Fashion Show Fever

I helped dress models for our fall kickoff fashion show at work the other day.  It was a lot of fun but it made me miss doing my own runway shows.  The last show I did was in February 2011.  I won a competition and I got to showcase my collection during London Fashion Week. (See video below for highlights.) Prior to that, I showcased every 6 months for LA Fashion Week and also participated in several charity fashion shows benefitting various organizations. It was a fashion show frenzy for a while. Hectic but I loved every minute of it. That being said... It's been way too long so I've started making plans for next year and I'm really excited.  Stay tuned for updates....It's going to be big :)

I've got the fever again....

xoxo,
Munkeh

My backstage attire.
Blouse- Forever 21
Leather Effect Skirt- Zara
Shoes- Asos
Belt- Ebay
Necklaces- Forever 21

The crew 

London Fashion Week February 2011. Such an amazing experience!!!

On The Grid

I saw this dress on Blair from Atlantic Pacific and desperately wanted to buy it but it was sold out on Asos. I stalked ebay everyday for a month and just when I was about to give up, I finally found one!  I love everything about this dress. The silhouette is very 1950's and flattering on everyone and the black and white grid pattern is so on trend right now. Such a great score!

Let's go to the hop!

xoxo,
Munekh

Dress- Asos via Ebay
Shirt- Forever 21
Bow tie -made by me
Shoes- Shoedazzle

Happily Ever After

The white dress I'm wearing was actually my wedding dress. Chris and I didn't have much money so we had a very small ceremony with our close friends in a chapel in Beverly Hills. But he did surprise me by getting a limo to drive us around for the day. He had some connections at work.  We had dinner at Shutters in Santa Monica during Happy Hour. Then we walked to the pier , played a few rounds of air hockey before we headed over to the Gas Lite for our reception. It's were we met. We drank and sang karaoke till the bar closed. All in all, it was a pretty perfect and amazing day.

Who says fairy tales can't come true?

xoxo,

Munkeh

Dress- Forever 21
Vest- Forever 21
Necklace- H & M
Shoes- Asos
Sunglasses- 99cent store

My favorite wedding photo :)

Fine Feathered Friend

I will find a way to incorporate feathers into my wardrobe as much as I can.  They are so much fun to wear and I instantly feel chic and glamorous once I put them on.  I missed my calling in life.  I should've been a showgirl so that I could wear those amazing headdresses and costumes. hahaha. The dress I'm wearing is one of my best selling designs. You can buy it here.

Have a great evening my fine feathered friends!

xoxo,
Munkeh

Dress- by me (available here)
Studded Belt- Forever 21
Shoes- Asos
Necklace- Francesca's

More Feathers!
This is another one of my best selling designs.
It was featured during London Fashion Week in Feb 2011.
Available here

A Long Time Ago In a Galaxy Far, Far Away........

I love Star Wars. I've lost count how many times I've seen all of the movies. I had the toys when I was growing up.  And now I incorporate Star Wars into my day to day fashion.  Star Wars Chic, haha

May the force be with you...

xoxo,
Munkeh

Chewbaca with sunglasses...genius
T shirt- Forever 21
Skirt- Romwe
Blazer- Forever 21
Shoes- Forever 21

I used to have the biggest crush on Han Solo
T shirt- Forever 21
Faux Leather Shorts- Asos
Shoes- Jeffrey Campbell

I am currently watching this on ebay.

Too funny

My Hubby bought me this book for Christmas. It's awesome!

Black and White

As much as I love color, the monochromatic trend is definitely one of my favorites this season especially black and white stripes. The bolder the better. Short but sweet post today, got some work to catch up on.

Have a great night!

xoxo, 

Munkeh

Chevron Striped Dress- Tobi
Shoes- Asos
Necklace- Ebay
Belt-Ebay

Caught Red Handed

Chris' first novel, The Sketcher's Mark is now available on Amazon! It's an edge of your seat horror suspense thriller.

A serial killer posing as a sketch artist preys on young women travelling alone in the tourist areas of Paris. His latest victim is the sister of driven LAPD Detective Lara McBride, a woman who hunts predators like him for a living. When she touches down in Paris to find her missing sister, an escalating game of cat and mouse leads her and the killer from the rain swept streets of Paris to the isolated countryside, where the key to the killer's Masterpiece awaits them...

Does the killer get caught red handed? You'll just have to buy a copy to find out. ;) There's also a part of the book for us fashionistas....part of it takes place during Paris Fashion week. Support indie artists! Click here to get your copy now! Thank you for your support!

xoxo,
Munkeh

available here!

