Tag: Kastle Waserman

Backbeat: The Beatles Backstory

Posted on by

k150_17heel iconEvery famous story has a backstory and the Beatles were no exception. Before they were the Fab Four, they were the rowdy five, with the addition of one Stuart Sutcliffe, roommate of John Lennon’s, a painter who John talked into being in his band as they went from Liverpool to play dive bars in Hamburg, Germany.

While many know the Beatles’ music, they may not know of this gifted artist, who played the bass like a brooding James Dean, fell in love with a cute-as-pixie German photographer and saw an untimely demise from an undetected brain tumor. But this is the Beatles’ roots, when they were a scrappy band of greasers playing bluesy rock ‘n’ roll covers and polishing their chops to become the most famous band in the world.

 

“Backbeat the Musical,” based on the 1994 film of the same name, is as artfully done as one of Astrid Kirchherr’s  photos, starting with a burst of rock that doesn’t let up. You feel like you’re part of those heady club days as the Beatles face the drama of a young band starting out. (Trust me, I’ve hung around enough bands to know!) Many kudos should be given to the actors for their perfect-pitch English accents, singing voices (particularly Daniel Healy as Paul McCartney) and spot-on art direction for capturing the era, which my boyfriend pointed out, had period-correct guitars.

I saw the film a few years back and I dare to say, I enjoyed this is even more. “Backbeat” is only at the Ahmanson Theatre for a short run through March 1, if you’re a fan of the Beatles, the ‘60s era or just rock ‘n’ roll, you won’t want to miss it!

Some pix from the night:

k_atBackbeat

Ready for the show!

scenesters_atBackbeat

Audience members workin’ some vintage style

Check out the trailer for the musical:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ58OxhIV18&w=560&h=315]

And a scene from the movie:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-rg2fznk8g&w=420&h=315]

See more of Astrid Kirchherr’s photos on the Stiletto City Pinterest Board HERE

Love me do,
Kastle

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tag: Kastle Waserman

Pro Beauty Tips: False Eyelashes

Posted on by

k150_16heel iconNeed a beauty boost? Why not start the New Year wearing glamorous, flirty lashes? Whether you’re a regular false eyelash wearer or someone who’s been wanting to try them but doesn’t know where to start, I have some tips for you!

I met celebrity makeup artist Elle Leary at an Ulta Beauty demonstration for Eylure Lashes and not only did she make me up with fun Katy Perry lashes, she had some awesome tips for applying lashes (and was a super nice person to boot!) So I just had to interview her to find out all of her pro tips and we dished on an exciting new lash line Katy Perry has in store for you in January!

Read my article on Lashes 101 in my report for Yahoo! HERE

lashes_elle

Lash out in 2013!
Kastle

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Katy Perry Lashes and Stiletto City Lash Tutorial Video

Eyebrow Stencils: Put Some Wow in Your Brows

Lip Color That Lasts

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tag: Kastle Waserman

Ke$ha: A Party Girl Who Works It!

Posted on by stilettocity

k150_16heel iconI’m always one to respect a party girl who knows how to work a room like she’s running a business. To me that’s what singer Ke$ha represents.  She’s made female bravado, DIY club fashions and big dance floor beats a profession that can earn you serious cash and take you around the world – now that’s living!

Ke$sha caught my attention with her hit, “TiK ToK’ and I liked her glitter and whisky-soaked, up-all-night swagger and unique party-chatter lyrics. With her newest album, she throws in a bit more rock ‘n’ roll attitude and even some punk, pulling in Godfather of rebel riffs, Iggy Pop (who I love!)

If that’s not enough, she also released a book, “My Crazy Beautiful Life,”* which gives an inside look at her humble childhood as the kid of a single-parent, songwriting mother, roaming the streets of Hollywood as a teenager and later touring the world and settling in to record a second album.

Click here to read my review of Ke$ha’s new book and her second album, “Warrior,” which I’ve been cranking almost non-stop for the past couple of weeks!

Kesha_CRED_YU_TSAI

Get it girl!

Kastle

Photo courtesy of RCA Publicity
*Book provided by RCA Publicity



Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tag: Kastle Waserman

Beauty-ful Holiday Gifts Sets

Posted on by

k150_16heel iconEvery year, my mom asks me to send her a list of what I want for Christmas and the tradition began that the list is always beauty products –

for one, because she loves shopping for them as much as I do and for two, there are so many ultra cute beauty box sets that come out for the holidays.

This year I put together a list for YOU of some of the great sets I found to put on your wish list or gift to someone else.

Click here to check my list of products from Benefit, Kat Von D, MAC, Too Faced and Sephora in my report for Yahoo!

