STYLIST

Papercut Magazine: The Menswear Issue

2012-01-23T19:15:00.001-08:00

Under and Over the Pier

2012-01-18T12:14:00.000-08:00

Here are some outtakes from my shoot with photographer Kevin McCarty and AD Rose Cefalu of Satellite Magazine. Our shoot was loosely inspired by the seminal 90's movies, The Lost Boys and My Own Private Idaho. Loved both those movies so I was excited to get started on the wardrobe story. But how do you marry the concepts of vampires(kind of a tired subject lately anyway) and male hustlers? Not too literally, clearly! It was an overcast day at the Santa Monica Pier the day of our shoot, perfect for the kind of light we were looking for. Much thanks goes out to our handsome crew, and my go-to assistant/Girl Friday, Neeyaz for holding down the wardrobe fort. Look out for the February issue soon and as always, I will be sure to post them here!

Keep it Beautiful

2011-12-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

As the year is coming to a close, I managed to sneak in one last fashion editorial with new collaborator, photographer Kyle Johnson. Our location was an abandoned dairy farm constructed by mental patients of the Northern State Hospital… I know, kinda creepy. But it proved to be an amazing location for our Mens Spring2012 story. I kept the color pallette in neutrals with a few hits of orange, seafoam green, citron. Our model was Tyler Johnson, clothing designer/bike enthusiast/model who recently shot with Hedi Slimane for AnotherMan magazine. Thanks to makeup artist and buddy Erin Skipley and Maria+Andy of Bianco Artist Management for lending a helping hand. As always, I will be sure to post the pics when published! Happy New Year to all!!

Happy Holidays to You!

2011-12-25T10:58:00.001-08:00

The Shape of Things

2011-12-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

I spent a week styling for nordstrom.com. It was nice to see so many familiar faces at their studios. The best part of the week was going through their extensive prop shoe room to style the clothing we were working with. Here are a few pics from our easy work week.

Come Along John

2011-12-18T10:03:00.000-08:00

I recently styled a two week commercial shoot for a large financial company(insert NDA here)with some of my favorite producers. Our shoot was to capture the day to day life of business owners in their environments. Our photographer was the very talented Lee Mawdsley and his trusty assistant John. Charming those Brits are.
Our shoot took us all over southern California: a wind farm in the Mojave Dessert, a construction site in Venice Beach, a manufacturing plant in Compton, medical research facilities. Here are some quick snaps I took. Also made me realize how truly blessed I am to be in this creative field, with the diverse clientele that I have, and the support of great colleagues and friends around me. I'm one lucky stiff.

Who doesn't love a Target Print Shoot?

2011-12-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

Here are a few images from the Target shoot I styled last month for the Embark Camping brand. Thanks to my assistants Siobhan and Shari for manning this Seattle set, while I was on another job in Los Angeles. Fortunate to have a solid and gracious team behind me. Look for the images in your local Target stores nationwide!

Wired Mag Dec2011

2011-11-27T16:47:00.000-08:00

Papercut Magazine: GLOBETROTTER

2011-11-19T11:46:00.001-08:00

ya got 30 minutes, now shoot

2011-10-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

Often times, when we are shooting a high profile subject, our time with them is limited. Such was the case for my latest cover shoot with Wired Magazine. Shot by famed photographer Nigel Parry, we had 30 minutes total for wardrobe, grooming and shooting our subject. I sort of love these kind of shoots where everything has to be completely dialed in; I guess its an exercise in editing. My wardrobe pull is highly curated, not a lot of stuff, just the right pieces.
Here are a few pics from our early morning editorial. Blurred effect on the subject's face-of course; and a pic of makeup artist Erin Skipley, photographer Nigel Parry, and myself. And yes, I had Mr. Parry sign my copy of Sharp, one of his beautiful photography books, that now sits proudly on my coffee table at home. Look out for the December2011 issue!

The Kindle Fire Project

2011-10-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

I recently styled a two week commercial shoot for the launch of Amazon.com's Kindle Fire. Needless to say, we were all on strict non disclosure agreements. Technology shoots tends to be this way. We were shooting in public spaces so we had built these screens to cover the device. All very top secret, all very fun. Shooting in public, specially when there is foot traffic, can be hilarious at times. People tend to be curious about what is being shot; is it someone famous? can i be in it?
The above images are a small sampling of a larger campaign. I will be sure to post more pics as it becomes available.

Seaplanes, the Japanese, and a yacht named La Dolce Vita

2011-10-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

Recently styled an advertorial shoot for photographer Gabe Sullivan in beautiful Roche Harbor. Our subject was an entrepreneur who created an energy drink, and the images were going to be used in a magazine available only in Japan. My work is kind of random that way…
Taking a puddle jumper at the crack of dawn from Seattle, we were in fjordland in minutes. The wardrobe story was a sophisticated "salty dog". Lots of Ralph Lauren, lots of wool, nautical stripes- and had to be less than 50lbs due to the strict weight restrictions on the seaplane. My steamer alone weighs 8lbs so i had to edit, edit, edit my pull.
Here are a few outtakes from our weekend shoot. The last pic is of myself and Celestine makeup artist Heidi Nymark, who I hadn't seen in years. It was a lovely weekend gig with a gracious crew.

Mens Fall Style Guide

2011-09-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

Papercut Magazine: The American

2011-09-21T21:35:00.000-07:00

Happy to share our latest editorial with Papercut Magazine. I wanted to do a wardrobe story that was very wearable and rooted in classic American sportswear, with a twist. Mixing florals, stripes, and plaids in monochromatic tones. We had a great time styling this shoot and thanks to Papercut Magazine for giving us the first cover featuring a male model.

