Switches - Interscope Records

       

       Another rad shoot with LA Photographer Autumn De Wilde and her crew! Interscope Records recording artists, Switches (from the UK) were in Seattle for 24hrs, on the last leg of their US tour.  Just enough time to do promo shots for thier anticipated debut U.S release Lay Down The Law. 

      Everything was shot in the Capitol Hill Boutique The Pretty Parlor, across the street at the Biltmore, and at the venue they played that evening, Nuemos.  The day was packed!  Stylist Anna Lange did an amazing job of dressing everyone, and the guys were adorable. LOVE the british accents. Final destination:  CD Release party @ The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. 

I want that scarf and yellow sunglasses!

 

 

 

band members:  Matt (lead vocals & guitar), Thom (bass & backing vocals), Ollie (guitar & backing vocals), Steve (drums).

 

the dark side of swimwear

Elizabeth Raab’s stylized photography is dark, dreamy and draws you into another world.  We did a shoot for Cynthia Smith, an indie swimwear designer.  The location was the garage basement of a West Seattle home that looked like a motorcycle graveyard.  Bultaco, Motoguzzi, Suzuki bikes, and dirty parts everywhere.  A few of my favorite shots:

  

 

 

 

  

 

Cynthia Smith Swimwear

Photography: Elizabeth Raab

Model: Cayte (Heffner/Seattle), Jess-C

Makeup: Me!

Hair: Ava Fiasco

Location: West Seattle

Production shots!

thanks for the garage guys!

Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom

I recieved my copy of Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom magazine, and found two full pages of my work!!  Yaay!!  The first  is an ad for Junebug Weddings (some of the most talented people on the planet), the other is an ad for La Belle Reve, which was  shot on location in France (yes, that’s the Louvre in the background!!).  So lovely!

ooh!  and an ad for Isadora’s too..

For The Style-Obsessed Bride

Style me pretty  is a wonderful online guide to the most innovative and unique designers, planners, and bridal industry professionals. It was recently featured on the Martha Stewart Show as one of her favorite blogs, providing readers with a chic, stylish approach to weddings, regardless of  budget.  Bellatrix Studio is now featured on Style Me Pretty as a Seattle Favorite, in their elite Little Black Book of Vendors.  Woo!

Deana & Guillaume Wiatr

I just recieved the photos from Deana & Guillaume Wiatr’s Point Loma wedding last year, and it was like Christmas all over again!  Every detail of this stylish wedding was well thought out and the bride was absolutely stunning.  It was an honor to be there to work with Deana and her bridal party.  I love weddings!!

what a dream..

makeup for Deana and the girls..

  

Deana wanted a smokey romantic look with dramatic eyes.  I used Smolder black liner from M.A.C, Dior wet/dry eyeshadow duo in Dior Chic,  M.A.C. eyeshadows in Vanilla and Dazzlelight, Diorshow Waterproof Mascara in black, NARS blush in Desire, NARS bronzer in Laguna, and Nars lipstick in Pigalle..

  

and mom too..

  

touch ups before the reception..

  

The couple now reside in Lyon, France and just had their first child, ‘Max’. 

Location: Point Loma, San Diego CA.    

Photography: The Image Is Found

Makeup: Me!

Dress: Pronovias (Barcelona)

Flowers:   Flowers By Azhar

Cake: The French Gourmet 

Dj:  Let The Music Play  

Honeymoon: Tulum/ Playa Del Carmen

Junebug Weddings : Fashion Report

The recent Fashion Report for Junebug Weddings, “Girls Night Out”  features fun alternatives to blah bridesmaids dresses!!  Dresses that the girls can wear over and over again, not just on the Wedding day.  

 

FASHION REPORT: Girls Night Out

Dresses available at Luly Yang, Tulip, Moms, Maids and More, and La Belle Reve

Jewelry and Accessories available at Tulip and Abaloria

Hair and Makeup by: Erin Skipley of  Bellatrix Studio ,  Assistant: Olivia Rozell

Location: Tavolata Restaurant, Belltown (Seattle WA)

Models: Jessica Andrews, Kellie Sholdt, Lander Sholdt, Jaimie Bratz and Alicia Orrico

Photography by: La Vie Photography and Positive Light Photography

 

To view the full piece click here.

