Intro
I finally had my first photo shoot of the year! Starting off I knew exactly three things about this shoot: I knew I wanted to use Brea, a model who had previously walked in my scene for the Stylez by Toy Fashion Show I was a part of last year, I also knew I wanted to use a beautiful orange gown from designer Anton Zbarzh, and I knew I wanted to shoot in the beautiful Cleveland Museum of Art. So I just had to fill in the blanks right?
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Beginning
Right. But the shade is- the blanks were not filling themselves in lol! I had no idea what I wanted this shoot for, so I did not know what I wanted Brea to wear, and I could not tell my makeup artist/hairstylist, Falisha what to do so I was stuck until the day before the shoot.

It's funny how inspiration comes- I spent at least two weeks scouring Instagram, Pinterest, old fashion magazines, weird, obscure movies and music videos trying, hoping, praying for inspiration and it never came. But the day before the shoot, I decided to go thrift shopping to see if I could come across any fly random pieces for the shoot. I was all dirty and sweaty from the gym and had on workout clothes and a hoody. I'm a regular there but decided against speaking to any employees there like I usually do cause the pressure was getting to me lol. So I'm browsing racks and I accidentally bumped into one of the ladies who I live for and she said something like- "Oh hey Purple (i'm known everywhere by that alias lol) I didn't even know that was you! You look different, you don' changed it up on me!" I laughed cause I literally just had on a hoody but then just as quick as I started I stopped- CHANGE!! Transform, beauty, art rough, soft- all these buzzwords started coming at me (my mind is crazy y'all always spinning and working and churning out random things) and just like that I smiled at the lady, made my purchase and almost ran home to start working...

Middle
My idea was this elaborate tale of transformation where Brea would start off as a party girl gone wild- up all night from dancing on tables in a barely there outfit, smeared lived in makeup, messy, wild rock and roll style bedhead hair and the highest of heels. She wakes up late for her date with destiny at the art museum and rushes out the house in her same look from the night before. She arrives at the atrium inside and is in awe of the natural light and its calming atmosphere that washes over her, almost like a clean slate. Some of the heavy makeup starts to come off... As she travels through the different exhibits and collections and is surrounded by beauty and art she too starts to change and you see that in her clothes, hair and makeup as they get lighter, less trashy and more glam. It sounded perfect in my head! I would literally take her from ashy to classy on some Notorious B.I.G ish incorporating art, fashion, style, music and storytelling- all of my favorite things in one shoot.

Ending
Ya'll know that shit didn't happen right lol? First of all when I called the museum a full month ahead to get permission (because I have been kicked out of several public places in the name of a good shoot before lol) I asked what was the best day to shoot and I specifically asked what was off limits because I wanted to set my shots up and I actually wanted to try to shoot a small film if possible. The lady assured me Tuesdays were the best days and I could shoot where ever I wanted except in a few of the modern exhibitions and I could not use a flash or plug anything in. Well shoot, I was happy as hell to hear that and when I arrived Tuesday, let's just say when I saw all of the school buses I thought nothing of it cause I was FOCUSED! So I arrive and BAM my model is already there which was enough to make me cry ok lol. Y'all don't understand- when it's not for a coin, you have about a 50/50 chance of your model showing up, let alone anybody else (hell even when it is about a coin some of them still won't show up so...) when I saw Brea I literally exhaled lol. And that's when the problems starting happening...

