Happy Birthday Morrissey

(I actually started this blog post yesterday the 22nd but was unble to post it)
So yesterday was the 51st birthday of the lovely, handsome and talented Morrissey! Now if your unfamilar with Moz (short for Morrissey ) you can hear him singing everytime you visit this blog of mine! Moz first started in the band The Smiths in 1982 through 1987 when the band broke up. The Smiths are one of my all time favorite bands! The Smiths are credited as one of the most influential and important Alternative bands to come out of the Post Punk movement. They were welcomed with open arms and recieved a huge following of fans! Especially a fondness for Morrissey, Fans copied his signature haircut and style and carried stems of flowers, specifically Gladiolas and Chrysanthemums, to throw upon Morrissey and the band. When Morrissey went solo the fans continued to grow! Morrissey still makes music today and is loved by millions! This man's music just like Depeche Mode's seems to understand me! I've customized my playlist yet again, posting some of my favorite Morrissey and Smiths songs!

Morrissey

I love this "Handsome Devil" and look at the hair! (sigh)

Moz during The Smiths days

Moz doing his signature and fabulous dance moves and stage antics!

So full of passion!

This man's style is great!

Have a "Unhappy Birthday"

The cake I baked for Moz! I put some Gladiolas on there representing his smith days!

My ode to Moz: Pomped hair, 1950's reading glasses, beaded necklace, Black shirt, Light Blue Peasanty Shirt, Cuffed Jeans, Black Penny Loafers and Gladiolas!

Me with Moz's cake

I think I would fit right in with the Male and Female fans with Morrissey in The Smiths "Stop Me If You Think You'd Heard This One Before" music video!

The Inspiration for my Moz  look ! The Smith's "This Charming Man" music video!

I celebrated Moz's birthday by seeing the amazing tribute band to The Smiths and Morrissey, "The Sweet and Tender Hooligans"! I've never seen them in person before so I was really excited and lead singer Jose Maldonado has been dubbed "The Mexican Morrissey"! This band does everything to try and recreate that classic Smiths Moz experiance, everything from the best music( The had an Orchestra!!), voice, Moz mannarisms, Clothing..Everything!! So while last night as I belted my heart out and danced away, to "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" I reached my arm out and "The Mexican Morrissey" (Jose) reached out and held my hand, arm against arm as we sang away! That man does such a good job as Moz he makes me swoon! I sware I think I'm in love! The 'Hooligan's' have been around for almost 18 yrs. already and by far I think the best tribute to The Smiths and Moz! Even Morrissey himself at one of his own concerts introduced himself and the band to the crowd as "The Sweet and Tender Hooligans" now that's recognition! Jose Maldonado even host a Sunday morning radio show called "Breakfast with The Smiths and Morrissey" were your sunday moring starts off with some 2 hours of The Smiths and Moz on Indie 103.1! They're performing tonight in Anaheim and I desperately  want to go!! I saw them in Hollywood last night, but some lovely new friends I made said tonight's show will be way better! Way better than last night? Now I have too go!! Hopefully I can make it, I'll pray and wish as hard as I can!

A Sweet and Tender Hooligans show at the Gibson Amphitheatre. Amazing Isn't it.

So here's a cute little quote I've seen around that I'll leave you with:

"The Morrissey you, the more I like you"

Mr. Steven Patrick Morrissey I love thee, Have a Happy Birthday

~Victoria

For more info check out:

http://www.itsmorrisseysworld.com/

http://www.sweetandtenderhooligans.com/

http://www.indie1031.com/

Happy (Belated) Birthday Jon Kortajarena

I completely forgot! Yesterday was Male model Jon Kortajarena's 25th Birthday! Jon is my favorite male model! Not only is he a Beauty but I love how he creates all these emotions in his photographs. A native of Spain, Jon started modeling at 17 and  has continued to have a vey successful career being part of major campign ads like Guess and mostly recently Tom Ford. He's walked the runway for John Galliano, Chanel and Dolce and Gabbana. Jon most recently made his film debut in Tom Ford's feature film "A Single Man". In  2008 French Male Fashion magazine L'Officiel Hommes featured the Spring/Summer issue with him on the cover devoting "200 pages of Jon Kortajarena" and in 2009 he was named GQ Germany's Male Model of the Year. I simply love this man! Yes he is a beauty and he accquires most of the attributes that I find very attractive, physical and non physical. Especially his style, which is very vintage inspired and very early 1960's (and can  sometimes be represented in the shoots he does)!! So Mr. Kortajarena have a Happy Belated 25th Birthday!!

