How to Apply Makeup in the Dark...

Have you ever had one of those morning where you are in such a rush to apply your makeup that afterwards it looks as if you did so in the dark? Maybe a little too much eyeliner on one eye, or clumpy mascara? Well, the other day Katie-Lu had one of those mornings, and Meggasus made a comment about how awful it looked. Naturally, we found inspiration within this concept for a new photoshoot.

When we started this shoot we weren't exactly sure where it would end up. What was originally an innocent idea evolved into something a little darker....photoshoots can take some unexpected turns.

Katie-Lu begins to apply by candlelight...


Katie-Lu wears red lipstick by Lancome and a lacy, black shirt from Forever21.

When you view your life as a Vogue editorial like we do, it is always best to use what you have in unconventional ways... because the risk might make the end result that much better. Was is Biskmark who said "The ends justify the means"? Why yes, it was. We have other tubes of lipstick anyways...
Meggasus needs help...finding the toilet paper. =P

You've Got Hair in Your Face, You Big Disgrace.

"Cousin It"


Today for no particular reason at all, I found myself thinking back to my awkward days at Irving A. Robbins Middle School and how I felt on dreaded “Picture Day”. I remember stressing about how my hair… Should I wear it all down? Half up? Pull two sides back with butterfly clips? …Wearing it completely up in a pony-tail however was definitely a big NO because I risked looking like a boy with short hair if I did that. One thing was for certain, no matter how I ended up choosing to wear it, it would always be perfectly straightened and out of my face.

Fast forward a few years… Wow have my thoughts changed. When done correctly, hair in your face can increase the intensity of a photo. I’m not talking “Cousin It,” Addams family style, I’m talkin' just enough hair in your face to add mystery and intrigue in your photo. Take for example a photo from an earlier photo shoot in Nelly Furtado. (Our Jeep)


In this photo my hair creates a feeling of chaos and frustration. If it weren’t for my hair in this picture, the photo would frankly be dull. Notice however that one of my eyes are still visible!! Eyes are the windows to the soul…remember that young grasshopper.

Here is yet another example from that photoshoot back in Nelly Furtado. We were really workin the hair that day.


I love this picture. Not only is Meg’s hair in her face, she is biting it. Way to think out of the box Meggasus…points to you! She is utilizing her hair as a prop. This photo screams fierce. In this next picture Meg asked me to strike a pose and model the new shawl I got for Christmas... this is what I came up with...


Once again, the hair in my face adds for a nice dramatic effect and gives the photo some edge.

Here is another one of Meggasus to emphasize my point…


Meg’s hair in her face in this one says, “I don’t give a shit but I’m still effing cool.”

The bottom line is that hair in you face creates movement and increases intensity in an editorial photo. Basically, hair can make or break a picture... Kind of like how it can affect your mood if you have a bad hair day.

V Magazine: The Size Issue

Out on news stands today is V magazine's 63rd issue- infamously known as "The Size Issue". It's funny how the word "issue" has a double meaning. Because in all honesty, the fashion world certainly has an issue when it comes to size.

Everyone in the industry has their own opinions on this topic and just seeing the previews of the editorials on models.com caused some heated arguments.

Just take a CLOSE look at one of the editorials from the issue, photographed by Terry Richardson. Please ignore the tackiness that generally comes with Terry's photography.


For those of you who didn't look close enough, there are actually TWO MODELS featured in this editorial. On the left is Jacqueline Joblonski who is a size 2, and on the right is Crystal Renn, who is a size 12. Both models are with Ford. Surprising, right? THEY BOTH LOOK FREAKING THE SAME.

Obviously this editorial is designed for viewers to make comparisons between the models. In my mind, I've come to the conclusion that a size 12 model can hold her own against a size 2 and make clothes look amazing. But now that V magazine has proven this can happen, will the industry change?

My prediction is probably not. I'm curious to see if V will be incorporating plus size girls in their issue from now on.

But do you want my take on the size issue?

Models are super thin nowadays because when it comes down to it, the clothes are the most important aspect. Models must fit the sample size. End of story.

Designers believe thin models sell their clothing best....and as long as they are making money off of super thin models, they will continue to employ them. Which is unfortunate...because many models take it to the extreme to get booked.


