Happy Wednesday! If you're lacking in the inspiration department maybe these photos will bring something out of you. The wild movement of the hair is so inspiring to me. It brings out the feeling of freedom.
What is inspiring you lately? 
Images: Tiefgang, unknown, StyleCaster
I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately in regards to AVE Styles. If you read the Desert Rendezvous post you probably could deduce that. I value honesty and transparency, and when people take off their masks usually the best conversations come about. So, in light of that truth I'd like to be honest with you. Being known is something that has always driven me since I was a kid. The desire for someone to notice me. I think it drives a lot of us, actually. I suppose that's why social media is so successful. In my heart I know, however, that the desire to be known is a greater and deeper longing that can never be satisfied by success in the fashion industry or even marriage and motherhood. And yet time and time again I find myself down in the dumps because the numbers aren't what I want them to be or that my project didn't get published or someone didn't pick me to be a part of a collaboration...blah blah blah.
Here's a quote I read from this amazing book about radical stories of love. "I've learned that God sometimes allows us to find ourselves in a place where we want something so bad we can't see past it. Sometimes we can't even see God because of it. When we want something that bad, it's easy to mistake what we truly need for the thing we really want." - Bob Goff, Love Does
When I start to think what I really want vs what I really need it puts things in perspective. What I really need is purpose in this life, and I know that it's only found in God. Everything that I do (wife, mom, stylist, friend, daughter...) is all for a greater purpose. And sadly, what I have been wanting is just recognition. If you're wrestling with the same thing, let me pose a question. What if you get the recognition you dream of? Then what happens? I promise you that you'll only want more and it will never satisfy. Pinky promise. Seriously, you'd think almost a million followers on Pinterest would be enough wouldn't you.
It's a daily battle, but I know that I will win the war with God's help.
Photos by Jasmine Star
It's not too often that you see pictures of me sportin' my favorite outfits, so I'm going to try to start posting more. Here are a couple photos from my weekend captured with my iPhone. I chopped my very long hair off into a mid-length bob. I was inspired by Alexa Chung's amazing hair. Also, earlier last week ZARA opened at Scottsdale Fashion Square, so I had a lot of fun wearing my new boots and hat. I also fell in love with this blouse from Ross Dress for Less. Boy, I sure love a good bargain.
Game changer. That's what this project is to me. A career-shifting, game-changing, spirit-awakening styled shoot with incredible talent and passion.
Last September I became a mom. I added another role to my life and made the balancing act of work and life even harder. It has taken me a year to get the hang of things, and along the way I think my styling has suffered. At the end of this past spring I found myself taking projects simply to keep my portfolio fresh and make it appear that I'm still busy. Let me tell ya, that is the WRONG reason to approach anything. Though others may not notice, I promise you will look at your work and feel dissatisfaction if you take jobs for those reasons.
Fast forward to June, my dear friend Alejandra Vidal asked me to be a part of a brand project for...wait for it...Jasmine Star! I said yes within seconds. If you don't know Jasmine Star's work and haven't read her blog you will now and you can thank me later. She's one of the most REAL and sincere people I have ever met. She is a dynamic speaker, writer and photographer that gets to work with dream brides every day.
As Alejandra and I began to plan and flesh this story out using the amazing power of Pinterest, the character and personalities of the models came to life. I was able to visualize what they would eat, drink and say. I knew what kind of music he would listen to and what she would throw on for the day. My simple task of styling morphed into art direction. Soon enough we added a prop stylist (Misha West) because we knew this project needed that kind of attention to detail. Of course, hair, makeup and a kick butt location were all figured out, and then the day came that Alejandra and Jasmine captured the story through motion and photography. More than that they captured the feeling of the moment.
You guys, this was a game changer. Watch the video and you'll see what I mean.
Desert Rendezvous with Jasmine Star from Ale Vidal - Imaginale on Vimeo.
I was never good at math, but here's an equation that I will always calculate before I decide to accept a project. Passion for the subject + Plenty of planning + Great team = Beautiful work
This styled shoot elevated Jasmine's brand even further. Seeing her pictures makes me feel something, and it makes me want to feel it all of the time. All I can say is, a new chapter has begun. You can definitely count on seeing more art direction from me and more motion from Alejandra. As for Miss Jasmine, well, that girl is on FIRE as Alicia Keys would say.
To read Alejandra's experience with the project, click here. To read Jasmine's experience, click here.
Photography by Jasmine Star // www.jasminestar.com Cinematography & Video by Imaginale Design // www.imaginaledesign.com Art Direction & Styling by AVE Styles // www.avestyles.com Prop Stylist: Misha West // www.mishawest.com Modeling by Jess Lenstrohm and Black Johansson of Agency AZ // www.theagencyaz.com Make up by Stephanie Neiheisel of SN Makeup // www.snmakeupartist.com Hair by Kim Cornwell Clothing provided by Frances Vintage // www.francesvintage.com Location (Jennifer Bush) // www.chateaustudiophotography.com
I've been on Pinterest since the beginning of 2011. It has taken me two and a half years to actually attempt an online hair tutorial. Yep, you heard that right. haha. My frustration with my hair has been an on-going thing since my mom stopped doing it for me when I was seven. I don't know why it took me so long to trust the internet with my hair, but I'm happy to say that I tried a great tutorial and found some success. I chose the simple tuck 'n roll. There are tutorials for this style all over the place, but I thought Refinery 29 did a really great job with theirs. Check out my results below, and click here for the DIY tutorial. It was SOOOO easy, and now you can see me wearing my hair this way at least two days a week.
Do you have any recommendations for other great hair DIY's? I'd love to hear them!
Inspiration and ideas by stylist Alexandra on fashion, jewelry, beauty, lifestyle, home décor and more…
