Nylon Burlesque shoot/sisters are doing it for themselves

I met an amazing stylist ,Tiffany, in New York last October during the month I spent there. We collaboarted on shoot which was amzing! and hooked up again here in London during her recent visit. Pictures were shot by Elizabeth a wicked photographer who I have worked with here in London and who I put in touch with Tiffany when she visited New York just after me.

Tiffany had a strong vision about clothes and sent us tons of looks and references, the mood was burlesque and Tiffany has an amazing collection of 40's and 50's costume and some badass accessories as well as some amazing masks she had hand made especially for the shoot! I knew I had to bring it! we didnt want to do a straight vintage make-up/hair look, so I put my creative thinking cap on and decided on bling and fluorescent. 

I found these gorgeous pots of aqua colour in Screen Face and knew they would pop against the dark green and blue hues of two of the masks Tiffany had made from Peacock feathers.  Next stop was the haberdashery shop on Portobello Road where I picked up a couple of bags of tiny Swarofski crystals.  I have had an idea for quite some time to do an eye make-up using just jewels and this seemed the perfect opportunity to try it out and the perfect fashion story to complement it. 

I knew I could execute the look, but to be safe and work out timing and positioning of the crystals, I tried it out on a generous friend of mine who gave her entire evening over to me.  It took HOURS! I stuck seventy -five of those little muthas on using tweezers and eyelash glue I then added false lahes and shaded around the crystals to add depth and emphasise the shape.

My friend said her eye felt really heavey! so I knew we were going to have to shoot quickly to stop any moaning from the model on the day.  Luckily this wasn't a problem as Elizabeth shoots super fast! and the model was a doll and didn't complain(much).

We shot in a warehouse in Willesden where I used to live, my old landlord Mathew is a set designer/props/art department and keeps all his amazing furniture, reems of fabric and everything else you could possibly think of  there (think a posh Steptoe and Son).  It also has a studio which a stills photographer rents a corner of,  but luckily he wasn't shooting that day so Mathew very kindly lent us the space for free and we had the run of it for the day.  Photographer, Photographers assistant, Stylist, three models, make-up/hair (me!) and assistant -all females! it was nice vibes all day and we created some amazing images......check out a couple of them here!