independent designers
As I mentioned in my previous post, Finnish designer Mirjam Lehtonen had lent me some pieces to use for styling a music video. To thank her, and make the most of the costumes, I shot some self portraits, some of which also included other pieces we borrowed for the video, styled in a different way (those pieces I've mentioned below the images, everything else is by Mirjam).
Mouthpiece by Bakeneko Designs
Mask by Bakeneko Designs
Feathers by Lovechild Boudoir
A little while ago I received a package from Insomnia Cosmetics, an indie makeup brand made in Hawaii.
These vegan and cruelty free cosmetics range from lipsticks to eyeliners to glitter, with some gorgeous rich colours to choose from.
I received the Basic Bitch lipbalm (which I use almost every day), the Witch Hunt Lipstick (worn here), Minx Lipstick (worn here), Mauvelous Lipstick (worn here) and the Bluejay Liphaze and Insomnia Birthday Glitter, which are featured in this post.
The Bluejay Lip Haze, seen on it's own above, is a pastel blue liquid lipstick. Personally I wouldn't normally wear the colour on it's own without lining my lips (see below), but I wanted to see how it would hold up.
For light coloured lips like this, there's always a chance that it'll either merge too closely with skin, or look too washed out, but this colour really popped. It applies like a liquid lipstick, and I used the wand that comes with the product to apply. It is incredibly smooth, easy to use, and it only needed one coat (some other liquid lipsticks require a few). It didn't dry completely matte immediately, but that worked well because it allowed me to blend the darker liner in afterwards. Once it had dried, it didn't budge.
I used a dark blue liner (I used Sunrise Blue liner from NYX Cosmetics) and a tiny touch of Tako pigment from Sugarpill, then used the Insomnia Birthday Glitter for the lower lip.
The glitter is a midnight blue with flashes of copper, which you can see above! I particularly love the art deco-esque jar for the glitter.
And finally what it looks like with gloss!
Definitely check out Insomnia Cosmetics on etsy, I've got my eyes on some of the grey-toned lipsticks!
It was roughly late 2011 that I first started seeing Karolina Laskowska's work popping up, and I was instantly intrigued by her lingerie style. In Jan 2012 I had the chance to shoot some of her pieces on Miss Miranda (see above and below), and loved seeing the lingerie up close!
Although still completing her Contour Fashion degree at De Montfort, Karolina has already built her brand and quite a following. Her designs are luxurious, with more than a touch of bondage inspiration. At the moment she sells frame bras, strappy playsuits (including the bad-ass Pentagram playsuit) and harnesses, but I love watching her one-offs and design processes via her facebook.
Unfortunately I only have one piece from Karolina (so far!), which was a sample frame bra, with gorgeous gold lace. I don't really wear enough lingerie as outerwear, but I definitely have my eye on the Kordelia Harness!
Wearing the bra as outerwear, on my way to the UK Lingerie Awards!
Hat by Lily Lewis, Bra and brief by Playful Promises, Waspie by Velda Lauder, Suspender belt by Kiss Me Deadly.
Hat by Lily Lewis, Lingerie by Fraulein Annie
Bra and brief by Kriss Soonik, Waspie by Playful Promises, Suspender belt by Kiss Me Deadly
Gown by Ayten Gasson
Bra and brief by Miss Mandalay, Girdle by Kiss Me Deadly
Hat by Lily Lewis, swimsuit by Paolita
What do you think?
Eustratia's Opulence collection, shot by Katelizabeth Photography
The full line up at London Fetish Weekend 2012 - Image by Dafydd Owen
Image by Tigz Rice
I thought I'd also feature some of my favourite pieces from the Opulence collection. These were shot by Katelizabeth Photography and feature the designer herself, under her modelling name Biomechanina and Sevensin.