Fall Footwear Trend Guide

2011-09-15T10:17:00.001-07:00

Fall Jewelry Trend Guide

2011-08-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Back to School, V2

2011-08-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

It's August which means school is just around the corner. I wanted to share a couple of BTS shoots I styled a few weeks ago, and the two completely different treatments in photography style. We always have a blast being given a concept so that my team and I can just go for it.
Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Back to School, V1

2011-08-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Papercut Magazine: Half Life Fashion Editorial

2011-07-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Happy to share our latest editorial for Papercut Magazine. Thanks to our hard working crew, our shot location employees, jeweler Eric Saeter, Marni, and the LA showrooms that provided the clothing and shoes. Enjoy!

Fun with Math and Paper

2011-07-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Pendleton Woolen Mills for a long time. They are truly one of those great American heritage lines that produce heirloom quality products. This is why I was so excited to be brought on as a stylist for their Holiday ad campaign. Part of my creative process is collaborating with other artist working with different materials. Enter Celeste, Lytaing and Marisa-three incredible artists doing interesting installations with paper. Our challenge was to create larger than life holiday fantasy sets, which was really fun to work on, and also challenging. How do you construct a 14foot accordion bow and not have it collapse on you in the middle of a shoot? The answer is MATH and tyvek!
Pictured above are some of our preliminary mock-ups and the finished props that I installed at Sandbox Studios in Portland, Oregon-the company's homebase. I love the shot of Celeste and her studio with all the paper cutouts strewn all over the floor. Look for the finished images in their catalogs and stores worldwide this winter!

Vanity Fair, June2011

2011-07-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Portrait of author Erik Larson, shot by photographer Tabitha Soren for Vanity Fair Magazine. In Burberry, Bauer, and Billy Reid; special thanks to Neiman Marcus.

So Very LA

2011-06-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

Here are the pics from our editorial with British comedienne Lucy Punch for You Magazine. The wardrobe was bright and poppy, thanks to Trina Turk's Summer 2011 collection, and accessories from some of my favorite showrooms. Thanks to our creative team from the US and the UK that brought the shoot together seamlessly. Special thanks to my go-to jeweler Melda G. of Covet Communications for bringing with her, a collection of beautiful diamond, turquoise and white gold jewelry from their showroom in Beverly Hills!

CHROMATIC: The Fashionisto Exclusive

2011-06-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

www.fashionisto.com

Father's Day Styling: Time to Shop for Dad!

2011-06-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots from our recent shoot with e-retailer giant endless.com. We had a great time coming up with all the props we used for this project. Click the link below to see more images from our Father's Day shoot.
www.endless.com

Inspired Living

2011-06-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just gotta google yourself and see what comes up. Which is exactly what I did while I was having my cuppa joe this morning. Stumbled on this site, in a segment blogger Anne Sage calls, Outfit to Room. She used the images from our Papercut Magazine editorial with actress Jaimie Alexander, translated to home decor. Super flattered and had fun looking at how she used the materials and textures in the wardrobe story in the various rooms. Clever!
www.annesage.com

An Editorial Cover Shoot with some Sharp Teeth

2011-06-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

Excited for the release of our latest editorial for Papercut Magazine July2011. Top secret location but here is a sneek peek of the dark wardrobe story. Lots of metallic, leather, cutouts, paint splatters, pailettes, and accessories by jewelry auteur Eric of L'Age D'or. I will be sure to post the finished images when the issue comes out in July!

New Look for a Heritage Line

2011-05-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

Recently wrapped Eddie Bauer's Fall 2011 lookbook/e-commerce shoot. Worked with a new photographer and some great well seasoned male models, Ed and Aric. If you ever wonder why models get paid so much for doing their job, you must work with a model that is inexperienced and then shoot with one that is busy and you will quickly realize that the latter are worth every penny they are getting paid. A good model knows to move incrementally and know where their mark is in every shot. Simply, they deliver. Look for the images on the company website early September2011.

Alamar

2011-05-26T22:47:00.000-07:00

Papercut Magazine Editorial: Jaimie Alexander

2011-05-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

Cheeky in BevHills

2011-05-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

We had a great time styling comedienne Lucy Punch for YOU magazine recently. Shot by photographer Mimi Lecanu-Fayet, the editorial had a cheeky yet sophisticated, old Hollywood-style wardrobe story. Lots of punchy colors, lots of high heels and jewelry, all shot in an incredible mid-century modern home in Beverly Hills. Worked with the talented hairstylist Daven Mayeda who was a hoot on set. Thanks to our gracious photographer, our crew and our hilarious Brit. Her new movie Bad Teacher with Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake, is set for release June 2011.

Hardly Magazine Editorial: Ashley Tisdale

2011-05-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Takes two to Tango, but a Dance Party is more Fun

2011-05-10T20:50:00.001-07:00

Thought I'd post some outtakes from our recent shoot with our favorite crew at Endless.com. Spearheaded by our fearless art director DJ Baker, shot by uber talented photographers Jon M., Greg M., and Paul C., and organized seamlessly by producers Erika and Kelly.
The wardrobe story was a neutral palette of whites, creams, taupes. My partner in crime, Matthew P., came up with clever wall installations and prop ideas. Makeup artist Tracey M. delivered beautifully. We are excited to share the shots when they go live on the company website in a few weeks!

