Don't be a drag, just be a queen

I hate that I let you down

I hate that I let you down - Jessie J

Letting someone down is one of the worst things you can do, well, it's one of the worst things I hate to do. I've been so busy the past couple of weeks, I've stopped taking photos, stopped creating makeup looks, and really everything piled on top of me. The past weeks have taught me one thing though, you always have enough time for everything. There are ways of managing your time, moving things around, and being able to do the things that really matter. If you stuck in a 9 to 5 job, it's never too late to get out of the same routine. Take up painting, read a book, apply for a newer job that has promising opportunity's, the possibilities are endless, you can put your mind to whatever you want. It was only yesterday when I was talking to my housemate about how much i miss painting, and in particular life drawing. I've gone from drawing the human form, to taking pictures of it, to creating makeup looks to apply on top! It seems like I'm in a cycle down, looking back at the start and forward. When you get to that point, where you start to realised you can create this whole cycle, you know your on to a winner. If you don't know what I mean, it's like this. I can draw a person, and also take photos of one with makeup looks. Now i can use both these skills and mix them together to create a really mixed media outcome. I guess that's why I keep blogging three photos with overlays.

I've let this blog down by having a three week break, but to quote Lady Gaga, in any sentence, It's been a long time, but i'm back it town.

I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain - Prince

Today is spirit day, a day that the LGBT community get together, wear purple, and celebrate who you are! It started in America, but who said we all can't join in? Today I'm wearing JoMina, an electric lilac colour by Illamasqua. Their nail varnishes are amazing and won the cosmo beauty award in 2010, so you don't have to take my word for it! Since it is spirit day i added a touch of glitter just using Number 17 glitter top coat for an extra touch! This glitter top coat is a must have! It's the perfect price, and I can put on layers and layers without feeling guilty that I've just increased the value of my nails from how much I've applied!!

To see Illamasquas nail varnish selection, or even their makeup you can find it all though this link here:
http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/catalogue/category/nails/products/nail-varnish/31/

Welcome To The Masquerade

Welcome To The Masquerade - Thousand Foot Krutch

Illamasqua, makeup for your alter ego. What makes this make-up brand stand out above the rest for me, is that it gets, understands, and is able to communicate with like minded people through the media of makeup. I've used their latest collection as inspiration for this shoot, The Theatre Of The Nameless. Firstly, can I just point out how amazing that title is?! Theirs something magical about theatre that has similarities to the fashion world. Actors on stage are mainly seen as nameless people, their almost like the fashion mannequins of the stage, their identity is hidden, like it is in both worlds. We may not know the names of our favourite singers in a band, we may not even know the real, and full names of our favourite singers, but does it really matter? We live in a nameless world, it's not our names that define who we are, it's our identities who set us apart.

Illamasquas Autumn/Winter collection is out now online and in store. The beauty of their makeup is that you can use it exactly how you want or how much you want, for a stubble or dramatic look, day or night. It's all about showing your inner alter-ego to the world, that's just waiting to be set free.

http://www.illamasqua.com/collections/theatre-of-nameless/

Who's laughing now

Who's laughing now - Jessie J

Me.

And you're loving me like water, your slipping through my fingers touch

And you're loving me like water, your slipping through my fingers touch - Cheryl Cole

Love is just like water, it's not something you can hold onto or control, sure you can put it in a box, or a bowl, but eventually that waters going to disappear, so really you have no control over it all. If your looking for love, don't settle for water. Love is like a grain of sand on the beach, it's hard to notice, it's hard to find but it's out there. If you ever google what a grain of sand looks like your probably be surprised. It's not what you would expect sand to look like, even a grain. In fact each grain is a tiny beautiful shell, each unique, and each impossible to see without a microscope. It's all about pre-judging things on first expectation, you need to take time to look at something more closely, and it can be in fact a hidden gem, and just what you were looking for all along, all you need to do is take your time.

