April 03, 2014

Florals & Brunch

April 03, 2014/ Alexandra Evjen

Brunch is my favorite meal, and the weekends are the perfect time to enjoy it. This past weekend I had the chance to enjoy yummy food at Ncounter in downtown Tempe while meeting a new friend, Liz Evans. Every time I visit Tempe I'm taken back to my days at ASU. I spent so many hours on Mill Avenue studying in coffee shops and shopping at Urban Outfitters. Ncounter definitely wasn't there when I was in school, but now if I am ever in downtown Tempe I will eat there. They have everything from yummy smoothies to pancakes to sandwiches. Liz and I were both in the mood for breakfast. I chose a gorgonzola breakfast sandwich and she got a tasty omlette.

Liz and I spent our time talking about photography and styled shoots. She just relocated to the area from California, and I'm so glad that she did. She is incredibly talented! She brought her camera along with her and photographed my Saturday brunch outfit.

I'm so inspired by the spring blooms all around me right now. I recently bought this silk top from Off Saks Fifth Avenue for only $25. I paired it with my Madewell skinnies, Old Navy cardigan and Old Navy flats.

Are you a brunch fan? If so, what's your favorite local hangout?

April 02, 2014

Red Carpet Worthy Dresses That You Can Afford

April 02, 2014/ Alexandra Evjen

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The dresses that walk across the red carpet cost thousands of dollars. The only time I have ever worn a dress that would be "red carpet" worthy is prom and my wedding day. I tried on about 20-30 dresses before I found my wedding dress and even then I wasn't really sure if it was "the dress." For my prom dress I had it made because I didn't like any of the dresses I was trying on. Did anyone else out there have the same trouble finding the perfect dress?

If only Fame & Partners had been around as I searched for my prom dress! I'm obviously WAAAAY too old for prom, but if I have another special occasion where I need a "red carpet worthy" dress I'm definitely checking out Fame & Partners.

Not only do they have dresses that are relevant to fashion trends, but you can customize the dress to your liking. You can change the color, you can make a dress separates, you can add sleeves, etc. Below is a little Q&A with the founder of Fame & Partners, Nyree Corby. I couldn't believe it when she said that there are over 4 million girls with fashion-focused blogs. WOW!!! Read on to learn more about what inspired the company, why she feels it's important to offer a customization option and if it's okay for 29 year-olds to were these dresses. =)

1. What spurred on the idea to create Fame & Partners and why the name?

I am a girl that loves fashion and technology. The mish mash of the two means that millions of girls are inspiring other girls, every day, with style inspiration; this is shaping a culture of girls that want an individual look; girls that are curating and creating fashion trends, not just following them.

There are over 4 million young women with a fashion-focused blog and yet very few fashion forward options for formal dresses. I wanted to bring the best of style options to young women around the world, for their special occasions; encouraging them to discover their own style profile and craft a look that is unique to them. Giving them the tools and support to do so.
We think that every girl should feel famous when she creates a look that is unique and special to her; it's kind of a tongue-in-cheek name in this celebrity obsessed world that is about finding the fame within and the partners, like confidence, that go with that.

2. Why is it important to offer customization?

Every girl is unique! And every girl should have a dress that is unique to her - we think it's important for a girl to contribute to the process of making the look her own. That's why we offer customizable dresses, plus free stylists to complete the total look.

3. I'm 29 and I want to wear these dresses. Is that okay? I can totally see myself wearing these dresses to fashion events, cocktail parties and on dates.

Absolutely! There are many Fame & Partners dresses in my wardrobe! Our customers are the fashion forward girls of the world that want that special dress for their special occasion, whatever their age.

April 01, 2014

Production of Lexi Arielle's Brand Film

April 01, 2014/ Alexandra Evjen

View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

I've styled many bridal shoots, but this is the first time I have ever styled and art directed one for motion to reflect a brand. This time I had a client to make happy, Lexi Arielle, and I had a cinematographer trusting me to deliver for her client. You'd think the added pressure would hinder creativity, but it actually pushed me to aim for excellence like never before. This is the project I am proudest of to date. I am proud because I made my clients happy, and I am proud because I didn't just pick out the clothes, I art directed this piece to the very detail of putting streamers in a tree. So, what's the process for something like this?

To start, Ale Vidal, did a great job walking Lexi Arielle through a consultation process where she gained a better understanding of Lexi's ideal client and personal style. Ale shared her findings with me, and from there I spent a lot of time looking at Lexi's website and Pinterest boards.

Lexi Russell Brand Highlight Film Pinterest

Once I had a good understanding of her style I began a Pinterest board and defined the color palette. Choosing the palette is everything for a shoot. It's what ensures cohesion. Ivory and peach were the dominant tones with bits of gold and lavender. It was the perfect pastel palette, and also in line with a lot of spring trends right now.

Claire Pettibone was the wedding dress collection that personified Lexi's client the most. Mariee Gallery is the only place to get those dresses in Arizona, so, of course, I went there. Knowing that we wanted to see motion in the bride's hair a soft, touchable hair style was important. However, braids and twists are quite popular right now, so Amber Tillinghast did an excellent job marrying the two together. Gold crowns are becoming a new trend in the bridal industry, and this one from Mignonne Handmade provided the touch of metallic to enhance the color palette and romantic quality of the bride. Soft, natural makeup was exactly what the bride needed, and Azure Shaffer did an excellent job executing it using peachy tones to reflect the palette. I couldn't find a veil that was the right shade since the dress had a peachy color, so instead we just draped peach tulle over the bride. No other accessories were needed (no shoes and no other jewelry).