KVDStarryEyePalette

SephoraColordazeBlockbuster

Here’s to a beautiful holiday!
Kastle

*Photos provide by Sephora PR



Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tag: Kastle Waserman

Beauty Party at Mimi Mae Boutique

Posted on by

k150_14heel iconLos Angeles is a town of beautiful people and one thing I love about it is there is no shortage of experts who help boost that beauty.

This week I attended a party at the newly opened Mimi Mae Beauty Boutique in Studio City – a posh little place, freshly painted in sky blue with black trim, punctuated with a rock ‘n’ roll edge. They’re ready to give you all kinds of primping and fussing from makeup makeovers to manicures to waxing and the feature a host of products and talented people to help you look your best.

You may recall my recent report on how Maxine from Vanity Girl Hollywood* has made beauty bars the new entertainment – this was definitely what she spoke of! With one of Maxine’s sleek, bright Broadway vanity mirrors taking center stage in the boutique, we were offered lip color makeovers with OCC Lip Tar (my fave!), samplers of DermOrganic and natural oil aromatherapists Terra Body and henna tattoos from Opal Moon Henna, which I just had to try. The place was filled with beauty lovers – my kind of gals – and I met all kinds of people representing new fun products and services I can’t wait to try! Check out the party pix below.

And shop for the Vanity Girl Makeup mirrors as seen in Minnie Mae Boutique here!* Don’t miss their 200% off sale Feb. 1-3!

MMparty1Beauty Party!

MMparty2With celebrity facialist Lauren Young London

MMparty3Vanity Girl Maxine with writer Barbara Beckley

MMparty4Fabby gets tattooed by Opal Moon Henna

MMparty5I add silver sparkle to my tattoo

MMparty6

See ya at the next party!

Kastle

*Disclosure



Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tag: Kastle Waserman

Exploring the California Mountains

Posted on by stilettocity

The long Thanksgiving weekend was the perfect time for a little getaway from the city. Lately I’ve found myself drawn to quiet, outdoorsy open spaces away from the crowds and traffic of LA. We took a trek up into the California Mountains to go exploring and found ourselves in the Frazier Park/ Pine Mountain area.

Life moves at a slower pace there and feels much more in touch with nature – after all, your neighbors are bears and mountain lions so you have to learn to live on their turf. We booked a room at the Old Bear Bed & Breakfast, run by the delightful couple Maxine and David, both artists (David, a voiceover actor and Maxine a painter), who offer a quaint country house filled with charm and two sweet dogs. Our stay consisted of soul-nourishing hikes through the woods (no stilettos here!) and an arts and crafts fair, where I bought one of Maxine’s paintings as a souvenir and reminder of this tranquil little oasis. See the photos below.

 

 

I must say the trip has me eager to explore more scenic outdoor spots in my home state — and maybe pick up a good pair of hiking boots! Stay tuned!

And now back to my regularly scheduled city life,
Kastle


Tags: , , , , ,

Tag: Kastle Waserman

Vanity Girl Hollywood: Bringing Glamour to the Party and the Home

Posted on by

Living in Hollywood, an abundant amount parties and clubs is a regular perk of the city.   At many events you’ll find a DJ, a bar, maybe even a goodie bag full of product giveaways. But one entrepreneurial woman is offering something us beauty lovers can really get behind – mini makeovers to liven up your look while you’re out. Maxine Tatlonghari, founder of Vanity Girl Hollywood*, began bringing beauty bars to the party – and I can’t believe we went without them for so long! If you are lucky enough to attend an event she is at, you can grab a cocktail, sit down in a chair in front of one of her fabulous mirrors, and have one of her “glam posse” of professional makeup artists give you big, sweeping eyelashes or a colorful new pout.

CLICK HERE to read all about it in my recent report on Yahoo! on how Maxine is setting a new trend of beauty bars as entertainment.

CLICK HERE to  check my previous Stiletto City feature interview on how Vanity Girl Hollywood came to be.

SHOP for your own Vanity Girl Hollywood Makeup Mirror!*


Be the star you are!
Kastle

Photo courtesy of Vanity Girl Hollywood
*Disclosure



Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Tag: Kastle Waserman

A Conversation with Edith Head

Posted on by

If you’ve ever ogled over some of the gorgeous gowns in classic films such as what Elizabeth Taylor wore in “A Place in the Sun” or Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday,” then you must be a fan of eight-time Academy Award winning costume designer, Edith Head.

Known throughout Hollywood as the funny little lady with black bangs and dark-rimmed glasses, she created some of the most glamorous silhouettes to ever hit the screen and dressed Tinsel Town’s most beautiful leading ladies.

