The Gateway Clog

I never thought in a million, trillion thought that I was a lady of the clog. While in Portland this summer I found the gateway drug of clogs at House of Vintage. Well, they aren't really cloggy, just wood veneer, and sick hardware strapping the single perf leather toe strap. But seriously, this is about as far down the clog path I was willing to go. These rigid soled honeys are surprisingly comfortable. I can do a whole mess of errands in the city no probs. The heavenly gates of clogdom opened, and I saw the light. Soon after I had the chance to process the epiphany.... the holy grail of clogs came unto me:

Aren't they obscene? Too red, too shiny, buckles insanely huge. I love them. I have an outfit in mind to summon up a Dutch school boy from the late 60's turned up a few notches (psychedlasized?). I can see it now complete with patent red backpack, culottes, a stripy blazer, a crisp button down shirt with oversized bow tie and knee sock. Or a smock. Omygod smocks. yum.

Anais Mitchell's Hadestown + Alicia J. Rose , and me!

Awhile back I posted some teaser pics of promo shots for Anais Mitchell's upcoming album Hadestown. Time's come to release these beauts into the universe. I worked with pro photographer/amazing gal Ms. Alicia J. Rose yet again. This time I dabbled in a bit of everything: hair, make-up, wardrobe, styling, set design. I'm very pleased with our little collaboration. (big sigh...I sure do miss Portland)

And One for Posterity

I began my make-uppin' in Portland with the ladies of Fat Fancy and wrapping up with them. My last gig for Carlee and Annie was for their grand opening of their new shop in downtown Portland. They've come such a long way. I'm so happy for them! Congrats ladies and I'll see you on the flip-flop. New York awaits....

Giving Birth to Myself

I love Halloween! I usually have my costume picked out a year in advance and spend a insane amount of time on making it. This year is a big year> a very big year and next year is going to be even more epic. I can't think of a better way to celebrate a new phase in life than to give birth to myself. Can you?

(thanks to my beloved Darrin for shaving his head and donating his hair for pubes. also big thanks to my green lady midwife, Rachel for being there for me in time of need.)



Malice is helping my mom birth me on the bar room floor of East End. Classy.

Here's some more doozies of me, Ash and Rachel getting ready to go out. (note: I kept my wallet, cell phone and a bottle of wine in vajay. mom's a lush)

It takes a village, thanks Sadie.

Check out Meryl Smith's art and props to the originator of the original costume idea.

Reviving Ophelia

Lady Raquel and Gigi strike again! This time for a project reviving Millais' Ophelia. Raquel and her partner Christine Blystone (henceforth, "Candy") laid their brainiac skills down on this one and took me along for the ride. With some minor make-uppin', I'm mainly along for moral support and the occasional pill and tit wrangling. Need your hair swirly? That's a job for me! Want to look dead/otherworldly and beautiful? I have some tips for ya! Here are the final shots.





Process shots:

Hot Folk Opera -- Hadestown by Anais Mitchell

Anais Mitchell came through town a couple days on tour. I got together with Alicia J. Rose again to collaborate on photo ideas. This time around I did sets, wardrobe, styling, hair and make up. Serious heavy lifting in the name of a great picture. Anais wrote and performed Hadestown, a folk/rock opera, coming out soon. Think Tom Waits and Nina Simone meets Greek Tragedy. Here are a couple teaser shots I took. I'll post more when they're edited and ready for the world.

It was a really nasty day out the day of the shoot. We opted to shoot indoors for the most part at Mississippi Studios.

Here's Anais in a dress designed locally with refurbbed fabrics by Urchin sold at Flutter. You can't see here yet but a pink dress with spandex leggings and knee high boot = ballerina badass.



This is my favorite look with an ascot and brass buttoned vest. Bye-bye cutie, hello toughy.

Armour-all Tatas

My super good friend Rachel (above with me) came to me with this dress idea a few weeks ago. First, she wants in in leather which I neither have the equipment (yet) or practice doing. She's got a leather guy and just needs to work out the pattern. For practice and the pure challenge of the idea, I agreed. It's very interesting to sit with someone and hammer out and idea, get supplies and notions and make it happen. We started with a few sketches and I jumped in working on the components.

This is a more defined picture with lines and ideas pounded out a little better.


Here is a picture of the prototype in muslin. You can see the lines and structure. Theres lots of boning and an underwire here. Watch out! Lady's got dangerous curves.




Then just so that we'd have a wearable piece, Rachel is following my pattern and making an identical copy in the most amazing fabric.

Very Thierry Mugler, no?


The woman at The Mill End fabric said another woman came in got just as excited as we did about it. Rolling down the fabric aisles laughing our butts off at the absurdity. How funny if Rachel wears out this little number and catches a whiff of a lady in a matching dress! Instant cat fight...or....spontaneous dance partners?

When we're done with this dress, I'll hand over the prototype and the pattern to the leather construction man. It's funny to think I'm making a blueprint in fabric to be followed by silky green leather. Here's to making this work!

Rachel and I worked on a Native American princess pin-up shoot together in September. I'm really hoping to get my hands on some finished photos by the wonderful Marne Lucas. Until then, here's our little monkey faces together again.

And a Blengen, too!

This creature was the labor of love of no less than six or seven people. From the wings, horns, hair and full body makeup the Team Awesome crew really made something special. Here's Alexandra Richardson of aptly named band "Gnomenclature" totally powering through epic filming conditions.

All photos by Alicia J. Rose and Brandon Hafer.

Builders and the Butchers "Golden and Green"

Director/Photographer Alicia J. Rose signed me on as makeup lady for her second music video for Builders and Butchers' "Golden and Green". This is my first makeup gig for music video or film project (excluding some pretty gnar college films by friends). I found my nirvana, swear to you. There's nothing I love more than working with a strong group of talented women and guys. Team Awesome, indeed. Portland has a powerhouse of talent. I feel so lucky to have worked with the guys from Builders and the Butchers' breath taking video. ..chilllllls...


All pictures by Brandon Hafer:
The guys standing together in full make up and wardrobe outside of the barn in White Salmon, WA.
Dirty Harvey by the pond.

Rachel Hightower helping dirty up Harvey's hands.
Ooh! Creepy Ryan Solee taking on the role of bad guy.

I met the two raddest ladies on the shoot Nicole (left, wardrobe) and Rachel (right, stylist). Here we are being team awesome. We're friends for life fer ser 4 evs. LOVE THEM!

Ray with a shotgun outside the barn. Ruthless.

He'll peer into your soul!
I'm now an expert on under eye circles and dirt.


Alex looking fierce with that waxed stache and scar. Hell yeah.
Busy, busy me. Elbows deep in Ben Nye's Death Wheel and black pigment.