Category — Mad Crushin’

The fabulously gorgeous GiGi Deluxe is a woman of many talents, with her creative leanings running the gamut from painting to millinery work and now to tattooing. On top of all that, she is a supermom to the cutest pair of twins ever. Since GiGi is also one of my most favorite ladies to talk to, I had to get the lowdown and find out what makes her the badass woman she is!

+ You paint, draw, model, design and make clothes and hats, are a craft goddess, a dj, and now a tattoo artist! Is there anything else you would like to learn how to do?

I’m training with another tattoo artist and a plastic surgeon to learn how to do permanent cosmetics, and later this year, I’m attending courses to learn about laser tattoo removal. I feel this will make me a more rounded and educated tattoo artist, and I will be able to offer any service a client may need. Be it to remove a tattoo that someone is no longer happy with, or to lighten and prep a tattoo for a cover up. I also want to work with alopecia and mastectomy patients that want to utilize cosmetic tattooing.

I think at this point I want to perfect my skills. It’s all about learning new things, raising the bar and being my absolute best at all the things I enjoy doing.

+ Where did you grow up? Did it have a huge effect on the creative force you are now?

I Was born in Puerto Rico, and moved to Chicago when I was four. We lived in Bridgeport , an all Irish neighbourhood on the southside of Chicago. So from the beginning, I felt like an outsider. I was always in my own world. This also explains my love for (almost) everything Whitetrash.

+ You have a strong love for horror and the grotesque, where did that originate from?

My mom and fun gay uncle used to take me to all the horror and Bruce Lee movies when I was a kid. Sunday’s were a $1 for a triple feature afternoon at the Rat-mova Theatre! (that was not a typo- but it was really called the Ramova)
It was cheaper to drag me along with them, then to pay for a babysitter. Early exposure to the genre had a huge influence on my artwork and my humor.

+ Who are some artists and designers you admire?

I love and adore the late great Alexander McQueen, vintage Vivienne Westwood, Gareth Pugh and John Galliano. As far artists go, my peers and friends are constantly inspiring me. I’m extremely lucky to have such talented and creative people in my life.

+ If you could describe your style as the love child of any two people or things, who or what would they be?

Frida Kahlo would be my mom- and I couldn’t figure out who would be my Dad- so I asked my friend Szandora ( LaVey ) and she said Mick Jagger, because he was sexy as fuck and that I had to get my lips from somewhere! ha ha – I love that girl!

+ What are your wardrobe staples?

Shoes, shoes and more shoes. Tight black sweaters, snug black t-shirts, black platform heels and pencil skirts-these are must haves for me. Usually a corset, but at the moment I’m on the prowl for a few new ones..

+ Is there anything you collect?

I love re-ment Miniatures, and I used to collect ball-joint dolls, Blythe dolls, and Gene dolls but I don’t buy much anymore. I don’t feel the need to collect stuff the way that I used too, the happier I become that less I need.

+ Is there a particular decade in history you feel an affinity for? Why?

The 80′s. I was super lucky to have experienced that era first hand.

+ Name your five current obsessions (music, books, film, food, anything!)

• My twin 10 yr olds
• Art, art and more art
• Tattooing
• Being goal-oriented
• Law and Order (all of them)

+ What’s next on the menu for GiGi Deluxe?

Who knows, but that’s what makes life exciting isn’t it?

You can also follow GiGi on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook!

I fell in love with the amazing Elsa Billgren a few months ago when my bff Emi came across her blog on Elle Sweden. Need Help Dressing is filled with beautiful photos that peek into Elsa’s whimsical life in Stockholm with her friends. I love seeing the pictures she takes of delishis food and her FANTASTIC vintage dress obsession. Like yours truly, Elsa prefers dresses and skirts to pants. She has the best dress collection I have ever seen!!! There is something very special about the simplicity of Elsa’s blog and she is such a charming person to watch. Many props to Elle Sweden! I feel very happy and inspired whenever I read it (through Google Translate.) Elsa was kind enough to do a little Q&A with me so we can find out what inspires her.

If you could describe your style as the combination of any two people or things, who or what would they be?

Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot.

Elsa, you inspire me! Who are some people that inspire you?

Oh thanks! I get inspired by old movies, French cute girls, my mother and everything with a history.

If I came to visit your city, where would you take me for a fun day?

We would go to Tranan bar the first day of summer and have a glass of wine in the sun, then a walk around our boheme blocks for some vintage shopping and end the day with a party on my friends balcony!

What else do you collect besides vintage dresses?

I collect glass jars to keep stuff in for my kitchen, cute comments on my blog and old pictures of my mum from when she was young.

Do you have something you wear every day?

I always wear a dress and a nice pair of stockings.

What is in your purse right now?

You can always find a camera, a calendar and some make up in my purse. And usually some fruits as well.

What music are you currently listening to?

I listen to anything from Love to Lily Allen. Right now I’m repeating a Nina Simone record.

If you could have a tea party with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?

Oh, I would love to party with Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali! I believe the third person has to be Courtney Love.

What is your motto in life?

Live your life as if you are aloud to do whatever. Don’t think about treating yourself, just enjoy what comes your way.

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Here’s Elsa modeling my mint green “Nikki” cake hat! How cute is she! Also a big congratulations to Elsa and her man on their recent wedding! Read more about Elsa at Need Help Dressing.

Photo credit: Albert Sanchez

As you know, Valley Girl is one of my favorite movies of all time and my obsession with the soundtrack is no joke…I’ve listened to it almost everyday for the past YEAR (OBSESSED! It’s great driving music hello). Singer-songwriter Josie Cotton who stole the film’s prom scene performing her unforgettably controversial and catchy song “Johnny Are You Queer,” was the ultimate badass babe back then and is even MORE badass to this day! She’s kept busy ever since the Valley Girl days, releasing several albums including one that covered theme songs from campy films of the 60′s and 70′s. She has a new album coming out this year called Pussycat Babylon and attention LA friends…she has a free show this Sunday at La Cita! I did a Q&A with Josie to find out more about this fascinating and fierce woman! I love her!

