Confession: I have never been able to properly pull off a red lip. Pink, purple, burgundy, even orange, I’ve managed to (mostly) master. But red? I look like a naughty toddler playing in mommy’s makeup. It just never seems to look rose-blossom right.

Until…Amy of Cincy Chic invited me and a few other lady-bloggers to The Bridal Studio to have our makeup–including the Perfect Red Lip–done by pros Mollie and Nancy of FACEing.

Reds, reds everywhere…

Gettin’ my makeup did

Marsha and Brock of Style Edit

Photographer April Smith was there to record the transformation, and Brock and Marsha, Kate, Amy, Julie and I posed and preened for the camera like pros.

 This is how you give good glam, bitches

You can show off by posting a picture of yourself wearing your Perfect Red Lip on Cincy Chic’s Facebook page! When you do, you’ll be entered to win two tickets to the sold-out Go Red event on February 3rd, a $50 gift certificate to Stone Creek, and a personalized FACEing makeup class gift certificate. Bonus entry if you make your Red Lip Pic your profile picture!

I made Mollie and Nancy of FACEing and photographer April Smith take a turn in front of the camera

Mollie used a combination of Revlon Crimson and Laura Mercier’s Neutral Brown liner on me (plus false eyelashes–my first time wearing them!). What shade(s) do you use for a red lip?

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The combination of patterns and silhouettes from this clothing line is so appealing; I know my fellow party people know how this one goes; Wallpapering only a portion of the wall seems like a much better idea than trying to cover a whole friggin’ room;I can feel myself slipping into a vacation state of mind and there’s nothing I can do about it; The layers of color and chiffon on this dress are reminiscent of a tattered princess; The artistic version of string theory seems pretty legit.

Find more creative inspiration at stylesample.tumblr.com!

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I just realized how weird it is that I never pay attention to the menswear collections, when it’s well documented just how much I love menswear. That’s gotta change, no?

The tailoring makes for an easy crossover, and most of the styling can be applied to women’s RTW–blazers, vests, trousers, and sweaters are all things most women wear anyway. Trade flat shoes for a platform heel or high-heeled brogue, add a sparkly piece of jewelry and bright lipstick, and you’re all set!

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Something about my favorite Monchichi fur vest feels rugged and glamorous at the same time. That weird style dichotomy is what keeps me coming back to it again and again.

Vintage vest and gloves; thrifted oxford; Forever21 skirt; Limited cardigan, Rupert Sanderson boots; earrings from The Little Mahatma

Do you have any pieces that work dressed up OR down? How do you wear them?

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The intricacy and detailing on this blouse is giving me LIFE; I’ve been seeing the ol’ chandelier-in-a-birdcage trick a lot lately, and I think it’s growing on me; While it’s important to distinguish “mine” and “yours” ice cream spoons, all of the actual ice cream is definitely mine; Sorry to break it to you, but this is what your old friend Teddy Ruxpin’s skull looks like; I love the unusual take on traditional design in this multi-setting ring; Anyone standing on this ornate, gilded balcony is required to flippantly suggest that people eat cake.

Find more creative inspiration at stylesample.tumblr.com!

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Time for another round of “Ask T”! This is not so much a styling question as it is a stylist question:

Hi Tamia,

I really like your work in A-Line magazine!  I’ve always wondered how you get the clothes for photo shoots. Do you have to buy a bunch of stuff? If so, who pays for it and where do you keep it?

~K

Hi K,

I’m freelance, so I usually pitch an idea or concept for a shoot, then the editor suggests tweaks/adjustments according to the timing and theme of the issue. From that point, it’s my job to set up the shoot, including a date, location, photographer, models, hair and makeup artists, and of course, clothing and accessories.

The clothes are “pulled” or “sourced” from local retailers since it’s a local magazine and we’re too far away to work with showrooms and designer PRs in NY and LA.