One out of three pics ain't Bad

2011-05-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Let me just preface this by saying I dont like having my picture taken. Maybe it was my family's yearly appointment at our local Sears portrait studio, not sure. I am at home behind the camera. Behind the photographer, next to the art director and the makeup artist making sure our subject is dialed in. We all play a role on set and when everyone is on point, the images will look amazing. This is why I had so much trepidation, when a few months back, I was asked by a magazine editor, to be in their style profile section. After months and months of coordinating dates, availability, and strategic cornering, I finally gave in and scheduled a date to have my pic taken.
Well, this month I find myself in three magazines as a contributor. Here is one out of three pics taken. The other two, not so much...

a shoot punctuated with cinnamon rolls

2011-04-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

Just returned from styling a shoot for Atomica Magazine. The upcoming issue is loosely based on the concept of lore. We decided to tell a story of a young girl's awakening. The wardrobe and styling started with sharp shoulders and pleating and ended with a bohemian feel to it. I am super excited about two new fashion lines that I pulled from, Amber Sakai and Koch mixed with some of my standard favorites Valentino, Phillip Lim and others. I have to give a shoutout to our talented young photographer Christine Hahn who made the crew homemade cinnamon rolls for the shoot-how sweet is that!
I'll be sure the post the finished images when the issue comes out May2011!

Google.com shoot

2011-04-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, we stumble on things that make us smile from the inside. I recently worked on a shoot with photographer David Black recreating the video that spurred the It Gets Better Project. If you dont know what this worthwhile and important organization is about, I encourage you to click the link below. The shirt that our subject Dan Savage, author and syndicated columnist, was wearing is from the the Vera Project, an underage music and arts venue in Seattle. Two amazing organizations, both inspiring hope to young people. I hadn't ever been to the Vera Project before but had to pick up the t-shirt for our shoot. What a vibrant and exciting place to have in the city. Notice the pic of the sign I snapped a photo of, "I love the Vera Project because i saw a kick ass show there and had my hand stamped by a middle schooler". That visual made me smile all day.
www.itgetsbetter.org
www.theveraproject.org

it started with a Chewbacca growl

2011-04-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

What a month it has been. We have been busy at work with lots of fashion editorials and I will be posting about them as time permits. I had to share some outtakes from our shoot with actress Jaimie Alexander for the cover of Papercut Magazine, May 2011. Jamie has a movie coming out with Natalie Portman called Thor, be sure to check it out.
I decided to do a nude wardrobe story, creams, taupes, beige, punctuated with pops of color and lots of textures. Leather, sheer fabrics, wood, feathers, linen, metallics. We had over $400,000USD worth of jewelry loaned to us by British designer N.OOR. All the ladies were drooling over the ebony, rose gold and diamonds we had on set including our young and energetic art directors from NYC.
Thanks to our talented crew, the ladies of Papercut Magazine and our subject who instantly won us over when she growled like Chewbacca on set. Look for the issue in newsstands nationwide in May!

a shoot with a Disney star

2011-03-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Had a great day at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood recently styling an editorial shoot for the premiere issue of Hardly Magazine. Shot by photographer Elias Tahan, our subject was starlet Ashley Tisdale. Very sweet girl and loves fashion so we had a great time playing dress up. Thanks to our super talented crew, the various stores and showrooms for the clothing and accessories, my assistant Christine, and the warm California sun.

Synergy

2011-03-11T19:17:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we find ourselves in a project that just feels right. Recently, we worked on a three week project where the photographers, the art director, the crew and the models were all just spot on. The clothes fit beautifully, the props worked quietly, the weather cooperated. Pictured above are some outtakes of Wilhelmina model + Brazilian beauty Andressa Costa doing her thing in front of the camera. Thanks to my assistants Matthew and Kristal, client, and crew for a solid shoot.

Fun in the Sun

2011-03-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

We spend a lot of time at work, and I am grateful for the amazing bunch of peeps I get to collaborate with on a regular basis. When you are traveling for work as much as I have been the past few years, it is SO nice to work with a familiar crew. I have had the opportunity to style the Nintendo shoots for the past four years and our crew has become pretty tight over the years. Recently, we shot in sunny Santa Monica, CA. Here are a few outtakes from our three day shoot at Pier59 Studios. Thanks to our multitude of crew and models, Celestine makeup artist Juanita M., our producer Amy U., photographer Dennis W., and of course Naz and Margo of NOA!

where the smarties are

2011-02-23T18:07:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to style my second cover for Wired Magazine recently. Shot by celebrity photographer Art Streiber, our shoot took us to a non-descript building in Redmond, WA. One of my favorite aspects of my job is the opportunity to visit industries and places I would otherwise not have access to. The subjects of the March2011 issue are a group of molecular gastronomists that co-authored an incredible book on food technology and the future of food called "Modernist Cuisine". Their company, Intellectual Ventures, primarily does IP projects which they patent. There were so many inspirational things they were experimenting on that it reignited my excitement for new technology and science. Pictured above is a room where they breed mosquitoes-they are working on experiments to completely eradicate malaria in third world countries. Also included are pics of the test kitchen, our crew, and myself doing a quick fitting on one of our subjects. Look for the Wired Magazine March2011 issue at bookstores globally.

