Archives for March 2018

Agent Carter Lipstick

March 30, 2018 by The Lady Nerd Leave a Comment

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“Never underestimate the power of red lipstick“, they say.

Unless you’re me, then you underestimate it all the time. I’m late to the makeup game as I only started wearing makeup a couple years ago for photoshoots and film work. I was so hesitant about applying colour to my own face that I actually photoshopped this photo from the previous photoshoot with red lips before I tried it on myself!

But I finally caved and got Besame’s 1946 red velvet lipstick that they used on Hayley Atwell aka Agent Peggy Carter (I’m still sore they cancelled the show…). It’s a deeper, almost brownish red with a semi-matte finish. I wasn’t sure how it would look with my slightly yellow-ish teeth, but it still works well! I only use it on special occasions when I have the time to meticulously apply it, but it’s a beautiful opaque colour and with geek street cred to boot! I mean, what vintage loving geek gal wouldn’t want Agent Carter’s signature shade?

Her Universe Agent Carter tshirt worn by The Lady Nerd

Wearing an Agent Carter tee by Her Universe a few years back

Besame 1946 Red Velvet Lipstick – Amazon

Chambray Dress for Spring

March 28, 2018 by The Lady Nerd 3 Comments

A Lesson in Frugal Shopping Strategy:
Being the not-so-wealthy sort, I rarely spend over a certain price point. This dress was $150 from Talbots many years back. I really liked the cut, though sadly, their smallest size still didn’t fit me. But a couple hours and a few clicks later, I managed to snag the smallest size on Ebay for a mere $20. Then, I took it to an alterations place and had it custom-tailored to fit. So I now own a beautiful custom-fitted dress for a fraction of the store cost!

Along with the flattering feminine cut, the chambray material is deceptively light and breezy. The shape feels polished, but the rustic fabric keeps it casual. I find this to be a perfect dress to wear visiting places, like a new church, family gatherings, or even a nice afternoon out with friends patroning a local cafe.

A proper skirt swish! It’s a beautiful thing.

Dress – Talbots (via Ebay)
Shoes – Steve Madden
Necklace – Borrowed from Mom
Umbrella – Ross

Photography: Ryan Booker

The Perfect Spring Maxi Dress

March 20, 2018 by The Lady Nerd Leave a Comment

*This post contains affiliate links*
March 20th, the first day of Spring.

Or as Atlanta seems to have it right now, the resurgence of winter. Oi! Seriously, it was sunny in the upper 70s just a few days ago and then the temperatures suddenly plummeted to the point that I’m currently typing this shivering like a maraca in a fur coat at a local Panera. I feel like my teeth are chattering in time with the music…

Anyways, let’s think of warmer times and brighter days! I’ve never been a fan of floral prints or pastels, so spring fashions have always boggled me. When shopping amongst an array of hydrangea printed skirts and bright yellow sundresses, I tend to stand dumbfounded at what to do with the brightly coloured frocks. Should I wear them? Can I take a Photoshop desaturate tool to them?

I’ll admit, I’m a dark colour girl (there’s a reason black will always be classic). But in addition to the dark jewel tones, I like (and look best in) forest tones. Earthy hues like greens, browns, rusts, and any other colour that might make one think that I am, in fact, an elf.

I stumbled across this pristine piece at Bebe before they closed all of their brick and mortar stores (still sad about that as they were one of the few stores that fit my odd body proportions. I’m one of those types that has to try things on first rather than buying blindly online, hoping it fits, and having to deal with returns. I’ll have to learn to get over that as online purchases seems to be the way most commerce is going).

While perusing through the racks, I saw a long piece of pale olive green fabric nestled in between the loud and/or pastel prints. My elven heart was immediately drawn to it and its silken feel. I tried it on, wrestled with the price, walked away for an hour to decide if I really wanted, decided I did, went bought, and smiled about it all the way home.

