Renegade DC

Hello!  I know I have been on a bit of a hiatus, but I was forced to rescuscitate my blogging fingers after attending a most exciting event last week!  The event was the opening for the Renegade DC fashion photography series held at FotoSpace.  The photo series was shot "guerilla style," or without permission, at 15 different locations throughout DC.  The series was conceived and executed by photographer, Jodi King and hair stylist, Tyler Larish.  I was lucky enough to get the digital series with titles from Tyler, who is my hair stylist of 3 +  years now and a friend, posted in its entirety below. 

Toy Soldiers

The mother of this beautiful girl was so cute and proud, she was standing by the photograph all night telling people that was her daughter.  She is a gorgeous little model though, isn't she!? And is really bringing some pathos to this photograph that belies her age.

The Rebel Priest

The priest in this shot is Tyler! 

Space

Six Feet Above

This shot was one of my favorites.  This team does edgy so well but it was nice and unexpected to see something so elegant, but in a juxtaposed way...beautiful. 

Queen of the Castle

Perennial Proscenium

Occupy

Muscle Beach

This was one of my friend's favorites - so fun!

Hostess Carnival

Homo Erectus

Garden Gnomes 1

They got away with nudes at Botanical Gardens!! Without permission, can you believe it!?

Garden Gnomes 2

Garden Gnomes 3

Champagne Sunrise

Bout in the Roundabout

Bikini Car Wash

Aquarius Riot

Air

And these are just a few from the evening & event.  This is my friend, Graham and I.  My dress is from the old DC staple, Dekka on U Street (but they relaocated to Miami a year or so ago).  Shoes are BCBG.

UO purse, Forever 21 lace cardi & bangles from H&M

Fotospace is a great venue, Keenan Orr who I LOVE was DJing the event.  It was a blast!

This is me with the criminal genius himself, I think I referred to him once on a far distant blog as a "breath of gasoline." He currently works at Immortal Beloved and is a master colorist/stylist!  Do your hair a favor and pay him a visit

Friend and I at the after party held at Napoleon.

I think up next they're taking the series on tour.  Fantastic photo series & event!  What do you all think?  Which are your favorites?

OSCARS 2012, Couples, Best & Worst!

HOT COUPLES

Smokin!

Victoria Beckham in her own design.  Looks like Posh drew a little inspiration from Sporty Spice!  I am growing to love her line/designs.  The one Cameron Diaz donned at the Vanity Fair party was a scream!

 

Jason Statham & Rosie Huntington-Whitely in Antonio Berrardi

Gasp.  I love this dress.  Red/Orange is so smokin' hot this season! This might actually be one of my favorites - need to get me soma that!

Natalie Portman in vintage Dior

They both look really awkward in front of the camera together for some reason haha.   I liked her dress-didn't love it.  Liked it more when I found out it was vintage.  I would want to wear a vintage dress like this even if it wasn't perfect-I mean, it's red, it's cute it's polka dots...why not?  I did think her hair looked a bit greasy though.  All-in-all a cute look

Barbie Kiebler in Marchesa; George Clooney in Armani (no seriously I did like her look even though it brought a whole new element to the concept of trophy girlfriend)  She looked gorge though, can't deny it

Brangelina (Angelina in Versace)

OK, This was sort of a trainwreck for me (not Brad-he can do no wrong) but Angie just went too over the top with the whole leg-showing pose.  It was strange and she was acting strange & a little loopy, no?  Sticking her leg out like that looked unnatural - she was trying way too hard.  In a dress like that with a slit, the leg will reveal itself naturally when you walk, sticking it out like some sort of contortionist really isn't necessary!    

