Fashion Zen - Zen Fashion

‎www.tumblr.com/blog/living-fash

2012-12-20T08:41:00.001-08:00

‎www.tumblr.com/blog/living-fash

Day 1 @ LFW

2012-10-24T12:29:00.002-07:00

The day begins early for those of us that had the privilege of attending Fashion Week. First a shower and dress rehearsal, meaning making sure that what we will be comfortable and adequate for the rest of the long day.. Then the walk to Somerset House. The walk is short about 10 mins, the traffic is not bad, as long as you remember to look the right way when crossing the street, you'll be fine. Then hope to bump into a Cafe or Convenient Store for some quick snack/breakfast on the go or similar.

Make your way to Somerset House, Remember to wear the badge or you'll get stopped.

Then, look at calendar and list of events. Make sure to arrive early to get to que for the shows. Remember there is always a pretty long line between shows.

The good thing this year was the lack of freezing air while ir was early Fall, the popular consensus was that it was very mild weather, for some it felt like summer and people often complained of how hot it was. I personally, like it because I come from a very hot, hot place so this weather gave me a chance to wear layers. That is something unheard of back at home, layers, one may ask. Usually, we wear T-shirts and shorts all the way until almost Christmas time. I can honestly say I was not prepared for the weather because the only 3 items of winter clothing got used and reused multiple times. Well, at least now I know that I need to pack my wardrobe totally differently. I took way too many shoes and not enough clothes. I actually should have just gone shopping in Europe but I was afraid as it turned out that I would have no free time to go shopping. Mind you, I had collected a long list of stores I wanted to stop by and shop but as I mentioned before I run out of time before I knew it, it was time to go to another country and experience the weather there. I must admit, I was very pleased with the stores we did managed to go to in Amsterdam and Spain but I did not have a free hour to spare in London or Paris. How sad is that!! Oh well, as it was, the short trips to the stores in Amsterdam turned out to be extremely short, perhaps in the span of 10 mins to shop, that's not very conducive to really enjoy the experience but oh well, one must take what one can get. Time is short and traveling makes it seem ever shorter..

Some invites

2012-10-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

Some of the invitations we got for LFW. The interesting thing about it was that we didn't know what shows we were attending until arriving to London. I hoped to get invites but it wasn't set in stone until you get your invite on the mail and delivered to your door you're not sure if you're going to the show or not. Remember, no physical invite means no entry. So, when we arrived to London and made our way to the hotel we booked, we found out the pleasant surprise of a stack of invites waiting for us. Then, I had to organize the dates, shows and coverage we were doing. I was finally on British soil and happy to get off the plane but I was so busy with the details it was not even funny. The internet wasn't working properly and I couldn't use my phone to check on emails, but to make matters worst we still needed to get to Somerset House and get the badge and then meet up family for event, then go to the museum all that and more. Finally, after a lucky and I mean lucky walk down the street we bumped into Somerset House almost by accident but I know it was luck, we were as tired as one human can be from being on a plane for 16 hrs, then with the stressors of datelines, and prep work we still managed to make it there. At Somerset House I got my badge, then it was off to the Photopit and figure that out. After a few minutes, we were ready to hit back to the hotel and take a look at the equipment needed for the next day and the shows we were going, and the places to be transported to, all in the next 1 hr before our next stop at the family event. I can honestly say, I was happy not to have a photoshoot that day because I would have been dead tired. Oh well, that was the first day in London.

Courtyard LFW

2012-10-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

--The Courtyard early in the morning-- Before the shows begin, people prepare around the grounds. Make up artist and Hair stylist arrive early to do their magic and make everybody more beautiful than they already are. Photographers also get to Somerset early, they must mark up and be ready when the shows begin. Of course, the people at Somerset are there, polite and hard working, they all look and act so professional. There are the door people, always making sure everyone has the right credentials to go in and out of the buildings. It's amazing that so many different people get together to appreciate the one thing in common, FASHION. There are Magazine editors, Fashion Stylists, Buyers, Bloggers and friends of the House, among the celebrities attending the Fashion Shows. It's all so surreal and at the same time

Images from Somerset House, London UK. From the peaceful to the busy cobblestone paved courtyard.

Invitation

2012-10-22T13:39:00.001-07:00

Vodafone London Fashion Weekend

2012-09-11T14:09:00.001-07:00

Vodafone London Fashion Weekend

Desfile Del Pozo | Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tv

2012-08-30T14:06:00.001-07:00

Desfile Del Pozo | Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tv

LFW

2012-08-29T11:56:00.003-07:00

In case I haven't mentioned, I'll be attending LFW, is one of the highest profile fashion events in the world and one of the Big Four Fashion Weeks around the globe. The event is organized by British Fashion Council BFC and includes a number of special sponsors such as Vodafone,Mercedes Benz, American Express, Canon etc. LFW is held at Somerset House in central London. LFW is a trade show attended by Press, Buyers and Key opinion formers globally. I got commissioned for it and I'm now on my last leg of things to do before the date of departure. Yes, I'll try to post picts but as I said I'm working and working my ass off all days doing coverage of different events it's not going to be an easy task but on e that a counted few have a chance to experience. I'm thrilled to be attending this so exclusive

Trip is fast approaching

2012-08-23T13:25:00.002-07:00

Sorry for not keeping up with the blog, it has been so so so busy in here. Well, AFW went by as usual,I didn't have time to attend anything this year. I was invited to some events and some good friends were so eager to go but to be honest, I didn't want to be disappointed. I instead started my shopping for the trip to Euro, I needed to get new luggage, the last one was way to heavy but ideal for a trip to Asia. This time I needed some light way luggage the last one broke in LAX terminal, that place always does a number on my luggage. Anyway, I got Victorinox luggage and I'm super happy with it. Gotta go, phone call, must be a client rushing order before I leave..