So, instead of flipping through lookbooks and picking the skirt from Look 4 and having it messengered over (apparently, even when that’s possible, it’s a hassle–hence services like The Runthrough), it’s more about researching boutiques, visiting retailers to make an introduction, and getting a feel for the type of merchandise each shop carries.

Pictures and Pick-ups

For each shoot, I pick out several looks (outfits) from local shops, including clothes, shoes, and accessories. There’s a lot of running around, jotting down notes and taking pictures of various items at each store to keep track of what’s out there and which shops have what I’m looking for!

Once I figure out which pieces will work best together, I pick them up from each store the evening before the photo shoot. The items are loaned, meaning they’re returned to the shops after each shoot. There’s a merchandise loan form that we use to keep track of the stuff we borrowed and guarantee their safe return, or payment if something happens. Nothing has ever happened, but it’s nice to have backup in place!

Styling for publications in a city like Cincinnati requires a slightly different process than it would in a place like NY or LA, but I’m fairly anal about the way I like things to be organized, so it all works out!

Hope I answered your question!

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I don’t remember the first time I saw an episode of Golden Girls, but I clearly remember sitting on my parents’ bed, trying not to laugh at a raunchy joke the sharp-tongued Dorothy Zbornak made at the expense of one Ms. Blanche Devereaux. I stifled the laugh because I knew I wasn’t supposed to “get” the joke, but I did. I always got Dorothy’s jokes, ’cause she was a smart-ass like me.

Since Golden Girls was an ’80s show about a group of retirement-aged women, the wardrobe was always…interesting. Lots of sequins and chiffon, of course. And while I appreciated Blanche’s predilection for form-fitting spangles, Dorothy’s oversized cowlneck tunics and slouchy Hammer pants seemed like the senior citizen version of downtown cool. Count me in:

Plastic Island dress; ASOS trousers; Allen B. top; DKNY heels, earrings from High Street

I’m definitely a Dorothy, cheesecake cravings and all. You?

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I don’t know where this oceanfront villa is, but I know I want to go to there; I love this photo, but my cat looks at me like I’m crazy when I try to pose like that; What’s not to love about a hipster muppet that looks like it stepped out of a Fiona Apple video?; Gold-tipped drusy quartz seems sophisticated and just mystical enough; Elephants and flamingos have unexpectedly become two of my favorite animals (I mean besides cats, of course); When it comes to style, sometimes more–turban, fur gilet, scarf dress, gold bag–is MORE.

Find more creative inspiration at stylesample.tumblr.com!

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I went to see Tim Gunn speak at Smart Talk Women last night (big thanks to Erin for hooking up the tickets!) and was extremely impressed by how down-to-earth and funny he was as he talked about his books, Project Runway, and all sorts of, um…entertaining stories involving Anna, Andre, Heidi, et al.

He shared so many funny stories and such good advice that I couldn’t tweet it all, but I gave it a shot!

Zach and I chatted while waiting in line to meet Tim (I called him Mr. Gunn and he immediately insisted I call him Tim), and he was just as lovely and accommodating up close. I seriously want to shrink him down and carry him around with me all day so he can tell me amusing anecdotes about the over-the-top behavior of fashion industry folks. Make it work!

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I’m still working on adding color to my wardrobe, and right now I seem to be obsessed with bright bottoms like this red skirt and those green jeans. I’m pretty proud of myself for (mostly) sticking to my palette!

H&M sweater; Forever21 skirt & earrings; Jessica Simpson Boots; eight sixty striped top. Who says I’m not a mallrat?

Sometimes I have to laugh at myself, because anyone who’s ever taken self-portraits in public knows it can be embarrassing, empowering, and downright amusing all at the same time. Props to my fellow bloggers who have the cojones to hit the streets with nothing but a tripod and a dream.

Speaking of a dream, the Cincinnati Boutique Sale starts tomorrow! I bought what turned out to be my go-to summer shoes for, like, ten bucks at last year’s sale, so I can’t wait to see what I can’t live without this time around!

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