Makeup AS Performance Art!!

Lady Starlight has been wanting me to do a performance piece like this; casually applying makeup in front of an audience (for an uncomfortably long time) at one of her parties FOREVER and it just never happened. Well, I have now discovered that my idol, fucking Madonna has beaten me to the punch! This was shot by fashion photographer Steven Klein for use during her performance of Vogue, as a video backdrop on her 2004 Re-Invention World Tour! It's kinda the best thing I've ever seen!!

Lil' Blonde Darling: RuPaul!

Blonde Beauty Icon RuPaul

So I was recently called out for not featuring any "Darlings of Color" on my blog and I felt pretty yucky about it! The most inspirational blonde ebony enchantress for me is drag legend RuPaul! Born in San Diego, RuPaul made a name for herself in the Atlanta drag scene during the 80's. She originally worked a Rocky Horror-esque/Genderfuck look before transitioning to full glaMOUR. When she moved to NYC and started working it in the early 90's Club Kid scene, her career really blew up! She slapped adversity in the face when her debut album, the very gay, house infused Supermodel of the World was released in 1993 (during the height of grunge and hardcore gansta' rap)...and it was a hit! Inspired by the early 90's obsession with supermodels, the lead single Supermodel (You Better Work) reached #2 on the Billboard charts and the video received heavy rotation on MTV. She broke even more ground when she was revealed as the 1st spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics and the Viva Glam/MAC AIDS Fund campaign. Yes, a black man in drag was now a spokesperson for a major cosmetics company!

I've had an affinity towards RuPaul since I was 13, as she was the only drag queen I saw in  mainstream media I could relate to.  She always seemed approachable, preached a loving and positive message and was by far the most glamorous! Her classic beauty and "realness" transfixed me and when she released her autobiography Lettin' It All Hang Out in 1995 I simply HAD to read it. The first chapter was all about her beauty routine and was where I first discovered MAC Cosmetics. She was so beautiful and glamorous and the idea of a drag queen as a cosmetics spokesperson was so cutting edge, I simply had to use it too! I ended up working for MAC for 8 years and I guess I have RuPaul to thank/blame! Ha!

Just a casual up-do!

Screen Siren!

BEAT DOWN!

"If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?-RuPaul

I have a feeling Sam Fine was involved!

Drag Tulip!

Shwerk!!


"Look at me--a big old black man under all of this makeup, and if I can look beautiful, so can you."-RuPaul 

 I drove my Dad crazy with this album....but I think he secretly loved it!

Sashay! Shante'!

Bump it!

"We all came into this world naked. The rest is all drag." -RuPaul

SHEEEEWWWWW!!!

Tina!

The Eyes have it!

"I've dedicated my career to fighting the mundane. My hope is that my career will be a shining example to children everywhere that life is more meaningful when you are not afraid to see all colors of the rainbow."-RuPaul

VOLUME!

Amazing!

You Betta Werk, bitch!

Just Browsing: Bleached Eye Brows!

There is nothing I love more than a bleached brow!! It's really a beauty oxymoron; dramatic and yet soft. Bleached brows were a popular trend in the 70's, made a comeback in the 90's and have been popping up in fashion editorials and on runways ever since.  It's the perfect choice if you're bored with your look and need a glaMOUR jumpstart. It works if you're tan! It works if you're pale! Plus it helps keep balance when you wear dark eyeshadow and lipstick. I also enjoy the slightly alien, mannequin vibe it gives. Do it now and behold the new you! Gorgey!!!

Nadja Auermann

Madonna

Donna Jordan

Laura Stone

Jessica Stam

 Phillipe Blond

Gwen Stefani

Darian Darling

Jolen Cream Bleach hair lightener

My favorite facial bleach! Readily available and super easy to use! Start with a clean, dry face.  Using the icluded spatula, measure about one-quarter teaspoon powder and place on tray.  Measure about one-half teaspoon creme.  Blend powder and creme well.  Apply mixture with spatula covering hair completely.  Keep mixture on for about ten minutes, checking throughout until your desired lightness is achieved.  Remove with spatula and wash your face to remove bleach residue. Be carefull not to leave the bleach on TOO long, your brows might break off. That's a whole different look!

