Category: Personal Style

Filthy Lannisters

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Let’s start this week off Westeros style, with some sensual, filthy Lannister family portraits!

About this time last year my friend Meryle Trouble and I performed an act with the Underground Peepshow for their Dungeons, Dragons and Damzels show.  We performed as the Lannisters, Cersei and Jamie, to the song ‘Love is Strange’ with a very Dirty Dancing inspired routine.  I had a fun time making both our costumes for the act, including outer and under garments.  These costumes are what I call “Burlesque Cosplay”, which is semi-accurate design with a bit more stage presence and of course easily removable.  I love doing Burlesque Cosplay because it brings together two of my favourite hobbies.  I admire and respect cosplayers who go for 100% accuracy, but I personally find it way more fun to take a cosplay idea and put my own spin on it, especially a Burlesque spin!

Photos by If You Fall Photography

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Priming Your Canvas

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Dear reader, I have a confession to make.  I know it may shock you but… this is not what my skin looks like.  Every photo you’ve ever seen of me was taken with a full face of makeup.  Shocked?  Don’t be!  I’m not ashamed of the fact that I wear makeup.  It gives me confidence and is a huge part of my personal look.  I get a lot of compliments on my skin, but really it’s the goop on top that should get the credit.  And in case you are interested here’s what I use to get that alabaster glow!

MAC Studio Fix Liquid and Powder in NC15, MAC Longwear Paintpot in Soft Ocre, and MAC 190 Foundation Brush.

Firstly I would like to say that I take skincare very seriously and I exfoliate and moisturize every single day in the morning and evening.  I also never go to sleep with my makeup on, no matter how tired I am.  My skin is naturally quite pale and I am very careful to stay out of the sun as much as possible.

After moisturizer the first step to my routine is applying MAC cosmetic’s Studio Fix Liquid Foundation in NC15 with a 190 MAC foundation brush.  I make sure to spread it evenly across my whole face, avoiding the eyelids.  Then, using the same brush, I apply MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Soft Ochre to my eyelids as a base for my eye makeup.  I love this product and it does a great job of preventing creasing for daily wear.  Lastly I buff out my skin with MAC’s Studio Fix Powder Foundation in NC15 which I usually apply with the sponge that comes with this product, but occasionally I will use a round, flathead brush to really press it on.  Et voila!

My face post-polishing

 

Dolly on the Job

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Recently at a party a fellow asked me if I always dress this way, specifically if I dress this way at work.  To which I enthusiasticly answered yes!  At my day job I am the face of the company.  When parents, students, teachers, strangers walk into the building it’s me they see sitting at the front desk.  Therefore I believe it is a part of my job to look polished and put together.  For the average girl that might mean wearing ‘buisness casual’ attire, having tidy hair and maybe a little makeup.  For me though, I look at every work day as an opportunity to express myself and put together fun, work-appropriate outfits!

One of my favourite things about dressing the way I do is that it makes those around me stop and take notice not only of the way I look but of their own style.  This morning while sitting at my desk a 10 year old girl came up to me with a big grin on her face.  “Hanna, look!” she said, pointing to her face, “I have new glasses!” The stylish metal frames perched atop her tiny nose gave this girl so much joy and the fact that she was so excited to show them to me brought a smile to my face too!

Introductions

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Well hello there!

My name is Hanna but you can call me Dolly. By day I work as the receptionist at a dance studio and by night I am a clothing and costume designer, seamstress and occasional burlesque performer in the wonderful city of Toronto. All day and all night I pride myself on being a fashionably stylish lady with an affinity for vintage inspired looks, girlish garb, bright colours, bold patterns and of course I rarely leave the house without perfectly painted lips. To me there is no better form of self expression than style; fashion is the air I breathe.

I’m not at all shy in saying I am a plus size woman who proudly displays the curves I’ve been graced with. I believe that every body is beautiful and the most important part of being a fashionista is knowing what fits and flatters your own figure. While I hesitate to describe my style as “vintage”, since to me that would involve a collection of vintage garments, I do draw incredible inspiration from 1940s, 50s and 60s fashion. 

This blog will be a diary of my personal style including photos, tips & tricks, inspiration, reviews, shopping finds, ongoing project updates and whatever else I can think of to entertain you. Please feel free to participate but do keep a positive attitude!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope to see you again!

xoxo

Dolly Monroe

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Banner photo and above photo by If You Fall Photography