If a song like “Johnny Are You Queer” came out today, how do you think the reaction would be?

Well the only thing I know for sure is it wouldn’t be nearly as shocking or outrageous as it was when I released it in the 80′s, what with Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, The Queers and Queer Nation, it’s definitely within the vernacular now. At the time it was not only banned in Amsterdam, the religious right practically went after me with pitchforks, accusing me of really being a gay man promoting homosexuality. Even the gay community had mixed reactions. The east coast faction thought it was homophobic but the west coast gay community embraced it like it was a gay anthem. It was beyond schizophrenic and affected my career tremendously. I really took a bullet for that song, actually for that one word.

What can you tell us about the new album and when can we expect it to be released?

My new record, Pussycat Babylon, is set to be released sometime this summer.  I hate to categorize it cause there are many different influences but in general it is pretty dancey…with some electro-pop and post post punk elements, even some new wave, power pop and Euro-trash disco. It was basically my co-producer Paul Roessler and myself locked inside a studio for almost a year like insane children left to their own devices. I’ve always been involved in the production of my records but this was the first time I had final say on every single detail. I finally feel like a real record producer and arranger. And lest I forget the dysfunctional relationship that compelled me to write the songs for this record. My friends tease me that I attract these borderline/bi-polar type boyfriends just so I can get the material I need to write. If I can get a good song out of it, my feeling is it was probably worth it but I could be wrong…haha!!

80′s Josie by Larson Paine

My favorite outfit from Valley Girl was your mini-skirt with the car on it! What current trends are you a fan of and which ones would you like to see disappear?

I have to admit I love the latino teenagers take on the 80′s. They are full on, these kids, with the hair and the clothes. It’s huge out here in Los Angeles. But when I was in Miami at the Winter Music Conference this year I saw so many fauxhawk/ mullets I couldn’t see straight. No one really looks cute with those things. Of course as soon as I say that I’m going to see the hottest guy sporting one in front of me and I will have to eat my words. To me fashion has a lot of irony in it. What was hideous becomes fabulous again.

Who are your favorite designers?

I’m a bit of a fashion nymphomaniac which I probably get from my grandmother. I rarely saw her out of her Chanel suits…cigarette in hand, very Bette Davis. My mom influenced me too but she was more Marilyn Monroe vixen meets Dolly Parton at a rodeo. OK my new favorite designers who I just discovered are Viktor & Rolf. They are over the moon!!  I happened to have loved Alexander McQueen. I adore Vivienne Westwood, Galliano of course, even Chanel right now is amazing. Miu Miu, Commes Des Garcon once in a while, Yamamoto, Marc Jacobs can still do it for me and Heatherette is so up my alley it’s not even funny. I also have very fond memories of going into Patricia Fields store in New York before she really hit big. Recently I have been working very closely with Jared Gold who is designing clothes for my live shows. We are both very absurdist in the way we think. Right now we are on this ‘ballet assassin’ kick and just beginning our ‘Shanghai hooker/cowgirl’ wave.

I love how you look on the cover of the new album! (pictured above) Can you tell us more about it and who you collaborated with for the album?

I was lucky enough to get to work with Albert Sanchez who is a legendary photographer in Los Angeles. Pedro Zalba did the set design but was involved in just about every detail of this CD cover. I think I drove him a little crazy. Not that I’m a diva or anything but I am most definitely a detail person and I have a very clear vision of what I want. Jared Gold, my parasitic twin, designed that beautiful dress and the completely insane headdress I am wearing on the cover. He completely indulged my fascination with anything Asian, outer space and evil children’s toys. He is just one of those Renaissance men, a concert pianist, a gourmet cook, a graphic artist, and a true intellectual who can talk with me in complete earnesty about how incredible Planet Of The Apes and Children Of The Corn were. On my last record I worked with Mike Ruiz who was quite amazing as well.

You’ve worked with John Waters in the past, contributing to one of his compilation albums and he provided liner notes for Invasion of The B-Girls. I think Cotton and Waters are a good pairing. Would you ever want to act in one of his films?

I have told him on many occasions I would date a gorilla to be in one of his movies. I just adore the man and I’m sure we will work together again. My music is perfect for his movies. Well him and Quentin Tarantino.

Photo credit: Kiley Amesklein

You’re a big fan of B-movies and even put out an album in that theme..what are five movies I should Netflix right away?

Let me just say that most of the great b-movies were from the 1960′s and 70′s. They probably wont have these on Netflix though, Marie: Alice In Acidland is a classic trashy movie that looks suspiciously like a home movie. It’s about a girl who drops a shit load of LSD and you go with her on her adventures as she is being seduced by her lesbian French teacher. The throbbing technicolor of the Pinky Violence series are in my top 10…  these cute little Japanese girls in boarding school form a vigilante gang and then dabble in prostitution and assassination in these long red rain coats. It’s hilarious and sad and beautifully filmed. But one of my favorite all time movies is ‘Tetsujin 28 Go‘. Another Japanese movie from the 60′s… this was the pen-ultimate ‘man becomes machine’ movie. It makes Iron Man look as pussified as Barney the purple dinosaur. It’s extremely dark thematically, all black and white, very noir where the lead character’s flesh is turning into metal in agonizing detail, becoming some kind of hideous robot creature. At one point he  grows this enormous metal penis and pretty much impales his girlfriend whom he loves and that’s sad… but funny… like life really. That’s why they’re not really b-movies to me.

Do you collect anything?

