Dress #5 Part 2

Today (3/30) Joe and I went to the park to take our own engagement photos.  I hired a photographer to do some artistic ones in Downtown LA in May but I wanted to get some simple park photos of us and figured it was something we could do on our own for free.  I was diligently going to Lake Balboa Park waiting for the cherry blossoms to bloom because I thought it'd be a great backdrop.  This year it seems only a few trees bloomed and it was looking pretty sad.  We decided we would do it today regardless if the trees were in bloom or not.  However, unexpectedly the park was actually closed for some kind of Persian Festival.  I had no idea you could close a public park.  That was rather disappointing.  Instead we drove to Woodland Hills and took pictures in Warner Park near Joe's old apartment.  We were pressed for time but took a few with a tripod using the camera timer.  I think they turned out well enough but maybe I'll try Lake Balboa Park again next weekend.

Back when Joe used to live right next to Warner Park we would go there often.  During the summer they show movies in the park and we went a couple of times.  One time when we were watching The Lion King someone's young kid walked over to us.  He was just looking right at us and then started dancing for no reason and then left.  It was really funny.  When we were first dating we used to take walks around the park at night and look up at the stars.  Orion was the one constellation I could always make out because his belt was so distinct and the stars that made it up were the brightest.  One time we could see the big dipper.  There was one star that always shined the brightest.  We called it our star but later a trip to the Griffith Observatory informed us it was actually the planet Jupiter.

For our park engagement pictures I wanted to wear my J Crew bridesmaid's dress.  Since it was so expensive, I want to try and get as much wear out of it as possible.  Of course, I also thought the backdrop would be pink trees as opposed to grassy green so even though the photos turned out nice, they weren't quite what I had pictured.

Dress #11

On Friday (3/21), I had a photoshoot with Pussycat Pinup Photography in Huntington Beach.  I did two shoots with Pussycat Pinups last year, one Pinup for my 30th birthday and one Boudoir for Joe which I gave him for Valentine's Day.  I had a blast during both shoots and couldn't believe how my pictures turned out.  When I first did my Pinup shots, Joe loved them so much he kept saying I should model professionally.  Because of Pole Fitness I'm literally in the best shape of my life and I've never felt more comfortable or confident in my body.  For my 30th birthday, I decided to mark the occasion and just treat myself to some pampering.  I did a lot of research online and picked Pussycat Pinups because their portfolio was the most impressive I found.  I picked the package that was $425 and included one hair and make up look and three outfit changes (you provide your own outfits).  I honestly wasn't planning on doing another shoot but they ran a Facebook special that was $75 off and I just decided to do it on a whim.  I had so much fun shooting and I loved the way the pictures turned out the previous two times, I just decided to do it.  This time I wanted some glamour shots that I could actually post.  We were originally going to do a beach shoot but it was pretty cold so I brought alternate outfits.  We shot the dress I brought inside of a hotel instead of her studio for a different look.  I think it's important to trust a professional photographer's creativity and vision.  So, when she suggested we get in the car and drive down to the hotel I just went with it.  Working with Beth is easy, fun and comfortable.  She tells you exactly how to pose and knows how to get the best angles to flatter your body.  I always feel really beautiful after seeing my proofs and I think it's important to have some stunning photos of yourself in the prime of your youth to last your lifetime.  I imagine reflecting on those pictures when I'm old and gray and remembering my younger years and how happy I was.

I wore my black criss cross dress.  I've worn it once before in Vegas last year.  Joe took me to Vegas on Labor Day Weekend as a belated birthday celebration.  We saw two shows there, Cirque du Soleil's O and Peepshow at Planet Hollywood starring Coco Austin.  I wanted to see an acrobatic show and a burlesque show.  I wore a red dress to O and the black one to Peepshow.  It was actually closing night for Peepshow when we went but I had no idea until the end when a bunch of pregnant women got on stage.  I guess they called all past performers up on stage to take a final bow when the performance was over.  We saw Ice T sitting a few rows away from us.  I had no idea who he was, Joe had to tell me.  Peepshow was really great.  It had a bunch of different burlesque skits based on fairytales.  There was a pole dancer, a woman who rode a saddle that was kind of like a trapeze and a guy who did silk ropes.  The dance choreography was really good.  We had previously seen X Burlesque at the Flamingo and it left a lot to be desired.  It was a really bland cheap production that was trying too hard, so we went to Peepshow this time around.  I'm glad we saw it before it closed.