Vanity Fair Shoot with photographer Tabitha Soren

2011-02-20T10:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, that Tabitha Soren. I had the same reaction when I got a call from my agency about the editorial shoot booking. Having come of age in 90's, I was excited to see what the VJ-turned-photojournalist had been doing since her stint on the old Mtv. Our shoot took us to beautiful Vashon Island, Washington where we styled best selling author Erik Larson. It was a great and familiar crew and a very down to earth photographer. Look for the story in the May2011 issue of Vanity Fair Magazine.

an exciting new collaboration

2011-02-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share the news about my new partnership with e-retailer giant Endless.com. My team and I are in the midst of our second shoot with them but here are some outtakes from our first shoot last month. We put together a cohesive wardrobe and custom made prop story which was loosely inspired by old postcards, travel letters and correspondence.
Here are a few pics from our studio days, including our talented crew and some lovely models. Click on the link and see the finished images!
www.endless.com

frothy mug

2011-02-14T21:12:00.000-08:00

We recently worked on a commercial shoot in Los Angeles, for Miller Genuine Draft Beer with photoduo The Wade Brothers. The shoot narrative took us from an ice fishing scene, to an urban bar, to a baseball scene, and a sunny lake scenario. Lots of wardrobing to keep my team on our toes; we had a hoot. Thanks to my assistants Kelly and Erin; and our multitude of crew and talent!

Nintendo 3DS Images up on the Company Website

2011-01-30T10:58:00.000-08:00

www.nintendo.com/3DS

From Beverly Hills to the Gun Range

2011-01-14T11:28:00.000-08:00

Guess you can say I am a bit of a workaholic at certain times. The last few days have been pretty comical in the scope of things I am hired to procure for photoshoots. I am fortunate to live in a city where we have access to anything, it's one of the perks of Los Angeles. This past week, I was pulling wardrobe for two very different projects, a fashion shoot for endless.com and an ad campaign for Miller Genuine Draft Light Beer. Where does one find ice fishing clothing in Los Angeles you ask? Rancho Cucamonga of course! A place that I have never visited but was always a bit curious about because of the name of the town itself. A place where Pippi Longstocking would have visited one time or another, I'm certain.
Here are a few pics from a very full day of driving, to-do list crossing, and shopping. The girl in the middle shot is the editorial contact for the Santa Monica Urban Outfitters store who was nice enough to let me pull lots of stuff even though they are in the middle of inventory.

Soup to Nuts

2011-01-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

We are double fisting over here at Chez Stillwell this week, working on two projects. One for Wired Mag and the other for the cover of a new fashion magazine called Astonish. Here is a sneak peek for both, a collaboration with costumer/burlesque star Jamie VonStratton for Wired Mag, and the other with artist Matthew Parker. Lots of concepts swirling around, a chef/doctor hybrid and a pixellated fashion story-very interesting and a ton of wardrobe. I will post more pics from our set this week!

How I fill up my Creative Reserves

2011-01-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year friends and colleagues! What a year it has been and what a year it will be. I wanted to share a few pics of a pretty inspirational trip I had recently. I have been fortunate enough to stay busy this past year. I also recognize that all work and no play makes this stylist….tired. So I decided to meet two of my closest friends in Bali for some time in the warm ocean, and a culture so rich in dance, art, religion and Hindu tradition, that it has inspired visitors for hundreds of years. We spent the bulk of our time on our mopeds, the best way to see the island, driving through rice fields, visiting temples, sampling amazing spicy foods, and trying to absorb the beautiful life of the Balinese. Offerings to the gods are a twice daily ritual in the Balinese home. There is something so achingly beautiful about the gesture of humility and grace practiced daily. Although the Balinese are known for their fine craftmanship and detailed work in painting, sculpture, and metal work, I learned that there isn't a word in Bahasa Indonesia for "art". Instead it is considered a duty for every Balinese to be good with their hands and learn a trade. Amazing to imagine taking the ephemeral and subjective tastes in what is considered art to something more about discipline.

Here is to a year full of inspiration, Happy 2011!

Pulling Mussels from the Shell

2010-12-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

All white wardrobe, higher-end designer, twenty four looks, eight models, role and age appropriate, limited wardrobe budget and 36 hours to prep a commercial shoot in the middle of winter in Seattle. This was the wardrobe specs I received from my long time art director. Not only was the time constraint so tight on this new product launch shoot, but procuring white clothing(no creams, no off white) in the Northwest was challenging to say the least. By the time we made the early call time, my wardrobe rack looked like I was starting a cult! The shoot turned out great and I think all that were involved, the ad agency peeps, my client, the photographer, and the various arms of the corporation that were there at the shoot, were pleased. Thanks to my two very resourceful assistants Matthew and Kelley. And thanks to our various clients that keep us on our toes and working!!

A sneak peek at "Luxury Take Away" editorial

2010-12-21T08:40:00.000-08:00

I was approached to style another shoot for Kouture Magazine for the Jan2010 issue. I had two days to concept, pull, and style a six page editorial. No models, luxury items, no concept as of yet. It was on. We decided to play with the idea of disposability and preciousness. Something different, maybe artfully destroyed backgrounds with expensive jewelry peppered in the shot. Here is a raw file next to a proposed photoshopped shot. I will be sure to post the rest of the editorial when its published in a few weeks. Thanks to the jewelers and stores who lent us the beautiful jewelry pieces for the shoot. Sorry to Neiman Marcus if your diamond bracelet came back smelling like a gyro. :-)

