What I Love About New York #3: Century 21

Now I know that most people hate Century 21, my boyfriend tends to run for the door after 5 minutes of the insanity, but I LOVE it. Century 21 is amazing, for a certain kind of shopper. You have to be a person who enjoys digging through rack after rack, who's main thrill in shopping is finding pieces 90% off and who is not afraid of being rude and pushing through other shoppers. I am a sale shopper, through and through. My father is very stereotypically Jewish, and I was raised to buy everything on sale, I never pay retail for anything, and I've always gotten a sick pleasure out of rummaging through outlets, thrift stores, sample sales, etc.

Yes, it's crowded, frustrating and overwhelming, and you really have to come in with a plan. I bring water and a snack, and plan to be there for hours. Finding the hidden gems required flipping through every item in every rack, but to me finding Adam Lippes cocktail dresses for $20, Helmut Lang tanks for $15 and a Margiela skirt for $24 is always, always worth it. Although I will say, anythign in a delicate fabric tends to get destroyed here, and it can be really painful to see these gorgeous chiffon and silk dresses just destroyed.

Not that it's an original idea but,

A tradition that I'm trying to start is taking a picture of me with the crew and models after I wrap a shoot (even though that's when I'm at my sweatiest). I just think having one for every shoot would create a nice collection over time. Here's where I'm starting:

Let's Shoot Some Porn.

I just applied for some reality show put on by PLAYBOY TV where you win a spread in playboy magazine. Here's what the Craigslist ad said:

PlayboyTV is now casting beautiful women and talented photographers for a sexy new reality series called “Playboy Shootout”! Have you always dreamed of having your own layout in the pages of playboy magazine? Well, here’s your chance!!

I'm dying at the thought of actually doing this. I've never shot porn/glamor, nor do I have any real desire to, but the thought of a playboy tv show was just too hilarious to not try out. That or the $500/day stipend. But I've watched a lot of reality tv in my day and am just imagining the ridiculous challenges this show would have, and the types of people that would sign up. It's almost enough to wish for a phone call from them. Almost.

What I Love About New York #2: Public Pools

As a Californian, I've been dying this whole summer for some swimming, but it wasn't until is surpassed 90 degrees today that I finally decided it was time to venture to one of the pools. I've never been a public pool before, as they don't exist in small beach towns. It takes 3 trains to get to Red Hook from where I live (I think the subway system in Brooklyn might be my next blog because I hate it so much), and standing in a line just to get into the rec center wasn't too promising. But I have never seen a bigger pool in my life, and even with hundred of people there, there was plenty of room. It's very loud and there's a mix of so many different kinds of people and the lifeguards are constantly blowing whistles, but I loved it. Maybe because it was the only time all day that I wasn't sweaty, but I am totally sold.

Beauty test with Alli from Q Models

Shot this test yesterday and somehow finished the images this afternoon. I love retouching when I have good lighting and no background, so much easier. After the team left my floor was covered in sticks, flowers, leaves, etc. I just left the mess overnight and went straight to looking at images, sorry roommates!

Also I just love the girls that Q has been sending to me.