1. We had to check our bags, meaning we had to take out everything we needed for the first scene and carry it with us (undergarments and all lol)
2. Falisha the makeup artist smuggled her entire case inside her purse (thank goodness for big bags right lol) only to find out that the bathrooms had no place to set up for hair and makeup. What did her resourceful self do? Took over the family sized bathroom heeeey!
3. Anton showed up... BUT NOT WITH THE ORANGE DRESS (it wasn't finished)!! I slowly withered down the wall until he pulled out a gorgeous navy blue number that more than enough made up for it.
4. The museum was crowded. Super crowded. So much for empty Tuesdays lol.
5. I was told that I could only shoot in the Atrium. In one big ass open room with absolutely NO ART ANYWHERE IN IT! I laughed to keep from crying (yes I'm dramatic and full of random emotions). I did not even have the time or desire to argue, so frustrated I had to scrap my whole idea and just take the photos smh. No rhyme, no reason... I tried to come up with something else real quick but there was nothing else lol.
6. Once she put the first look on, which was Anton's gown (we had planned to shoot backwards for mu and hair purposes) and I took a few test shots, I accidentally set off the flash. When I tell y'all that lil ol' security guard flew out of nowhere to reprimand me all I could do was laugh and apologize.
7. Shot a few frames and then was told by another security guard that one of the guests complained that the gown was too revealing. The dress was lace, she had on a nude colored dress underneath and we were shooting directly in front of Michelangelo's David, but I was like ok whatever man.... but then tried to sneak a shot around the corner (I HAD to get her against that red wall in that blue dress, I just had to) and he came and threatened me with removal. Dammit. I made Brea change.
8. I know we wore that coat check man THIN cause chile we had at least three suitcases, bags galore and coats and scarves that we kept coming back for. And each time the look on his face let me know how much he probably wished he had stayed home that day lol. (And yes I attempted to tip him when we left but they can't accept tips).
9. We did the other two changes, but it hurt cause I was no longer telling a story, just taking photos of a beautiful model in different outfits (for me it's always either all or nothing lol).
10. I'm still not the best when it comes to working that damn camera. Brea looked beautiful in her outfits and Falisha did a great job with hair and makeup, but my photography skills do not yet match up to my vision smh.

But still, I loved working with Brea and Falisha and I want to work on more stories and getting better at shooting indoors and outdoors. Below are the photos, a quick lil video and Brea and Falisha in there own words...

I have to admit that I don't watch television. It's a long story, but I stopped watching around 2006, and I haven't owned a working television in close to seven years (the one I had was used for watching DVDs and decoration until I threw it out last year) so I don't always know the popular programs and television shows until I read about them or hear some one speak of them.

This brings me to this past weekend when I found out that Daisy Lewellyn, star of Bravo's reality show 'Blood, Sweat and Heels' lost her battle with cancer. I never watched the show, but I had the honor of working with Daisy in 2009 when I was in fashion school. I attended Virginia Marti College of Art and Design for fashion merchandising and was determined to be a part of any and everything that would help me get my foot in the fashion industry door, so when I read about the Seventeen Magazine Style Mix Tour coming to Strongsville Mall I knew I had to be all up in it!

And I was. It was a one day event on a hot August day and we had to be there super early, I want to say like 6 am or something crazy, and there I was all bright eyed and bushy tailed waiting for my orders. That's when I met Daisy. She was the host and the coordinator of the event which consisted of a fashion show using local models walking in clothes provided by mall sponsors. I honestly don't remember that much about her except that that it was hot as hell and she had a thick scarf wrapped around her neck and a wig on her head. Me, being hot by nature wondered how the heck she was able to keep her cool cause I would have been a purple puddle on the floor lol. She was very straight to the point, no nonsense and business like which was off putting to some of the volunteers, but even then I understood it to be business and nothing personal.

There were three volunteers (including me) but one showed up a little later and Daisy cut that ass right then and there, told her to go back home or stay at the mall and shop when it opened cause she was not needed. SAVAGE lol. She gave us a speech about showing up on time or not at all and I felt her and thanked God I had my mom drop me off because the way my life is set up, I am a perpetually late person. Always.

Anyway, once we got there we were given our orders and immediately put to work. We had clothing sponsors from stores in the mall and were told to recreate outfits for the models to wear from tear sheets we got from Seventeen magazine. That was fun and right up my alley since I had notebook upon notebook of tear sheets and style inspiration from my own fashion magazines that I built my outfits on too. We then had to pull cute clothes from boxes of inventory from our sponsors and hang them up in the Seventeen Style Closet (where I first got acquainted with a steamer btw).

When the models arrived we were instructed to get them fully dressed and be ready to receive them as soon as they came off the runway, assisting them in removing their clothes and accessories and making sure not one item touched the ground. Or we got yelled at. Ahem... The whole time we did that, Daisy was hosting on stage and describing the models outfits as they came out. The show was over quickly and I was pissed that we volunteers weren't allowed to take photos. I mean it made since if they were traveling from city to city with the same clothes in malls all over. New audience members would see the same style outfits so I got it, just wasn't too happy about it.