...it never gets old

2010-12-20T08:16:00.001-08:00

Happy holidays everyone! I just returned from three weeks in Bali and now in the midst of getting back to work mode. I stopped by a Lucy store yesterday while I was pulling for an editorial and snapped a few shots of the images we styled a few months back. I have to say I still get super excited to see the images we work on being used. There is a beautiful take away look book for Holiday 2010 at the stores you should pick up if you have access to a Lucy store. Signage, website, collateral-the whole lot. Check it our here:

www.lucy.com

The Importance of Fit, Reinforced

2010-11-22T14:59:00.000-08:00

Just coming off a three week stint. We styled the Spring/Summer 2011 collection for Eddie Bauer, two art directors, one photographer, and a multitude of crew. I have always been a stickler for fit; I think you can make something inexpensive look elegant when the clothing truly fits the wearer. Hundreds of pairs of pants, shirts, jackets and accessories all being shot so micro that we spend our times, pulling, re-draping, shaking out, pinching, pinning, hemming, lenghtening, adding inserts, and all the other tricks of the trade I have learned over the years. It was a great exercise on fit. Here are a few outtakes from our shoot: our British tailor Sally, wardrobe stockist Melinda, super AD Christine Wingate, MUA Tom blowing some hair and my trusty assistant Kelly showing the bane of her existence, the faulty watch that had to be rigged so often, she would have made McGyver proud.

an exercise in minimalism

2010-11-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

I did a quick shoot last week, a very small wardrobe pull, mostly designer vintage, we shot everything...beautifully. My design sensibility has always been deeply rooted in minimalism. On this shoot, I got to visit some old friends. Yohji Yamamoto, vintage Norma Kamali, Thierry Mugler, Herve Leger, Jil Sander. Some of my favorite designers from the past. Besides getting used to working with another guy named Alvin, it was a great shoot. Trusted makeup artist Erin Skipley did a great job with hair and makeup. Rachel of SMG, a promising young model who has the bone structure of a steely 50's French model, also made the clothing sing. I'll be posting some of the images soon on my website.

www.alvinstillwell.com

Hunting Proper

2010-11-01T22:20:00.001-07:00

Did someone say seven foot bird cage?! Sometimes, it's about the hunt. I love finding just the right props, the right wardrobe for shoots I am styling. For my latest shoot, the location couldn't have been more ideal, the iconic Mountain Mermaid House in Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles. This historic house once a brothel in the 40's, a gay bar in the 70's and is now a favorite location for some of the best photographers in the world. The Calvin Klein spring ad campaign was being shot there the day after our shoot. Pictured above were props that caught my eye, our fabulous model Margarita of LA Models, and some of our prop set ups we came up with for our winter/holiday editorial.

Turkish Airlines

2010-10-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

We just wrapped a two day shoot with Turkish Airlines this weekend. With a photo/HD video crew of over 90 including numerous stylists, lots of models, extras, PA's, AD's, and our clients from Istanbul, it was a well orchestrated and produced production. I was hired to style the business/first class passengers. Nice to work on a shoot with a decent wardrobe budget! Here are a few outtakes from our fourteen hour shoot days!

fun to test, fun to shoot

2010-10-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Call me a workaholic but when I am not working on an ad campaign, or an editorial, I am testing with photographers. Sometimes, the stuff that we get paid to do doesn't sustain our creativity so I always make time to test with good photographers. Sometimes we play with color stories and treatments, sometimes with different concepts, sometimes a reference to literature, a song, or a weird historical figure. This is where the importance of shooting with good photographers come in. A good photographer will always work with a concept and not shoot mechanically. The really good ones will also shoot quick and not waste my time. LOL. Here is a shoot I did with frequent conspirator and shit kicker photographer Kathryna Hancock. The concept is still evolving and we will probably make it into an editorial of some sort but here are the beginnings of it. Notice how the model's hair is shaped like a heart, kinda cute, we might run with that silhouette for the rest of the shoot.

Zooey Mag Editorial Shoot

2010-10-03T20:54:00.001-07:00

We just wrapped the 16-page editorial shoot for new young women's fashion magazine Zooey today. This was a huge wardrobe pull spanning three states. I started in Los Angeles last week in my favorite showrooms, clothing designer from Atlanta fedexed some choice pieces, then I flew up to Seattle to pull the rest at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. I love styling fall fashion, lots of wool, lots of layering, lots of accessories. Thanks to my assistants Matthew and Siobhan, photographer Michelle Moore, Lindsey and Meghan pictured above getting their grooming on, and the great models who brought the clothing story to life. Look for the upcoming issue in early November!

Seattle 100 Book release October 14,2010

2010-09-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

Famed photographer and friend Chase Jarvis will publish his third book chronicling the "cultural leaders of Seattle" in this beautifully shot, black and white coffee table book. I was flattered to be included in the book and I am chomping at the bits to see what images they chose! It's available for pre-order on amazon.com.

Van tagged video released coinciding with the new Nikon D7000

2010-09-19T16:57:00.000-07:00

Under wraps for almost three months and in the works for over a year, my work van getting tagged in a video by Chase Jarvis and crew. The score is provided by the ultra talented cellist Joshua Roman. Awesome.

Imelda would be Proud

2010-09-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

We just wrapped a three day shoot with photographer Elke Vandevelde shooting a boatload of shoes. The weather has been crap in Seattle lately so it's kind of nice to shoot in studio.
Also, I was recently asked to style a sixteen page editorial for a new young women's fashion magazine, Zooey. I am developing the wardrobe story this week and will be pulling wardrobe from some of my favorite showrooms in Los Angeles. The shoot will be loosely based on the concept of tomboy dressing-it should be a fun one! I will post images in the next couple of weeks, stay tuned friends!

