Doe Deere Blogazine

What kind of foundation do you use? What are some of the lipstick colors you couldn’t live without? -Ali

Great question! I love talking lipstick. :)  Some of my favorites are Shiseido Vermeil (true red), MAC Morange (bright orange), L’Oreal Crimson Joy (deeper red), and my own violet-pink colors that I mix. And my favorite liquid foundation is L’Oreal True Match in Alabaster.

I know that you’re trying to promote your new make-up brand, but what other brands do you like and use? -Aimee

In my vast makeup collection I have pretty much every brand under the moon – from drugstore cheapies like Wet & Wild (I swear by their brow pencil – it’s the perfect brown for me!) to Chanel & Dior. Maybelline mascara in pink and green container is a staple. And when I want something really bright, only Lime Crime can satisfy those cravings!

Here’s a snapshot of my makeup bag:

L.C. eyeshadows, Urban Decay Eyelid Primer, Sephora nail polish, L’Oreal lip gloss, Paula Dorf concealer stick, Revlon Lipstick, Chanel compact powder.

How did you start in the makeup industry? Did you freelance or did you work in a cosmetics counter? How does one start out and promote themselves as a makeup artist? -Isa

My career as a makeup artist had an unusual start – I began posting makeup tutorials on my then website, and it just took off. At the time, I was the only one doing the tutorials and they were a hit for that reason. I never worked at a cosmetics counter but many of my friends did – I hear it’s a great way to get started!

Later I got on ModelMayhem, a networking site for makeup artists, models, stylists and photographers. I collaborated with much talent on there, expanding my online portfolio. Freelance gigs came from there – I did makeup for photoshoots, indie runway shows, etc. For a young makeup artist, MM is definitely a great place to start!

What are your thoughts on the current fashion trends that teenage girls are wearing today? (i.e. skinny jeans, hollister shirts, ugg boots, converse/vans, etc.) – Bonniee

I’m generally not too concerned with the length, cut, style, etc. of the current trend. What I’m concerned with is cliches. If I had a teenage daughter, I’d hope she had enough smarts not to wear Uggs as some kind of a cutting-edge fashion accessory two and half years after they’d hit the market. Wearing them to the grocery store is ok.

Your clothing and make up style is so incredible and different. How do you deal with people who make rude remarks to your unique style? -Andrea

To be honest with you, in my whole history of ‘dressing weird’ I can recall a total of maybe 2 negative remarks. This could be due to me living in a socially liberal environment, or only wearing extravagant stuff to events where it’s accepted and expected. The neighborhood I currently live in is fairly conservative and sometimes people will give me a dirty look; but the way I see it, as long as I’m not physically assaulted, it’s all good. They have a right to laugh at me, I have a right to inwardly laugh at them. ;)

There was one time Mark and I got jumped on the train. I was wearing a big, poofy dress with a petticoat and a group of teenagers were causing trouble. One of them jumped out in front of me and scared me. Before I could process what happened, I automatically kicked him in the balls. In retrospect, I think my reaction was very stupid – the kid could’ve been packing heat and feeling extra emboldened for that reason. The best way to deal with an aggressor is to ignore them or leave the situation as soon as you can.

I would love to hear your experiences as a redhead. In England, red hair is hated and ridiculed. Did your experiences as a redhead differ from Russia to America? Do you think it’s true that redheads tend to have certain personality trends? -Rhia

My hair didn’t turn red until I hit puberty (I was blonde prior to that). I suppose I lucked out – redheaded kids are ridiculed on any continent, sadly…

In my adult life, I have yet to encounter a negative comment about my ginger-ness. Most people smile and say I have beautiful hair, and my husband has a thing for redheads. Could be because redheads look dorky & non-threatening? As for whether redheads share certain personality traits, I doubt it – after all, I’ve met some really shy and really outgoing carrot tops. It all depends on the person.

Whether we have more fun or not is carrot-top-secret. ;) One thing is for sure – redheads do get more attention, so if you’re thinking of going red, be prepared for that! ;)

I know u said one of ur dreams is to have a lipstick line, was that one of ur new years res. Well have u ever thought about making an accessory line, with hangbags and shoes. I see u love vintage and funky colorful things, so have u thought of it??? -Painthead

I haven’t, actually. I adore handbags and shoes of course, but simply don’t know enough about them to start my own line. I believe that one should start a business only when they feel they can do something better than what’s already out there. I’m pretty satisfied – overwhelmed even! – with all the bags and shoes they have for sale.

The day I come up with something better than this fantastical Dior shoe, I’ll launch my own line.