Here I am, once again I'm torn into pieces. . .Broken up, deep inside

Here I am, once again I'm torn into pieces. . .Broken up, deep inside - Kelly Clarkson

It's funny, i was asked to create a timeline of my life, and found i really had nothing to talk about, or really anything I've achieved. I don't look back on my life and remember the family moments or people I've known, I look back and remember the people i turned to when i was in need. I remember watching this video in 2007 for the first time on TV, i guess I'm kinda obsessed with music videos, and even though this video was about a wedding, i was able to connect it, and envision myself in the video. I always remember what Lady Gaga said, she said something about the demons of your past always haunt you, and never really go away, and it's true, and here i am, once again, torn into pieces. I'm pretty broken deep inside, but no matter what happens in life, no matter what people throw at you, it always gets better, and what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

I'll forgive and forget

I'll forgive and forget - Kylie

It's fair to say I forgot about posting this photo, what I don't forget is how much nail varnish i managed to get everywhere. I create makeup looks to learn, I know their far from perfect, but that's just me, I'm a diamond in the rough. If people aren't going to teach me how to do something, I'll make sure I teach myself, and this look taught me that if you want to have black liquid on your fingers, do not use black nail varnish.

And yes I'm in a blue and purple stage of my life, I love the colours together and I've always wanted to use them, and since watching Lady Gagas Edge of Glory video i was just inspired to have a go myself. This photo would probably have worked better without the hand, but I used this particular shot because it brings back memories of creating, and shooting a look whilst on Skype to one of my close friends, although were worlds apart. It's everything a photography should be about, it brings back memories, and this one has been captured forever and now shared with you and others to enjoy, criticise, comment on and really what i hope, to take inspiration from.

I've got a sweet tooth and strawberry youth

I've got a sweet tooth and strawberry youth - Jeffree Star

Summer is nearly over, which yes can be depressing for some, but a blessing for others. When summers over, fashion week begins so hello new clothes!! I think as a whole, this summer fashion, in high street shops, has been awful. High street stores need a new look, fashion has become boring, they need to study harder at fashion shows, and instead of copying designers and making it cheaper and less designed, they need to work how a fashion designer works. They need to watch a fashion show, get ideas and add something else into the mix. It's all very well sticking to one trend season in season out, but their only trends, and fashion rules are meant to be broken, only if you can do a better job of it yourself. You can buy a copied version of a Alexander McQueen scarf in most high street stores right now, I'm sorry but not only is that disrespectful, it's stealing. People need to appreciate fashion more, it's an art form, not something you can just steal and adapt.

So going completely off topic, summers over, so eat as many strawberry as you can, with cream, and ice cream, and maybe some meringue, and if you don't like any of those, then there's something definitely wrong with you!

It's not my fault I look better in her party dress. ... I've been magnetic since I was a baby

It's not my fault I look better in her party dress. ... I've been magnetic since I was a baby - Semi Precious Weapons

It's not my fault that people may look better than others, in reality we all look pretty much the same. It's makeup, or working what you have that sets people aside. A couple of weeks ago a woman was outraged when her employee told her to wear makeup. What puzzles me is why she was, she's representing the company, and representing herself. If you yourself don't wear makeup, is that because you don't wish, or your just lazy. And if you wear makeup are you seen as fake and spend too much time on yourself? At the end of the day your the most important person to yourself, you should take time to look after yourself inside, and outside. If we all were to wear makeup, men and woman, the world would be a much prettier place.

It's all a game of chance they say in wonderland

It's all a game of chance they say in wonderland - McFly

I think everyone in their own little way loves the idea of Alice in Wonderland, a fantasy world filled with adventures and magic. Wonderland has many things in common with ours, just like any other world. There's corruption, good and evil, people out for themselves, and people out for others. It doesn't matter where you live, lifes a game of chance, and you just have to make the most out of a bad situation.

I'm hanging on a moment with you

I'm hanging on a moment with you - Lady Gaga

When the Edge of Glory video came out, I think everyone was thinking, is that it? After watching it once again I realised the true beauty behind the video, the song, and the lyrics. It's written almost like a diary, the lyrics are personal and meaningful. The video on the other hand is limbo, it's half way between reality and fantasy, yes it's set in New York, but not the New York that we all know and love.