PF Flyers Holiday Look Book Fall2010

2010-09-12T12:56:00.000-07:00

Check out the new look book on the Pf Flyers Footwear website we worked on recently. Thanks to the talented photographer Quentin Smith and the entire ad agency crew!

www.pfflyers.com

Holiday 2010 for Lucy Activewear

2010-09-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

The weather has been cold and crisp, the leaves are starting to turn color and Fall 2010 is upon us. We just wrapped a four day shoot this week with photographer Jim Henkens for Lucy Activewear. Thanks to my assistants Ashley and Elena for their organizational, style and coffee retrieving skills. And a special thanks to our super fit models, two of which were in America's Next Top Model. One of them had the mouth of a sailor dropping F bombs every chance she got! Gotta love it.

To see more images we worked on recently, click here:
www.lucy.com

Beauty

2010-09-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

This was a great collaboration. My oldest and dearest friend, Dax Savage, is an amazing artist and creates beautifully organic jewelry from antique ivory, feathers, metal and precious stones. With makeup artist Juanita Lyon and shot by fashion photographer Kathryna Hancock, we got to stretch our creative muscle for this editorial story loosely based on tribal traditions and adornment. Here are a few unretouched images from our shoot this week. I'll be sure to post some of the finished images once they are worked on. Special thanks to our Ford model who had just moved to LA from stints in Brazil and Italy who was all at once gracious and served it!

To see more of Dax's work, follow link:
www.daxsavage.com

FALL 2010

2010-08-14T17:06:00.000-07:00

Its been quite warm this past week, its hard to imagine dressing in layers and wools but Fall 2010 is just around the corner! Its my favorite time of the year for fashion. Here are a few of the looks we put together this week for a fashion shoot with fashion photographer Kyle Goldie. Despite the fact that the studio was about one hundred degrees yesterday, I think the models and crew were all troopers and we got some nice shots!

A Place in the Sun

2010-08-08T11:53:00.001-07:00

So I am making the leap. A place in Los Angeles where I can have some of my own things around me, a nest, a respite from the traffic and work, a break from hotel living with my worn, seasoned suitcases. Its a great 1920's building located in Silverlake, an artist enclave with plenty of places to eat, shop, and live. The past few months, my shoots have been in or near LA so it just made sense. I am keeping my house in Seattle which will remain my home base. I have to say I am very excited about it, its reasonably close to the beach and the airport. I have a network of friends and colleagues in the neighborhood and most importantly, my only sibling recently gave birth to my first nephew and I am ready to play the doting uncle. My heart is singing.

Fashion Editorial for Alila Magazine

2010-07-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

I was approached to style a twelve page editorial for a new British magazine called Alila recently. The concept being loosely based on memory and childhood, it was shot by fashion photographer Kathryna Hancock in the Pasadena hills. Here are a few outakes from our shoot yesterday. Thanks to the amazing models, our numerous assistants and to the showrooms that provided the great clothing story.

Business in the Front, History in the Back: My Commercial Mullet

2010-07-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

I used to do these kind of shoots every other week when I first started styling. Business related shoots, in a contemporary office setting, models were ethnically ambiguous, diverse in age. It was the benchmark of advertising for many years. With the near collapse of stock photography as we knew it, my work became more diverse and really, more interesting. As I am typing this entry, we are on our second day of shooting a large ad campaign for AT&T. Shot by commercial and celebrity photographer Stewart Cohen, we are shooting two days in Santa Monica and one day in Irvine, CA. I have to say, it's nice revisiting this familiar design esthetic. I guess its like when you have been doing something for a long time, like playing the piano, or riding a bike-then you stop and start again, your muscles behave from memory. This project feels like that to me. But style without evolution...isn't. Here is my attempt to modernize a bit of the classic "office-type" looks that we see in ads everywhere.
Attached are some looks from our fittings, signage very apropos to my work, and the asian guy getting a haircut was one of our models/actors we styled. Apparently, he was sort of a big pop star in Thailand and is now selling insurance in SoCal. LA is funny like that.

My Van gets Styled

2010-07-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago, i was approached by Weirdo, a talented graffiti artist, about having my work van tagged. I had met him at a book project I was helping to style for photographer Chase Jarvis. After a few emails back and forth, work took over our schedules and had to put the whole concept on hold.
Last week, I gave up my keys for a couple of days and this is what came back!
I have attached the first initial drawings all the way to the finished piece. I think it turned out pretty amazing.

Heritage of Classic American Sneakers

2010-07-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

I love me some shoes-specially ones that are well designed and comfortable-who doesnt, right? This week, I styled an upcoming ad campaign for PF Flyers. It was great to get reconnected with the ad agency that has spearheaded the revival of this seventy year old shoe company. Known for their quirky approach to advertising, this was the perfect collaboration. Here are a few outtakes from our shoot this week including shots from our fittings, some models doing model things, and a game of chase around a ping pong table. Thanks to Ashley, my trusty fashion assistant for schlepping and steaming her heart out, our great models from the Heffner Agency and the fun Heckler crew.

Dog Days in Seattle

2010-07-01T01:35:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats the sheer beauty of the Pacific Northwest in the summertime. Here are some images from our two day shoot for Petsmart in Seattle including a mocked up holiday scenario, complete with christmas tree and snow, the photographers doing their thing, some of our shoot locations, and a very attentive and smiling corgie named Charlie! Images will be used for Fall/Holiday 2010.

This Month: Another Cover!

2010-06-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

Fresh off the presses is the July/August 2010 issue of Natural Health Magazine shot in Malibu by photographer Dominick Giullemot. Thanks to the fantastic Los Angeles based crew who made our shoot happen including my assistant Maya Cluchey from Confederacy, Trina Turk, RoseArk, Stewart+Brown, Stella McCartney, Beth Katz, Danny Seo and of course, our beautifully gracious cover girl Amy Smart.

