Modellounge Sept Fashion Week Survival Tote

Each fashion week the Modellounge provides an amazing fashion week survival tote stocked full of great products that come in handy during the rough weeks of castings, fittings, and shows. 

Here are the goodies from this seasons tote! 

Feel free to check out last seasons survival kit. 

Redken Extreme Shampoo & Conditioner

The extreme line is for distressed hair. Which is exactly what your hair is after fashion week. I feel that this shampoo really helps keep my hair soft and healthy. It doesn't dry it out like a lot of other shampoos do. I plan on continuing to use this product. 

Ice Breakers Duo Mints

I eat these pretty much like candy. They're delicious. What's fun is the to share and not to share sides. That way other people aren't taking all of your mints when they try to bum one off of you. 

Ice Breakers Ice Cubes Gum

These are also pretty tasty. They're great to quick refresh your breath before running into a casting or job. 

Wisp 

These are one of my favorite products. They're a lot more powerful than I had expected. Perfect for refreshing your breath. I also like the pick that is on the end to help remove any left over food. 

Biore Make-up Removing Towelettes

Is it not uncommon for the make-up team to roll out before the show is over. Leaving you on your own to remove the crazy make-up they've left on your face. Make-up remover wipes are a perfect way to have your face a little more subway friendly after a show. For me personally, this brand is a little harsh on my skin. 

Precision QTips

These are great for removing make-up or nail polish, make-up touch ups, cleaning jewelry, painting, and a world of other uses. 

Tampax Radiant Tampons & Always Radiant Incredibly Thin Liners

Feminine products are always appreciated. Always. 

Fashion Tape

Fashion tape is one of those industry secrets. It keeps your boobs from popping out, jewelry in place, and shoes on your feet. The uses are endless. 

Schick Quattro Trim

The cool thing about this razor is that along with the typical razor blade, there is also a trimmer. 

Kleenex Tissues

These are going to be amazing to have as the weather turns colder. Or, if you have ever been in the Lincoln Center tents you know that it is practically winter in there. The A/C is pumped so high that it gives you a runny nose. 

Vaseline Body Lotion

This is a great carrying size. It is easy to slip into your bag and quickly apply before hitting the runway. 

Clearasil PerfectaWash

This product is awesome. It is an automatic face wash dispenser. What's better than having soap put in your hand for you? Then when you are washing your layers of runway makeup off and need a little more soap, there's no fumbling around for the soap bottle. Plus it comes with two great smelling soap options, soothing plant extract and superfruit splash. 

Redken Dry Shampoo

I love dry shampoo. If you have dry hair from dye or heat then you want to avoid washing your hair too often. Dry shampoo fills in the gaps between washes. I like that this one has a slight minty smell to it. Sometimes dry shampoos can be too much. This one nailed it. 

Redken Hairspray 

What girl doesn't need hairspray? This is perfect for those big curls. 

Evian Facial Spray

I'm really excited about this product. My skin gets pretty dry. Specially as the weather becomes colder. Any product that keeps my skin hydrated is really appreciated! 

Purell Hand Sanitizer

If you have ever ridden the NYC subway you know some of the outrageous things that happen down there. It's beyond disgusting. When you're running around to 20 places a day during fashion week, there isn't too much extra time to wash your hands. 

OPI Nail Polish Remover

Just like make-up artists leaving you on your own to remove your make-up after a show. You're on your own to remove your nail polish. Every client always wants clean nails. When you have 3 shows a day it's impossible to show up to every show with clean nails. This carrying size makes that possible. 

Totes Micro Umbrella

This guy folds up into the perfect purse size. It's easy carrying size means that I can keep it in my purse and never be drenched again! 

5-Hour Energy

Fashion week is beyond draining. It's a lot of running around, early mornings (I had a 5am call time this season), and late nights. Trust me, sometimes you need the extra help.

MTA Subway Map 

While I live in NYC and am very familiar with the subway there are a lot of foreign girls that come into town just for fashion week. I know what I was new a subway map would have been a life saver.

Ipanema Sandal

One model secret is to wear flats and change into heels before going into your casting. Blisters often develop since clients love to cram your feet in too small of shoes. Ipanema sandals are comfortable and won't rub those new blisters. They're also easy to toss in your bag when you change into heels. 

I want to say a huge thank you to Modellounge and that participating partners.

This seasons tote was amazing.
Thank you =]

Model Lounge Fashion Week Survival Kit

This fashion week Model Lounge provided an awesome survival kit! 

Normally with gift bags you figure you'll like maybe a product or two. But they really selected some great stuff for the fashion week gift bags. So here is my review of the products. Now you can know just what a model needs in her survival kit for fashion week!

The Tote Bag

I have around 3 Model Lounge bags now and this one is by far my favorite. There is plenty of room to fit my portfolio, heels, smart water, and whatever else I need. I really like the zipper closure because then I don't have to worry about things falling out or pick pockets on the subway. 

