Something Borrowed, Something Blue

"Congratulations!" Flabbergasted and flattered, and having forgotten that I was at Virginia Bride magazine’s 3rd Annual Greater Virginia Bridal Show, I smiled with giddy excitement. Did I win something? They checked my left hand, their smile fades.

"So--mmm, when's the lucky day?" they ask.

"Uhhh."

"Haven't planned it yet?"

"Well, uh, you could say that!" Laughing and throwing my head back with wild abandon, I try in vain to to play it off. They haven't given up.

"So is this pre-engagement? You're getting started early?”

"Yes, yes--early.  Very VERY early. Ha."  As their brow wrinkles with genuine concern, I could almost read their minds: ANOTHER basket case. Planning the entire wedding on her own before she even has a fiancée. Or I suppose they think something else could be wrong. Not a good look, either way.  By the third time, I had to explain myself:

"I'm a fashion blogger.”

"Oooh? Ok!" The smile returns. "So would you like to take some pictures?" Of course!

Ah, the runway! My second home! Unfortunately, scheduling did not permit me to stay until the crowning moment of the afternoon, the fashion show. So I did what any girl in my situation would do, I stalked backstage.

The dresses lay about in purposeful stacks. From my experience in fashion shows, each stack was probably in order of appearance, per model. From the estimate, the 5-10 models had pretty quick costume changes. Chantilly Lace of Blacksburg, Virginia,who furnished the bridal attire graciously allowed me to visit backstage.

"So who are you reporting for?"

"I have my own fashion blog. I model as well."

"Well let's keep in touch" Yes, yes let's!

Another wonderful highlight of my day was witnessing the brilliance of modern floral arrangements. Some of the flowers upstaged the others, at the same table! Check out this arrangement:

Lilies embellished with rhinestones as featured by the florists of Best Wishes located on Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg, Virginia. Do check them out! : )

One of the hightlights of my day was this contraption, the Body Magic corset, seen below:

"It slims you down!" Go on, go on. 

"After wearing it only 6-8 hours a day you go from this" she pointed emphatically to a picture of a sadly misshapen mid forties blob. "To this!" A trim abdomen. I glanced down. Yep, I'm good. Daily gym visits are keeping me in check, fortunately.

Sadly, my day day came to a close with only having spent sixty minutes at the expo. However, the promise of the coming Saturday’s Fashion show hangs in the balance. Here are some of the vendors that graciously allowed me to feature them:

 

Ponytail Pearls of Roanoke Virginia ! For your wrist as well as your hair! A hair accessory with flair! Like any other hair elastic, it transfers from your wrist to your hair, but is guaranteed not to snap under pressure! I need one!

 

Also, a recent addition to their collection! Hoops and pearls, too cute!

   

Chantilly Lace of Blacksburg, VA who also outfitted the fashion show! Tres Chic! : ) 

More from Chantilly Lace! 

"Yes, of course I will visit! I always need something sparkly!

 

Here's a place setting from  Blacksburg's Best Wishes Flowers and Gifts. Loving the verdant theme! 

More from Best Wishes!

Hrm, this makes me want to have a party STAT! Love it!

Until later, much love!
<3 SF


For more information on the vendors listed above, visit:

Chantilly Lace: Chantilly Lace Bridals, Formals & Tuxedos

Ponytail Pearls: Ponytail Pearls  *They've recently incorporated hoop earrings into their collection!

Best Wishes: Best Wishes Flowers & Gifts 

Style Sightings! Weekend Edition!

Ok, so the local "Winterfest" dominated the student center this Saturday and guess who was there at the ready, poised with a camera? Why yes! ME! I was fortunate enough to see the reigning Homecoming Queen!

 

A true pageant girl at heart, I asked the balloon artist (forgive me if I misrepresent his title) to fashion a tiara. Our Homecoming Queen was a good sport about wearing it for the picture! Too cute! Not to mention her outfit is pretty stylin' too!

Along the way, I was fortunate enough to catch a few well dressed individuals!