Evolution and Collaboration

2010-06-11T20:48:00.001-07:00

I am very fortunate to be doing what I do. It's certainly been a great journey to get to where I am professionally. Recently, my thoughts have been about the amazing individuals I have worked with in my career as a stylist. I am humbled to be working with such talented producers, photographers, hair dressers, makeup artists, art directors, agents, digital techs, photo assistants, location scouts, clients and models. One question I am asked frequently about is how the whole photo shoot thing happens- and I always respond by saying it takes a multitude of talents to plan, arrange, budget and execute so that the shoot concept comes to life.
Here are a few images from my latest shoot with Lucy Activewear shot in Los Angeles by friend and frequent collaborator, photographer Sophie Pangrazzi. Pictured above are the various roles we play to make IT all happen. As I am writing this entry, our two art directors, are starting new ventures of their own. Good luck to Kelly at Nike and LeeAnne who will be spearheading the women's swimwear design department for Victoria's Secret in NYC! Here is to a year of constant evolution and collaboration!

The Epicenter

2010-06-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

What a month it has been! I just returned from a shoot in Manhattan. Muggy, beautiful, crowded, exhilirating, rich and super fun. I have always had a love/hate relationship with New York City. I have been going for many years and I often think of it as a crucible for people that are in the creative field. On this particular trip, it was a love affair.
Pictured above are some outtakes from our shoot and various people and things on the city streets. The final image is of myself and my friends Logan Neitzel(of Project Runway fame) and his beautiful muse/fashion writer, Rachelle, out for the night.

Sights of San Francisco

2010-05-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hello! I was in San Francisco styling a week long commercial shoot for a long time client and I wanted to share some images from my recent trip. I always love going back to the bay area, so rich in design, a cuisine destination, and steeped in the immigrant experience. The pics include some location shots, a martial arts guy in Chinatown, myself in a make shift office/styling station under the olive trees, my assistant Samantha getting some major air on a trampoline in one of our studio days and Sage, the sweetest sibling of a model we shot. She is showing off the nail polish job Samantha did on her during some down time. Awwwwwww!

Hare Krishna!

2010-05-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

One of the things I enjoy most about being a stylist is sourcing out certain items we need for a project. Recently, I was asked to style a yoga/athleticwear shoot and one of the props the art director requested were tapestries. This hunt took me all over Los Angeles and I ended up stumbling across the Hare Krishna Center in Culver City. There is nothing like walking into a throng of people chanting and dancing in their element. I managed to find some beautiful batiks, heard some religious Indian music, and also witnessed my very first Hare Krishna throwdown!

Lucy Shoot in Malibu, CA

2010-05-17T09:15:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! I've been on a whirlwind schedule the past few months and trying to get some blog posts in this morning. I am currently in Santa Monica, CA and getting ready for another shoot with Lucy activewear. I just returned from a week long shoot in beautiful San Francisco. A post with pics will be coming soon.
In the meantime, here are a few images from the Lucy shoot we did in Malibu this April. Shown are the various props and wardrobe story, the hair and makeup team doing their thing on set, and a blurry picture of Rachel Zoe's entourage at Marc Jacobs where I was pulling some accessories. It was a stylist showdown in Beverly Hills!

Kouture Magazine Spring Fashion Accessories Editorial

2010-05-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung and so has the latest in accessories trends! This was a blast styling-lots of textures, exotic skins, metallics, florals, shiny, matte, batik, and COLOR! Thanks to the numerous showrooms and stores that provided these beautiful items.

SuperKids

2010-04-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

It couldn't have been a more ideal day in Newport Beach, CA when we styled these adorable kids. Sun was out, kids were behaved and the beach was close by for a post shoot swim. It was lovely shooting with photographer Zee Wendell again. Here is to all the superheroes we have in our lives, kids or otherwise!

Glamour Magazine

2010-04-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

A Suitable Boy

2010-04-25T11:29:00.001-07:00

Natural Health Magazine Shoot with actress Amy Smart

2010-04-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile since I've posted, been super busy with work and here is one of the latest projects I worked on. We styled one of the sweetest actresses I've met, Amy Smart for the cover of Natural Health Magazine. Shot by celebrity photographer Dominick Guillemot in his expansive Malibu estate, we couldnt have asked for a better day. This was a fun shoot to style because Amy had asked for mostly eco-sustainable clothing and it was an education for me to source out fashionable, well designed clothing options for her. The peeps from E entertainment stopped by to film her while we were doing a fitting. Look for the issue July 2010!

Spring Fashion Accessories Story

2010-03-16T21:33:00.001-07:00

We are shooting an eight page fashion accessories story for Kouture Magazine tomorrow. Pretty quick turnaround time on this, the issue comes out in a month! It's been wonderful sourcing these accessories from up market boutiques and shops. Expect to see lots of textures, luxe animal skins, metallics, batiks and florals. Welcome Spring 2010!

Inspiration is Everywhere

2010-02-20T13:45:00.001-08:00

We wrapped a two day film shoot with Chase Jarvis Photography this week. Its the first installment of a bigger project continuing through March 2010. Thought I'd post these images from our various locations this week- the guy in this series is trying to start a fire with a camera lens, funtimes.

Today: KIDS!

2010-02-14T16:37:00.000-08:00

I spent the day corralling and styling eight year olds today. What a fun age to be, such energy and so sweet. I will be sure to post some of the final images on my site in the next couple of weeks!