Transmission from France!

Greetings from the most civilized place on earth!

I’m on a TGV train, travelling from Poitiers to Lyon, the 10 day shoot for dress designer Madina Vadache is finished and I finally have some time to write about our fabulous adventures! We started in Paris and finished at a 12^th century chateau in St. Julien de l’Ars. 

 

The superstar team:

Photographers: Kim and Adam Bamburg

Model: Amanda Wall (Mode/Portland)

Hair/Makeup: Me!

 

We were sent with 3 huge boxes packed with Madina’s bridal, couture collections, and ready to wear, along with shoes, hats, etc.  It was a dream shoot.  We did 3-5 looks each day, and we still could have done more.   In addition to the set up for Madina, we shot an editorial for Junebug Weddings (Fashion Report, April 08), another bridal story for publication, then some fashion stuff.   At night, we couldn’t sleep so we shot even more! 

The jet lag was intense.  Luckily, we had two days in Paris before shooting!  Our apartments in Paris were located at opposite ends of the city;  Kim and Adam stayed in Montmartre, Amanda and I in Le Marais. We shot at the Hotel de Ville, Le Louvre, in the metro, in front of the Pompidou, all over Paris (gueriilla style of course to avoid the crowds). 

I brought a huge suitcase packed with hair extensions, wigs, hair tools, and a makeup kit (more fake hair for the shoot than clothing for myself!)  I wasn’t able to use any of my hot tools, or the air compressor because of the crazy voltage, so the hair extensions came in handy.  I brought a power inverter and adapter, but still didn’t work!  *&#%!!

We took full advantage of being in such an amazing place.  Every look was our new favorite, and inspired us to start again. It was a match made in heaven:  stunning model, super talented photographers, and incredible clothing.  Everywhere we went, we attracted a huge crowd of onlookers with their cameras snapping away. 

After we were done shooting in Paris, we squeezed into a rental van and headed for the Chateau (about 3hrs south).  We were greeted by Nash and Linda, the wonderful owners (from the Fremont neighborhood in Seattle!). Linda made Earl Grey tea for us, with good bread and chevre cheese, and grapes from their own vines.  Lovely!!  At night we ate dinners in front of a huge roaring fire with lots of candles on the table.  The picture perfect chateau sits on 60 acres, has a chapel next door, and caves undearneath.  If you are thinking of a destination wedding, the rooms there are gorgeous, and the history is mind-blowing.  Truly a magical place.

I’ll be in Lyon for a few days, then i’m headed back to Paris to catch my flight back to Seattle.  Home soon!  XO

 

 

 

 

 

Backstage @ TIGI World Release Hair Show VEGAS!

I spent last weekend backstage at the TIGI World Release Hair Show as a hair model!  They gave me one of the best haircuts that i’ve ever had,  and I learned a TON.  For two days, I looked on while world class stylists executed some of the most impressive hairstyles that i’ve ever seen.  The show was at the Convention center in the Mandalay Bay Hotel.  The entire TIGI creative force from around the globe was there, working crazy long hours to get every models hair colored, cut, and styled for the show.  Mine too!

 

Sunday night was the big night on the runway, there were a few different themes.  One was Street/Grafitti inspired haircuts, color, and grafitti-like makeup. The makeup was very 80’s (I had nothing to do with it!).   TIGI just released a new hair color line with colors like pale lavender, fire engine red, bright yellow, deep copper, etc.   Models were bathed in glitter, topped with fantasy afro wigs, others were dark and gothic.  Looking through the wardrobe, there were amazing pieces from Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Miu Miu, and other designers. 

The coolest part of the runway show, was the last segment.  The models came out in gothic clothing, with huge whimsical afro style wigs that were tipped with white spray paint, and smoldering!  The hair pieces had dry ice machines installed in them to create billowing smoke.  Brilliant.  Why haven’t I ever thought doing of that! 

Isn’t that the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?

The show was super cool, there was a magician on stage who made Anthony Mascolo (co-founder of TIGI) disappear from a huge tank of water where he was appeared to be trapped and drowning.  The after party was also quite a scene! There was a dj from the UK on turntables, expensive bars serving huge drinks, and a crowd of insanely stylish people. 