I wore it the next day while out visiting friends at one of Atlanta’s anime conventions, Momocon. I got stopped quite a few times by folks thinking it was a costume or just oggling over it’s formal, but casual vibe. A friend was kind enough to snap some photos outside by the 1996 Olympic Ring statue (or “incognito Stargate” as I like to call it).

Ah, but that wasn’t the only part of the fun. Here’s a sneak peek of Part Two of the photoshoot….

Dress: Bebe Double slit maxi dress
Cuff: eBay – Gold Cuff bracelet
Photographer: James “Frameshot” Garner (photos used by permission from Anime Geek Gaming Nation)

Tomb Raider – The Photoshoot

March 19, 2018 by The Lady Nerd 4 Comments

As mentioned in the previous post, in May 2013, I teamed up with Dim Horizon Studios to do a photoshoot of my Tomb Raider costume. But being the oddball sort I am, I couldn’t just do a standard shoot. Oh no, I had to make it like a mini film project, complete with location scouting and script.

The story is basically a one-day diary entry (which I came up with from one of the early videos of the new game where Lara is writing in a journal). It takes place a few days after the initial shipwreck as I wanted to keep it early on in the game. I didn’t want to go too far into the game to avoid spoilers (well, that, and less props to deal with it. Had to make it easy on myself somehow!). In the spirit of the game, the story is basic survival (with a little dash of humour thrown in as my little rebellion against the game being so dark. That’s my only personal gripe with the new Tomb Raider is the shift to more survivalist horror than Indiana Jones/Bond-style adventure. But that’s just my own personal preference.). Without further adieu, here is the photoshoot!

It happened so fast…My ship, the Endurance, is gone, torn in half like a broken toy.

As I climbed up the river bank, I laughed because I survived, and laughed until I cried. I wanted adventure, but this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.

They don’t ever tell you how cold the nights are, how…sticky blood is, or that no matter how many times you throw your clothes in a river, the dirt never really comes out.

When I first crawled up the bank and into the woods, I left a trail of blood behind me.

My wounds had long since gone numb, but that hadn’t stopped the blood from dripping out. I put a stop to it in the only way I could: bandages, as tight as I could make them, and then some.

I remember screaming with pain, but the hoarse shouts sounded like someone else’s voice.

If I didn’t find fresh water soon, I knew I wouldn’t live to scream again.

When you’re truly alone, all you can think about is the next step. Your mind screams for home, for a safe place, but in a place like this, the next step is all you have.

Putting one foot in front of the other, I began to explore my surroundings, determined to find any source of water this god-forsaken island could offer.

At first I thought I was imagining the roaring sound in my ears….

…but when I came across a waterfall, it was as if my prayers had been answered.

What a beautiful sight that water was to behold.

I drank all I could manage and more, trying in vain to fill a vast emptiness inside me. It was the sweetest water I’ve ever tasted; I think I’ll carry the memory of that taste for the rest of my life. I had no bottle though, so I couldn’t take any with me. Note to self: Look for a thermos tomorrow at the wreckage site.

As I rested, basking in the cool refreshment, I became lost in the dark thoughts plaguing my mind since the wreck. A noise in the forest brought me back to reality.

For a moment, all I could hear was my heartbeat, when sudden movement nearby had me up on my feet, bow in hand.

That’s when I heard it, a terrible, echoing howl….I didn’t stay to find out what manner of creature that unnatural sound belonged to.

I ran as fast as I could back to the safety of camp. It took me a long time to catch my breath afterwards, but I left the howling far behind.

Now I use the last bits of sun to write in my journal, one of the few things that miraculously survived the wreck. Alone, hurt, but unbroken, I will survive on this island no matter what. I dare not venture back into the jungle in the dark; one wrong step could break a leg, or a neck. I have no food or water left, and I’m so very, very hungry…

…but I know I have to be strong. I can do this. This island will not defeat me.