Caught red handed......
Support indie artists!
We are the future icons of our industries! :)
Floral Sequin Skirt- Haute Hippie
T-shirt- H & M
Jacket- Ebay
Shoes- Asos
Necklace- Ebay

The Jungle Book

One of the stylists I work with told me that she loves coming to our office to see what I'm wearing because every outfit I put together tells a story.  Today it was the Jungle Book.  It was kinda perfect she said that because I had the song Bear Necessities stuck in my head all day.  I love disney music. It makes me happy.

Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities, forget about your worries and your strife.....

xoxo,
Munkeh

Blazer- Forever 21
Tank- Elizabeth and James
Jeans- Forever21
Shoes- Asos
Necklace- Zara

Monkey Mischief

As you can see, I was feeling very playful today. One of my co-workers laughed when he saw me and said that only I could pull off wearing a sequin monkey tee with stripes at work. My old landlord used to say the same thing when he would see some of my outfits when I was leaving the house. He told Chris when we first started dating "Rochelle's a good girl. She kooky but she ain't crazy." I do kind of live in my own little world and a lot of people think I'm a bit odd. I march to my own drum and sometimes it gets me in trouble. But at least I'm having a good time. :)

So raise your glass if you are wrong in all the right ways!

xoxo,
Munkeh

Chiffon Sequin Monkey Tee- Asos
Striped Skirt- Forever 21
Striped Shoes- Go Maxx

Cherry Blossoms

My favorite flowers are cherry blossoms so when I found this kimono jacket at Forever 21 I was very excited. But besides being pretty, I love what cherry blossoms are a symbol for. They are a symbol for hope and love and since the blooming season is so brief they also serve as a symbol for humanity and mortality. Like cherry blossoms, a person's life can end at any moment. The human condition is epitomized through the cherry blossom, reminding people that life is too short to waste and that they should live life to the fullest. This reminds me of my favorite story. I've posted it in the past but I love to repost it as a reminder. I hope you all find it as special and inspiring as I do. 

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. 

After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house" 

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. 

Blessings to all my crackpot friends.The graces of living within the moment...

xoxo, 

Munkeh

Kimono Jacket- Forever 21
Tank- Rochelle Carino
Faux Leather Fringe Skirt- Forever 21
Shoes- Asos
Necklace- Ebay

Patience is a virtue....

So, I think things went pretty well today. But I'm not going to have an answer for maybe up to 2 weeks. I did the very best I could and I am really proud of myself. There's not much more I can do at this point except be patient, something that is not my strongest personality trait, hahaha. The blouse I was working on turned out great and I got a lot of compliments on it. Now, I need to just veg, try to relax so I'm going to turn on American Idol and put on my pj's.

Fingers and toes are crossed!!!

xoxo,
Munkeh


Dressed for success!
Blouse- by yours truly :)
Leather skirt- Parker
Blazer- Forever 21
Shoes- Asos
Purse- Forever 21
Belt-Ebay
Necklaces- Ebay

LA Style Experience

I got to work with top celebrity stylist  Nicole Pollard today! She is the founder and CEO of La La Luxe a luxury lifestyle personal shopping and styling company.  I had an absolute blast and the women I got to meet were all fantastic. Nicole gave an inspiring speech at the luncheon and there's one phrase that has stuck with me. Live your life without fear. So true. We started the event at the Fig and Olive on Melrose for lunch and then each stylist had 2 people to take on a sponsored shopping spree by their company.  The 2 ladies I had were really nice and just really great people.  We went to Joes' Jeans, Dash and then Fred Segal's. Did I mention we were being driven around in a town car for the afternoon.  We felt so important. lol.  When Nicole asked me to do this she mentioned that we had to wear all black, kind of on the conservative side which is the "uniform" of an LA stylist. If you haven't guessed by now, that is the complete opposite of how I usually dress. But I had to add my own personal flair and I think I came up with an outfit that worked for the event.

Anyway, I've got something huge tomorrow and I must prepare for it.  I'm currently making a blouse to wear and I have to get all my presentation materials in order. I'm nervous and excited! If it all works out, it could be a very life changing thing.  I can't really say what it is just yet, but I will as soon as I can. Wish me luck! And Universe, if you are listening...please be on my side tomorrow! It was actually perfect timing to hear Nicole's speech today because everything she said applies. Fingers crossed! Alright, got to get back to work.

Remember everyone...live your life without fear!

xoxo,
Munkeh

My "uniform" Who says feathers can't be conservative! Also accessorized by my faux-nel bag and Marc Facobs glasses.
Blazer- Madison Marcus
Tank- Elizabeth & James
Pants-Forever 21
Necklace- Ebay
Shoes- Asos
Bag- Forever 21
Sunglasses- 99cent store