Some of my favorite Jon Kortajarena Pictures

Jon Kortajarena

The 2007 Guess ad the started it all for me 3 yrs. ago!

Marciano 2007/2008 ads (Jon is to the left ina grey suit)

These are some of my favorite ads ever! I love the art direction! It's a mix of 1940's and 1960's

A clip from the film "A Single Man"

Another clip from "A Single Man"

The Cannes Premiere of "A Single Man" (Jon is to the far right)

Some Editorial shots

A recent Tom Ford Perfume ad with Jon's lower part of his face in the shot.

I'm really loving the Tom Ford art direction for these ads too!

For more about Jon Kortajarena and to view his work visit:

http://www.jon-k.net/

(All images taken from jon- k.net)

with love, Victoria

Weekly Style

I've been meaning to post some pictures of the lovely style of some of my fellow classmates! However some of my classmates  that I had wished to take their photo were hesitant and shy and insisted that I do so some other time. I really wished I could have, but I respected thier wishes. I also have some pics here of some of my outfits from the past weeks. Enjoy!

Amber

 The miniute I walked into class and I saw this outfit I wanted it for myself It's so 1940's esque! I love everything about it even the hair and makeup, Amber is such a beauty she doesn't need to do much her makeup was sweet ans simple. I say she's one of the best dressed people in my class day to day!

Dress: Goodwill, Shoes: Buffalo Exchange Kenneth Cole, Belt: Salvation Army

Tricia

What is there to say about my friend Tricia and her style other than I absolutely adore this woman!!! She has the greatest outfits, jewerly and taste! Practically everyday we compliment one other on each of are outfits or accessories! In fact the first day of class when we met we loved each other's makeshift tool box from a vintage cosmetics case! Tricia's is 1940's/1950s and mine Is 1960's/ 1970's. Anywho Tricia is always dressed great, and I would probably take her photo everyday, but I especially liked this outfit! It was like 1940's modern, and I pretty sure that beautiful dress is Vintage and those wedges were like 1940's edgy! I always look forward to seeing Tricia's outfits! Like Amber, Tricia is one of the most beautiful and best dressed girls in the class and I'll even say in our Fashion Dept!

Melissa

Here are classmates and friends Aracely and Melissa. Melissa is to our right. She always dresses up, this girl is a everyday heel wearing girl, and I'm not talking 3 inch heels more like in the 5 inch range! Anywho I absolutely loved her outfit today It was so 1960's Manhattan, like Audrey Hupburn. She insisted that the only way I take her photo is if it was with Aracely. They're both looking cute!

Past Weeks Outfits

"Wilma I'm Home!" I look straight outta the Flintstones Cartoon! Not that it's a bad thing. I'm wearing one of my favorite dresses, it's thrifted. The belt I got from the clearance rack at Target. You can barely tell, but I'm wearing my hair in a beehive and that's my toolbox 1960's cosmetics case that I was mentioning earlier.

I loved this outfit! I received plenty compliments that day too. Wearing my 1950's style sundress (the print looks very vintage, though it is not), my hair slicked back in a low ponytail with flower clip and side faux bangs.

Just another everyday school outfit. My blouse is thrifted from a flea market across the street from my school bought for $1.25! It looks very 1930's, it's a sheer printed cotton with a small floral print. Wearing my thrifted navy blue skirt and my favorite saddle shoes.

I absolutely loved this outfit and so did many others! I was feeling in a Springy, Paris kind of mood! Is that weird? Wearing my thrifted cotton blouse, Clearance rack sweater bought for $5 (I hate to admit it another great Walmart find), my Vintage Paris scarf a Christmas gift from my Great Aunt and one fo my favorite pairs of earrings from Forever 21 $4.