The part that I dislike is that there are like 7,000 other models with the exact same bag. I'm afraid someone will take my bag thinking it's theirs or I'll take someones thinking it's mine. I'm currently coloring the letters pink just to set mine apart. 

Vaseline Total Moisture Lotion

This is a great carrying size. Easy to slip into your bag to quick apply before you hit the runway. 

Feels great and smells great too!

Vaseline Lip Therapy

Again this is a great carrying size. However I don't like that you have to use your finger to apply it. Running around to castings, fittings, and shows means a lot of subway riding. And if there is one thing I have learned after years of living in NYC, it is that you DO NOT touch your face or food after riding the subway. So many disgusting things happen on the MTA. I've seen people blow snot out of their nose all over the seats. I have seen people poop their pants in subway seats. But probably the winner of most disgusting things I have witness happen on the NYC subway is...one homeless smelly unwashed man who was reaching down his pants, scratching his balls, and then picking the dead skin ball cheese residue out from under his finger nails onto the seats. Just think, you could be the person who sat down in that later in the day. 

But not all is lost! This is a great night time lip mask. Put on a thick layer before bed and you'll wake up with amazing feeling lips =]

Colgate Wisp

I've seen commercials for these before and always thought they were kind of gimmicky. However after trying them I think they're fantastic. The freshening bead is really powerful and between the bristles and the pick they really get your teeth clean quick. It's not something I would use everyday as I'm not looking to start a wisp budget, but they're great for emergencies. 

Package of Nimble Bars

I always forget to pack snacks. And then an hour into my job I'm dying hungry. Having a little snack pack definitely saved me!

Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle

The blades on this are a lot sharper than my previous razor. Which is fantastic. The trimmer is a neat feature but one I don't think I will use. There's no part of me that I shave and would prefer a trim over a clean smooth shave. I don't think clients want me just trimming my armpit hairs either. 

Dr. Scholl's Fast Flats

Having been a model for a few years I almost never walk around in my heels. 

1. You'll never make it to all of your castings if you're running around in your heels. 

2. You'll destroy your heels much faster wearing them to do the traveling to castings in. 

Therefore I buy trendy flat shoes (combat styled boots, ballet flats, oxfords) to do the traveling part of my day. 

However, fashion week includes a lot of after parties. To which I'm not carrying a bag along to these parties just for a change of shoes. These "Fast Flats" fit perfectly into my going out clutch. Which is amazing news for my feet on the commute back home. 

Calvin Klein Nude Thong

This is pretty much may favorite product in the bag. It is standard to wear a nude thong at any job as a model. And I feel like I can never have enough of them. (Although that may be because I'm lazy with laundry and would rather have a 3 month supply of nude thongs than travel down to the laundromat that I live above of to wash clothes). 

These are so soft and leave zero panties lines.

I plan on buying like 10 more. 

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap 

Since a good chunk of my hair got burned off this fashion week, again, this is a much appreciated product. It is a leave in product meant to provide heat protection and keep hair strong.


Thanks a lot to Model Lounge and all of the participating fashion week partners!!!

Jeantrix for XEX Magazine

I recently shot for XEX Magazine. The job was for a "Designer Xexpose" for the fabulous Jeantrix.

The designs by Jeantrix were beyond creative.

Missing in May

So it has been 1 month since I posted. Neglecting my blogging duties I know!
Why have I been missing??

Things have been crazy busy lately. I've been working consistently for Barneys.

I shoot a lot of product for the Barney’s website.

The job has been super fun! I get to wear clothing by designers such as Fendi, Helmut Lang, Alexander Wang, The Row, Givenchy, Lanvin, and on and on.

Everyday there's something new I wish I owned. It's amazing to get to see what's going to be in stores next season. And the team is amazing. I laugh all day! =]

Here's a sample....

Also, school got very busy. All my free time after I'm done shooting has been spent on school work.

 I've been taking a mixed media class. I'm learning pastels, water colors, acrylic paints, and using them together. I work on a project every night.

Each of the three pieces uses a different combination of mediums.

As you can see I'm not much of a painter. I prefer digital art.

Saturday is my last day of this class and I will be back to posting!

I promise =]

Eggcream Trunk Show

Saturday I worked for an upcoming designer called Eggcream.

Their spring collection was recently picked up by a store, DDC Lab, in the meat packing district of Nyc.

To celebrate, they had a trunk show.

Myself and a few other models posed around the store wearing the collection.

They had a DJ, drinks, and food as well as a guest appearance by Raja from Drag Race.

Ballet Vs. Modeling

It seems like a lifetime ago ballet was my life. And I seriously mean my LIFE.
I started dancing before I even knew what dancing was. I used to make up dances for my grandmother.
Then at the age of 5 my family enrolled me in Ballet classes.

At first it was just a hobby, but before long I was dancing every day.