You can have your glory at any point throughout life, it's when you truly let go of any baggage you may have, step back, enjoy life, and find peace within yourself.

Back To Black

Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

A Vanity Nightmare is someone who is a nightmare to themselves. R.I.P Amy Winehouse, your music has inspired many, and will always remain in the hearts of others.

Starman waiting in the sky

Starman waiting in the sky - David Bowie

Maybe then youd love maybe then youd love me if there was an earthquake

Maybe then youd love maybe then youd love me if there was an earthquake - Lady Gaga

Everytime I try to fly, I fall without my wings, I feel so small

Everytime I try to fly, I fall without my wings, I feel so small - Britney Spears

No one mourns the wicked

No one mourns the wicked - Wicked the Musical

Everyone avoids me like a cyclone Ranger, that's why I'm turning Japanese

Everyone avoids me like a cyclone Ranger, that's why I'm turning Japanese - The Vapors

Don't touch me please I cannot stand the way you tease

Don't touch me please I cannot stand the way you tease - Soft Cell

Scheiße and the problem with Lady Gaga‏

Last year i had expected Gaga to start to descending in popularity, however I have been mainly proven wrong. Lady Gaga, in my eyes, is on an edge, an edge of fashion that now a majority just don't get or understand. It's quick to judge costume or makeup choices but a true artist will see through the aesthetics of it all and see the symbolism behind. The 2008 years of The Fame are now buried under monster themes and heavily religious taboo that yes gets headlines, but is it all just unnecessary.

A true artist will create whatever they want, and not nothing about would this sell, and would people understand this? I am in love with art, but now, I feel Gaga is more about the art than the music. I was one of the many people to be disappointed by Gaga's latest video 'Edge of Glory' but after watching it once more, I understood the video in a way which I wanted. I see the video as a musical piece in any musical film. It's really where fantasy meets reality, and if there were scenes on either side of this video, i picture a plain looking Gaga singing with a hairbrush, wishing to be dancing around on empty smokey lit streets. I think all fans can connect to that, the lifestyle is truly appealing and wouldn't everyone love to dance and sing in the streets of New York City??

Like many, I've grown bored of Gagas fashion film looking videos, maybe bored is the wrong word, but I feel she needs to take a break, like Edge Of Glory, and make it more about the music.

When I listen to Scheiße‏, which I think should be a soon released single, I picture Gaga in a german burlesque club, like a musical, and like the film Flashdance. The beginning of the HBO special of Gaga in black and white should be similar to the opening of the video. It's how I see the video, a take on the red light district, but really the glamorous side of Burlesque, much how the 2010 film Burlesque looked. The showgirls here aren't about nudity, it's about testing, and using their sexuality to overpower the men, much like a femme fatale figure. The video should be what women should be, powerful, sexual and dominant. And all of this should be presented in a way that anyone can enjoy watching, much like Just Dance of Poker Face.

The problem with Scheiße‏ being a single is that radio stations seem to blank out Gaga more than any other artist, and will anyone even be able to search it on itunes? Even i don't know how to spell it without a quick minute check on google.

Im guessing Scheiße‏ will be called 'Without the' if it's going to be like Rihanna S&M A.K.A 'Come On'

