Laurs Kemp

Photographer: Amber Byrne Mahoney
Model/Stylist: Emily Theobald
Make-up Artist: Allison Perlstein

My friend Lauren just launched a new website for her fashion label, Laurs Kemp. If you've followed this blog for a while you may remember me taking some photos of her collection back in 2011. Lauren has since moved from Arkansas to America's hippest city, Portland, where she has been working on a capsule collection titled L'Heure Magique which was inspired by the 1970s work of photographers Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton and the 1996 film The Craft.

I have always loved Lauren's designs and I'm so smitten with this batch as well. The simplicity of the silhouettes and the cool crescent moon prints are right up my alley. I love that she sent her work off to Brooklyn to be photographed by the talented Amber Mahoney and the gorgeous model/stylist Emily Theobald.

You can see more of the Laurs Kemp capsule collection lookbook here.

The end.

Model: Katy Tipton
Designer: Lauren Kemp
Photographer & Stylist: Starr Crow

I think this should finish out the collection of photos I shot featuring Lauren Kemp's designs. I hope you liked everything you saw and don't mind that I stretched them out over such a long period of time. I've got more projects lined up, so hopefully I'll have some new work to show you soon!

Nothing that surrounds us is object, all is subject.

This was model Katy's favorite outfit from our shoot with Lauren Kemp's collection. She came in town yesterday for a different shoot with me and another photographer, but we had to cancel last minute because the hair/makeup artist never showed. It was a frustrating situation.

I used to get pretty bummed when stuff like that happened, especially because so much thought and planning goes into every detail of a shoot. Some models have to ask off work, others drive in from nearby cities, and you just have to cross your fingers and hope that everyone follows through and shows up like they promised. Most of the time it works out, but sometimes it doesn't. I just try to keep a positive attitude and reschedule as quickly as possible. Yesterday we cured the blues with pizza.

Girl & Kitten

Winter break is almost over, and I haven't gotten any better at regular blog updates. Sorry about that. I don't have much of a desire for taking outfit photos anymore, except on certain occasions, and the truth is, I don't read too many blogs anymore either. It's sad in a way, but it's a separation I've been wanting for a while. There's lots of other projects I'd like to do with my house and things I'd like to create in my sew room, and I'd love to pick up drawing again, too. It's all a welcomed change. I still plan to post my work here when I have something to show, whether it's a shoot I've styled or photographed, or a dress that I've sewn. I know there will be outfits scattered throughout too, but for now I really want to focus on other things.

Today I'm sharing another set of Katy modeling Lauren Kemp's collection. It was all shot in what was Lauren's apartment (she's off to Portland now), and my kitten, Hank, who's now much bigger than he is in these photos (they were shot in October) made an appearance too. I think I have two more outfits to share from this shoot before I'm done (it was a long day), but the funny part is, I have another just-for-fun shoot with Katy later this week. She's just so fun to work with, and such a beautiful model!

Photos shot with vintage Canon TLB.

Wednesday

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! I got a few things from my wishlist and a few cool things that I wasn't expecting, and Jake approved of all his gifts too. I'd venture to say this year's gift exchange was a success. I meant to stop back by the blog last week to announce the winner of the Romwe giveaway, but the excitement around Christmas kept me away. So congratulations to MARILYN. You're the winner of the Romwe giveaway! Someone will be in touch with you very soon about collecting your prize.

I've still got a few photos left of model Katy wearing Lauren Kemp's designs which I'll try to share over the next few weeks. This photo is the only good one I got of that cozy outfit. Doesn't Katy look beautiful?

Primary Colors

Sweater & Shoes: Saver's
Hat & Blouse: c/o Romwe
Skirt: Lauren's sale
Brooch: Vintage Socialite
Tights: Gap

My fashion designer friend Lauren is moving to Portland after Christmas. I'm sending her off with a long list of Portland bloggers to fall in love with, including my favorites Clever Nettle, The Friendly Fox, Rachel Red Lips, and soon The Velvet Bird! As sad as am to see her go, I'm glad she's moving to a city full of such creative people. She's talented, and it's hard to make much of yourself here, unless you land a spot on Project Runway like Korto.

The one advantage of her leaving is that her closet's packed with lots of great vintage clothes, and she can't carry them all with her. She opened up her home to an indoor "yard" sale last week, and I left with a heaping pile of vintage, and lots of money still in my pocket. It was great. I got this skirt while I was there, and though it's a lot more color than I usually wear (my wardrobe has slowly faded into earthtones lately), I love it. It was the perfect match for my new Romwe bowler.

I took these photos in my kitchen one night over the weekend. The fun part about taking photos in my house at night is the potential for lots of visitors! Say hello to Louie, Hank, and Jake.