2012-08-06T12:17:00.001-07:00

New week and I'm all filled up. Got to talk to client, need to wait for deliveries and then my AC broke.. I'm in Texas, if anyone knows the weather here sucks. IT's summer so add that to the picture. It hasn't rained much this year but that's not so infrequent. Well, at least things are good. Day starts at 6:30 for Yoga class, then breakfast then whatever emails I have to respond to. I have to track shipments and deliveries in between preparing my client's print work. Working with In Design and PS back and forth. The website is almost done, thanks to my awesome beau. Now, need to finish the CV for upload, got my commissioning letter delivered and uploaded to the server, now looking for images for contest and then working on editing them. Good thing the day is not over. Well this the the schedule for today.

BBC News - Collaboration Culture: Meet the artists

2012-07-02T08:56:00.001-07:00

BBC News - Collaboration Culture: Meet the artists

Very interesting project in BBC.

Sewing Revisited

2012-06-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while since I posted an update, well things have been good. I gotten myself in more projects to work on in the next few months. I'll be traveling to Europe sometime in Sept. Dates to come soon.Now, I'm procrastinating and not booking my travels just yet but I'll get to it shortly.. well, if my ADHD don't get in the way. 1.-I'm currently working on a jewelry piece, need some more supplies!! 2.- Lost the fear of the sewing machine, so now I have some pieces put together and working on some patterns to make others. 3.-Embroidering for my Kaftan piece.. This takes so long!! 4.-Packing for a beach getaway. 5.-Buying supplies online for all the above projects mentioned. 6.-Travel stuff I'm procrastinating now.

Link

2012-06-01T08:12:00.003-07:00

VIMEO link of Fashion show

2012-06-01T07:49:00.002-07:00

--- Good news, packages arrived, ready for styling soon..--

During SXSW

2012-06-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Things are very interesting during SXSW Fest in Austin, Fashion shows, music performances and the streets downtown are blocked to allow people to walk from venue to venue. It's usually a pretty neat event, except for the parking situation. This year I decided to take advantage of the rail system in town and rode the train to the convention center, right at the heart of the madness. Awesome!!, I skipped the mad drivers and the outrageous parking wars. Well, I arrived just in time to catch a fashion show and then many street performances and what not. The vendors are always interesting too, many come from different parts of the country so the goods are so cool. Well, updating vimeo now, i'll post link later.

Follow up- on Why! oh why?

2012-05-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I posted on the issue of copyrighted material used in commercial advertasing without proper release, compensation or credit. All the hard work done by a team gone down the drain sort of speak. I found the ad work at a local mag and when I first saw it, I was perplexed at the audacity of some people, in this case the jewelry maker. She had taken our team's work and put her logo and run it as an ad in a local mag. Everything would be good and dandy if the intention of the shoot was to create an ad piece/ advertising /commercial work but it was not. After a few months of running the ad,I decided to pay a visit to the person in this discussion. Well, that conversation did not go well. Lets start with the facts, I explained how it was unfair for the model who didn't expect to see her face/look run as the advertising look for the jewelry company, specially w/o compensation. Also, to the photographer who put the entire shoot together w/o receiving compensation for his work. He didn't even get acknowledged in the final piece run by the mag. Why, because it looks better w/o credits. It looks like the person's paid for it, while in reality they didn't. I haven't even gotten started to mentioned how I decided on the styling of this piece to showcase the elements when the "client" says to us, the photographer and me, the stylist. Client:"well, I got thousands of pictures from other people, I don't need to use yours" Photographer:"good, go ahead and use them, because I don't want you to use my picture like that" Client: "well, to tell you the truth, I don't have photoshop, so I can not put my logo, but you can do that. To my surprised she expected the infringed photographer to do some more work for her after she blatenlty refused to admit fault or apologize for any inconveneince to all of us. She then left the room, saying " You need to be nicer to me, I don't need this shit". Sometimes this industry seems to be plagued with people trying to run their own agenda without caring about what is right or wrong. Sometimes, it seems unfair that a good deed goes punished for so long and it makes you want to stop working with people. Sometimes people abuse the system. And just make it harder for all of the good people out there to get a break because we then are all so worry about not getting rear ended by those who don't value the work of others. Well, the magazine that run the ad has been informed of the lack or release on the image used and they haven't even responded to it. It all seems too unreal to believe that someone with thousands of images can choose to infringe on just one, but I guess... I run a search and found the image in question used for anything from coupon, ads,twitter and what not.