I began collecting Mao Tse Tung memorabilia some time after I had been exposed to him through various documentaries I had seen over the years. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the tyranny of ideas he embodied. That ideas were that powerful, that people could be so brain washed, that so many millions of peoples died for an idea was astonishing to me. Then one day I came across a photo of a vintage tea set with Mao’s face on it, he was waving and smiling all goofy-like. And it struck me if he was such an idealist and so vehemently opposed to capitalism and all its conspicuous consumption, why was his communist regime manufacturing these tea sets?. So I started researching it and realized in the process he was not only a shameless self promoter and a complete hypocrite, he thought he was Elvis!  And that became hilarious to me. And so my collection began. In fact I have that exact tea set, the ‘red book’ which was their bible, the arm band, the insignia and my piece de resistance, the original album of revolutionary marching songs he put out called The East Is Red. I also collect mid-century furniture from the 1960′s so my bedroom actually looks like Mao and Cleopatra Jones had a baby. Sadly this is all in my song lyrics but no one listens to lyrics anymore so I can pass through the world undetected!!

Any advice regarding menz you can offer for the ladies?

I would say never date an actor especially an unemployed one or a really successful one. Either way you’re screwed. I would say be sure you find the same things funny because humor can get you through anything. Never talk about old relationships or nag. Don’t change yourself for a guy or try to fix him either. And girls, ladies, always keep an air of mystery and never never be clingy because the more you need him the less he will want you. Friends, especially girlfriends, are more important than any romantic relationship you will ever have and nothing is more sexy to a REAL man than a woman who knows who she is.

Photo credit: Mike Ruiz

What are your five recent obsessions?

I love dichotomy and whenever I find it i obsess on it. For example i found myself being drawn to Princess Pony recently for some unknown reason, probably a picture I saw. Then anything with a pony on it caught my attention. I mean what am I, 5 years old? At the same time I was becoming aware of this whole culture of people who ‘date’ and fall in love with horses. There was that international ring that was busted of mostly men who look like farmers who would go to this horse ranch and…well you know where I’m heading with this. Then I became intrigued and started googling it of course and came across yet another horse fetish where they dress up like horses, with hooves and bridles, and lash marks on their flanks. They get ridden and they prance around like abused show horses. So that’s 3 obsessions for the price of one. That’s taking up all my time now (kidding). I have to say I was a little obsessed with guys with tattoos for a while… until I became engaged to one last year. Never take the surfer home from the beach! And I’m always forever obsessed with anything science fiction…Caprica and V being my current faves in terms of tv shows.

What music are you listening to on constant rotation lately?

I have been listening to a lot of DJ’s recently like Chus And Ceballos  Moto Blanco, Johnny Dynell. Eddie X, Larry T and this young up and coming DJ Josh Peace as I am in the process of doing dance re-mixes for the new record with the intent of creating a dance compilation album behind this new album. I especially love the English and Spanish DJ’s. I generally have to listen to a lot of silence to keep my head clear but in general I love artists like MIA, Peaches, MGMT, Tegan and Sara, 50 Cent, Killsonic, Double Naught Spy and Elephant which is a gay twin electro-punk, hip-hop rapper duo. I am also partial to Baliwood soundtracks, Bulgarian hip hop,  Northern Soul, Japanese punk rock, Drum and Bass, Reggaeton etc.. I need a wide variety of music or I get bored fast. They say I have ADDDDDD!!

What’s next in the world of Josie Cotton?

Animal rights has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl so that’s something I will be doing benefits for in the coming year hopefully and I’ve recently become involved in Prop 8 and the same-sex marriage act because I find it pathetic that is still an issue. In terms of my career I have a lot of live performances coming up: LA, some New York appearances in June, doing Toronto Pride in July, and some European dates I’m very excited about. I’m making a new video soon and that’s really the most fun of all, with total control over how I look !! It’s perfect I have a lot of new songs I’ve written, not necessarily for me, that I need to record. And I want to do a lot more writing . I’ve simply fallen in love with the process of writing articles on basically whatever topic leaks out of my demented mind. I think it’s called being an essayist. I’ve written a few things for Magnet Magazine and Punk Globe and I know it’s what I will end up doing full time. It’s my crack. I like myself best when I’m writing. I have this vision of myself 80 years old living in Paris hanging out in cafes writing science fiction novels where I hit people over the head with my cane if they interrupt me.

http://www.josiecotton.com/

Photo by Greg Gorman

Whether it was reading one of her tawdry romance novels for the first time in high school or watching a Lucky Santangelo miniseries on television, almost every woman I know is familiar with the “Queen of Steam” known as Jackie Collins. Selling over 400 million books to date, the British-born author is one of the most fascinating storytellers of scandal in our time. As the sister of Dynasty‘s own Joan Collins to being seduced by Marlon Brando, she knows the lowdown dirty of Hollywood first hand and has made a successful career of it. Her new book, Poor Little Bitch Girl, is about the lives of three high school girl friends, now in their twenties and caught up in their own sordid affairs. I asked Jackie to talk to us about romance, rebellion, her style and even Twitter!

In a time where we can get a good dose of scandal anywhere: the news, reality television, and gossip blogs, what else besides tales of raunchy romps can your novels bring to someone who has never read them before?

Interesting characters. Strong females. Edgy relationships. And the real truth about what really goes on among the rich and infamous. ou are not getting the front page of a tabloid, you are getting the true stories of celebrities with their names changed to protect the not so innocent!

When you came out with your first novel, author Barbara Cartland described it as “a nasty book, filthy and disgusting” and she “hardly slept after reading it.” I can only DREAM of someone describing my writing in those words. What advice can you give to someone who wants to write?

Oh yes, talk of writing a book is easy, but actually doing it is not. So… my advice is get to it, and WRITE!

I always describe today’s technology as a double-edge sword. With sites like Twitter and Facebook, communication with anyone is literally a click away. But in terms of romance do you find that all the texting and instant messaging hinders intimacy?

Not at all. Progress is the internet, and I find communication with my fans quite inspiring. I am obsessed with Twitter (jackiejcollins). It’s so much fun!

