{costume} la calavera catrina

your innkeeper transformed into the queen of the underworld this weekend...

i designed my very own version of "la calavera catrina" ("the elegant skull") to wear for halloween and dia de los muertos celebrations...

this character is thought to have originated as mictecacihuatl, ancient aztec goddess of the underworld who watches over the bones of the dead...

my inspiration for this costume started earlier this year at burning man. it began with the stunning skeleton boatman in the stroboscopic zoetrope "charon" and intertwined with neighbors who painted intricate body art daily. i became fascinated with the imagery as well as the artistry...

i am compelled by this character because it is a juxtaposition of the macabre and the beautiful; death is playfully adorned with colorful ornamentation.

it was so much fun to create this costume - dramaturgical research, an inspiration board, an embroidered vintage dress, glittery flowers and feathers, detailed face painting...joy!

have any of you created or worn costumes this year? this theatre girl would love to hear about your fine frippery...

music crush: you will never know

the story and styling in this video are so very lovely...

via yes and yes

{spring break} spectacles

my box of vintage inspired glasses from the warby parker home try-on program arrived today...

i spent an evening during spring break choosing five pairs of spectacles that i wanted to put on my face...

it was so much fun to try them on at home today + model them for kevwrex.

of course, i added ridiculous character behavior + a runway style performance purely for our amusement.

side note: there is rarely a dull moment when one lives with a lady of the stage.

we both voted on the pair in the front...

warby parker is a very cool company + concept...

• funky vintage inspired frames
• virtual try-on software for experimenting online
• home try-on program: five pairs shipped both ways for free with no obligation to buy
• $95 includes everything: frames, lenses, + shipping
• a pair is donated to someone in need for each pair sold

this whole process eliminated the weird anxiety i have about shopping for glasses. frame shops have always made me feel squicky, like i'm in a high-pressure car dealership. warby parker made it a fun, easy, feel-good deal for me.

my eyeballs are going to be so happy to wear some new specs.

ethereal disco

terryn, one of my amazing friends in los angeles, was recently featured on the blog green wedding shoes...

{float away studios}

the inspiration for her celebration was "ethereal disco." in her words:

"It’s amazing how a couple of disparate words put together can really conjure up a distinct feeling. The feeling those words evoked for me was my theme, sort of a juxtaposition between acoustic and electric. I feel very connected to the earthy, bohemian, laid-back style of the ‘60’s, but I also really gravitate to the more vibrant energy of the 70’s. I also got really inspired by circles and the geometric designs found in nature. The colors we chose, purple and yellow, felt like they lived in that world: vibrant and electric, and yet found easily in nature."

i am madly in love with her concept - the colors, the artwork, the venue, and the vibe. you can read more about it and see all of the beautiful images here.

terryn bought and altered a vintage bob mackie dress from 1974 (my personal vintage) which i find totally stunning...

{float away studios}

although it has been almost five years since my own wedding, the designer, event planner, and hopeless romantic in me simply LOVES to get all starry-eyed over a gorgeous occasion such as this one.

congratulations, terryn + jon!

{play} oscar soiree

years ago when i lived in los angeles, i worked at a swanky restaurant on the sunset strip.  it was the sort of place that over-the-top hollywood parties happened.  i often arrived at work to see a red carpet event being staged and paparazzi swarming around outside.  there were many nights that i found myself serving martinis while surrounded by famous folk.  as a midwest girl, i marveled at this surreal glittery world.

it was both exciting and torturous for me to be in the midst of these moments, especially when it came to the oscars.  i was an actress, so it was always a thrill to wait on icons of the silver screen.  but in my heart i wished i could go to the actual event and dance the night away at the lavish after-parties.

this post is a playful homage to that dream.  it was inspired by my lovely friend mim who gave a blog prompt to find an outfit, accessories, and date for an imaginary trip to the oscars.

on my imaginary trip to the oscars tonight, i am wearing this dress...

{dior}

with these shoes...

{louboutin}

and these earrings...

{mikimoto black pearls}

i am wearing this lipstick...

{lancome rouge velour}

and this is my date...

{jon hamm}

if you would like to see the other dresses and dates i considered, here is my pinterest inspiration board.

{art} : magical amethyst ring

oh, my stars and garters!

check out the beautiful amethyst ring i won...

it was made by the talented moorea seal who i met in indie biz last year...



as an artist date in december, i treated myself to a live episode of LA-TV. it was hosted by leigh-ann, indie biz instructor and creator of freckled nest...



and kyla roma, blogger extraordinaire and freckled nest designer...



we spent the evening on ustream (live video accompanied with chat) creating beautiful handmade journals together.

the evening involved lots of giggling, skilled crafting, chat room antics with fun people, and several giveaways. it was a fantastic artist date.

when i won the amethyst ring, i shrieked and did a very excited dance in my living room. i had been wishing for one of these rings and had never ever once in my life won a giveaway. what a thrill!

thank you to leigh-ann, kyla, and moorea for a truly lovely experience. i feel extra magical when wearing the ring. it has a story of wonderful women and artistry in it, and i am grateful for the generosity and friendship that brought it to me.

classic fall fashion: lena hoschek

i have always been completely in love with classic and well-tailored vintage fashion.

one of my favorite experiences as an actress was being custom fitted for a professionally designed and hand-sewn period piece costume. i swoon just thinking about it!

yesterday, danielle thompson of kitschy digitals tweeted about the beautiful fall collection from lena hoschek and i was reminded of this feeling.

thanks to danielle, i'm now totally smitten with these preppy pinup pieces...