My other life - Promise Tangeman Creative

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I live a double life. I'm a stylist AND a project manager for Promise Tangeman Creative (PTC). I love both of my jobs because they equally serve creative industries, but play to my different skill sets.

Promise is a dear friend of mine, and a HUGE supporter of AVE Styles. She not only created my beautiful branding two years ago, but she has been one of the biggest cheerleaders since the start of my business.

This past weekend PTC got together with one of our lovely designers, Liz from Liz Designs Things, who lives out in California. We just had a girlie, nerdy, creative weekend. Coincidentally, Alyssa Yuhas from WeLikeWeLove (one of my favorite online magazines and graphic designer in her own right) happened to be visiting the beautiful desert from Canada. We were able to grab a cup of Joe with her and talk shop. Can I just say how COOL it is to connect with people in person that you've only known online!?

Of course, we HAD to throw in a fun photo shoot to document the trip. We used Prom's rad chalkboard wall in her home and stayed up until 12:00A.M. taking photos.

What I'm wearing: Long-sleeved lace t-shirt, Forever 21; Maroon knit jumper, Free People; denim jacket, J.Crew.

You can see even more on Promise's blog, and I hope you enjoyed the evidence of our creative weekend adventure.

PS - I've busted out my J.Crew 8 year old denim jacket, and I'm lovin' it!

Perfect Jeans

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Why does it seem like we're always on a quest for perfect jeans? Maybe because our bodies are constantly changing? Maybe because the washes and styles are always changing? I would say that both of those reasons can be true for me, and so I'm ALWAYS on the hunt.

Well, last week I was invited to attend an event called Mirror Mirror that was put on by LEVI'S. What really enticed me to go was that they were offering free makeup and hair styling along with a jean fitting to help you find the BEST fit for your body. The event was free and smack in the middle of ASU.

They not only offered the whole styling smorgasbord, but had a little photo booth area to take a picture in your jeans and the chance to vote for ASU to win a $10,000 grant toward women's academics, athletics or the arts. Being a Sun Devil, I had to support my school, right?!

I had a blast!

LEVI'S used an interesting measurement contraption that actually measured my natural waist in addition to my hips. This way they could tell the ratio of my hips to my waist and see if I was a slight, demi, bold or supremely curvy fit. I came out as a demi, they gave me a card with my exact size, and picked out some dark denim skinnies for my to try on.

PERFECT FIT RIGHT OFF THE BAT!

I highly recommend visiting your local LEVI'S store if you're in search for new jeans. AND...if you you purchase your jeans online and use the code "sundevils," you'll get 30% off of your purchase. This discount is only for today only though. Have fun!

Why Women Love Shoes

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I don't really like shoes, and it's because I have giant, narrow size 10 feet. Thus, shoes rarely feet me, and shopping for them can take a whole day. However, I would say that the majority of women in this country LOVE their shoes. They probably have at the minimum 12 different pairs, and the numbers grow from there.

I always thought my mom was strange to have a MASSIVE collection of shoes, but after personal styling for almost two years, I'm learning that I'm the odd duck.

So, why do you think that women love their shoes? I was just asked this question by the College Times, and my answer is, "Because they know they will always fit."

Every person has a love hate relationship with their jeans. Why? Because our bodies can easily yo-yo up and down causing us to go out an buy another pair or not fit into our favorite skinny jeans. Not so much with shoes. Every time we reach for those cute boots or put on a pair of rockin' heels we can count on them fitting.

I also think women love that shoes can quickly transform their body shape by elongating their legs and making them taller. It seems that most women under 5' 5" are addicted to heels - even heels on their slippers. I would also say that women that are 5' 8" and taller LOVE flats. I'm in the second boat.

Well, there is a documentary film coming out called, God Save My Shoes, and it explores the relationship women have with their shoes and why it's the most addicting item in a woman's closet. The film even gives a peek into the never before seen Vogue shoe closet (reason enough for me to go see this film). If this sounds like something you would love to see, the Phoenix Art Museum is doing a special showing of the film on Friday, October 28, 2011. I'm definitely going, and I would love to see you there too!

Watch a bit of the trailer below, and definitely let me know if you end up purchasing tickets!

 

The Greens Styled Family Shoot

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The Greens are one of the cutest families on THE planet, and I had the opportunity to help conceptualize and style them for their family photo shoot with Session Nine Photography.

The Greens are dream clients because they were imaginative off the bat. Meghan wanted a fairytale-like portrait session, and of course, Session Nine and I were all over it. Now, we're not talking dragons and Harry Potter. We're talkin' the Princess and the Pea and forest nymphs - whimsical, beautiful, airy.

Check out this Pinterest board to see what I mean, http://pinterest.com/alexandraevjen/fairytale-family-shoot/

Once all parties were on the same page, I visited the Greens' home to pick outfits. We didn't find EXACTLY what we had envisioned, so instead they decided to do some shopping and Meghan decided to make vests for her boys and an INCREDIBLY cute romper for her daughter Brynlee (Check out Meghan's clothing line for kids!). Isn't she the cutest?!!

After a lot of picture messaging and emails filled with links to clothes, Meghan and Justin found their outfits and them some!

The perfect location for this shoot was the amAZing Rio Salado Audubon Center. It's a nature preserve smack in the middle of Phoenix. There's never anyone around, so it's easy to set up a scene.

I hope you love the photos, and I hope this encourages you guys to think outside of the box for your annual holiday photo sessions! You can see even more photos on Session Nine's website, click here.

Please email me if you would like some help picking out your outfits for your photos, alexandra@avestyles.com. I would be happy to help!