You’ve always been a bit of a rebel, from getting kicked out of boarding school at age fifteen to being the “Queen of Steam.” Who are some other women you admire for not playing by the rules?

Angelina Jolie. Wild and wonderful. She reminds me of my favorite heroine, Lucky Santangelo. And I love Kathryn Bigelow. So talented and smart. A woman who definitely does it her way.

Can you give us your five current obsessions?

TiVo
iPhoto
Twitter
Spare ribs at Huston’s
Facebook

Do you collect anything?

Books – everything from current novels to coffee table photo books – usually kind of edgy.
Bronzes of panthers and cheetahs.
Buddhas of all sizes.

I would love to take a peek inside of your closet. What are a few of your favorite wardrobe essentials?

Black pants. Black boots. Black t-shirts! My working uniform. And at night I dress it up with great original jewelry.

Can we talk about a little bit about your sexy affair with Brando or do we have to wait until your autobiography? I just want to know if he was he a teddy bear in the sack or did he throw you around like a ragdoll…?

Yes, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait!! And it’ll be worth waiting for!!

When can we expect the tell-all of your life by the way?

Hopefully next year. Working title – Reform School or Hollywood.

Jackie, I still haven’t figured out menz, I’ve even asked some of them for help! What advice do you think I should I remember when I find the hunk of my dreams?

Always remember that the pleasure you give is the pleasure you get back. Tenfold!

Last question. Will you be my fairy godmother?
Ha! Ha!

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I will take that laugh as a YES, Jackie!

That’s not all my boos! We also have a GIVEAWAY for Poor Little Bitch Girl!!! All you have to do is leave a comment below and you’ll be entered to win! The winner will be randomly chosen after the contest ends on Friday. If you want… tell us about your own Jackie Collins-esque scandal! GIMME THE JUICE!

Model: Yasmina Bounab. Photo by Michele Pauty

Sometimes a girl’s gotta think outside the norm if she wants to explore her talents. If Petra Isabelle followed the rules she wouldn’t have discovered her remarkable flair for tie-dye. Through her company Pebelle, Petra creates legwear in a rainbow of hues, producing a world of color combinations and patterns never before seen even in my wildest Pantone dreams. I first saw her work in Emma Bell’s S/S 2010 collection, and was later pleased to find some photos of Dandi Wind from Fan Death sporting some purple Pebelle on her gams. See how everything is connected?

Dandi Wind in Pebelle, Photo by Richard Kelly

First, let me confess to you something. I never thought I would like tie-dye. An ex boyf once told me he wanted to buy a tie-dye shirt and Phish and Grateful Dead flashed before my horrified eyes so I told him I would break up with him. (Another confession: it actually pained me to have even typed the words ‘Phish and Grateful Dead’ on this blog right now. NO OFFENSE.)

Flash forward a decade and much like my taste buds, my style buds have also evolved. I am into wasabi, cilantro AND tie-dye now, people. Especially if the tie-dye is the gorgeous handiwork of Pebelle. Here is an exclusive lowdown on this lovely lady!

How did you get started designing legwear?

I have studied textile arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. We had dyeing classes once a week and one day we developed the idea of dyeing hosiery. we loved it so much that we had a full weekend workshop. I was the only one that immediately fell in love with it, but the time wasn’t right. I tried placing them on the market years ago (2002) but no one was really interested, but I never gave up.
In 2004 I finally found my label name Pebelle and in 2008 I totally relaunched it and since then I try to set a foot on the market.

Where did you grow up? Did it influence your design aesthetic at all?

I grew up in the suburbs of Vienna, Austria. It’s a town full of beautiful architecture from the monarchy, lots of green but also very modern buildings. I think my aesthetic perception was surely formed through living in such a wonderful town. I was a typical girl growing up the 80′s at the time of the german new wave movement in music plus in style, so Punk wasn’t far away from me. I can’t tell if it influenced me a lot though, I suppose it has in some kind of way. I have a huge interest in contemporary and street art, so every little walk around an area can have an immense result on me. I do take a lot of pics if I see something that’s giving me the impulse to keep it. I am very alert to visual stimulation so I do love to go to exhibitions, movie-theaters, plays, gigs or just stand. Whatever catches my eye.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Everywhere, it surrounds me wherever I am, I inhale natural phenomenas like the way the light is shining on buildings on late afternoons waiting for the blue hour to arrive ( I love it) , the times in fall where all the trees/plants turn in an explosion of yellow and red tones, the grey in grey winter days with sunlight reflecting on surfaces of snow or after a long time of waiting for spring you hold your breath when you suddenly realize that everything is blooming around you. Colours define my life, I think i live in the right city for it.

Apart from this I love watching people, I just sit in a cafe ( a very Viennese thing to do) at a big square and watch people going by, street scenes and street style draw a lot of my attention.

Models: Karl-Maria Diwisch and Hanna Moessner. Photo by Wolfgang Steiner

What is your design process?

My design process is in a changing process right now. So far I have worked very impulsive: If I was impressed by the last visit to the forrest I was totally going all greens, browns, natural colours, I remember one day standing in the garden of my friend’s house in LA where leaves suddenly caught my eye, the thin yellow lines within the green leaves. Once back in Vienna I tried this design on leggings. Sometimes I just see a print of a car tire on the road and it inspires me to try it on a pair of tights.

The dyeing process is always a big matter of coincidence too so you aren’t allowed to try to be too much of a perfectionist. The reason why my dyes often look different from typical tie dyes is that I do not follow any dyeing rules, the men I’m buying my dyes from is a master of its kind; he often goes a bit pale when I tell him what I’m doing but he also admitted that he would have never had this effects with sticking to the rules.