 

Dress to pin, given a whole new spin!

  

And more follow suit! How lovely! 

  

Poppin' pink! Accent pieces are always a winner! 

 

Please don't mind the sweatshirt guy. The young woman to his left is rocking the combat boots! You go!

 

Pictured young man: "Take my picture" 

 Me: "But I only feature women's fashions." 

"Well, you can take my picture anyway!" Just for his moxie, I'm posting his picture! : ) 

 

Chillaxin! Scarf is most def a yes! : )

 Mmm, this hat intrigues me! She looks toasty! 

I know anticipation is killing you, but the Bridal Show article will have to wait!

Until soon, much love,

 <3 SF

Style Sightings!

So, either the well dressed individuals are becoming easier to find, or they're finding me! Love it! Thanks for making my job easier ladies! This weekend we have a bridal show and Monday is the first model fitting, so that should make for brilliant blog material! : )

I'd also like to thank my style subjects for being so compliant. It's not everyday you get someone asking you to take your picture! Thanks girls! : )

Signing off for the weekend! Until Monday:

Much love,

<3 SF

Monday:

  

Love, love LOVE her tights. May I have them? Thanks. 

 

Playing games with your handbag! Straight from Japan! Oh those Harajuku girls!

Ohh!! Love it! 

*Style note: Her entire outfit can be traced to the same color palliate! It just works! Notice everything has a khaki rhythm to it.  Excellent! : )

Where has this girl been hiding? Cuteness! Quite a few designers are embellishing the front of their shoes (all styles) with fur of some sort. Be sure to check an upcoming Double Take feature on these shoes! : ) 

  

Check this out!!!! It's a fantastic purse, AND a fantastic outfit! LOVE IT! 

Tuesday: 

An electric blue purse. I've seen it all! : ) 

  

Totes m'gotes! Most def a must have for toting things about! P.S. Watch out for this yellow, it's popping up everywhere for spring! : )

For more looks from the same day, check out this earlier post: 

http://southernfashionista540.blogspot.com/2010/02/model-studies.html 

 

Wednesday: 

  

This bag is a catch-all!

 

Hrm, not much for Wednesday...

Thursday: 

 

Lovely! : ) 

Again, ABP should sponsor me! Lovely outfit! : )

Friday: 

  

Chillin'! 

You can't see it well, but she has a lovely necklace. And the plaid skirt is quite a lovely touch! : )

Model Studies

6: 34(240): Im 5ish mins away! : )

6:45 (703): Wait we r meeting in the entrance[...] right? Lol!

Okay, so in theory I was actually twenty minutes away. But still. Usually a casting would have the models filter in at the start time(7).  If you're more than at least 15 minutes early, then you have no life. Seriously. Nevertheless, I arrived ten  minutes early to find that surprisingly the masses had already congregated.  I spotted a few familiar faces and exchanged long lost greetings halfheartedly as I located the registration table. A few things ran through my mind: Am I dressed appropriately? Did I arrive on time? Is my food showing? The dining hall dash can do wonders for my small frame.

WHAT? Ok. So I had to sign a consent form and fill out my measurements. I am grateful that they didn't take my measurements themselves so I fudged them a bit. So sue me? I gave myself an inch less in my waist and hips and a couple for my bust. Ha, ha.

"Okay models, line up by number." I was 21, 22...my friend was 23. The remaining models numbered through thirty something filed behind me. I've been in pageants, and fashion shows since I was 4, but in that one instant, in line with my peers, I lost every shred of confidence I had mustered in the interim between my face- to-face mirror pep talk and the change into my suede Guess pumps moments ago. Pumps... should I be pumped up? But I digress.

"Remember, be fierce!" the director shouted . Channel Christian Siriano. Easier said than done! A friend of mine cut both Siriano's hair and mine at one point, but that's a story for another time. Number 22, a chiseled, medium height, brown haired male filed in behind me.

"Are you nervous?" He asked. Like you read my mind! Ha!