Eventually I was dancing 6-7 days a week. 2-6 hours a day.

At the age of 11 I started going away to summer intensives.

Summer intensives are sort of like ballet summer camp.

You dance all day from 9am to 5pm mon-fri. They usually last around 6 weeks.

I got the opportunity to go to summer intensives in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Miami, and Milwaukee.

I also participated in competitions in Nyc and Ukraine.

In 10th grade I dropped out of regular high school and finished school online so that I could spend more hours of the day dancing.

Ballet really helped me transfer into modeling. Surprisingly there are a lot of similarities as well as differences you wouldn't expect.

Here's....

Ballet Vs. Modeling

Mean Girls

Modeling: People have the idea that models are mean and catty. While there may be one or two here and there, over all models are normal people. Models are often traveling and living in different places. It can be a very lonely lifestyle so you make friends where you can.

Ballet: Models are NOTHING compared to ballet dancers. Everything is so competitive. You are always being watched, always being sized up, and always being talked about. Even by your "friends". I've seen girls do purposely harmful things to other girls and I've never experienced such intense jealousy anywhere else.

Mean Superiors

Modeling: This would include agency, bookers, and clients. You always hear that you have to have thick skin to be a model. That people will always say nasty things to you. Overall, I don't think I've ever shed a single tear over what anyone has said to me. Sure I've been told to eat only ice cubes or put in "time out" to loose weight or told I'm not womanly enough. And I can only imagine what is said when I'm not in the room. But overall, clients keep mean comments to themselves.

Ballet: This includes teachers and directors. Maybe the "insults" I've taken in modeling don't seem so insulting because they don't even compare to what I heard in ballet. I've been told I look like a dead fish, have crazy eyes, and to stop eating. I've been poked, hit, pulled, stretched, yanked, shoved, and man handled. It's serious business training to be a ballet dancer.

Physical Pain

Modeling: I wear a size 10 shoe. And I often have to cram my feet into a size 9. Which is pretty painful. Having your hair pulled and yanked can hurt. And I'm some how always painfully cold at every job.

Ballet: Two words....Point shoes. I've had bloody toes, skin ripped off my toes, bruised toe nails, and corns. I've also suffered a few injuries such as pulled muscles.

Performing
Modeling: This is what I love about modeling the most (along with traveling). Getting in front of a camera or on a runway and feeling the rush.

Ballet: There is nothing like dancing on stage. It's an amazing feeling and I miss it dearly.

Diet

Ballet: When I was dancing I ate anything and everything. I was dancing so much that the calories didn't matter. And during summer intensives I could never eat enough. A typical summer intensive day looked a little like this...

Breakfast - eggs, sausage, pancakes with lots of syrup, hash browns, and fruit.
Snack on the bus - Dry cereal.
Lunch - Sandwich, chips, and a cookie or two.
Dinner - Chicken, Pasta, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, and a brownie.

Snack before bed - Fried chicken sandwich, and a brownie.

Modeling: Sadly I can't follow the same diet as I once could. I need to watch what I eat more and make sure I exercise. This was extremely hard for me to get used to when I made the switch from ballet to modeling. Now a typical day (when I'm being good lol) looks a little like....

Breakfast - I have a hard time eating breakfast so I usually nibble on a little bit of cereal.
Lunch - Grilled chicken either with a salad or rice.

Snacks - Fruit or carrots with hummus

Diner - Grilled chicken with either salad, rice, or vegetables.

I do cheat here and there.

Hair History

Modeling over the years has caused me to make a few changes to my hair.

This is pretty typical of every model. At some point, some client will want to color it, your bookers will decide you look better with bangs, or it'll just be too damaged and need a major cut.

Here's a timeline, a history of my hair
and how it has changed with modeling.



Before I started Modeling

Before I started modeling I was pretty much Rapunzel.

In this photo, my hair is tied up in a ponytail on top of my head

and I'm arching my back a little just to get it all in the photo.

So it's actually longer than what it looks like in this photo.

First Started Modeling

I was still pretty much all hair when I started modeling.

First Major Cut

Elite and I decided to cut my hair to better appease more clients.

We cut about 7 inches off. I remember going to a casting right after cutting it,
the casting director commented on my how long my hair was. I thought he was crazy, it felt so short to me!

However, as you can see it was still really long.

Second Major Cut

I booked a hair job. The client wanted to do Before and After shots for their salon.
They cut a ton of hair off, put in layers, and made my hair a lot blonder.
It's a job I regret doing, as you can book hair jobs that pay $10,000 + to do the same thing.

This was not one of them. I never even saw the photos from the shoot.

End of Elite

When my time at Elite came to an end my hair had grown quite a bit more.

I kept blond highlights, but a more subtle tone.

Signed with Major Models

When I signed with Major I dyed my hair red.

Since then I've fallen in love with my red hair.

And so have many clients.

What major hair changes have you experienced??

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