Right now I try to work more and more with fix colour schemes. I do more than hosiery now, I started with a line of tops, t-shirts, scarfs and am working on a collection of bikinis.The more I start working with whole outfits, the more I try to avoid this feeling of being overwhelmed. I want it to be possible to wear more of my pieces together in a matching ensemble.

Pebelle’s collaboration with Emma Bell for S/S 2010. Models: Harriet Crosby and Elisabeth Resch/ Photo by Wolfgang Steiner

What other artists, clothing designers or otherwise, do you admire?

This could be a never-ending list, it is easier for me to say whose work I do NOT like at all but I won’t do that out of respect.
Designer equals artists in my opinion, I find it hard to draw a line. I think every designer has at least one thing in their collection that I totally love there are thousands of great talents out there and I do not wanna start picking them out. If I have to name one I’d say I love Gareth Pugh, I haven’t seen his graduate collection for Central St. Martin’s but RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME I had a period of two weeks where the thought stuck me that a Pierrot-inspired collection should be done and even I started drawing some sketches, and PENG!: there it was, he did it. For that I love him.

If you could describe your personal style as the love child of any two people/things, who or what would they be?

I probably could imagine I’m a love child of Amélie ( as in the movie Amélie) and Iggy Pop…..yeah, that would be it….

What are your wardrobe staples?

Short dresses in every style, my diesel cowboy boots, necklaces

Do you collect anything?

Oh, dear, yes I do: necklaces, tights (seriously not my own ones), little picture frames from the flea-market – and soon I wanna start on orchidaceous ( i have recently recognized that I do have a hand for them. Once I am old I want to start breeding them…..) My friend works high up in a huge lingerie company, so I do often get little goodies like utterly great 80′s sample tights which never went into production.

Is there a particular decade in history you feel an affinity for?

Yeah, the roaring twenties for their open-mindness and style. My intellectual affinity is more around the changing end of the 19th century, as I do love literature from that time. I once did a series of bags called the 20th-century bags – a trip bag into time – every bag had the same shape but with the choice of fabric, the printed image and the little details each one was matched to once decade of that century. Loved it.

Models: Karl-Maria Diwisch and Hanna Moessner. Photo by Wolfgang Steiner

What are your other interests and hobbies?

I have a 5.5 years old son, he’s hard work and joy at the same time, so I kind of see his upbringing as a hobby. I love visiting foreign countries, discovering cities on my own is a great friend of mine, this hobby is just difficult to organize around my other responsibilities. I love doing yoga, reading and grabbing bargains on flea markets or all kinds of sales.

What’s next for Pebelle?

World domination.

You can find Pebelle at the following!

Pebelle on Facebook

Pebelle on ETSY: pebelle.etsy.com

Pebelle on DAWANDA: pebelle.dawanda.com

VIENNA
1010 Vienna- Bauernmarkt 8 -  ART UP
www.artup.at
1050 Vienna – Margaretenplatz 3 – PEPITA (just Children’s and very small selection of
Tights)
www.pepita.at
1060 Vienna -  Hofmühlgasse 6 – POLYKLAMOTT
www.polyklamott.at
1070 Vienna-  Kirchengasse 24  – AT FIRST SIGHT
www.atfirstsight.at
Germany – BERLIN
10245 Berlin- Grünbergerstrasse 83 – EPPO Fashion Concept Store
www.myspace.com/eppodekker
Wrexham, North Wales- GB
LI11 2 NP  Wrexham 80 Rhosddu Road – Coloured Earth Fashion Store
Barcelona – SPAIN
08002 Barcelona Banys Nous, 22 – GLINT SHOP

USA
Norwood, NJ 07648 – 463 Livingston St, #103 – DAHL COLLECTION

I’ve recently started reviewing music for the TILT blog and had the pleasure of interviewing Kid Sister at her show there last weekend! We talked nails did, Betsey Johnson and SELENAS. Please take a peep if you feel inclined and keep an eye on the blog if you love dance music! A couple of other posts I’ve written can be found here and here.

Her album Ultraviolet drops November 17. I am STILL obsessed with this track:
Kid Sister – Right Hand Hi

Kid Sister – Pro Nails ft. Kanye West

KID SISTER | MySpace Video

From Looney Tunes t-shirts at the fair to a portrait of the Virgin Mary on the hood of a lowrider, the wonderful world of airbrushed art has always been one of my favorite things ever. Sadly, long gone are the days when you could get your man’s name easily airbrushed on a pillowcase at the Glendale Galleria. I was about to give up hope in finding my own magical airbrushing wizard until I stumbled across Diane Burrier’s website. Once I saw the portrait she did of Lady Gaga, I knew she was The One! Needless to say, I placed an order immediately! She was also nice enough to answer some questions about her work.

+ How did you get your start in airbrushing?

In 1983 I was doing caricatures and portraits while people posed. I saw someone airbrushing at a show and decided to give it a try. It was difficult at first, but I made a go of it.

+ What is the most fun part of your work?

Painting in public for tourists, shoppers and onlookers. Unfortunately this rarely occurs anymore since I now work in graphic design during the week and airbrush in my basement on weekends as a mail order business from my website.

+  What is the most challenging?

Finding time to update the web site since so much weekend time is spent airbrushing.

+ What are your thoughts on being a female artist in a male-dominated scene?

I worked in Virginia Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Daytona Beach. Those places had lots of airbrushers, all male. Although some had large egos, I’m fairly certain I earned respect from of all of them as an artist. I’ve lost touch with most of them, but occasionally get e-mails or calls from long-lost airbrush friends. I’ve known some of the original masters of airbrushing and a few who’ve passed away. I’ve met a few newer and younger artists too. The biggest problem is actually with public perception. I once wrote an article for Airbrush Action Magazine called “Where’s The Airbrush Guy?” It was a long time ago, but this commentary still stands true. If I don’t have that brush in my hand painting, the nearest male standing around is who people assume the artist to be. I’m a “one-hander” which could be a woman thing since I’ve never seen anyone else paint that way. I don’t try to talk people into ordering a shirt like the guys do. I try to let my work do the talking.  I’m the same way in my cyber airbrush business. I always try not to discredit anyone else’s work to a customer, even if I personally think their work sucks. Art is always in the eye of the beholder, who am I to say?