Why ! oh why?..

2012-04-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Well, the truth be told, I have been sewing quite a bit. I got my fabrics lined up and my props ready for styling the upcoming shoots. As the story goes, another incident about photography and usage came up. While I was online,FB time is limited to the bare minimum I saw a Flyer with one of the pictures from last summer shoot. That shoot was a collaboration with the model and photographer. The model was new and the photographer didn't know how well she'll do in her first shoot. The shoot in question turned up to be great and the images were so good. The photographer released the images to the model and the jewelry maker that let us borrow the jewels. I as a prop/set stylist know the rules of the game when it comes to usage. Unless otherwise noted, the use is for portfolio only. So I have my print book with all the shots that I consider worthy of printing. The issue here was that the jewelry maker had other intentions in mind. Intentions such as advertising etc. The photographer had a usage release for her to guide her through the do/don't of his images. Remember images belong to the copyright holder, in this case the photographer.

To make the story short, the images are used commercially in print/web and w/o copyright but instead the designer's logo. The images don't have credit,link or attribution to anyone in the team including the photographer and I find that apalling since it took us all a good amount of time to produce those images. I specifically dislike the fact that they continue using these images without regard to anyone's wishes. I guess no good did goes without a repercussion.

Anyhow, enough of whinning and let's get working.. got some sewing and stuff to do before the end of today.

The prop making starts

2012-03-23T13:50:00.002-07:00

Yay!.. got my overseas purchases and some of the local items delivered. Now, I need to keep the work load to prop making gear tike. I go my fabrics and patterns ready. Now, to sew, paint, draw and sketch the ideas before the weekend is over.

Styling difficulties.

2012-03-13T08:45:00.002-07:00

After a funky Monday where nothing was going according to plan, I managed to survived and now I'm eager to continue this madness. Well, for starters my mail packages did not arrive, nobody seem to know where they're at this point. Mind you, that it's has been 3 weeks and now 3 different packages are lost...I am now very concerned about the faith of the upcoming shoots since I've ordered materials and props for them. I have wardrobe arriving from overseas and now do't even think the packages may get here at all. The funny thing is, I would think that the packages get lost in customs or in the transfer, processing in a different state but nope. The packages make it to US, make it to Texas and the city and magically disappear from the mail truck to my door step. Iat this point I don't think there is anything else I can do, I tracked the packages' journey and feel like they're almost home but the morning when they are up for delivery they never get delivered. They seem to go into a limbo or another dimension in which they just disappear. I filed complains and opened cases against the drivers, nobody is responsible at this point. They all say they're investigating but in reality, when time is money and purchases can not be replaced, I am out of luck, out of time and out of money due to somebody out there stealing my packages. Yes, I mean stealing because there is no other word to use when things happen once, it's an incident, when they happen twice, it's a coincidence but when it happens multiple times then I called it stealing.. Well, I'm done with my rants today, I lost hope on the system but I still have to keep on doing what I do.. Some more styling, accessories and prop shopping. Gotta sew something today and go on with ideas for upcoming shoots.

Make your own... - Do it yourself - latimes.com

2012-03-09T08:41:00.001-08:00

Make your own... - Do it yourself - latimes.com

Deciding...

2012-02-24T07:51:00.002-08:00

I have been absent all last week, deciding on projects. I think I need to enter a few contests and maybe squeeze a photo submission in there but the most important part is going to be deciding on which images to turn in. Selection of images always takes a toll on my well being. it's difficult to decide and commit to one single shot for submission. I personally always have a tough time narrowing down to one shot per look from a photo shoot but it's a job that needs to be done. t doesn't matter what one personally wants to keep and thinks it's so "awesome" but what in the real whorl will work the best from that shoot.

I always look at the image as a whole not as individual part of a shot. For instance, I look at the concept and the execution then I look at the image for 30 secs and move to another task at hand, if I can remember the image after 5 minutes of not looking at it then I know the image stays but if I can not recall it at all then forget it, and move on.. find another image that works because the current one is too weak.

Anyways, I guess this weekend will be selection and coming up with titles and such.

EASY FIT YOGA PANTS « Weekend designer

2012-02-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

EASY FIT YOGA PANTS « Weekend designer

Free lingerie, nightgown, camisole, bra and pajamas sewing patterns

2012-02-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

Free lingerie, nightgown, camisole, bra and pajamas sewing patterns

Need to gather some supplies

2012-02-17T07:29:00.001-08:00

I am currently looking at the ideas for the shoot. I need to start on production soon which it means, gather supplies, buy elements and construct things. I'm in the mood board process right now, sketching the looks and the scene. I need specifics for the wardrobe. This has kick started my creativity and I'm spending some time researching the current trends and putting together the rest.

Another Mexican Peasant Blouse/Dress « Nicely Done

2012-02-17T07:21:00.000-08:00

Another Mexican Peasant Blouse/Dress « Nicely Done

Cool link for the sewing aficionados out there