I'm gonna keep on dancing, I gotta dance away the pain

I'm gonna keep on dancing, I gotta dance away the pain - RuPaul

Burning in their lies, burning my dreams

Burning in their lies, burning my dreams - Anastacia

I'm not the type to get my heart broken

I'm not the type to get my heart broken - Rihanna

I'm counting on a new beginning, a reason for living

I'm counting on a new beginning, a reason for living - Savage Garden

The Diamond Dogs are poachers

The Diamond Dogs are poachers - David Bowie

Paint with all the colours of the wind

Paint with all the colours of the wind - Vanessa Williams

Yeah the floor is shaking In this disco heaven

Yeah the floor is shaking In this disco heaven - Lady Gaga

Cause your not a man, you're just a mannequin

Cause your not a man, you're just a mannequin - Katy Perry

I fall deeper in love with every song he plays

I fall deeper in love with every song he plays - Beyonce

Touch me, touch me, baby but don't mess up my hair

Lady Gaga - Vanity

We dance like no tomorrow, we're on burlesque time

Lady Gaga - Vanity

We need a little pretty 'cause this country's insane

Lady Gaga - Vanity

Nothin' wrong with being just a little bit vain

Lady Gaga - Vanity

Pictures in magazines, movie screens

Lady Gaga - Vanity

If you can't love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else

If you can't love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?” - RuPaul

I live to learn, and this week I've learnt the most since I've started this blog. I don't study a makeup course, I'm not a girl so i haven't grown up learning about it. I'm on my own. It's always been that way in life, but just like this week, I'm a fast learner.

I put everything i create on this blog, which is why some photos are admittedly lacking in skill. I'm also without a tripod at the moment, which is why some photos are starting to look the same! But like any artist, i know how to work with what I've got.

And that's the lesson for today's post, work and flaunt what you got, and learn to love yourself inside and outside.

This week it's all about black and white photography. Because sometimes its hard to see things in black and white.

Take a chance on me

Take a chance on me - Abba

Anyone who's ever tried to break into the fashion industry will know just how hard it is just to be heard, others know how easy it is. It's really about who you know, and timing. Unfortunately for me, i know zero people, and you could be the best at what you do, but still get nothing. Like any industry, the fashion industry is probably one of the most unorganized. First of all it's creative, and anyone who's creative knows that inspiration can hit you at the start of a deadline, or the night before. It's what makes fashion one of the most stressful jobs you can specialise in, and it's not for the faint hearted.

If you ever want to apply for an internship at any magazine, advertising firm, anywhere, when it comes to fashion, you may as well chuck it in the bin. I know from others, and myself, it doesn't matter if people tell you to apply for 30 places but you might only get 2 offers, the fact is, you apply for those 30 places, and not only will you get zero offers, your also get zero emails saying no. In fact, i was most surprised when Vogue sent me a letter in the post explaining they didn't have something which i was looking for. And i can tell you know, although the answer was no, knowing that they took the time to send me a letter meant everything to me.

I find that if fashion magazines are to survive, they not only need to listen to other people, but they need to make sure the magazine has a legacy, so it can live on after that editor has left. Fashion magazines are like stepping stones for anyone who's worked in them. You start at smaller, less known magazine, and you hop your way to another one, each time learning, each time getting a bigger pay check, and each time getting yourself known.

So, whats the point of this? Well if i know fashion, it's all about thinking out of the box, and when it comes to that, it's what I'm best in. I've tried the boring approach of formal CV's and covering letters, but the people reading them are just like me, and no wondering i got zero replies. Fashion all about standing out, so how can 2 sheets of A4 paper make you look the part?!

If your ever stuck trying to get that job, or internship, think about who your applying to. Never create a document which you can just change the name of the company each time and leave it at that. You have to make it personal, as anyone can send a bland A4 document by email. Send it by post, hand deliver it, do whatever you think you can. There's only a few amount of people who don't need to be told this, and it's the ones who don't are the ones who one day will have their names known to mass.

Inspiration hit me last night, I'm currently about to start a summer job, at something completely non fashion related, yes it's money, but a total waste of time. So being my nerdy self, lets call it geek chic for now, I've created a project!

A university student creating projects by them self, you know I'm desperate, fact is, i need to work, I'm a 100% workaholic!!

So I'll keep you posted, and updated when it comes to the project, i would share it with you, but i know how bitchy fashion is, and i know how easily ideas are stolen. All will be shown at a later date, it's a pretty big project so don't expect it to be finished this month, maybe next?!

Time to plan, research, everything a geek chic like me likes to do!

And to any magazine company who may be reading this post, know that i pretty much share everything, and I'm just another person who wants to learn new skills and actually give something to the magazine, you may not think you need it, but i don't think there's one fashion magazines out there that doesn't need a fresher look.

