Nick Frankel modeling my Mammoth Suit Line at 6:08 am,
on a fine morning at burning man. This was the first night we danced until the sun rose.
Here's my inspiration board for the Men's
(and unreleased women's wear) lines. Not the first Menswear I've brought to the world
In 2014 I released my first menswear line.
This collection was titled "Blarney" The irish gift of gab, and it included 5 looks. 
My beauties modeling their kilts and white tees!
Notice the beautiful stuffed (Actually skinned) animal codpieces they are rocking! And in the far left upper corner, you'll spot Malcolm, He also modeled for this Fall 16 Mammoth Suit Collection. Modeled by Malcolm, Devin, RJ, Nick and Daniel!
Here's a video of two women who went to my fashion show three summers ago.
I love and always plug this video when I can. The Collection
I'm a draper, not a pattern maker.
I never create garments from
paper patterns. I love the freedom and free flowing creativity of draping. That's where one places fabric on their mannequin or model and pins it to or around their form. This collection required me to purchase Vogue Suit Patterns and step out of my comfort zone. 
I wanted to challenge myself, mission success!
Each look took about a full week of construction to finish. I wrestled with my arch nemesis, the sleeve!!! I cut the collection from 10, to 3, to 2 looks. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. Although, I won't be selling these. These suits were so specific to size, I let my friends keep them. 
About the Shoots
My plan for Burning Man was to
find a photographer with experience and a nice camera. Its nearly impossible to solidify plans on the playa because there's spotty cellphone service and people go exploring with no regimented schedule. It's actually amazing. 
So I shot Frankel myself.
He's been one of my closest friends ever since I met him in my youth (18). I went to Burning Man, just him and me, which was a test of friendship and a dream. Before this shoot, I pulled him away from a gorgeous Irish lass, arguing.. "We've got business to attend to. We have to beat the sunrise!" 
We raced on our bikes terrified that our
window of bomb lighting would escape us. Preparing for battle. I painted his face back at camp, he got dressed and we set out to find a location. 
I've never shot, let alone directed a shoot by myself.
Nick had never modeled before. And the finished product was stunning. He could develope anything I threw at him. "Nick you're a Native American Cheif!" "Nick, now channel your grandmother!!" It was fabulous and an absolute highlight of that week. This is why I design. 
Malcolm's shoot was a little bit more of a struggle.
I finally recruited a new friend to be my photographer and we were aiming to do the shoot at either sunrise or sunset. Planning is hard on the Playa. I would cancel on him, he would cancel on me. Since Malcolm was in a big camp he had more responsibility and less free time. 
The one time we got together,
we shot maybe 7 frames and then a huge, angry, dust storm literally cast rain, dirt and dragon flies on us. Our beautiful sunset lighting was gone within second a nd we raced back to find shelter. 
Luckily,
Malcolm lives in the same neighborhood as me and I was able to set up a day for myself, malcolm and our photographer friend, Abraham Rodriguez to drive up to the Oakland redwoods. This was of course after our first attempt a week earlier. Where we wanted to shoot at San Francisco's Land's End. My car broke down, my phone died and that was a mess haha. So we made it work a week later in the forest. Finally We Created Some Magic.
Please enjoy the photos below!
I shorted sleeves and pant lengths, used unconventional fabrics and experimented with lapel and collar shapes. Behold!
Special thanks to Nick Frnakel, Malcolm Pei and Abraham Rodriquez.
I couldn't have pulled this off without you talented people. Thank you!
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 This year drew some fabulous, daring, and mind bending style across the dust. From furs to ass-less to nude, Burning Man had it all. Twas an apocalyptic, kinky, twinkly, bohemian, alien goddess' dream! Let us begin!  A wedding we went to of some famous music producers NudityThe best outfits were the most effortless and out of the ordinary. A camp leader from "Miso Horny" wore just the waistband and the pockets of his jeans because "this was the only useful part" of these pants.  Sky view from an art car.  I took this photo from a "pasties at burning man" google search. Pasties overtook the playa. Topless was normalized. There were few fully nude women but the men let their bits fly free! When we first arrived and were scouting for a spot to set up camp, a stunning naked woman with NO ACCESSORIES rides her bike past our car and cries "Good Morning!" Our jaws on the dashboard..  In a world with new rules there is little to no shame of nudity. It did take me a moment to adjust, not to seeing naked people (I lived in San Francisco) but truthfully it took me a few days before joining them. I am most comfortable when I feel attractive and this intensely hot environment made me feel frumpy. I first got semi nude when creating a hilarious titty and foot print shirt.  At this camp the members set up the fabric and paint onto wooden boards protected with saran wrap.  You place you hand or body part to the paint, then stamp it onto a flag or t shirt they also provide. Here's where I took my top off in public for the first time all week! Of course after seeing a man get his scrotum painted and then dropped upon his flag fabric. A bit inspiring and awesome.
