I Shoot My Own Reality: Channeling Frida Kahlo

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.” -Frida Kahlo

I'm thinking of you too Frida...

I leave you my portrait so that you will have my presence all the days and nights that I am away from you.
-Frida Kahlo

I love you more than my own skin.

-Frida Kahlo

...

I hope the exit is joyful and I never return

-Frida Kahlo

Photography by Isabella and Lauren Rangel

Vision by Las Tres Hermanas (Bridgett Rex, Lauren Rangel and Isabella Rangel)

Street King ♔: The Full Spectrum

I will be the first to admit that I have a color addiction. Therefore, when I saw this quite colorful man with his cool Queen, I couldn't resist walking up to them and asking if they could put down their  In-n-out burgers for just a second so I could capture their fun attires. 

When I asked the color King where he attained his outfit, he laughed are responded, "this? this is old, I got in New York ten years ago!" He also mentioned that typically he would never wear his flip-flops with such an outfit. What I love about his outfit is that the color of his top reminds me of a melting popsicle (the kind we used to have as kids) which stirs images of summertime! 

The Queen I met was incredibly amiable and I knew at once we would get along because she got her accessories at Forever 21 (who doesn't love Forever?). 

The King of color added the peacock feather to his hat because he just "loves peacock feathers."

Most of my favorite Kings and Queens I document are completely on the fly and it's important to know because it just goes to show how interesting Davis can be!

<3, ♔ B

Sun ♕ Reincarnated: Liberace

I cried all the way to the bank.-Liberace

Hello Sun Kings and Sun Queens! I would like to point out how King Louis XIV was reincarnated through many Queens and Kings since his existence here on earth. Today, is a tribute to Liberace. He is the perfect person to start with because of his wonderful eccentricity, uncomfortably flirty eyes, and showy capes.  

"Mr.Showmanship" was a singer/pianist/entertainer who's career began to bud in the 40s and 50s when as a night club entertainer. However, it wasn't until the 70s/80s that he truly bloomed into a world-wide, blindingly sparkly sensation.  

But really, seeing is believing. Just take six min of your time (if you can handle it :P) and just see how he drips eccentricity in his clothing, masters flamboyant manor-isms and wows with his extravagant costumes. He is such a Sun King! King Louis himself was heavily involved in theater and had a deep interest in costumes.

Extremely inspired by the cheeky charmer? Fashion wise, his look is easy to incorporate. The Liberace look can be acquired or incorporated into your wardrobe with a little bit of silk, hardware and bling. 

The trousers  (shown above) are both the perfect color (gold is bold!) and cut in attaining the "Liberace look". Think 1800s disco...Liberace was a funky fusion of Roccoco with a 70s twist. The Isabel Marant peasant top is perfectly boho chic on its own but with the jewelry and and textures of all the pieces combined, it shines true like Liberace! As for the bling, the bigger the better. 

<3,

♚B

Street Queen♕: Photoception

Song to listen to as you scroll: 

As I was casually biking home from work, I immediately squeezed the hand brakes and turned my bike around when I saw this brilliantly dressed lady. When I biked up to her, I tried to suppress my excited loony eyes so she wouldn't be weird-ed out... and to my relief, she let me photograph her!

Of course, my favorite part of her outfit was her top and OF COURSE ...it was from Anthopologie! I am notorious for picking people wearing Anthropologie items. What is special about this top is that it is by New York based photographer Sarah Ball. 

Ball is well known for her photographs of the south and this bright Queen is donning a photograph printed top! I thought it was pret-ty pretty. 

But then again, so was everything she wore! Her hair was a wonderfully bright red with a great textured hair clip and for her other accessory she wore a strikingly cool snake bracelet. 

I am so glad I had my bike that day so I could catch up with her. 

One crown fits all. ♕

Street Queen♕: Booking It

When I was waiting to cross the crosswalk home, I saw this petite Queen pass me, and I got so excited because some of the best parts of outfits are not necessarily jewelry or clothing. This Queen was reading on the go. (You'll notice she has her fingers holding her place in her book). 

I was so honored that she stopped her adventure to let me take some photos of her! I feel that the most unique piece in her outfit is her brown pants. I thought they were vintage but silly me...they are Urban Outfitters pants! I've always been into vintage and I keep forgetting vintage is the new new. 

Her outfit inspired me to simultaneously drink coconut milk, read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and listen to Joy Division.  

I think this might be because great fashion IS a lifestyle and this Queen reigned the streets. 

Full-Gown Fashion Fusion

Designer Rory Castillo held a fashion show at Lounge on 20 that benefited The Leukemia & 

Lymphoma Society. Models of all ages and ethnicities donned the delightfully creative designer gowns. 

Each gown was unique in their own way. But what I really enjoyed was the use of textures. In part because of heavy attention to detail such as beading, knotting, and other fabric applications, the clothes echoed traditional Middle Eastern styles while at the same time also resembling clothing from more Hispanic regions. This made for a fun and appealing twist!

It was apparent in both the excellent fit and color of dress chosen for each model that Rory Castillo truly not only cares about the craft but the wearer as well. 

Lucy Garcia and model/activist Maria Luna

As Fashion Week Las Vegas mentions in an article, Rory Castillo is extremely active in promoting and showing at charitable events. In my opinion, this is what makes a great Sun King. A man not only utilizing his talent but using it to help others in his community. I dub Rory Castillo Sun King of the week!

 

Bravo! Bellissimo!

Oui! I did have have fun!

What a better event for The Sun Queen to cover than at a French market? After-all, the inspiration for this blog was King Lois XIV of France. ;).  

The event took place at the Janet Pomeroy Center in San Francisco. 

 

There were quite a lot of amazing vendors including those who sold French candies, French styled bags, French food and of course, French desserts. 

^Model wearing the official Sun Queen crown

Everything was beautiful even then way the shoes were placed on the ground. 

Spectator Fashion! The lovely lady said she bought all of her adornments from Neiman Marcus and that her husband bought his pants from Italy. Aren't they dressed divinely? 

Overall, the fashion show was both fun and exciting! 

bɔn‿ivɛːʁ a.k.a Bon Iver

Bon Iver played at Freeborn Hall at UC Davis on Tuesday April 12th. I must say, although I do appreciate his music...he puts on a fantastic show (so for those of you who are totally gaga about his recordings...this show was a special treat!)

I was mesmerized by the little lights they had on individual stands.  They would alternate colors to echo the psychedelic backgrounds projected onto the hanging material. 

Crowd fashion was fun to look at. 

When I approached this guy I said "Hi. I really like your mustache. Can I photograph it?" He said "yea", pinched the ends and began to twitch it. ^_^ There was a lot of facial hair at the Bon Iver concert. Lots of beards. 

I had Mr. Vernon sign to "The Sun Queen" ;) (front of ticket). I also had the violinist sign (back). He wrote "owner and lover" because I let these wildly starstruck groupies use my pen to have him sign their stuff (owner of pen)....but whats awesome is I got to keep the pen he touched ;P!

Me and these two pretty chicas united over the ever so talented Justin V. 

He was signing some pretty kooky stuff like this girls crochet needles. He also signed some body parts,  random pieces of paper and a beer can case. 

Overall, it was a superb show and especially after getting signatures it was definitely worth $40.

-♔