of my favorite Irish folk tales about a girl who washes up on the sea naked, stripped from her seal skin. It's very similar to a mermaid or siren but even more mystical. 

(Click on the link if you want to find out more about selkies.)

photographed by Lelann Azalee Photography

reminiscence

The stunning photos are from one of my favorite films of all time... The Red Shoes. It has been remastered and its more breathtaking than ever. As a dancer I've always loved this tale, but as a writer I love that it's dark, sad, beautiful, and even slightly demented, but then again aren't all ballets.

inspiration for the day

The Descendants - directed by Alexander Payne, starring George Clooney and Shailene Woodley

(click on the title to watch the trailer)

This is my favorite indie of the year. The story and directing is honest and beautiful. Hawaii which acts as a character itself is even more so. While Clooney in my opinion gives his best performance as a hard working lawyer showing constant emotional range, but his 20 year old co-star steels the show. Woodley is able to project her true acting strengths in this film as a rule breaking tough teenager. She performs to an amazing high standard when she has to gut-wrenchingly cry (while swimming) underwater when she learns of her mothers life support termination. She brings the cast together by taking care of her younger and confused sister, while supporting who father who has never had to be a father one hundred percent of the time. While he proves to not only be a good father, he picks up his daughters lives, finds and deals with the truth about his wife, and decides weather or not to sell his family's legendary inherited Hawaiian land trust in Kauai. 

It's an amazing movie and if you haven't seen it yet, do! It is a definite nomination for Oscars, but hopefully a winner for something as well. But more importantly it's very inspiring! So many stills made me want to make my own version... you'll be sure to see my version of a crying water scene in my photos soon. A