Showing posts with label Foxy Shoppe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foxy Shoppe. Show all posts

Friday, July 20, 2012

Rockabilly Event - Part Two

Hairspray, corsets and greasers, oh my! I decided to go with a more metal-rock sound for my rockabilly burlesque routine, though there was definitely banjo in it! The song was Black Betty by Spiderbait. It was a knee high leather boots and crop meets hot pink sequined show girl ensemble and it went a little something like this:

Photo by Brad Mazur
Photo by Holly Halftone
Photo by Holly Halftone
Photo by Brad Mazur
Photo courtesy of Joel Nickel

This one is awesome because if you look closely my reflection is also blowing a kiss on the big screen. Look ma! I'm on TV! ;)

Photo courtesy of Joel Nickel
Photo courtesy of Joel Nickel
Left-Holly Halftone  Right-Brad Mazur
Photo by Holly Halftone

It was really interesting dancing on the same level as the audience. Usually you're higher up with blinding stage lights in your eyes. This time I could see every face of every person watching me ... and they were five steps away from me at any time. This turned out to be to my advantage, however, when I sped up my routine! Oops. I guess I was just so excited I frenzied myself out of tempo. However, a little improvisation and a lot of flirting-which Meg got the brunt of- managed to end the last little bit of the song on a credible note. Thanks for playing along Meg!

If you could take a minute to go and show these wonderful photographers some love I would be incredibly grateful. Brad Mazur, Holly Halftone and Joel Nickel do amazing work.

Stay tuned for more sass!

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

Rockabilly Event - Part One


Alright, y'all! This post may seem a little self centered because out of all the amazing pictures taken during the  Drawn and Plastered Rockabilly show the only ones I'm going to be posting are mine. Don't like it? Stop reading my diary. ;-) There's just no room for all the incredibly lovely faces to be featured here. If you're reading this you probably came here from Facebook, in which case go here to see the Official Event album! It's probably  It IS the most gorgeous collection of people you will ever see.

Saturday, July 14th 2012: The pre-show magic happened at Rockabetty and The Foxy Shoppe, with half the group for the Drawn and Plastered Art Models and gals participating in the runway show going to each location. I was in the FS group which was delightful because a) it's one of my favourite places in Winnipeg and b) Miss Foxy just has to look at you to make you feel like a Fox. But to add a little more magic than even her bedroom eyes can muster she had two professional hair stylists and a make up artist waiting in the wings! Every runway model was provided with a dress and shoes for the evening. Miss Foxy even had a bag of false eyelashes-now that's thinking of everything! There was a long lineup of ladies waiting for beauty care so I took a front row seat in her shop mirror and did my own makeup.

Photo courtesy of Holly Halftone - super cute dress by the Foxy Shoppe!

I did however take full advantage of having a stylist do my hair. I swear she was the guardian angel of pin curls and victory rolls. She was laughing when she got to me after doing Miss Ruby Red Lips's updo because, as she told me, "I have two little girls named Scarlet and Ruby- I didn't think I named them after burlesque dancers!" It was the best way to get ready for the show. I was vibrating with nerves- a brand new routine never before seen by the public? But a group singoff of Hot Blooded by Foreigner worked out the jitters and got us all in the mood. And in case that wasn't enough sass Miss Foxy put the cherry on my sundae by lending me these:


Photo courtesy of Brad Mazur

When the magic was done we made our way in groups over to Le Garage Cafe. I drove a gal over in her own car because she was corseted in ... driving while constrained is a difficult skill to master! I know that from firsthand experience. I'd have loved to wear a corset for the evening but I was already going to be hopping in (but mostly out) of different outfits all evening. It's much easier done with zippers.

Photo courtesy of Brad Mazur

Miss La Muse caught me before my act to wish me luck. Is it just me or do we have fabulous taste in dresses? 

The show started promptly at nine pm with the art models posing five minutes each. Then at nine thirty I took to the dance floor in front of the stage and performed a burlesque act to Black Betty by Spiderbait. **I realized after writing everything out and organizing all the photos that my routine would have to be in another post. Yay more blogging for me! :D**

After my routine I scurried to change back into miss Foxy's lovely dress and heels. On my way back I was drafted *cough*eagerlyvolunteered*cough* to be an art model and post for ten minutes so that various artists could sketch/draw/photograph/do their thing. Two very amazing pieces came out of this episode. The first is this sketch by pinup artist David Oro.


He complemented me on my ability to not move or twitch but the secret to that is every time he looked down to draw I would quickly shift my weight, shake my foot or give my shoulders a roll. Staying in the same position for ten minutes is harder than it looks! David absolutely made my day by meeting up with me for coffee Monday night and giving this sketch to me.  I offered to pay him but he autographed it and gave me a roguish smile, saying "I like knowing that this way my work is priceless." What a man!