+ What was the weirdest thing you have been asked to airbrush?

There have been many so weird things. I guess I have to say the one bike week I worked in Daytona Beach in the 80’s. I’m a lady and won’t describe, but it was embarrassing. I’ll never paint those things again and won’t own up to them if any still exist.

+ Favorite airbrushing you have done?

Live airbrush portraits and I still love doing those loose quick beach scenes.

+ Who are some artists that you admire?

Classical artists of the Renaissance and French Impressionists. I love Maxfield Parrish’s work. The man was a genius on so many levels.

+ The celebrity signed shirts from your collection are quite impressive! Andy Warhol to Madonna! What are some of the stories behind those?

The first signed shirt I got was at a Cars concert in Norfolk, VA. I wore a giant portrait of Rik Ocasek, he saw it from the stage and sent someone to bring my friend and I backstage. I was surprised and nervous but he was very nice and the next time they played there, I made another shirt with the whole band and they all signed it.

My most cherished celebrity moment was meeting Andy Warhol in his NYC studio. I made him a gift shirt with his portrait and he loved it. I wore a shirt with a portrait of him on front and another on the back. He was fluffing and straightening it, turning me around and asked why I didn’t paint one on the back of his gift shirt. He signed mine and invited my friends and I back, but I wasn’t in NYC again before he died 2 years later.

I was airbrushing in Virginia Beach making good money so I rarely took off to go to a concert. I knew concert producers and they would place the shirts in the stars’ dressing rooms and ask them to sign one for me. I heard Madonna put hers on during a sound check but no one had a camera. We thought Rod Stewart or someone on his staff took both his shirts and kept them, but the next day his signed shirt came Fed Ex from Chicago.

Two guys from Warrant came into a mall where I was airbrushing in Hampton VA across from a venue where they were opening for Motley Crue. They wanted 2 leather jackets airbrushed and told me I could come backstage for the concert but I had to be there within 2 hours. I knew I couldn’t paint their album covers on those jackets that fast.  At least I got a photo of the one guitarist (oops forgot his name but love the photo) posing in it when he picked them up.

I met Robert Plant on a Honeydrippers tour. He signed a shirt at the concert and we were invited to a party with them afterward. I was completely star struck and he was sooo gorgeous in person. I could barely get any words out of my mouth. My girlfriend kicked me and told me to thank him for signing my shirt. The rest of the party I chatted with a band member from Spain and felt more comfortable.

I don’t have time to make celebrity gift shirts anymore, or even any shirts for myself these days.

+ Do you dabble in any other forms of art besides airbrushing?

Before airbrush it was pencil, pastel, charcoal, Sharpies and oils. Now it’s digital. I love the program Corel Painter. You can “paint” with a Wacom stylus pen like you’re actually using real media instead of pulling Bezier curves in Illustrator or tricking out in Photoshop. It’s the closest thing to real painting without the mess. I’m a graphics and multimedia software junkie. I work in dozens of programs and can hard code web sites. Digital or tangible, they’re all just tools for the art I do.

I have been a graphic, web and multimedia designer for the U.S. Army full time since 2000. That’s when airbrushing became part time. I was married with a young child and traveling around airbrushing long hours was a lifestyle that no longer fit. Although I had a bachelor’s degree in art, it was outdated without computer skills. I went to school at night while still airbrushing full time until I picked up what I needed to start a new career. I recently went to graduate school for Interactive Media Design. I’ve done some high profile design work for the Army. I don’t get personal credit for this kind of work and anything released is public domain. I’ve done exhibits, murals, posters, books, presentations, animations, official seals and web sites. I’ve gained tremendous appreciation for our military and feel privileged to do this work for them. But when I get home, there are always people waiting for their airbrush shirts to be painted and sent.

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Would you like to be immortalized in airbrush like yours truly? Perhaps you might even want to get an “In Memory of Michael Jackson” jacket or a pillowcase of Mariah Carey to add to your collection? Email Diane at airbrush@burrartdesign.com and see more of her work at Burrart Design!

Photo by Marla Rutherford

My favorite redheaded gal pal, the one-woman powerhouse known as Lenora Claire, is an art curator, model, writer and web series host. Anybody else with that much on their plate would have trouble keeping it together but Lenora Claire manages to pull it off with grace, all the meanwhile looking gorgeous. She gives us the scoop on her beauty secrets and style inspirations and talks to us about her upcoming art show Bettie Page: Heaven Bound.

+ Tell us all about your upcoming art show tribute to legendary icon Bettie Page.

I knew it was going to be difficult to come up with a follow up art show after my Golden Gals Gild Wild show which featured erotic art based on the Golden Girls and got nation wide press ranging from NPR to the National Enquirer but I had the amazing opportunity this summer to pose for the legendary artist Olivia and we started a really lovely friendship. When Bettie passed away the idea for a tribute show featuring Olivia’s beautiful work as well as several other amazing artists was born.

Lenora Claire by Olivia

+ How do you describe your personal style, from day to day to a night on the town?

I’m the queen of the slinky black cocktail dress. I pretty much wear variations of that (I have about 100) paired with my trademark neon red hair. I get compared to everyone from Jessica Rabbit to Bozo the clown so I must be somewhere in the middle.

+ Any beauty secrets you can share?

Since I have been dyeing my hair red which is the most impossible color to keep for ten years I’ve mastered the art of keeping up my crayola color. Since heat makes molecules expand (yes, I’ll blind you with science) that opens the hair shaft allowing color to leave so never wash with hot water always wash with cold. Also, I dump some of my dye in to my conditoner bottle so I freshen up my hair every time. On my face I love mac studio fix and always, always, always, work those false eyelashes. Also, ladies ask your best drag queen friend to teach you how to contour. We all have Ms. Potato Head faces so if you learn the art of contouring you can create the illusion of cheekbones or change around anything you don’t like.

