I remember when my parents used to take us on our annual family trips to Vegas every winter break to eat, shop, and play at Circus Circus. Not exactly sure why, as Vegas was never rated ‘G‘– but for whatever reason, I always had a Great time. However, Gone are the days that Vegas could ever be credited as a “Family Fun Zone.” Vegas can be rated many things, but it’s definitely closer on the ‘R‘ scale, than ‘G‘.
Let’s be Real.
We live in the era of ‘The Hangover,‘ {I’m slightly in love with Bradley Cooper, so I’m OK with this era} where partying and forgetting one’s problems are glorified.

Needless to say, when Monte Carlo re-strategized their branding and ad campaign back in 2009, I was totally impressed. David & Goliath — The Creative Agency behind this masterpiece, did an incredible job at painting you perfect pictures of scandals, glamour, and luxury… all without the pretense. {Sorta}
Using French-{ish} words in a phonetic breakdown with appropriately inappropriate imagery, the result was exactly “Unpretentiously Luxurious.”

I loved the series of questionable scenes and scenarios that one expects to find in Vegas. In this case, in Monte Carlo. It was perfect. This IS what Vegas is about.

I was inspired by this campaign to mimic the unpretentiously luxurious lifestyle to create T-Shirts for Sanna’s Bachelorette trip in Vegas. I thought it would be cooler to have everyone’s shirts have a different phrase, like ‘Tray-Sheek,’ ‘Bon App A Teet’…but “Duh Botch Or Ee’ stuck.
Not sure if it resonated, or if many understood it — but the artist in me can’t do anything without intention and a deeper meaning, blah-blah. I at least hope it initiated interesting conversations. And I really hope their weekend was full of… debauchery. =]

We were so excited to work on the logo and branding concept for Rubina’s Cake Shoppe! {revamp from her shop previously known as “Rubina’s Cakes.”}

After confirming the color palette of a rose pink and chocolate brown, we thought we’d add a touch of a modern-artistic-painterly look. We initially had the logo just include the hand-drawn swirl on top, so it would look like a somewhat abstracted cupcake top, but without the bottom wrapper, it could have easily been mistaken for a ice cream sundae…We obviously added the bottom wrapper extend from her shop name. The polka-dots were a no-brainer. A little mod, a little girly, and totally trendy…and voila, Rubina’s Cake Shop relaunch had begun.

I’m really behind on posting these pictures that her and her hubby so graciously sent over, so my apologies on the delay!

Rubina was a featured vendor showcasing at the “3rd Annual Valentine Romance “Sneak Peek” Oscar® Gifting Party” in Beverly Hills, this past February!

With the event styling by Hello Kismet Events, PaperDaydream designs, and the beautifully delicious Cake Truffles and Fabulously Sculpted cakes by Rubina, I’d say the event looked like a success. Below is the gorgeous Shop Owner and Pastry Chef herself with a few of Hollywood’s familiar faces, including Kevin Eubanks from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Vivica A. Fox {Kill Bill, Booty Call}, and Kiowa Gordon of Twilight: New Moon & Twilight: Eclipse. Everyone loved how amazing her cakes were, Oscar Nuñez from the hit show The Office even commissioned her to create his wedding cake!

Feel free to contact her to sweeten up your day, and your next event.

McQueen at the Met?

Yes.

The sound of that just gives me chills, I had to confirm what I saw was real.

A little over a year after his very, very untimely and unfortunate death, McQueen’s magic can be seen beautifully curated at the Met until August 7th. It’s rare that an exhibit gives me chills. It’s rare that I get nervous upon entering a museum. And it’s even more rare that I almost fainted when I heard about this exhibit– the chills and the nerves just added to the majestic experience. McQueen was a master at delivering original avant-garde fashion during his triumphant 19 year career, and I love his intention, his execution and his sinister style behind everything. One of the reasons McQueen is my all time favorite designers, is because he never fails to arrange conflicting themes so amazingly well… every season. Not only does he blend unconventional elements together seemlessly, but he infuses so much of his dark side, adding so much depth and jaw-dropping worthy reactions. With 100 pieces from his work since 1992, including pieces from his Givenchy collection, each turn and each room left me in awe.

Oh..and the quotes cited were brilliant. I loved it. It tied the collection in so well, and gave you a peak inside the genius’ thought process.

I love this man so much, I had to write about him on Beauty and The Feast too.

McQueen doesn’t just inspire me, he empowers me.

Enjoy.

xoxo.

Spring 2001 – Voss Collection: Evoked images of beauty, horror, and madness. | Red & Black Feathers with Glass Microscope Medical Slides