Global TIGI stylists Michelle and Richie, and me!

Hollywood premiere of SinCity

I was walking down Union street in San Francisco on a Thursday afternoon, when I got a phone call to do actress Devon Aoki’s makeup for the Hollywood premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s new film, Sin City. The film starred Bruce Willis, Benicio Del Torro, Jessica Alba, Elijia Wood, and Rosario Dawson.  The premiere was to be held at the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the call time for makeup was 2pm on Sunday afternoon, at Devon’s house.  I love my job!

 

I flew back to Seattle on Saturday afternoon, watered my plants, organized my makeup kit, and decided to sew a jacket for Devon. When I did her makeup for the DEBS premiere, she fell in love with the jacket that I was wearing (which was part of my clothing line, Yoshimi). It took me all night to make a custom jacket, but it was rad and I couldn’t wait to give it to her!  At 4am, I took a 30 minute nap in my cozy apartment, and at 5am headed back to the airport to catch my flight to Los Angeles. The adventure begins.

Going through airport security was a nightmare.  Already late, they made me go back and check my makeup kit.  I was so flustered and sleep deprived that I left the directions, contact phone numbers, etc, all in the kit, along with my phone charger.  I slept a few hours on the flight, and arrived into Burbank around 9 in the morning. I waited until all the bags came out on the carousel, and mine wasn’t there.  I kept my fingers crossed that the bags would come in on the next flight, and went to pick up a rental car. 

In the meantime, my phone battery was dying and I realized that I was going to have to go buy a charger.  The time to be at Devon’s was quickly approaching, what if my baggage ended up in another city? What if I couldn’t find her house?  Ahh!  I couldn’t be without a phone.  It should have been an easy thing, but it turned out that my nokia phone was obsolete, and I had to go to six different stores, in LA traffic, before I finally found one.  

 Thank god, when I returned to the airport at 12:30pm, my bags had arrived. I found the directions, navigated my way to Devon’s house in the Hollywood hills, and arrived on time!! YAY!!  I gave Devon a hug, and gave her the jacket which fit her perfectly! She loved it, and danced around the house.  

The makeup was the easiest part!  I used Studio Tech foundation by M.A.C. mixed with a luminizer.   Dior lip pencil in Tile, with #434 Dior Addict lip color.  Blush was Dior #849, and eyeshadows were from M.A.C.  Waterproof eyeliner by Dior in Trinidad black (best black eyeliner ever), liquid eyeliner by Bourgois in black. 

After Devon left in her limo, I got back in my rental car and headed to the airport to go home.  Finally could breathe.  All that, for a makeup application that took 30 minutes!! 

Cover: Seattle Magazine August 07

Photographer Chris Cumming and I shot the lovely Michelle Kim for the cover of Seattle Magazine’s ‘Shopping Issue’. Michelle is the owner of RUE, a french street-inspired boutique that showcases up and coming designers from around the globe.  Her collections are feminine and sophisticated. She also has a handpicked assortment of vintage dresses and super cool accessories from NY designers.  If you’re shopping downtown Seattle, RUE is only a few blocks from Sway & Cake, definitely worth checking out!

 

Cover: Michelle Kim

Photo: Chris Cumming

Hair/Makeup: Erin Skipley

Location :  RUE

611 Stewart St.
Seattle, WA 98101

206.264.0788

ps.  look what I found on MSN!

High School Musical’s Ashley Tisdale

Walt Disney’s High School Musical superstar, Ashley Tisdale, recently celebrated the release of her debut CD Headstrong on Warner Brothers Records .   I worked with Ashley during her visit to Seattle for a benefit show sponsored by KISS 106FM.   I love doing performance makeup, I was in Heaven. 

Ashley was delightful to work with, truly a professional.  We did smoky dramatic eyes that smoldered with metallic shimmmering Gold Mode pigment from MAC.  Foundation and luminescent lotion by Armani, best blush in the world by AMP, and lips were ultra-shine #612 by Dior, on top of a nude lip stain.  I used big whispy false eyelashes, that gave her an exotic cat-eye look on stage. 