+ Do you have any particular style icons?

Jayne Mansfield, Leigh Bowery, Dianne Brill, Vivienne Westwood, and Grace Jones.

+ What are your inspirations?

The Pierre et Gilles color pallet, Japanese street fashion, Thierry Mugler, and too many cult films to name.

Photo by Austin Young

+ Favorite artists?

James Bidgood, Joe Coleman, Henry Darger, Olivia, Mark Ryden, Colin Christian, and Alejandro Jodorowsky.

Photo by Austin Young

+ Who would you love to work with someday?

I would love for Thierry Mugler to make me an outfit that Pierre et Gilles would shoot me in for the poster for my film directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky or John Waters starring myself and Paul Ruebens.

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If you are in the LA area this weekend, Bettie Page: Heaven Bound opens Saturday, May 2nd with a gala opening reception at World of Wonder Gallery and runs until May 29th. Lenora’s events are not to be missed! I plan to be right in the middle of that three-ring circus as I always am!

Bettie Page: Heaven Bound
May 2, 2009 8pm-Midnight
$5 admission
World of Wonder Storefront Gallery
6650 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood, California 90028
(323) 603 6300

More Lenora Claire here:

www.LenoraClaire.com
www.Myspace.com/LenoraClaire
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lenora-Claire/731212083
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenora_Claire
http://twitter.com/lenoraclaire
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenoraclaire/

Related posts:

+ Lenora Clare Likes doNUTS
+ You Better Work
+ Lenora Claire’s Birthday at Houdini Mansion

With a sense of style and poise that allow her to appear as if she had just stepped out of a vintage postcard, photographer and needlework maven Amelia Raley holds dear to her heart an era long gone yet not forgotten. Her appreciation for the past can be seen through both her art as well as her wardrobe. I also adore Amelia’s coquettish embroidery, found at her etsy store Doublespeak, which is where I purchased my favorite C’mere Loverdoll slip. Listing 1930′s chorus girls and vintage valentines among her favorite things are just two reasons why I found a kindred spirit in this daring dame! Ladies and gentlemen, start your crushin’!

+ I love the term you use to describe yourself, which is “Vintage Vivant.” How did you come up with it and what does it mean to you?

When I was finishing my MFA thesis in 2007, I was listening to 78rpm records on podcasts, learning to fingerwave my hair from blog communities, and watching 1930s movies on Netflix. I wanted to do a project on how I used digital technology to explore the analogue past. I was wrestling with a few terms because there are SO many girls who are doing what I am doing but there is no name for it yet. The name itself was actually thought up by Locksmithy when I presented it as a question to the Livejournal vintage community. I love it! It’s like Bon Vivant but Living Vintage instead!

+ I always wonder why I feel nostalgic for things I have never known. I’m sure you feel the same way. What era would you love to have lived in?

When I was younger I always thought I would be a flapper, hands down. Now that I’m a little older I really admire the years of 1929 – 1936 and most of my collecting, study and emulation comes from those years. I like the bittersweet foil of Hollywood movies as compared to the Great Depression and politics of the time.

+ Describe your photographic style. How did you become a photographer? Which photographers have had an impact on your work?

I have always taken photos because my mother was such an avid photographer. I started “The Bird Girl” project back in 2003 where I would pick up every dead bird I found in my neighborhood and would photograph them in different states of decay. I worked on this project for about two years and got a grant for my university to finish it. I went to graduate school for photography out in Oregon and that’s where I started using really old processes like 4×5 cameras with the giant bellows. I love artists who use multiple processes and mediums in their work, so I feel very kindred to Annette Messager, Sophie Calle and Martha Colburn.

+ Are there any other certain artists that you admire?

Doris Salcedo and Tom Friedman – they are both sculptors who use domestic materials in poetic ways. My favorite Doris Salcedo pieces are when she uses clothing such as burying clothing in concrete or caging high heels behind animal skins. Tom Friedman just astounds me! I found one of his books when I was 19 and I just stared at it for hours. His sculptures are out of aspirin, detergent, his own signature, play-dough, anything really. He is what obsessive art making is all about.

+ If you could photograph anyone from history who would you choose and what would the shoot be set up like?

I’d like to photograph Napoleon as an old man.

+ You have an obvious appreciation for cinema. Which films have inspired you to create?

I watch movies in bed with my laptop on my belly and my camera in my hands. When I find a scene in a movie that I like I pause the film and snap it with my camera. I’m kind of a predator when it comes to movies and I think that’s why I don’t go out and see them in the theatres that often. I love every Busby Berkley movie that’s come out, and I watch everything that Irene Dunn, Jean Harlow, Dick Powell, Norma Shearer, Clark Gable and Joan Crawford have been in.

+ What music do you listen to in constant rotation?

Much like movies, I rarely listen to anything contemporary or currently hip. I am a big fan of 1930s torch songs, podcasts that feature 78rpm records and anything from the 1990s. I manage a crazy toy store so I have a big emphasis on happy pop songs right now. I’ve got Gwen Stefani, The Pipettes, Spice Girls, Dolly Parton, MGMT, !!!, and Outhud on heavy rotation right now. When I’m at home I listen to Philip Glass when I want to read or concentrate.

+ I love the quotes you use in your embroidery. Where are they from?

Many of my quotes are bastardizations of traditional embroidery phrases, like using “Bless this Mess” on a cum rag or changing “To love and be loved is the greatest joy on earth” into “To love and be fucked…” Sometimes I use the snippets of a nursery rhyme, or phrases written in old yearbooks or just things I make up.