Are you mean or snobby in person? Have you ever been mistaken for that? I asked it because you don’t smile in your photos (frankly, neither do I) and just by looking at your beautiful photos you give off an aura of aloofness with a slight upturned tilt of your head. I’m still working on perfecting that delicious look. -Zoë

Haha, what a question. Of course I am not mean or snobby, nor have I been mistaken for it. I’m actually exceedingly nice and sliiightly dorky in person. Just because I’ve learned to project confidence in front of the camera doesn’t mean I’m all bad-ass in real life, tee hee! ;)

I do smile in personal pictures, just not the fashion ones. I guess in fashion, models are supposed to project an aura of unattainability of some sort. You see it in high fashion photography especially – models never smile, aside from slightly parting their lips. Most models I know are very low-key, low-maintenance girls in real life.

Where do you shop in NYC? Can you recommend any vintage or retro type stores? -Becca

I love vintage shopping! When I’m in the mood for something quirky, I head straight to Beacon’s Closet or Buffalo Exchange (both in Williamsburg, Brooklyn). Reminiscence if I’m in Manhattan. My favorite department store is Century 21. There are also lots of great thrift stores scattered all around Manhattan!

How much do you think you spend on clothes yearly? -Jackie D

I don’t know. Haha. Can you tell me how much you spend on clothes yearly? I guess it depends on what I’m doing at the moment. If I have a major shoot/project coming up, I’ll be out scouting for cool stuff all the time & spending a good chunk of change. Other times, I’ll shop only when I need it. I do frequent vintage and thrift stores, which saves me a lot of money.

What does a fashionista like yourself do to get ready in the morning? How long does it take you? Do you plan out your makeup and outfits the night before, or is it a spontaneous decision in the morning? -Katie

I’m one of the few lucky people who doesn’t have to go to work every morning. When I do get ready to go out, it’s usually to a meeting, a photoshoot or to see my friends. Depending on how casual/uncasual the event is, it can take me anywhere from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours to get ready. I usually do plan out the more elaborate outfits the night before; otherwise I just grab whatever seems to match out of my closet and run out the door!

Are you a walking contradiction in any way? I am constantly getting told I can’t like Disney AND Marilyn Manson – they’re too different etc. and can never decide whether to wear dark clothes or insanely bright and cheerful ones. Just wondered if you had any Odd Combinations that have made people go ‘…what?!’ -Becca

Umm, hard question. As far as I am concerned, I am one solid whole. Everything I do, wear and like makes perfect sense to me. I do suspect that some of my likes might appear unusual or even contradicting to others, but not to me. I think it’s perfectly normal to like fairy tales and scary tales. Alice In Wonderland & Marilyn Manson. Disney & Tim Burton. Lady Gaga & Type O Negative.

It’s nothing to be shamed of. The fact that you like a wide spectrum of things shows that you’re a developed human being.

How do you come up with your ideas for your photoshoots and the outfits?  Can you go over your creative process? -Luana

It can be absolutely anything – something I see, or hear, or even mis-hear will set me off, and before I know it I’m jotting down ideas in my journal! I do look through a lot of magazines and fashion/art communities on LiveJournal, that keeps me inspired. My creative friends are a constant source of inspiration as well – sometimes I’ll see an element that I like, even something insignificant like beads on a hat or an unusual button placement, and it begets an idea. Other times I’ll go to a vintage shop to see what they have and a concept will hit me; but I do usually prefer to plan it out before going wardrobe-hunting.

One thing I’ve learned not to worry about over the years is copying. Weare all influenced by someone else, and the key is to interpret it with your own flare. So don’t limit your informational take-in, expand it if you can. It seems counter-intuitive, but the more influences you have, the better the chance of you creating something truly unique.

When (if you ever) photoshop pictures, what program do you use? And lastly, how did you get your lime crime fashion line started? – Jackie D

I use Photoshop when I need to glam up my pictures. My former clothing line was pretty much launched on eBay and then on my website. Today, Etsy is the undisputed king of DIY – I recommend testing the waters on there if you’re looking to start a line!

You seem like a jack-of-all-trades, what with being a previous singer, and designer, and now a renowned make-up artist. What is it about fashion in general that draws you, how do you afford the lifestyle, and of course, how does it feel to know that you’ve “made” it? -Natalie

If someone asked me what my purpose in life was, I would say “to create one big fairy tale”. I like to live my life and create in such a way that makes people go, “Wow! I didn’t know this could be done!” and be inspired to do the same. Fashion, music and art allow me to do this better than anything else. Some say it’s the glamour that draws people in, but to be in it for the glamour is to be wrapped up in self, and it’s not why I’m in it. It’s most definitely the fairy tale factor.

Affording the lifestyle: because it’s a fairy tale, not everything has to be real. The diamond crown may not be diamonds after all, and the ruby slippers are not real Dior. But as long as it is done with taste and is aesthetically relevant, it has its justification.

Being a typical artist, but I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I’ve ‘arrived’. It’s a life-long journey of self-discovery for me, and there is still much left to learn and be excited about. I might be up one step on the ladder, but I haven’t reached the skies yet. :) I’m hoping to share my journey with you through this blog.

Thank you for the questions! Third & final chapter coming next week.