I may be 'just' another person. but I'm one of the most unique people out there, and your know just as well as i do, that unique sells.

P.S, Yes this photo has been used before, deal with it.

With a taste of your lips I'm on a ride You're toxic, I'm slipping under

With a taste of your lips I'm on a ride You're toxic, I'm slipping under - Britney Spears

If looks could kill, you'd be dead looking at this post. Ok, I'm joking, well i would if i wasn't such a Vanity Nightmare. I've always loved this lyric, without the toxic part the lyrics quite romantic. It's still about almost forbidden love, when you know it's wrong but it feels so right? We all know toxic is bad, and that it definitely doesn't feel good. But if you know somethings wrong, the toxic may come back to bite you at a later stage, just remember everything you do comes with consequences, you may not be hurting you, but what about others.

Protection, you're a boy and i'm a girl

Protection, you're a boy and i'm a girl - Massive Attack

I do love going off topic, and talking about things that has nothing to do with a topic, so here's just that. The photograph above takes inspiration from the all seeing eye, and if you've ever read or heard about Ancient Egypt you would know it's the eye of Horus, which is used for protection. An amulet isn't going to protect you from everything, it's up to you.

Welcome to the danger zone Step into the fantasy

Welcome to the danger zone Step into the fantasy - Katy Perry FEAT Kanye West

Fairy tales nearly all have the same story line, especially Disney films. It involves a beautiful princess that falls in love, everything goes wrong for a bit, then they live happily ever after. It's the same for all movies, something bad always happens, it has to, it's the balance of the film. Life is exactly like that, it's not all plain sailing, shit happens, you just have to deal with it. Although at times you wish you lived in a fantasy world, just remember, it's a danger zone out there, just like it is in reality.

Les animaux dansent dans le Safari Disco Club

Les animaux dansent dans le Safari Disco Club - Yelle

I saw this band a couple months back, and although I couldn't understand a word, I enjoyed it. If you ever find yourself not understanding something, maybe your not meant to, or maybe you will one day, the main thing is to just go with the flow. Maybe life does have some great master plan for everyone, so if it does, all you have to do is sit back and relax, if not, then good luck with that!

Check Yelle out, although you might no understand it, just think about all the other countries who listen to music which is English. Music isn't all about words, nore the instruments, it's about how it makes you feel.

Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone

Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone - Madonna

Life is a mystery, and it's whatever you make it. Sometimes people will stand by you, other times they won't. The world, although it populated with millions of people, can feel pretty empty sometimes, even if your surrounded by busy streets or loud noises. Everyone must stand alone, but don't forget there's always someone there to catch you if you fall.

Are you brave enough to let me see your peacock

Are you brave enough to let me see your peacock - Katy Perry

Peacocks display their feathers as part of courting, it's their sign to show a female that they have interest in them. People have different ways of expressing their love for one another, and sometimes doesn't everyone wish life was as simple as it was for peacocks?
In Greek mythology the peacock is associated with the god Juno. The black circle marks on each feather were seen as the eyes which were for protection. If you were to link these two together, what kind of person would want to see a hundred eyes looking at them, if that peacock was interested in them. Maybe being a peacock isn't what it's cracked up to be.

I'm just a Holy fool, oh baby it's so cruel, but I'm still in love with Judas, baby

I'm just a Holy fool, oh baby it's so cruel, but I'm still in love with Judas, baby - Lady Gaga

Repentance is to change what is thought to be wrong, and gain forgiveness. In the biblical sense it's the forgiveness of god for a sin that has been committed. A god is anything that you worship, and many religions love different gods. Outside religion, anyone who you worship can be a god to you. The whole aspect of fame and the fans that it brings creates almost a religion, a cultural religion. Who better to look at than Lady Gaga. Often been refereed as a 'cult' this fan base may have similarities, but not a cult. It's more based on love, which is exactly what religion is based on. Love, can make you a holy fool, and if a sin has been committed in the relationship, you would still love with them. Love is blind, it's why it's so hard to find in the first place.

My religion is you,