Lauren Kemp + Katy (Part 4)

Photographer: Starr Crow w/ Vintage Canon TLb
Model: Katy Tipton
Designer: Lauren Kemp
Art Director: Heather Canterbury & Starr Crow

Just a few more shots of Katy to show from our shoot with Lauren's collection. If I had to pick one outfit that I was most looking forward to it was this one. A cutout dress with a boater and a bike, and a basket just big enough for a furry muffin to play in. Maybe my excitement was a distraction when it came to loading the film because I certainly failed at that. My friend Heather helped me with the first set, but she took my training wheels off for this one and my lack of experience showed. Improper installation coupled with the exact opposite ISO settings required = a waste of film. I preserved my most favorites so you guys could at least see the dress; notice the criss-crossed neckline and the cutout detail at the waist. Perrrfection.

P.S. -- one more test before school's out for the semester, andddd Corey's back in Little Rock for good. Hope you're ready to see my face again.

Library Visits

Photographer: Starr Crow w/ Vintage Canon TLb
Model: Katy Tipton
Designer: Lauren Kemp
Art Director: Heather Canterbury & Starr Crow

I'm sorry I've been gone all week. I got sidetracked with an art history presentation that I was incredibly ill-prepared for. I've still got quite a few photos of Lauren Kemp's collection to share, but these seemed like the best segue from my life lately. Lots of books and long library visits. . .  I'm counting down the days until I'm out of school for winter break and I can finally start hanging out and having fun again.

UPDATE: Lauren's got a new blog! She's got some close up shots of her designs and lots of photos from the runway show, and I've got my fingers crossed that she'll do some awesome DIY's real soon. I've been wanting her to start a blog for ages, so I'm incredibly excited about this news. Pretty please go show her some love and welcome her to the wonderful world of blogging.

Lauren Kemp Fall 2011 + Katy (part 2)

Photographer: Starr Crow w/ Vintage Canon TLb
Model: Katy Tipton
Designer: Lauren Kemp
Stylist: Lauren Kemp & Starr Crow
Art Director: Heather Canterbury & Starr Crow

Continuing on with more photos from the shoot I did with Lauren's designs and Katy's pretty face. . .

I've got more photos from this indoor set that I love and will probably show you soon, but I couldn't resist the way these four matched up together. The mood and colors (especially in the bottom three) make perfect sense together. It's kind of annoying, but I tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to the cohesiveness of those sorts of things. These photos have me itching to do another shoot in Lauren's expertly curated home as soon as possible.

Lauren Kemp Fall 2011 + Katy (Part 1)

Photographer: Starr Crow
Model: Katy Tipton
Designer: Lauren Kemp
Stylist: Lauren Kemp & Starr Crow
Art Director: Heather Canterbury & Starr Crow

Last year I posted photographs of local fashion designer Lauren Kemp's fall 2010 collection. She shows every year at HarvestFest and last year I was lucky enough to snap some photos from the crowd. This year I walked in the show (for a different designer) and wasn't able to steal any photographs of my own, so I decided to set up a shoot with Lauren and a few other friends.

My friend Heather Canterbury and I planned out the locations and asked the lovely Katy Tipton if she'd like to model. She said yes which was a relief because she's one of my favorite models to work with in this entire city. Not only is she gorgeous, but she's also tons of fun and always has the best attitude no matter how tiring the day is.

I told you guys I was worried about messing up since I was shooting with a film camera for the first time in a while, and well, my worst nightmares were realized about half-way through. We did some photos inside and some photos outside, and I forgot to change the film speed for our first two outfits outside which happened to be my two favorite looks of the entire day. . . This is one of the sets that I messed up, and to be honest, I may like these a little better than the "right" ones. I'll be sure to share the rest soon, and you can tell me what you think. If you're interested in any of the clothing, let me know and I'll see if I can get Lauren to put a price on it for you. Big thanks to Jake for letting me steal his car for the day!

Local Designer Spotlight: Lauren Roark

On Saturday night I went to an event called HarvestFest in a well-known and very well-liked neighborhood, Hillcrest, here in Little Rock. HarvestFest is pretty much a massive block party, except for the fact that they have a yearly fashion show! It's put on by a great little boutique called Box Turtle which carries a lot of great independent designer pieces. I've always loved the shop because there's a room upstairs that's dedicated to nothing but local designers!

I think in all there were something like six or seven designers who showed, all very creative and unique with their own different styles and influences, but my favorite designer had to be Lauren Roark. I had a feeling that would happen since she loves vintage as much, if not more than me. She's got a pretty vintage shop in one of the local flea markets and I know she sells a few things online too!

Her background in vintage radiated through the silhouettes in her collection, though the vibrant prints and inventive headpieces rounded it out with a much more modern element. I could see myself wearing the first dress more than anything, but I know it's a one-of-a-kind design and there's no way that model is the same size as me!

If I had a fancy flash for my camera like the guy beside me, I'd definitely have more photos to show you. I wish I would've gotten more of Lauren's line and of the line that went right before her, but my camera doesn't do so well at night. I just ordered a Canon Speedlite 580ex on Ebay today, mostly because I have my first paying photo gigs coming up in a few weeks and I want to be prepared, but it'll be nice to have it for nighttime events like this too.

If you're interested in learning more about Lauren or want to get your hands on one of her pieces, just let me know and I'll try to get you in contact with her.