I wore it with cuffed jeans and my saddle shoes. I realized later in the day this outfit would have been probably much cuter with a skirt, but it's still cute either way! (sorry for the bad lighting it was getting dark)

Another casual outfit. Wearing my black dress and gold cross hoop earrings bought for $2 at FIDM's Student store (just mentioning I don't go to school there) and wearing my handmade hair comb.

My Casual Outfit, wearing my cotton gingham tie blouse and black sweater with jeans. And my homemade Flower comb.Lately folks have really been loving my homemade hair combs. Maybe I'll go into mass inventory and sell them?

My Rose and Lotus Faux Flower handmade Hair comb, made by yours truly!

Until next time, Victoria

p.s. Thank You again Ladies for your style!

(All photos by Victoria Inez Rivera)

Happy (Very Belated) Cinco de Mayo!

(Even though Technically Cinco de Mayo was just over a week ago, I couldn't unfortunetely make this post possible that day.) Cinco de Mayo is technically a Mexican Holiday, celebrating in the US has certainly become popular! More so here than in Mexico! I decided to dress up and show my Mexican pride, I'm Mexican American and most of my earliest family members migrated from Mexico in the very begining of the 20th Century! So I found it just fine to dress up and celebrate! And What better way to celebrate than  by going to Los Angeles's Historical Olvera Street!
Historical Olvera Street was the beginning of the City of Los Angeles, it has been a great representation of the Mexican Community and other Cultures including Italian. It has remained a popular tourist attraction since the 1920's! Movies have even been filmed here with some of the biggest stars of Old Hollywood! For instance Charlie Chaplin in the film "The Kid" and the fabulous Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra in "Anchors Aweigh"! Recently the rent prices for all the vendors has gone up and they can't afford to pay more, so it's been said that they wil have to close the shops. This is a tradegy and it must be stopped most of the vendors here do this for a living, it's their life! Most have been doing this for generations! We need to preserve and protect this historical landmark! It's full of beauty, history and culture!
http://www.olvera-street.com/

Hello Senorita!

My Cinco de Mayo outfit:

Gold earrings (mom's), Gold plastic glitter bangles (99 cents store), Mexican Style embrodired/ 1940's style pinafore dress (Ross), Sandals (Payless)

An up close shot. I wore my hair in Victory Rolls and a snood (bought at the swap meet). You can see my vintage slip peeking out on top, ha ha! Everyone complimented me on my ensemble and hair, one women who is an instructor in my schools Fashion Dept. that I'm in said I reminded her of artist and one of my heros Frida Kahlo! That made my day!

Festivities!

At my school they had a Cinco de Mayo celebration complete with Tacos, Marachis and Folklorico! I missed it all because I was in class but I caught this Aztec performance once class was over.
Olvera Street

A shot near the Famous Stuffed Burro

Frida Kahlo on an art gallery poster

The Famous Cross at Olvera Street

Little Girls dancing away

Barrels; "Roll out there barrel will have a barrel of fun!"  'Beer Barrel Polka' -The Andrews Sisters

I Love this sight, Folks dancing away!

A Dove perched on a vendors roof

A fountain with Ceramics hanging for purchase

The Lord Celebrates Cinco de Mayo: I never knew Jesus liked Taquitos? Ha ha!

A beautiful array of colors! Guitars, sarapes, sombreos!

The classic film "The Kid" with Charlie Chaplin was filmed on these very steps!

I wish I could own all these beautiful garmets! It reminds me of the day's when I use to dance Folklorico, which wasn't very long ago ha ha!

Olvera Candle Shop has been here for ages!! They have some of the most beautiful decor and yes candles I've ever seen.

Some of the best dressed people there! Ha ha!

A lovely shop's  store front.

I was interviewed by these two lovely folks and student's from Cal State Fullerton!

I finished celebrating with this cold one! Mmmm!

Adios, Victoria

(All photos by Victoria Inez Rivera)