So, the only ethical thing to do was to create a flower with my breast in the middle and my foot and toes as the pedals. It took a lot of work, and the men helping were cranky, but the finished product is stunning! And what a fine story connected with it.  This man let me draw on his shorts. He wore full white, yielded a sharpie, and encouraged people to draw on him. I put a pot of gold inside his pocket, but you can't see it right now. At last, My outfits! There I was on my first day. I still had wifi at this point.  Gellies, Coogie shorts, last season's swimwear sample, REAL swim goggles (I wanted to stand out I didn't buy the typical "steampunk goggles") Fine! I did, but they didn't come in the mail fast enough.  These goggles made my eyeballs sweaty.  The last day. I was exhausted and sad about leaving. I wore my 8th grade Scooby Doo onezie, my softest scarf, my Freshman year homecoming dress (Gothic Lotita style) My friend gifted me a cough syrup red pirate coat.  I wore these gorilla shoes over my normal shoes every night!  This is me channeling Scooby Doo and hiding my dry desert hair under a green wig. Day Two Quick morning shot after combing all these elements out of my hair. The colored parts became a fro.. This lace was left over from the garment I made for Panda. She's the girl who sold me her ticket (I talked down the price in exchange for constructing three outfits for her) This Kimono is technically Couture because I only hand sewed it ;)  This is Panda, She's a costume pro and it fun designing for her.  This is what i did with my hair after I combed out and oiled my 'fro. Braided princess Leah buns!!!  I wore my helmet mostly only in the night time because it was STUFFY  Miso Horny Camp The first morning a we made it to sunrise I was yelled at to remove my top by a drunk and bossy spanish woman on the dance floor. It was too cold for that nonsense. But I'm super happy here(On the right) because this was taken after photographing the best fashion shoot of ma life! (Stay tuned for my next blog post) My favorite Pose!
  I was obsessed with these gorilla feet recycled from my 5th grade halloween costume. I gave people High-5's all night and kicked up lots of dust. Prom With the hem from my dress I cut, (clearly this thrift store find from Georgia's floor length isn't universal) I recycled the fine purple satin! I folded and passed out boutonnieres around to all the "couples" Here's a willy Wonka posing as my date.  UNEXPLAINED FLAME THROWER!!!  This is a photo of the famous model, Frankel and a fine Irish lass who braided/taught me how to fishtail braid my hair in the bathroom for almost 1/2 and hour. A sweetheart helping my messed up hairs. Best Dressed This is a member of the motorized scooter gang, the Dick Bats. We met this particular Dick Bat at this random camp called "Bat Carnival" They hosted a bat party. He wore a denim vest fully embelished with pins, patched and studs. His leather utility belt held bones from a pig's ribs that he ate. His drop crotch pants were made from a dinosaur skeleton fabric.  Fossles, if you will. They are amazing and his mother sewed them. She's also made numerous halloween costumes for him in his youth.  A Bat Carnival camp leader, poses in her beautiful blood stained A-line dress. On tuesday, everyone at burning man rocks a Tu Tu. Tu tu Tuesday Hers is subtly hidden under her awesome dress. Here she is posing in a white out.  A close up of her delightfully dirty frock.  A closer close up! Notice the man's fabulous bat crown behind.  There I go trying to pose in the white out and ruining my camera with dust. R.I.P. Camera, I knew ye well.  A close up of my ensemble that day. The bathing suit I bought in Milan, one of the Thai headpieces, a locket my father gave me, Frida inspired red unibrowl, and my swim goggles. The BESTEST DRESSEDThe award goes to me of course!  My favorite outfit of Burning man Here I am dressed as Kryshna's reincarnation, Vishnu.  I took this photo from a google search. I've been interested in the God, Vishnu ever since that one scene from Slumdog Millionaire where the children run past a holy blue child.  Vishnu is important to Hindu culture because! He is the reincarnation of many gods. He holds things! A conch, a disc weapon, a lotus and mace. He is one of the main three deities in hinduism. They are called the Triumvarate and are in charge of the creation, the upkeep and the destruction of the world. Quite heavy.
He looks like a shadow, but that's world renowned DJ, Rusko in the background!!! I dawned a full blue complete with body chains, cape, a golden Thai headdress and golden Thai ear pieces.  Notice the white feet, I'm turning mortal! I couldn't paint them because we aren't supposed to pollute the ground.  I got this Thai Headdress in Bangkok's China town. I paid 12 dollars for it. It is my sole prized possession and I brought it with me through 3 countries after thailand. Always hiding it in hostels and cradling it through customs.  I'm enthralled that I was able to take part in burning man and rock my unregulated outfits. It was truly a dream to bring suitcases of costumes and accessories and rock at least three epic ensembles per day. Theres really no where else like Burning Man.  Burning man, it's been real.
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