Buy it at Drugstore.com

Lil' Blonde Darling: Donna Jordan!

Blonde Beauty Icon Donna Jordan

I hope this post will make everyone go bleach their eyebrows! 70's fashion model and Warhol Superstar Donna Jordan worked that look like nobody's business! She was in YSL's clique in Paris, a muse to Karl Lagerfeld and fashion illustrater Antonio Lopez,  and was a firm believer in 40's inspired shoulder pads, red lipstick, and glaMOUR! Also, like any Warhol Superstar...she was also an "actress"! She starred in Andy Warhol's L'Amour as an American gold digger in Paris (along with her gal-pal and cohort Jane Forth).  Love her!!

frosted.blue.eyeshadow

GLAM

 Never close your mouths in photos girls....it's that easy access mouth men like!

 Pose!

70's Jean

Disco Marilyn

After a long night at the disco...

Glitterati

Why not wear a sequined bathing suit?

Shwerk! Work! Yes!

Workin' the street corner!

Oh, the glaMOUR!

 with Andy Warhol and Jane Forth

Lil' Blonde Darling: Olivia Newton-John in Xanadu!

Blonde Beauty Icon Olivia Newton-John

A Fantasy! A musical! A place where dreams come true.....Olivia Newton-John in Xanadu is quite literally magical!! I have always been obsessed with Greek mythology and anything from 1979/1980 (the years of my conception/birth). Luckily this film involves BOTH! The premise of this 1980 musical flop is as follows: A mural in Venice Beach, CA of the nine Olympian Muses (Greek deities who inspire the creation of literature and the arts) springs to life in full neon splendor, and the Muse of Dance (Olivia Newton-John) is sent to inspire a down on his luck, starving artist to fulfill his dream of opening a roller disco/art house! Yes, that is actually the plot. Throw in some retro 1940's glaMOUR, unacceptable spandex and lame` garments, an inappropriate and out of place animated musical number and lot's of feathered hair and you have one of the BEST worst films ever made! The film was a box office disaster but the soundtrack, featuring Olivia and Electric Light Orchestra was a Top 5 smash hit and included the #1 hit single Magic!

  The billowing, breezy looks the 9 muses wear in the film, which were created by costume designer Bobbie Mannix, were so popular that an entire Xanadu fashion line was created, and sold in boutiques around the country. Above are some of the designs.

Olivia really is a Muse, as she inspires me to wear billowing, sheer polyester sun dresses, spandex jumpsuits, dolman sleeved blouses and metallic strappy stilettos. Too bad I never learned how to roller skate. I should also mention that my Xanadu looks in the summer of 2007 ended up getting me free tickets to see Xanadu on Broadway! Kinda sad it closed. It was hysterical! 

bugle beads and a blow out!

 Would it be really inappropriate to wear this as a bath robe? Yes? GOOD!

Original design sketch by Bobbie Mannix

PEACH!

Have to beWEAVE we are magic.......

Lame' tiger print. 'nuff said!

Original design sketch by Bobbie Mannix

Billowing Beauty

ROLLER SET!

The film version of this song is unacceptably long and includes 6 costume changes!

Disco Pants!

I do believe a vent brush was involved!

What was with the late 70's trend of romantic dresses with slouchy boots?

 White leather fringe ANYTHING is good.

Original design sketch by Bobbie Mannix

Great song! Great scene in the film! 40's glaMOUR meets 80's glitz. This is a great live version and features some wonderfully dodgy video effects...yes, that IS ON-J as a blonde, brunette AND redhead!

I do believe the costume designer from Victor/Victoria ripped this off a few years later.

Her cheek is so peach, I want to take a bite!

 Original design sketch by Bobbie Mannix

aMUSE me!

Neon Nights

This scene inspired the decor of my living room....Hell my whole fucking life!!!