ahoy matey....my first guest blogger post

Swagger on over to ThredUp to view my first guest blogger post, a little style for a steal!
http://blog.thredup.com

an out take from the shoot that inspired the post

give back....it feels good

With the holidays either upon us, or getting ready to hit (sounds like a storm watch....which it kind of is), take a few minutes to up-cycle, and weed through your children's toys and clothes. Donation sites and centers vary from city to city, but you can google your city and find a place that will take your gently used items and put them to good use. Start with those who need things most, and can't afford bargain prices....shelters. There are women's and children's shelters around the country, and they need kids clothes and toys. Try your local church/ temple or place of worship. Turn uniform pieces back into your child's school uniform recycling program. After the purge, be mindful about what you replace your items with.

Spread a little love, warmth, and joy.

sisters emily and hannah....always lend a hand when you can.

With a collection of basics and neutrals, at arms reach, it’s easy to add pops of color for an outfit that is classic, but modern, and totally international. For tweens, you may find that other kids begin asking where your kids shop, and where they’ve gotten certain items. Originality, in a classic way, can cause quite the stir in middle school. And kids want to look a little more sophisticated than they are. The majority of the girls in schools will go for classic, european, over cheap and trashy any day. Even in 6th grade, a lot kids are following some fashion someone on Tumblr, reading Teen Vogue, or blogging. Stand back and watch the creative sparks fly!

so this was a first day of school photo of one of my girls, notice the detached look in my daughter's eyes! I was completely annoying her. she took some major chances with her pattern play in 8th grade, and the look totally works. the shirt was from a local thrift store, the skirt was jcp, the flats payless.

is this real life?....thrifting virtually

•• these are not my images, but are my collages

My local Salvation Army is pretty incredible, actually it's beyond awesome. But, not everyone lives near a grade "A" second hand place. So, I did a little leg/ finger work and found a few great resources online. One that I stumbled across, Thred Up, had such a great selection of very gently used pieces. You can sort by gender, size, color, brand, you name it! I put together a holiday look for boys and girls, add some undies and socks and you're good to go. Each ensemble, including shoes was right around $50. I hope I see some 6 year old fashion blogger out there wearing the jumper/ fuzzy coat/ pink clog look, and maybe some hipster dude will be looking awesome in his monochromatic/ fire flame tennis shoe ensemble.

all pieces were rounded up to the nearest dollar, and clothing, minus shoes are size 6 kids. take a look at www.thredup.com!

fab find friday

So this little number below is one super duper, multi-tasker. Not only is it an awesome color, and super classic, it has a funky side too. It's easy on the eyes and the wallet. I found this little beauty for a whopping $2.75 at the local thrift store. I loved the color, the moment I saw it, and I was inspired, because with just the right pieces, it would't look like a uniform at all.

So, I dressed my little friend J-Rae in it, and she looks so hip and way too cool for school. What do you think?

j. rae in her own striped/ sparkly shirt and her own funky jeggings with the school sweater. she also has her own silver converse on too.

thrifting....101

Thrift shopping is the basis for my styling with kids. Most kids items in thrift stores max out at $2.98, and half of the time, it’s buy one, get one free. So, buying second hand is economical, and I think, really fun! Some people think, that the only people who shop in the Salvation Army, have to shop there. But, I can assure you that there are stylists, prop stylists, vintage resale shops, and total fashionistas there as well. It's like digging for buried treasure!

Second hand stores can have enormously long rows of racks, and it can get a dizzying. I’ve found that the "good" items, really do stand out from the crowd. High quality fabrics tend to draw my eye, as do more neutral colors. My girls handed down all the trendy, sparkly, very pink items, and that’s the majority of what I see in the second hand shops. But, high quality sweaters, cashmere, wool, and cotton seem to be begging to go home with someone. Also, grey’s, blacks, and pale beautiful pastels almost have arrows pointing down from the ceiling at them. Many times, I see a great pale pink shirt, and pick it up to find a very expensive European label. I’ve also found plain, never worn, basic Petite Bateau shirts in grey, navy, and white on the racks. Not to mention, occasionally, I score a one of a kind, hand sewn by some incredible seamstress article, and inside my head all I hear is "OMG did I really just find that here"!

zoe showing off her skills in a thrifted tunic and shorts from salvation army , and huarache sandals from olvera st. in downtown los angeles. the hula hoop and white duct tape cost more than the enitre outfit.

uniforms....101

Uniform supply stores and websites are an underutilized resource for most parents. It’s also amazing at how many uniform pieces are recycled back into thrift stores. Whether you're private or public, school that is, there is something for everyone.

Shirts that don’t wrinkle, with sturdy collars are a great foundation for any outfit. There is a uniform supplier on the east coast that offers a varsity sweater cardigan, with two stripes on the arm, with the addition of a few patches, it looks just like a RL sweater. Also, I’ve found gym tunics and peter pan collar dresses for girls, as well as grey shorts and classic pants for boys.

Uniforms are made to endure daily use and washings, and are such a good buy!

pretty and basic....white peter pan collared shirt, grey pleated skirt and a men's tie as a belt.

In the beginning....the last part, whew!

This is my guide of what to look for and where, what to edit, and what to wear. Feel good about what you buy, whether sticking to a budget is a crucial, or your just want to be be mindful of not wasting what is already out there, and already produced. You’ll be able to be your child’s own personal stylist, or you'll be providing them with a quiver of clothes where they can style themselves in awesome fashion! Now, let's get cracking!

a thrift ensemble, minus the shoes and laces from Payless. toddler dress worn as a tunic, toddler leggings, super cute jacket, all paired with some awesome new kicks.

In the beginning....part 3

Other photographers, stylists, modeling agents, and parents have been asking me for years, where I find the clothes in my personal images. So, I usually type out lengthy lists of where I recommend finding new clothes and previously worn clothes, what I look for, and how I assemble my personal collection. I thought that it would be a brilliant idea to put all the information that I usually put in an email, into this blog!

an entire shoot of brilliant finds....will divulge later!

In the beginning....part 2

As the girls got older, my job as a fashion photographer has influenced their personal style. At the same time, my ability to shop, curate, and style has influenced what art directors and other creatives see as my personal photographic vision. Every photographer shoots personal tests- visual stories that are their creative outlet. I like to style my personal work, and usually I style the kids in the shots with primarily thrift store finds. The more I buy from thrift stores, the more international the appeal of the images. I sometimes borrow wardrobe from lines that I shoot, but 90% of the time, the clothes are from the local Salvation Army.

Lily with Zuri Model and Talent in an old PE uniform, with a crafty headpiece pompom.

In the beginning...part 1

Early on, in the beginning of motherhood, I faced the dilemma of how to dress my daughters fashionably and on a very tight budget. We had a sweet little house, that was a half a mile or so from the best thrift store in the Los Angeles area. A place where an entire toddler outfit, from top to toe, may cost $5. That’s from shoes to shirt, pants and thick cotton training pants. People always commented on my daughters clothes, whether they were in vintage smocked dresses mixed with new cardis, Target shoes or European finds. The girls were always chic, comfortable, and able to play in their clothes. To be continued....