After the show, workers moved quickly to break down the stage and props and we had to MOVE it to remove the clothing from the make shift fashion closets, check them off and pack them up to be sent to the next location. We each had a few boxes that we were responsible for and it was a long and tedious process, and I went home tired as hell but happy! I had my first solo fashion experience volunteering with a "real" fashion show- ie- one that was not put on by a school, a church or anything like that.

And now after coordinating my own fashion shows and events, I understand Daisy's short demeanor and the incredible amount of stress she had to be under to produce a tween/teen fashion show at a mall in a city that you are not from with volunteers who could not care less about the production. It was hectic but so much fun and I learned EVERYTHING that I needed to produce my own shows in the future.

So yeah, my experience with Daisy was short and sweet, but very memorable and it definitely helped to jump start my career in this industry. When I got accepted into VMCAD I honestly did not know what I was going to do, I thought I would just maybe open up a store or something like that, but after the experience I had and the adrenaline rush of choosing outfits, styling the models, helping to set the tone of the show and even the logistics of the clothes all pushed me into the direction of what I am doing now and I am forever grateful.

Rest in paradise Daisy Lewellyn and to anyone reading this- you never know how you may have touched someone's life at any point in yours...

So now that you know how to build a spring capsule wardrobe, I'm back at it again with the 9 shoe trends for spring! These are the hautest styles that you will see in stores and probably already have in your closet. I love shoes because they can change the whole look of an outfit and make those same old jeans and tee look brand new with proper styling. So I present to you the latest styles and ways to wear them:

1. Bright Whites
The shoe color of the season is bright, blinding white- which makes sense cause anything you wear will look fresh as hell. Try a white casual style shoe with a skater dress and silver accessories for a fun day date.

2. Slides
These are not your grandma's slides ok? The sexiest pair are low and dark in color, leather or even  fabricated - just not the mesh type that tear up after 1,000 steps lol. Wear them with a full skirt and a crop top for a lady like outfit with a twist.

3. Mules
Another throwback style that was popular in the '90s and on the spring 2016 runway are mules! High heeled and vampy, get a pair in a stand out color and rock it with a sleeveless graphic tee and ripped skinny jeans- for a  look that is crazysexycool.

4. Oxfords
Borrow from the boys with a fun printed version of the oxford- less stuffy than the menswear style- and femme it up with a tie waist top and a fitted denim skirt. 

5. Fun sneakers
A colorful pair of sneakers will look great with literally everything you own, including a long sleeve statement tee (roll the sleeves up of course) and polka dot cut off shorts. Add a gold or silver ankle bracelet for a vibe that is  tomboyish and chic.

6. Block heels
The most comfortable pair of shoes in your closet will be this sturdy heeled version! Wear them with a printed blouse and leather shorts for a night of dancing on roof tops (or tabletops, whatevs lol). Add a black crossbody for hands free action.
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7. Lace ups
Show off your legs with a pair of lace up sandals! I don't think there is any look sexier than a pair of lace up heels and an off the shoulder mini dress with ruffles- fun and flirty!

8. Pointy toe flats
Add an heir of sophistication to a tank top and wide leg jeans with a pair of pointy toe flats in any color or print. They can also be worn with a skirt or a dress for a fresh take on business casual work wear.

9. Rainbow hues
Quick- what's your favorite color? If you answered "all of them" then this last shoe trend is for you! Rainbow hued heels are the perfect outfit pick me up and can literally make your whole outfit. Try them with a solid colored blouse and dark pants for an outfit that POPS!

Which shoe trends will make it into your closet this spring? I have my eye on a pair of lace up heels and I would not mind a printed shoe with a block heel for when I need to look pulled together (as I run for the bus lol).

Hey guys! Do you live in Cleveland or the surrounding area? Thehouseoffly.com and Painting in the Park Cleveland will be hosting a family oriented fashion show entitled "My Art, My Fashion, My Creativity!" at the Ariel International Center on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 4pm and we are looking for families to participate!

Families of all shapes, colors, sizes and ethnicities are encouraged to enter this fun filled fashion event- and the best part of all is absolutely NO modeling experience is necessary!

Sign up for the model call will be held at the Painting in the Park Family Fun Day Celebration at Lincoln Park in Tremont, Ohio on July 9, 2016 from 1pm-3pm. If you can't attend the event but still want to participate there will be  a sign up sheet on the web soon, in the meantime fill out this form on the Homepage to receive more information....

So gather all your family members- from the babies to the grandparents and strut your stuff on the runway!