She looks like a 2-bit porn star who somehow (was fucking someone who) got invited to the Oscars.  The point is always to look effortless, and normally she DOES, but she didn't this time around.  I think Joan Rivers said "it took away her class" (ironic, I know, but not wrong)  Too bad because the dress is a stunner... :(

WORST

Shailene Woodley in Valentino

This poor girl.  I hate to do it because I loved her in The Descendants and think she is so cute, but this aged her 20 years.  She could seriously pass for 35 in this picture.  hahaha maybe not that old but this was definitely a miss for her :(

BEST

Rooney Mara in Givenchy

I don't know when it was exactly that Rooney Mara started to annoy me but she hasn't let up since then.  The only thing I've seen her in before The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was The Social Network.  I thought she was great in that (small but vital role) But I thought TGWTDT was kind of a let-down (even though she does an impressive job with the lead character). But it seems like all awards season she is just going with fashion choices that are heavily influenced by the character, which I guess is good but she is just taking it to the extreme.  All of her looks are so severe.  She only wears black & white and she's so rail-thin and pale.  The dress is sort of ill-fitting..and she has noticeably bad posture.

However I must include her on the bessed dressed list here because the dress is undeniably captivating.  And the look, althouh it may be severe, definitely stands out in the crowd.  There is something different and scary about it that draws you in.  It's the goth look at it's best - she looks a little bit like Christina Ricci's Wednesday Adams, but hey, I loved that character so rock on!  Maybe she can be the new Wednesday if they ever reboot The Adams Family??

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

This is a fantastic outfit.  The cape is phenomenal - it makes the outfit I think.  I might have liked to see this on a brunette but I don't think anyone but Gwyneth could even pull it off.  This hit the white trend perfectly yet was so different than anything else we saw on the red carpet.  A+ for her as usual.

Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood

This slinky black sequined number looked so amazing on her body and super sleek with her bob!  I LOVED her in Bridesmaids - so glad to see that she is a vixen on the red carpet too!

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

I was soooo happy to see her in something edgy!  She's been going either old-fashioned or slightly off in some way this whole awards season, so it was like a breath of fresh air to see that Hollywood face in something so bold  and interesting.  LOVE the detailing and the colors.  It looks so regal and Spartan like a warrior shield or something.  Naaaailed it!

Mila Jovovich in Elie Saab

Alas my best white didn't go to Rooney or Gwyneth.  It's the girl from Dazed and Confused and Zoolander!  Haha those are the 2 movies I always know her from.  But WOW she's almost like a          B-Lister who stole the show!  Look at that dress!!  It fits her impeccably and she's really rockin it with attitude (she used to be a model right?)  It's sexy and structured at the same time.  The dress is a little futuristic and her hair is retro but it inexplicably fits so well with this look.  I think she's flawless - plain and simple.  Love it.

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton

Ya know, when she first stepped out onto the camera I thought it was kind of redundant because she had just worn a cutesy red dress to another recent awards show.  But then she up and said the color was coral not red  and it got me looking at it closer.  Upon 2nd inspection I really started to see and appreciate the details of this dress and began to fall in love with it.  It's really an edgy and bold choice for her in a season where's she's mostly been going safe and cutesy.  The color is amazing on her skin and seems to be the color of the upcoming spring season.  LOVE the vintagey necklace and the clashy pink clutch.  The dress is kind of 80s but I'm crazy about it!  Makes me want something coral and ruffley for spring.  When she's on her style is infectious!

Happy Oscars 2012!

OSCARS 2012, Trends & Notables

Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli

TRENDS:

RED/ORANGE

This was Diaz's party dress, I thought it was better than her Oscar dress! The dress is VIctoria Beckham

WHITE

What did everyone think of JLO??  She wore this optical illusion  Zuhair Murad dress.

When I first saw her I thought she looked sensational.  But I swear I could see her nipple when she was presenting, I don't care what anyone says.  I know it's a big question mark and people are arguing over it, but we saw it, right?  So anyway, that kind of ruined this for me.  If that hadn't happened she would have made my bessed dressed.  But all your class just goes out the window when your nipple is showing, right?

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

She looks great!  She knows how to flatter the curves!  Go girl!