I got the dress off amiclubwear.com for $15.  I think it was 50% off but the site always has sales going on.  I originally wanted to get the white one because it reminded me of Rinoa's dress from Final Fantasy VIII but the material was very thin and see through.  Even with a slip on, it was too transparent so I got the black one instead.  The front has two crosses around the neck and it zips up in the back.  It's pretty short and tight so it definitely is more of a night on the town dress.  Not really formal, just more flirty and fun.  It's made by Solemio Los Angeles.  90% polyester, 10% spandex.  Size M.  Made in USA.  I wore it with a pair of Rachel Roy heels I got off Macy's clearance rack for $29.99.  They're called Kirstyn Black Suede.  I bought them just for fun not really sure what outfit I was going to pair them with.  They aren't something I would typically wear but the animal print and gold heels make them interesting.  I was actually shopping with my friend when I found them.  They had a pair in her size and my size so we each got a pair.  We call them our twinsy shoes.

 

*Photos by Pussycat Pinups.

Dress #10

On Sunday (3/16), I went shopping on Ventura Blvd.  I needed to get some paper to make some invitations so I wanted to go to Paper Source.  There's also a Papyrus right next door but I find Papyrus to be more pricey and not have as many colors of plain stationary.  I also wanted to see if there was a Switzerland travel book at Barnes and Nobel.  On Ventura there's a really old movie theater that was turned into a Barnes and Nobel store.  They still have the ticket booth right in front of the door and the marquee with the colored lights which I think gives it an interesting charm.  I didn't find the book I was looking for but I did find the colored paper I wanted.  We had gone to the park earlier in the day to have breakfast and it was so hot I got really sweaty so when we got home I showered and changed into this light sundress.

I got the dress in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  My friend actually bought it for me.  I don't remember the price but it was dirt cheap.  Cambodia is still a little bit of a poor country and the American dollar goes very far there so everything was super cheap.  Oddly enough, they prefer American dollars as their local currency there.  She got two dresses (one for herself and one for me) because it's always better to get a deal if you buy two.  There's no sizing or tag information on it.  It has a tube top with a tie in the front.  The tie can be worn around the neck like a halter or left hanging or in a bow for a strapless look. There were tons of different designs but she got me a brown dress with an orange, light blue and yellow flowers design.  I prefer to wear it as a halter since I'm afraid of it falling down although with the halter tied it makes a kind of pinch in the middle chest area of the dress.  It actually looks better strapless without the pinch.  I don't actually think it's the most flattering dress on me but it's comfortable and has sentimental value.  I plan to keep it, but it's cheaply made and I doubt it would last a long time.

I've worn it a few times before.  Of course, in Cambodia but also to O'ahu Hawaii last year when I went to visit my uncle on a kind of family trip.  He was there with his wife, her sister and their parents and he invited me to visit for the weekend.  They had rented a beach house on the north shore and it was amazing.  I just relaxed in the quiet and peacefulness of it.  Plus, there were a bunch of sea turtles swimming off shore and I got to get in the ocean and swim back and forth alongside of them for hours.

Dress #9

This post is a little bit late, but on 3/8 I went to the mall and wore one of my jean skirts.  It's obviously not a dress but I said I was going to include all my skirts too.  I went to trapeze class earlier that day and wanted a skirt that I could quickly and easily wear over my leggings.  For trapeze class I typically wear skin tight leggings and a tank top.  Form fitting clothes are important in order not get tangled up or snatched on the aerial equipment.  There's a lot of hanging upside down involved too and the tighter the top the better so it doesn't fly up.  I did eventually end up taking my leggings off and going to the mall.

I actually got the skirt along with two others for free.  They're hand me downs from my best friend.  I forget how it came up but I think I was over her house and we were going somewhere and I didn't have a change of clothes so she let me borrow one of her jean skirts.  I loved it so much she said I could keep it.  Then the next time she came over my place she brought two other ones she didn't want anymore and asked if I wanted to keep them.  This was one of those.  And I actually do wear this jean skirt and my other favorite one all the time.  They are perfect for casual wear.

It's a Guess jean skirt.  Size 30.  100% cotton.  Made in Mexico.  I wore it with one of my work out tank tops.  I have tons of tank tops for my work outs.  Probably as many as I have skirts.  My favorite tanks are made by Gap Body and they always sell for around $10.  The one I wore is a black size S.  95% cotton and 5% spandex.  Made in Vietnam.  I also wore my ballet flats with it and my new Kenneth Cole Reaction jacket.  I got the jacket at Ross.  It was originally $150 but at a Ross mark down for $39. I also had a $26 store credit.  I didn't really need a new jacket but I love it and wear it all the time.  It's a size M.  The outside shell is 100% polyurethane.  The backing is 100% viscose.  The lining is 100% polyester.  The knit is 96% cotton and 4% spandex. Made in China.