+ Besides photography and embroidery what other creative outlets do you enjoy?

Right now I’m really nerding out on my Blythe dolls, Violette Crown and Odile. I’ve been learning how to disassemble their faces, change out their eyechips and make little clothes for them. Also, I’ve been doing some modeling on the side for a few painters and photographers and, while it isn’t creative per se, it is exciting to be involved with another’s creative process.

+ Is there anything else you wish you could learn?

I wish I could play the guitar, the accordion and sing half decently. I’m such a flub when it comes to music.

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Amelia also has a really cute zine! The latest issue of Doublespeak just came out which you can find here. Or purchase it along with the back issues!

+ East Coasters: Amelia has an art show at Brown University next month. More information on her work can be found at her website: Only-Sleeping.com

+ Don’t forget to check out her Etsy store: Doublespeak.etsy.com. SPECIAL NOTE: agentlover.com readers get 10% off from now throughout the whole month of April! Just enter “Agent Lover” in the comments section of your order!

xo,

Marie

If you missed any before, don’t forget to peep these past Mad Crushin’ articles:

Mad Crushin’ on Kate O’ Brien

Mad Crushin’ on Mary Van Note

Mad Crushin’ on Defekto

Australian photographer Kate O’Brien has been one of my favorite camera queens ever since I came across her Flickr page a few years ago. Her portraits not only satiate my desire for whimsy, but like Pierre et Gilles, who she unsurprisingly counts as role models, she takes an intimate approach to her work by constructing many of the costumes and props she uses herself. A lot of her pictures remind me of movies I thought I saw as a child, but most likely only played in the theatre of my mind! Let’s chat with Kate!

+ What age were you when you first became interested in photography?

I always enjoyed playing with my parents camera when I was a kid, but we didn’t have a lot of money and were only allowed to take a couple of photos at a time, which is in stark contrast to now when an average shoot can take anywhere between 150-600 frames. I guess you could say I first taking my photography seriously in 2005 after becoming seriously infatuated with the work of Pierre et Gilles. They made me think about photography differently…mostly the idea that you don’t have to shoot what is laid out before you, rather that you can construct a scene to be what you want to photograph.

+ How do you come up with the different concepts for your shoots? Tell me about your process.

It’s really hard to say, it’s always different things. It might be a cool costume I find at a thrift shop, or I might just be flipping through a book and see something that takes my fancy. Cogs and pulleys start moving in my head and pretty soon I’ve developed a hazy vision of what I want to achieve with my photo. It’s actually pulling everything together after that point that is difficult. I claim to not be a perfectionist, but a friend of mine frequently reports that while I may not be draconian in my expectations, I do have a very finite idea of what I want a resulting image to look like. I guess I get my back up at the term “perfectionist” because I’m by no means a technician. I like to keep my shoots cheerful and fun. I don’t get bogged down in the details but I do know what I want.

+ Who are some artists, photographers or otherwise, that you admire?

I think that Mark Romanek (Music Video Director) is a genius, I find it very difficult to work with moving pictures and a careful observer will notice my work is very static. Often when I shoot, there is only one shot and I will shoot from the same angle till I get it. I don’t tend to move around the room shooting.
I’m also a big fan of Spanish Fashion Photographer, Eugenio Recuenco. The style and treatment he gives his work is mindblowing. When I grow up, I want to be Eugenio Recuenco.

+ You use a lot of the same models in your shoots. Can you tell us about your muses?

Funny you should mention that…Laurel, one of my favorites has moved to France and I’m really going to miss shooting her, however Anekie, who I also love to shoot is sticking around so expect to see more of her in the future. One of my other mainstays who I haven’t shot for a while is Leonie and she’s penciled in for a big shoot next month on the beach, so keep an eye out!

+ If you were in a parallel dimension or another life, what would you be doing instead of photography?

In reality I’d probably be working at Subway or McDonalds as I don’t really have a big range of skills outside of putting together images and shooting them, however if we’re talking about my fantasies, I’d love to be a window dresser for a big department store. I’ve wanted to do that since I was 14, I’m not quite sure why. Probably because I crave attention! That’s a pretty good way to get your work seen.

+ Is there a specific era from the past that you would want to travel back in time to experience and photograph?

I think I’ve just about covered every era right in my studio, and the thing is, my photos aren’t historically accurate. They capture a censored and sterilized snapshot of the past. Actually traveling back would probably be pretty confronting. Life’s not all tea with Marie Antoinette and Hookahs with Mata Hari!

+ What music/bands are you listening to right now?

I’m on a solid diet of Yacht Rock at the moment, so it’s all Steely Dan, Toto, Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins at my place. Fortunately for me my husband is a huge fan too. I should get a Tshirt that says “Yacht Rock Saved my Marriage” or something!

+ How would you describe your personal style?

I put my photos above everything else and so as a result I get around looking a bit homeless. When I need new shoes or a haircut, there is usually a cool prop or costume that wins the race instead. It’s literally all I think about. I am forever cutting things other people would consider neccessary items out of our budget so I can justify another trip to one of my favorite op-shops or go cruising ebay.

+ What are you favorite cameras to shoot with?

I’m a big fan of the Canon range. They’re well priced, they do everything you need them to do and as you gain skills and experience there’s plenty of scope for upgrading. It’d be hard to convince me to shoot with anything else. I’m not a technical photographer, so shooting with film or medium format cameras aren’t a big concern to me. I’d rather spend money on more lighting than another camera.

+ What’s next on the menu for Kate O’ Brien Creative?

I have a book coming out at the end of the year describing in more depth how I go about putting together an image and my general philosophy on photography. It’ll have brand new work not seen before and a section with some of my older work.
Apart from that I’m scouting out a gallery to show my work in the new year with a series about feminine beauty ideals through the ages.

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Check out more of Kate’s work at kateobriencreative.com!
And if you missed any of my past crushes, catch up here!