Viola Davis in custom Vera Wang

I had mixed feelings about this dress, but I think she pulled it off in the end.  The bottom of it is kind of a coral reef seaweed mess but she is just classy I think and she's wearing it so well.  It makes her boobs look pretty close to perfect and she seems to be beaming in it.  Great fit and great attitude for a talented lady

 Penny Cruise in custom Giorgio Armani

 She always looks gorgeous!!  I think I will always love her more in her cha cha-lolita outfits just because they seem to suit her personality more, but she can do no wrong by me.  She seems to be channeling a little bt of Sophia Loren & little Grace Kelly (what a pair of inspirations!?)  Whatever she's doing, it's working.

Movies, 2011 - Pre-Oscar Faves & Raves

It's this time of year...maybe it's post-holidays depression or just the momentum of the Oscar race, but my thoughts turn to movies. I want to see the good ones that are out and be able to comment on what the better ones were. This year I have seen a good amount (Like Crazy, My Week with Marilyn, Melancholia, The Tree of Life, The Help, Crazy Stupid Love, Bridesmaids, Young Adult, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Shame, Midnight in Paris, The Artist, A Dangerous Method...), but still haven't seen a good amount (Hugo, The Descendants, J. Edgar, Drive, Moneyball, The Ides of March, The Iron Lady, Albert Nobbs, War Horse...). I am loving how some of the good ones get released on demand before or on the same day they hit theatres - sure is convenient when you can't make it to the theatre!

Out of the ones I've seen, Bridesmaids, A Dangerous Method & Like Crazy were my favorites. The Artist and The Help are up there with the best too. The ones that disappointed me...The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo & Young Adult (although Charlize Theron is perfect in her role). Underrated: Albatross, A Dangerous Method, Like Crazy. Overrated: My Week with Marilyn, The Tree of Life (snoozefest).

For performance Oscar nominations...I'm pulling for both Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan in Shame, both male and female leads in The Artist, Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids and possibly any of the trifecta in A Dangerous Method. Melancholia should get some recognition for visual artistry. I really want to see The Iron Lady, Meryl Streep looks like she kills it!

So far, these are my top five (this list is a mix of my favorites/what I think are the best):

5. Like Crazy

4. Bridesmaids

3. A Dangerous Method

2. The Artist

1. The Help

5, 4 & 3 are probably my favorites and 1 & 2 are the ones I think are the best. Like I said, I haven't seen several of the frontrunners yet, so this might change once I get a more comprehensive view of things.

What do you think?? What are your favorites from this year? Do they coincide with what you thought were the best? It's an interesting year, I'm excited to see who shapes the Oscar cut! I hope A Dangerous Method gets some recognition - in another year, I think it would have gotten more! Can't wait for the Globes this weekend - Awards season is here! I'll be live-tweeting the Oscars and probably Globes Red carpet on Sunday @byVanessa016

XOXO Movie/Oscar lovers!

SMU/Refinery29 competition Outtakes, round 2

I love these shoes, they make me feel like I'm wearing ruby slippers!!
They are worthy of a red carpet!

I sort of wish that I had gone out into the store for a few of the shots-it might have provided a cuter composition than the dressing rooms. But I think the dressing room backdrop still works pretty well and adds that experiminetal effect to the photographs, which I like - styling is always an experiment!



My legs look surprisingly fantastic in a lot of these shots and I believe it is due in part to the succubus nature of the Spanxx tights I am wearing. They really give a good shape!!

So what do you all think of my looks? Do you think I made the right choice in submitting the last one? I wish I could have added a jacket or scarf to one or more of the looks, or added more jewelry or a head/hair piece, but we used up every second we had just getting these looks put together in a half an hour. This was a super fun contest though-one of those times when I feel lucky to be a blogger :)

Remember to like my album on fb SMU fanpage to help get my outfit entry into the Finals. We have until tomorrow (Mon, Dec 12) to rack up the likes, so spread the word! Thanks again for your support!