And I get that there are many sides to the debate. First of all, there is this "fantasy" side of the argument, which I understand. Average women are drawn to things that are unobtainable. There is something otherworldly about fashion models....they are much taller and thinner than the average woman. This aspect intrigues women and sells the clothes. Even I agree with this argument. I would never be interested in buying clothing that made me look *gasp* ordinary, so why would I want a model to be ordinary looking?

Nevertheless, people are jumping on the "plus size" bandwagon. Here is another look at photographs from the latest issue of V, by Solve Sundsbo.

BUT I am not one of those "full curves ahead" people....and by no means will I be jumping on the skin and bones bandwagon anytime soon. There should be a happy medium. Why do we have to go from one extreme to the other? Let's compromise! Think Lara Stone, Hilary Rhoda, Doutzen Kroes.

Lara Stone, star of the most recent Louis Vuitton Campaign.

Hilary Rhoda. the face of Estee Lauder

Doutzen Kroes, Victorias Secret Angel and bombshell.

Sample size should be 4-6. That way, models would still be thinner than the average woman (normally a size 14) . Also, there would be much less pressure on models to be so thin....which would allow them to live a healthier lifestyle...maybe girls would stop smoking all the time? Starving themselves? Just a thought.

Any opinions here? What do you think?

Red Tag Sale. All Christmas brick-brack 75 cents.

To Katie and I, The Thrift Store in Bristol is pretty much heaven. we go in there and buy way too much crap, but only spend 10 dollars max, so it doesn't count. Well, a few days ago we walked into The Thrift Store with the intention of shooting for the blog. Well, it's like they were expecting us to come because inside The Thrift Store people had arranged all of their Christmas brick-brack (yes, there was a sign calling it brick-brack) into a little Christmas living room scene. They had roped the area off so nobody would enter, but we obviously couldn't resist.

Here are a few photos I took of the scenery which was clearly put there by the Photoshoot Gods. Look! There is even a present under the tree!


I found a super sparkly sweater with lots of sequins and beads and a red tag..(score! That was the 50% off tag color of the day).

Katie started snapping away.This entire shoot was meant to be. Isn't it crazy how everything matches? The tree has gold sparkles, my sweater has gold sparkles....even the chair is err, gold. The tree has cream colored bows and I have a cream colored sweater. And, as if this shoot isn't tacky enough...the lighting is slightly yellowish and dull, much like everything you find in the Thrift Store.

The Best of the Zeros (According to Meggasus)

The decade of the zeros brought us several seasons of magazine editorials and ad campaigns. It brought us memorable faces and some incredible collections. We were introduced to Gemma Ward, Alexander Wang, and Lady Gaga. We wore ugg boots, trucker hats, ponchos (verrry bad idea) and even rocked the side bangs. The first decade of the new millennium produced some amazing stuff, and I've choosen what I believe is the "Best of the Zeros". Oh, and since I make the rules around here, some categories have more than one winner. Enjoy!

Best Ad Campaign:

Missoni fall/winter 09 Hanne Gabby Odiele by Steven Meisel

oh...and Gucci f/w 08 by unstoppable duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin was amazing as well...this one's hanging in my bedroom! Models are Lily Donaldson, Eniko Mihalik and Abbey Lee Kershaw.

Best Model:

Coco Rocha :)

Coco Rocha photographed by Greg Kadel for Numero 88.
I love Coco. If I could be anyone from the zeros, it would be her. She's been in and on the cover of American Vogue, Italian Vogue, I-D magazine, Dazed and Confused, and several others! Over the decade she scored several ad campaigns such as YSL beauty and fragrance. She's not a typical beauty of the the decade, but she really owned it nonetheless. Honorable mentions: Sasha Pivovarova Daria Werbowy, Lily Donaldson, Gemma Ward.

Best Cover:


i-D February, 2008 by Emma Summerton, models Gemma Ward and Lily Donaldson

Why is this cover the best? Because it clearly states a motto we must all live by. Not to mention that this cover is just brimming with attitude.

Best Editorial:

**Please note that I choose these editorials before the people at models.com read my mind and decided to pick these as their favorites too.