The second piece is by Kenneth Porhownik who took his sketches and made them into penny dreadful novel covers. So cool!
I held my position for as long as I could but shortly thereafter the fashion show began. Models from Hungover Empire, Rockabetty and The Foxy Shoppe all lined up at the door and then cat walked down the aisle, did a saucy little turn on stage and returned. Possibly the sexiest moment of the night? Two bad ass corsetted babes strutting their stuff and then having a stare down on stage as part of the show. The heat between them almost sizzled the audience!

After the show Miss Ruby took the stage. As one fan aptly put it 'she was the embodiment of Marilyn Monroe and she had the fanbase to prove it'. Uh, yeah she is!

Photo courtesy of Holly Halftone
Photo courtesy of Chris Hlday's Dynamic Photography

My favourite part of the evening was by far the best dressed contest because EVERYONE who wasn't a model was dressed up too! Everyone! It was like classy Hallowe'en had come early. With so many gorgeous  people packed into one place I'm surprised the place didn't burst into hairspray fueled flames. The contest was followed with live music by Greg Arcade and the Electrics, and the Go Go Pops with more music by DJ King Cabernet. It was one hell of an evening.


Photo courtesy of Holly Halftone

Look at this program! How amazing is that? I need to say that Meg B and Holly Halftone did a phenomenal job organizing this event. The sheer amount of hours they put in to make the event a success must have been mind numbing. Overall 115+ people decided to attend. It was a sold out show with standing room only! Since this was the last Drawn and Plastered event for the summer it was a hell of a way to end the season! The only thing that could have made it better was air conditioning. I was warmer dancing mostly naked inside than I was fully dressed outside!

So there you have it. I was a runway model, art model, burlesque dancer and mayhem partier all in one night. It was hands down the sexiest retro party Winnipeg has ever seen. Stay tuned for a breakdown of my naughty routine!

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet


Sunday, May 13, 2012

The Day I Forgot To Put On My Face

Or alternatively titled: Why my eyebrows will conquer the world.

Recently I posted about how I had visited the Foxy Shoppe and had an impromptu photoshoot. That visit totally turned my day around and I had such a good time playing dress up. However a friend of a friend made sure to tell me a few days later: "Make sure you do your makeup before your next photoshoot. Because you're a cute girl."

Hmm. Because I'm a cute girl ... when I wear makeup? Honestly I was offended and more than a little incensed. I went home and wrote a very angry blog post but then decided to give myself some cooling off time before posting anything. Which was a really good call :P  However this event still bothers me and I'd like to tell you why.

I spent my 'turbulent teen' years waffling between two distinct styles: the uber goth - pasty white foundation, red lipstick and black eyeliner and the hippie - tie dye, unshaven legs and completely makeup free. Thankfully I've grown out of the awful foundation and tie dye but I still love a good cat's eye with bright red lips. But just as much I love being naturally me. It doesn't mean I'm sloppy. It means I like my face.

Hippie/Goth fusion? Awkward.

We, as human beings, are beautiful as we are. Don't get me wrong, I love playing with makeup. I have eyeshadows and lipstick in all colours of the rainbow! But it's just that - playing. There is a very serious trend going on where women are beginning to feel like they NEED to wear makeup. This NEED does two things: 1) gives men and women (and super importantly - children!) unrealistic expectations of beauty and 2) makes them feel bad about their bodies and faces as they naturally are. The beauty industry makes billions of dollars each year on everything from makeup (to hide those blemishes) to plastic surgery (fix what's wrong with your body!). This mentality has an underlying message: we are all ugly and without all of these products we will remain ugly. That is just not true. I don't want to live in a plasticized kind of world. Makeup, fancy hair and dress and all those extra grooming procedures can be fun but shouldn't be mandatory. We, as human beings, are beautiful as we are.


Taken from the Lingerie Addict
She has a wonderful article on Body Snark that I think everyone should read.

This is why I'm a big fan of the No Makeup Mondays movement. The concept is simple: on one day of each week women should go to work or school or out with friends sans makeup. Just to prove that not wearing makeup doesn't automatically revert someone to grungy sweatpants and crocs. You can have nice clothes, nice hair and a beautiful face without all the extra paint and powders.

Another thing this acquaintance told me? "Also, we're going to wax your eyebrows." Leave my eyebrows out of it. I've had people ask me if I pluck/wax/pencil or generally torture my eyebrows in any other way. The answer is no. Some people love their shape. Apparently others don't. I think they're great. They're hairy, sit on my brow, there's distinctly two of them ... they serve their function admirably. I'm not touching them. I love them as they are. I love me as I am. I can always strive to better myself - but not by being derogatory to who and what I am. Loving yourself is the most important thing you can do. So love yourself, as you are, unashamedly and you will hold a power that most people will envy.

