Bring on the drama

So as stated on IG, my friend Kristina (also a jewelry designer) came over my house one rainy day and decided to style & shoot me. She's the bomb.com--a hidden talent was uncovered (photography skills). She took the photos below on her iphone5s--if that's not badass, I don't know what is.

And there you have it, my most dramatic shots ever. 

Kristina's IG: @thewaywild 

Her jewelry: @seethesis seethesis.com 

Bag Ladies

I had the pleasure of modeling a second time for Vavvoune, a handmade leather goods company created by my homie Val Blaise (@vavvoune). It was captured by my homeboy (haha, I love that word) Shen Williams (@shendig27), who's an amazing photographer. Val and I were actually discussing how he's so poppin' and doesn't even know it haha, but anyway, I'm obsessed with my cream leather drawstring bag I have--It's literally the perfect size that takes me from day-to-night...just like that! Her bags are amazing...check out her latest collection below along with some behind the scenes.

           Me & Tierra (@info.tierra)

BEHIND THE SCENES...

There were more, but I don't have them...I need a shot of Val and Shen!!!

To see more of her handbags or to shop, visit Vavvoune.com.

Not so Grey Gardens...

While in LA, I stayed at a cute little studio guest house in the Silverlake/Echo Park neighborhood. Can I tell you how I absolutely fell in love with the garden at this place?! It was so darling. There was even a small tomato and herb garden within the garden, but I was specifically obsessed with the Sea Lavender plants (Limonium)—they feel like tissue paper and are sooooo beautiful. In conclusion, this is the first place I’d consider moving to outside of NY.

Shirt - Vintage, Jeans - Top Shop, Shoes - Addidas

Blouse - Vintage, Necklace - Lazaro Jewelry (Silver Spring, MD)

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Birckenstock

Photos by Bradley Valentin

Warming up

So here's the deal... I'm absolutely obsessed with wearing reds or warm colors all over my face--eyes, lips, cheeks. I'm feeling really inspired by the boldness from the 80s--red eye shadow and pink lips or vice versa. Most people look back and kinda think "gross...I hate 80s makeup--it was all too much in all the wrong places," but I kinda look back and think "I actually kinda like it like it...minus the frosted eyes and cheeks, I like it." 

Obviously, I'm not going to apply and wear it exactly like the 80s, but I'm definitely inspired and am wearing similar colors but with a modern twist. How do you make it modern? Everything should be matte--not a single frosted anything or shimmer to the look. 

For starters, apply everything lightly--you can always add more if needed or wanted. My current look includes, a matte golden yellow on the eyes followed by either a brick red or a coral shade--all matte (loving MAC's small shadows in "red brick" and "goldenrod") ...dust it all over the eyelids. 

Then I add a light rouge gloss to the cheeks (really diggin' Anna Sui's rouge pot). Finishing it off with a red lip stain (MAC's new Versicolour lip stains are perfect--resilient rouge is what I'm wearing) or a matte pink lipstick (my go to is MAC's Flat out Fabulous)--choose one or the other. That's it. Very simple. Straightforward. No tutorial needed. Just put the damn colors on lightly--never heavy.