I call this one, "Kicking Ass"
This editorial for French Vogue was photographed by Inez & Vinoodh. Basically, the entire editorial is just really violent.....but what makes it the best of the decade is because it is so memorable. I never open up a magazine and expect a model to be beating up a bunch of biker dudes....brilliant! Choosing a favorite editorial was very very tricky. I will probably change my mind tomorrow.

Come to think of it...

US Vogue February 2009 shot by Steven Meisel is AMAZING too. The editorials in US vogue are a little more clean and beautiful than I usually prefer, but it's a more mainstream magazine...so.... the more beautiful the better in that case. With that aside, I love the elegance and sophistication in this spread. The styling by Grace Coddington gives the entire shoot a retro, 1930's vibe. Only US Vogue could make falling of your bike look fun. I mean, I want to go fall off a bike after looking at this photo above.


Last but not least....

Best Photographer

Steven Meisel
He ruled fashion photography in the nineties and he ruled in the zeros. He is the God of fashion. Know him. He's everywhere!

Vogue Walnut Farms; "Lost in the Woods"

One of the best parts about winter wardrobe is layering. For us, it's all about the long dresses, shawls and scarves. When it comes to color, we love black, black and gray. Sometimes we'll add a little color.... like red lipstick. On this shoot we layered up so much, we didn't even feel the cold! Ok, that's a lie...we were freezing. But what can we say? We're dedicated to our art.

We tried to make this shoot more natural looking, dark, yet beautiful at the same time. We didn't want to strike any outlandish poses this time around...just simple and clean.

Here is Katie-Lu, like a gypsy in the woods.


Burrr! Thank God Meggasus had her warm scarf...

Meggasus bought this scarf on Canal St. for 5 Dollars in NYC. We love a good bargain in Chinatown.


Katie-Lu's gray scarf is from Martin and Osa... one of our favorite stores. The tan shawl is 10 dollars a la Walmart. We bought our 95 yr old Aunt Olga the same one for Christmas this year! She loved it. The shawl transcends generations.....


The sound of the beating drums grows louder... Meggasus is fearful.
Meggasus wears a feather hairpiece from LowLuv by Erin Wasson.

Flying through the Forrest...
Katie wears a burnt orange scarf from H&M. Black and gold earrings are from Forever 21. Remember, go big or go home.



The gray dress Meg wears is from an unknown touristy shop on the shore of Lake George... Ya know, one of those places that is full of Rastafarian garb and trashy tye dye T-shirts.


Numb hands. Bad idea.


Now, which way to Hawaii??


Which way to Rivendell?


Just so you know, right before we started this shoot, Meggasus fully submerged her right foot into the edge of the stream...soaking her grungy boot! :( Luckily, we parked Nelly close by and drove home...literally 30 seconds up the street...an unfortunate detour. Like we said before, we are dedicated to our art.

Keeping our promise...

AHH SCARY MEGGASUS!

So, in our Burger King shoot we promised to explain to everyone why we love this picture so much.

Initial impressions? We're guessing they're somewhere along the lines of "Ew! Meg looks dead, scary...and she has ketchup on her hands! Those McCabe twins are creeps!" However, one must view it the way we do, like a Vogue editorial. First of all, notice the fingers. Not only is Meg showing off the ring, but she is utilizing her fingers by distorting her hand in a clever way to make the photo more interesting. It is always the priority to show off different aspects of the outfit- in this case, the ring. The ketchup on the fingers attract the eye to the hand and ring, making the photo that much more interesting.

Now, take a moment to view this next photo which was taken right after this one.
These two photos are almost identical, but extremely different at the same time. In the first photo, Meg's expression is lifeless, twisted and demonic. Mindlessly licking her fingers as if she sold her soul to the Fast Food devil. In the photo above, the mood of the photo changes...her face is softened, her lips relaxed, and the lighting isn't as harsh. Her fingers are less strained. Her eyes are actually focusing on something. Here, she almost looks pretty. (Nobody can really look that pretty in sweatpants...)

Bottom line is, it is the small details that can completely change the mood of the photo. Every detail has some sort of meaning.