Photograph: Dim Horizon Studio
Makeup: Matt Silva
Costume and props by: Me, Meredith Placko, Austin Sirkin (holster), Adam Greene, Carter Eastis, Kristen Anne
Hair: Gregory Dobrasz
Script: Me, Austin Sirkin, Philip Maddox

Tomb Raider 2013

March 13, 2018 by The Lady Nerd 3 Comments

In April of 2013, there was a reboot of one of my favourite video games of all time – Tomb Raider. I grew up with the games, first playing the games at a friend’s house, then becoming obsessed with the movie versions (In middle school I ran around in black tees and shorts with my hair in a French braid. I was meticulous about getting those two bangs in place). I had a great love of adventure stories and games, so here was this seemingly perfect combination of a female Indiana Jones and James Bond, yet still a character in her own right. I couldn’t help but like her and for lack of a better phrase, BE her.

I grew up with a very devil-may-care attitude that I cultivated from Tomb Raider, watching too many adventure/sci-fi movies, and being in paramilitary programs (CAP, JROTC). So I had a habit of running off to do things like four-wheeling, gun ranges, multiple forms of martial arts, fencing, almost getting my pilot’s license at 15, search and rescue exercises, survival training, and obstacle courses.

Fast forward to adulthood, whereupon I discovered both cosplay. I was so excited that as soon as concept artwork was released, I went to town to begin my costume. Truth be told, I wasn’t confident that I could pull off classic Lara Croft with her sexy, grown-up woman face (I feel like I tend to look more like a kid). So when I saw her new look, I just about jumped out of my skin. Now here was a version I could pull off! There was no question. I had to do it.

I poured my all my years of yearning to do a Tomb Raider costume into it. I researched for 2 years on the screen-accurate materials, colours, and props. Friends taught me how to distress, make the props, and basic archery form to take it to the best level of realism.

Two years later, I had the costume finished despite eBay mishaps and it being one of the first major costumes I had done. I was so proud of the work that had done that I was chomping at the bit to photograph it. But I didn’t want to do just the same ol’ cosplay portraiture. I wanted to do something different. Being a storyboard artist, my brain naturally went to creating a story. I decided to run with this idea of narrative and wrote up a script. Then it was time to figure out who would be crazy enough to shoot it…

Enter Dim Horizon Studios.

I had stumbled across Dim Horizon Studios while searching Dragoncon photos the year before. I saw their iconic Bioshock photograph was blown away. So I immediately found their Facebook page and started following them. When I put up the casting call for a photographer, they shot me a message to throw his name in the ring. I was giddy to oblige as I had been wanting to work with them quite badly. In addition to photographic talent, Matthew and Nicole Nicholson are some of the loveliest folks you’ll ever meet. Add in Matt Silva of Black Tie FX for special effects makeup (of Face-off and insanely good hair fame) and Adam Greene of Pixelbash Props for various assisting duties (he made the necklace I’m wearing out of real jade!). Hard-working, easy going, loveable geeks, the lot of them. They listened to my harebrained scheme, put up with my desire to trek all the way down to the pools of Cloudland Canyon, Georgia to shoot (bless you, Nicole), and even fed me afterwards.

(Lara was a bit hungry after surviving that island….)

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post of the photoshoot (complete with script!)
(Seriously, can I have his hair?)

Femme Florals

March 9, 2018 by The Lady Nerd 1 Comment

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of experiencing something I never have before in all my years of modeling….Modeling with a group! Our lovely photographer (and fellow model), Astrid, was in town from traveling and wanted to see her friends. Since a decent amount of her friends are models, well,…we just had to have ourselves a photoshoot. It was a fun day of frolicking around a park, laughing as we goofily attempted to run down a hill barefoot, making new friends, sharing hopes and dreams. So please enjoy this unintentional Anthroplogie-esque featuring vintage fashions from local Atlanta store, Coco and Mischa as well as jewelry from Canned Goods!

Photography: Astrid Kallsen
Wardrobe: Coco and Mischa
Jewelry: Canned Goods
Other Models:
@itsnikki.g
@nomibowie
@mirandalindseymerrill
@channysteele