"Omigosh yes I am! I didn't think I would be!" I gushed, somewhat uncertain. Would my verbal admission confirm  my inner disbelief? Yes, this was actually happening.  I was at another model call. Last time I'd been to a casting, I was declared, at 5 feet tall and 6.5 inches, hopelessly too short for runway. I could only be made use of in print ads. The ultimate curse word to my ears: print ads. Print ads. Print ads, print ads,

 PRINT ADS!

Print ads, the words echoed in my head even as I stood 21st in line. My mind snapped back to the present. Number 10 had gone.

"Could we have someone who's done it before show everyone how it's done? So y'all can get the tempo? Hey '______' come over here and show everyone what we're expecting!" A waif-like figure in black stovepipe jeans, a close-fitting white tee and a paisley metallic blue vest sauntered up to the firing line. Our line then became a cluster. I was at that moment, as I tried to peer over all those shoulders, aware that maybe I really am that short. A staggering admission.

I readily looked on. There are different types of the alleged "Model walk". None are ever "bad" per se, just different. Usually the designer will give you some sort of direction as to how they want their line represented. It's the ability to capture the magic behind getting paid to wear clothes and making them look wearable, which gives you mastery of the runway. How alluring!

Twenty was walking down the atrium's "runway". I was seconds away from walking as the entire expanse stretched out before me like a narrow dead end hallway in a horror film.

My turn. T Channel, left, right, left, right. Opposite shoulder with opposite leg. Shoulders back, suck in your gut. Display an apathetically fierce and neutral face. What should my lips be doing? Crap. Don't trip. Step to the left of the runway, pause, look at the audience then walk to the right. Do I return to center? Geez I think I butchered it!

"Okay, I want to see fierce! FIERCE! I want to see confidence! And this time you all will walk two at a time!" Okay director, okay. Number 22 was my partner. Excellent.

One of my fellow models, seen below, commented before I snapped this photo:

"Your second walk was much better!"

"You think?" I said. I have a terrible habit of wrinkling my nose to punctuate my statements.

"Yeah! I think everyone was more nervous the first time. I know I was! But the second time we both said, man she's got it down this time!"

"Really? Had it been another casting though then--"

"Right. Omigosh I know!" We both nodded vigorously in agreement. If it had been another casting, you're lucky if you get one shot. In some cases, you're sized up and shipped out the moment you walk through the door. No walking for you!

By the time I had photographed some of the fashionable individuals and made my way home, the numbers were posted. I scrolled down and there it was, 21. What a lucky number!

First fitting on Monday. I know what I'm not eating this weekend. See you all on Monday! This model/ fashion critic has to post this week's fashion sightings! : )

Here are some of the models from the casting:

Love, love LOVE her outfit! : ) 

Much love,

<3 SF

Double Take

Check this out! In Forever 21 this season (ok, that was a month ago) but still this season! It's practically the same coat! Hot off the runway! Do stay posted for more Double Takes!

Much love,

<3 SF

Runway:

Our Way:

A slight deviation from the original, but certainly in the same vein of style, a belted black and white coat.

Purple Rainy Days

Apparently, according to one of my classmates, my outfit reminds him of Prince. I am a wacky dresser aren't I? : )

Enjoy!
Much love,

<3 SF

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder! : )

Ok, so as a media student, not only do I have to toil in class over incessant volumes of texts and readings, but I also have to ensure that I'm getting field experience as well.

So that's where I've been this entire time. Planet Blacksburg, VTTV, WUVT, student and fashion blogger. All at the same time!

Genius.

At this point sleep is an entirely remote idea. However, to placate your longing for a pending fashion fix via Blacksburg, I give you a few fashionable people form the past few days. In truth, it's been at least a week and a half!

Enjoy!
Much love,

<3 SF

 

Hats do help beat the winter wind. Chic and fuctional. : )

  

Wellies, great for kicking about in sub- zero snow slush. 

 

Large totes, where form and function meet and have a party! 

 

Love the bag and the jacket!!! : )