Above - Anne Hathaway
As you can see, eyebrows serve a very important purpose.
Below - Daniel Radcliffe


Remember boys and girls: use makeup responsibly.

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

Friday, April 27, 2012

Trouble of the Best Kind

It seems I can't go anywhere without getting into trouble! Don't worry dolls, it's trouble of the best kind. ; ) And I have very exciting news!

I've been hired to put on a Burlesque Show at a private function! I'm glad that you can't see me dancing around the room like a maniac, I just can't contain my excitement. More details to follow about this booking but I can tell you that the theme is 1920's.

So of course I popped into the Foxy Shoppe to see if they had anything I could use, and to browse their new spring stock! I completely forgot that there is no such thing as 'browsing' when it comes to the Shoppe. I just had to try on the cutest outfit and wouldn't you know it? Shelley Hook, a friend of Miss Foxy's and the photographer behind Off The HOOK Productions, was there - with her brand new camera in hand! Needless to say, a little bit of FOXY mayhem ensued.






Of course, the next time I pop into the Shoppe I'll conveniently 'forget' that browsing isn't possible. Really, life is more fun that way.

Saucily yours!
Miss Scarlet

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

H & J's Wedding Social - The Aftermath

The social was WILD! So wild it's taken me three days to fully recover from it.

Highlights include:
  •  a conga line 
  • a packed dance floor - the macarena, anyone?
  • song sing-a-longs (you make me want to SHOUT had everyone going crazy) 
  • the black shirt & white tie boys. Apparently they're just a group of friends who attend socials in matching outfits and get the dance floor going. These guys were awesome!
  • homemade muffins courtesy of the Moms 
  • Having the back of my hand kissed by a drunk and yet charming gentleman
  • An utterly stunning bride-to-be! She put everyone else to shame.
Zebra trim, zebra train, zebra stilettos! This lady knows how to make a statement.

<3 The Boyfriend. <3

These guys! These guys know how to party! 

My outfit and my retro hairstyle were hits. Note to self - learn to do updo's! (Ponytails don't count.) Victory rolls were courtesy of Monique at Colours hair studio.



I didn't win any social prizes. I tried so hard to bribe the groom, too! ; ) I did get an enormous treat though. I posted many of these photos to Facebook and the lovely Miss Foxy asked my permission to use my photos to advertise the dress! I was- and am!- so floored by her offer. She made up an album entitled SAUCY with the caption "Winnipeg Burlesque Performer Scarlet Divine ...! Wears PINUP COUTURE WELL!" Gosh! I'm super flattered and excited that I can put this on my burlesque 'resume'. MEGA props to my awesome sis who was the photographer behind the camera for these shots.

And AGAIN! Even as I'm writing this blog I'm bombarded with kindness and support! Special thanks to Miss Foxy, burlesque artist and yogi extraordinaire Andrea Robin and photographer John Ohm for spreading the word about my up and coming Introduction to Burlesque workshop. If you aren't already sick to death of me talking about it click the link and if you like what you read then sign up! It's going to be a stimulatingly stellar evening, I guarantee.

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

Friday, April 13, 2012

The Social and the Shoppe

This weekend I get to perpetuate an outstanding Manitoban tradition - that of the wedding social. H & J- my Icelandic lover and her amazing fiance- have a badass social lined up with prizes like paintball guns and a $200 gift cert to Living Canvas Tattoo. Um, awesome much? If you're interested you should drop by Vince Leah Community Centre tomorrow night. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Other than my super sexy friend getting married, one of the best things about this social is the excuse to buy a new dress! And really, I didn't have to look very hard. I've been lusting after the Erin dress at The Foxy Shoppe for months now. I tried it on in fire engine red and another dress in red with black polka dots but this dress is just - amazing -. The most gorgeous dress. I feel like a retro vixen in it! The Boyfriend is hoping to win a social prize but if he's really lucky he'll get to go home with me at the end of the night.


Image belongs to PinupGirlClothing.com Can you imagine, fire engine red??


One of the best features of the Shoppe is the owner, Miss Foxy a.k.a. Pamela Fox. While you're in the store she is your own personal cheer leader. After an hour with her upbeat personality and compliments I felt like I'd run a marathon and won the Nobel prize. Shopping there is an experience. I don't feel like I can love this store enough. Winnipeg is so lucky to have a boutique like this! And their spring stock is just around the corner. ;) Plus they left me mouth watering with their show girl lingerie line, which features nickel sized sequins in hot colours like magenta and gold with emerald and purple on their way!

Of course my new dress can't compete with the bride-to-be's. It's floor length hot pink with zebra straps and a zebra train paired with zebra stiletto's. WOW.

Now I know what you're thinking - pics or it didn't happen! But these dresses will make their grande debuts at tomorrow night's social and I promise, there will be pictures galore!

Stay Saucy ; )
Miss Scarlet