PauletteGoddard_edithHead

Actress Paulette Goddard in an Edith Head design

Though she passed away in 1981, a little theatre production and one amazing actress is giving fans a chance to get to know this amazing, creative and feisty woman.

“A Conversation with Edith Head” offers an evening with the talented designer inside her studio. Actress Susan Claassen not only looks like Ms. Head but has the facial expressions that you can only imagine Edith would make and completely cracks you up with some perfectly-timed quips and icy stares, especially when her inquisitive helper and host of the show Stuart Moulton asks her one too many questions or gently corrects her own recollections of Edith Head trivia.

Co-written by Claassen and Paddy Calistro (fashion journalist and author of “Edith Head’s Hollywood”), the production weaves Edith’s life story into what feels like a very personal sit down chat, as she gives some behind the scenes gossip of fitting stars such as Marlene Dietrich, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly and Bette Davis. She also takes questions from the audience and doesn’t hesitate to step out into the crowd and assess everyone’s outfits – you better dress to impress if you’re going to see Edith Head!

Kastle with Susan Claassen as Edith Head

Wearing some of my finest and favorite vintage, I got an “Edith Head Approved” badge after the show (an honor!) and was lucky enough to take a photo. Even though it wasn’t the real Edith, I really felt like I spent an evening with the woman and I was as star struck as the real deal!

What an amazing night – thanks to this very special cast who gave so many of us who are fans of Edith Head and her fabulous designs a chance to get to know her in such an intimate and interactive way.

“A Conversation with Edith Head” is an absolute delight. You can check out some clips of the show on YouTube but it may be a bit of a spoiler – you really MUST see this in person. But hurry, it only runs at the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre through December 1st!

For more Edith Head designs, check out the Stiletto City Edith Head Pinterest board.

Here’s to you Edith!
Kastle

You might also like >>> VIDEO: October 2013 Favorites in fashion, beauty and music!

Photo of Paulette Goddard from Wikimedia Commons 

Instagrampinterest Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I am not affiliated with or sponsored by any advertisements shown below. They are placed by WordPress.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tag: Kastle Waserman

Movember: Get Your Mustache On!

Posted on by stilettocity

It’s the start or November, or I should say MOvember – a month-long effort to raise awareness of men’s health issues, when men grow their facial hair and raise funds to help battle deadly diseases such as prostate and testicular cancer.

I must say, this is soooo important! My father battled prostate cancer TWICE and thanks to the advances in treatment, he’s still here and thriving.

Now I can’t grow a mustache but in case you haven’t noticed, there is certainly a mustache fashion trend going on. The mustache has appeared on necklaces, t-shirts, nail art, hanging from sunglasses and more in the past year. I think part of the trend came from women wanting to participate in Movembers of years past and had to find a way to do it. Then like the smiley face in the ’70s, someone decided it was pretty cute and started putting it on everything, like these fun items from Claire’s!  So now I can join in the cause of Movember with a donation and little accessorizing!

Mo’ for it!
Kastle

* Items featured in this blog were purchased by the author



Tags: , , ,

Tag: Kastle Waserman

Halloween 2012: Party Photos!

Posted on by stilettocity

With Halloween falling on a Wednesday this year, the partying began over the weekend. I got my masquerade on Friday night, dressing as a little devil for “Halloween Ladies Night Out” in Magnolia Park Burbank. The monthly shopping event got spooky with shop staff dressing in costume, serving up discounts and treats.

I met up with “Nurse Fabby” at the Pin Up Girl Clothing Boutique, where those ladies make dressing up a lifestyle. And they didn’t disappoint. PUG’s ever-gorgeous Micheline Pitt (who it’s impossible to take a bad picture of) was stunning as villainess Poison Ivy (see below). Other amazing costumes of the night included Breakfast at Tiffany’s Audrey Hepburn, who later won the costume contest at Audrey K. down the street. See the slideshow by clicking on the photo below:

Magnolia Park Halloween Slideshow

Saturday night I was out at a party thrown by Nathan and Nicole who I know through Nicole’s stunning photography work: Paper Moon Vintage Photography. Nathan’s amazing craftsman-style house in Highland Park was decorated to thrill, looking like a movie set for a classic horror flick and the various invited goblins who turned up fit right in. I went as a Goddess and my boyfriend as the Plague Doctor (see below.)  See the slideshow by clicking on the photo below:

Nicole and Nathan’s Halloween Party Slideshow

Shop for the lighted Vanity Girl Hollywood Makeup Stations* as used in Pinup Girl Clothing Boutique pictured here!

Trick or treat!
Kastle

*Disclosure


Tags: , , , , , , , ,