A Fun Collaboration

2010-02-11T12:55:00.001-08:00

Happy February! I just returned from a great project in Southern California styling a shoot for Nintendo. I will be posting more photos as the new products are released since we are all on a non-disclosure clause-hush hush.
In the meantime, here is a sneak peek at the color story we came up with. We collaborated with graphic artist/painter/home accesories designer Pamela Sunnarborg on a few props we used for the shoot. Special thanks to the whole S3 crew, Dennis, Naz and Margo of NOA, makeup artists Juanita Lyon and De Anna Brooks, and my very special friend and assistant Dakota who flew in from New Zealand to help us on the shoot.

www.dakotarico.com
www.sosweetblog.wordpress.com

A Bit of Theater

2010-01-19T07:51:00.000-08:00

We recently styled the promo shots for Seattle Repertory Theater's staging of the Pulitzer prize and Tony award winning David Mamet play, Glengarry Glenn Ross. Shot in a Edward Hopper-esque office, wardrobe was provided by Hugo Boss. Check out this bitingly satirical play during its run from February 5th-28th, 2010.

Behind the Scene Shots: Glamour Mag Feb 2010

2010-01-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

It was fun getting two trunk loads full of great shoes and clothing from Glamour's Fashion department. Pictured above is set builder Jason Puccinelli texturizing a wall, Fashion Assistant James unpacking the crates, a small sampling of some sexy shoes and jewelry I pulled for the upcoming issue. Great crew and a fun project to style. The issue is out on new stands now!

Remember the Alamo

2010-01-05T21:57:00.000-08:00

In the January 2010 issue of Self Magazine- a nice little tearsheet! Sorry for the terrible scan, I think it's time to replace my printer.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-01T15:46:00.000-08:00

Interiors

2009-12-31T18:56:00.001-08:00

There is a look that I am trying to nail, the artfully lived-in space. We have all seen it done poorly from all the years of stock imagery, and since the last few years in advertising have been all about authenticity, it's something I always strive for. That sort of languid living, effortless but always clean. Today, I styled a high-end condominium in Seattle for their upcoming ad campaign. Here are a few outtakes from our day of shooting. Pictured above are Chanel and Laboutins chillin', my friend and assistant Matthew having his way with a party vignette, and advertising photographer Jules Frazier shooting one of the living rooms we worked on to perfect.

www.julesfrazier.com

Today: Adobe Shoot for Wedding Photographers Software

2009-12-17T22:38:00.000-08:00

Seems like I have been working so much outside my homestate that its kind of nice to do an easy peas-y local project. Two models + six looks + short day = precious downtime. Pictured above is makeup artist Jenny Verador getting her powder on and myself doing a superquick hem onset.

Money Magazine: December 2009

2009-12-11T00:56:00.001-08:00

In this month's Money Magazine, Lee Gelb of Zavida Gemstones shot by editorial/advertising photographer Jose Mandojana. We styled her in her gracious home/showroom where hundreds of amazing jewelry were displayed. If you are in the mood to pick up a statement jewelry piece AND get some good karma points, check out her company's site.

www.zavidagemstones.com

A Shoot in the Tropics

2009-12-11T00:29:00.000-08:00

I recently had the opportunity to style another shoot for the Hilton Group at their super deluxe property in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Shot by award winning architectural photographer Keith Scott Morton, we styled the interiors, the expansive pool areas, and the amazing grounds with traditional native Polynesian materials. Pictured here is Keith at work, Mamo-my new favorite Hawaiian florist, the pool area and a couple of adorable hula dancers!

Coming to a Mall Near You!

2009-11-24T22:21:00.001-08:00

I can't believe the holidays are just around the corner. The stores are playing Christmas music already! Pictured above are booths that will be popping up throughout the US this holiday season. The images are a culmination of the shoots we styled earlier this year in San Francisco and Los Angeles,CA.

Let's Go Shopping!

2009-11-23T13:54:00.000-08:00

We will be shooting an editorial for Glamour Magazine tomorrow. The subjects are a young woman, who has bounced back from homelessness and is now doing well and going to university, and her mentor. As the pull letter states, look out for the March 2010 issue where these ladies will be featured!

Nintendo in Seattle

2009-11-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

What a week it has been! Here are a few images from the quick two-day shoot we had this week for a new Nintendo product releasing in Spring 2010. Pictured is fashion student Stephanie, my first assistant on the shoot steaming like a pro and makeup artist Lindsey taming some locks.

Varilux Photoshoot in San Diego

2009-11-15T11:58:00.001-08:00

Hi friends and colleagues. I just returned from a project in California styling an advertising campaign for Varilux, an international lens company with its roots in France. Shot by advertising photographer Remy Haynes and produced by surfer/reality tv star/sometimes balloon wrangler/all around ass-kicker Michelle Fleury, the shoot took us to a beautiful beach house in Carlsbad and ending in the streets of downtown San Diego at dusk. Here are a few sneak peak, behind the scenes shots of the upcoming campaign.

www.remygirl.com
www.varilux.com

Curran Online Store

2009-10-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

www.curranonline.com

FALL 2009

2009-10-06T15:02:00.001-07:00

Editorial Shoots: Money Magazine

2009-09-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we spent styling two editorial stories for Money magazine shot by photographer Jose Mandojana. A young family in Camas,WA(Nov 09 Issue) and ex-Starbucks VP turned jeweler/humanitarian Lee Gelb(Dec 09 issue). Check out her artisanal and beautiful works by clicking on the link.

www.zavidagemstones.com

Recent Work

2009-09-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

Seattle Metropolitan Magazine Sept09 Cover