 

Glossy Eyes

Glossy eyes.  One of my favorite tricks for creating drama that plays with light:  Start by using a base of waterproof eyeliner smudged out over the lid (try waterproof power point eyeliner by M.A.C.), concentrate the color at the lash line.  Then press in a light layer of shadow up to the brow, and bronzer in the crease (Laguna or Casino bronzer by NARS are my favorites).  Use the smallest amount of  Glossy Touch by Yves St Laurent (Vaseline works almost as well) and press onto the center of the eyelid.  Don’t rub it in!  Let the gloss to disperse on its own.   Model Sascha is wearing Dior ultra-shine lipstick in #222.

Photography: Leo Lam    Model: Sascha     Makeup/Hair: Erin Skipley

 To view more photos from this editorial in 180 magazine, click here.

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter

I had the pleasure of doing hair and makeup on Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter for press shots on their latest  release Love, Lust, and the Open Halls of the Soul (Barsuk Records 2007).  The photographer was Autumn De Wilde from Los Angeles,  and Jenny Jimenez assisted. 

Jesse’s vocals and Phil Wanderscher’s guitar playing are synergistically perfect.  They are so amazingly talented, and so down to earth. I am a huge fan!  I ran into Jesse at Fred Meyer about a month ago, they had just returned from their European Tour.  I made a jacket for bassist Bill Herzog before they left, and I think it got destroyed during a wild night after a show.  Bill told me that a while back that they had the opportunity to play with Coco Rosie (my favorite, favorite, musicians from Brooklyn, NY) at a tiny venue in France with about ten people in the room.  Those ten people must have been the luckiest on earth, I can’t imagine how cool it must have been. 

 

I also had the chance to help with a music video of the song ”Troubled Soul“ ( Oh My Girl,  Barsuk Records 2005),  shot at the historic Capitol Theatre in Olympia.  The makeup was clean and simple for all five band members, a team effort with stylist Jen Hensler.  

Fashion Report : Junebugweddings.com

When it comes to creating the most beautiful day of your life,  Junebug weddings is a great place to start.

 

Junebug is an amazing resource of the most stylish venues, consultants, photographers, stylists, catering, music, etc..  It was started by four wedding photographers: Blair, Kim, Christy, and Jennifer.  I recently joined their elite network of bridal vendors, and helped with the most recent Fashion report, ‘Vintage Weddings’.   

FASHION REPORT : Vintage Weddings

Dresses, Accessories and Jewelry available at: Isadora’s  

Hair and Makeup by: Erin Skipley of Bellatrix Studio 

Flowers by: Bella Rugosa

Models: Sam Motley and Cayte Bosler

Location: Ornamo

Photography by: Cheri Pearl Photography

 

To view the entire piece, go here.

one of my favorite shoots ever

I guard this cd of images with my life.  It was a collaboration by an amazing team in San Francisco:  Photographer:  Paul Trapani, Producer: Ernesto Qualizza, Model: Lana from Look (agency), Stylist:  Tina Angel of Razor Bee clothing, hair and makeup by my self. 

Tina the stylist could have starred in a comic book.   No steamer, no clamps, none of the usual stylist tools, just one of a kind treasures stuffed into a vintage leather suitcase.  Treasures.  I was completely enamored with the clothing she brought.  To die for.  She designed everything herself, and used all vintage fabrics and vintage sequins from france.  LOVE.

  

Lana worked it!  I’ve never seen a 16yr old that could pose herself so well, it was great to watch her work.  She had just come to San Francisco from Austria to her live with her mom Rose- who is one of the organizers of the Burningman festival in Blackrock city, NV. 

To create the flawless fresh look in the two photos above, I used Purelight foundation by Dior, a Colorwash cheek and lip stain by Nars, lip balm, and black khol to rim her eyes.  No powder!  On her body I used a gold shimmer lotion by Body Fantasies to create her glowing skin.

Ernesto has since moved to NYC and is producing for Marek and Associates, one of the premiere photo agencies in New York.  He produces for photographers Greg Kadel, Diego Fuga, and Maciek Kobielski.  I’ts a pretty cool gig. 

            

            

Paul resides in San Francisco with his wife, and aside from work in print advertising, he creates amazing fine art photography. He’s one of the most talented artists that I have ever worked with, and he rides a harley!  Hot!!