Lexi loves natural settings, so we chose The Farm at South Mountain to be our backdrop for the whole shoot. The Farm balances rustic elements with elegance and grace. Not to mention, they were wonderful to work with and believed in the vision of this film.

Ale and I worked on defining two scenes that would show a lot of movement. Ale had a genius idea of streamers and then I thought a swing wrapped in flowers and vines would be fun. Hilary Lamb did an amazing job with the florals, cake and bouquet. Mary Claire and I got nice and tan hanging a bagillion streamers.

I relied on the groom's styling to bring an approachable quality that was important to Lexi. Navy complements peach well and is a perfect spring and summer choice for men. The navy blazer paired with a chambray delivered a casual yet dressy combination. Stone colored pants are always classic and still formal enough for a farm wedding. As spring is in full force, floral ties are becoming popular. I really wanted to use this opportunity to showcase how men can embrace this feminine print in a masculine way. Dapper and Dash was kind enough to lend us one of their ties, and Two Guys Bowties sent us a wooden lapel pin to further accessorize. A wooden lapel pin was our take on a boutonniere.

Once the faux wedding was planned, I made sure Lexi was styled perfectly to match. She loves maxi skirts and happened to have a pretty white one in her closet. The fabric moved so well for the video! Her peach top went along with the color palette and she added small, layered gold necklaces to bring in the metallic element.

This project couldn't have happened without an amazing team and contributors. Lexi photographed everything beautifully. If I was getting married again this would definitely be a dream wedding and Lexi would be the perfect photographer. Make sure to watch the brand film that Ale Vidal created. She really made the romance between Agency AZ models Kelsey and Daniel believable. Click to watch the film.

Credits: Brand film for photographer Lexi Arielle www.lexiarielle.co Film: Ale Vidal // www.imaginaledesign.com Fashion Styling & Art Direction: Alex Evjen // www.avestyles.com Models: Daniel Markus and Kelsey Groetken from The Agency AZ //www.theagencyaz.com Venue: The Farm at South Mountain // www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com Make-up: Azure Shaffer // www.artistrybyazure.com Hair: Amber Tillinghast // www.facebook.com/pages/Grateful-Head-Hair-Studio/116426275086567 Floral Styling & Cake: Hilary Kramer // www.hilarylambphoto.blogspot.com Assistant: Mary Claire Cook www.maryclaire-photography.com Wedding gown: Mariee Gallery // www.marieegallery.com Bridal Accessories: Mignonne Handmade // www.mignonnehandmade.com Bow Tie: Dapper & Dash // www.dapperanddash.com Lapel pin: Two Guys Bow Ties // www.etsy.com/shop/TwoGuysBowties

March 31, 2014

Lexi Arielle Brand Film

March 31, 2014/ Alexandra Evjen

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I am so proud to share this beautiful brand film created for Lexi Arielle Photography created by Ale Vidal. This is the third brand film that I have not only had the chance to style, but art direct as well. It is incredibly dreamy and romantic. Watching it makes me feel giddy and wish that I could be a bride all over again. Tomorrow I'll share the artistic process and images, but for now just enjoy the film.

Lexi Arielle Photography from Ale Vidal - Imaginale on Vimeo.

Brand film for photographer Lexi Arielle www.lexiarielle.co

Film: Ale Vidal // www.imaginaledesign.com

Fashion Styling & Art Direction: Alex Evjen // www.avestyles.com

Models: Daniel Markus and Kelsey Groetken from The Agency AZ // www.theagencyaz.com

Venue: The Farm at South Mountain // www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com

Make-up: Azure Shaffer // www.artistrybyazure.com

Hair: Amber Tillinghast // www.facebook.com/pages/Grateful-Head-Hair-Studio/116426275086567

Floral Styling & Cake: Hilary Kramer // www.hilarylambphoto.blogspot.com

Assistant: Mary Claire Cook www.maryclaire-photography.com

Wedding gown: Mariee Gallery // www.marieegallery.com

Bridal Accessories: Mignonne Handmade // www.mignonnehandmade.com

Bow Tie: Dapper & Dash // www.dapperanddash.com

Lapel pin: Two Guys Bow Ties // www.etsy.com/shop/TwoGuysBowties

March 17, 2014

Pallet Project Reveal

March 17, 2014/ Alexandra Evjen

A couple of weeks ago I shared some pictures of my Father-in-law, Rich, doing some handy work on some pallets (see post), and now I'm ready to reveal our little Pinterest-inspired project.

Ryan and I have spent a lot of time and money this past year redesigning our backyard. It's still a work in progress, but completing little DIY projects one at a time gives me enough fuel to keep going. All I can say is that we are starting love being outside more and more, and this little garden wall is my favorite spot right now.

After sanding the pallets, staining them with a clear water-proof stain and mounting them on the stucco wall we fastened metal brackets that you can find at your local Home Depot. I bought 14 small metal pots from Ikea so that the metal bracket would blend in a bit more.