Tag: Kastle Waserman

Nail Art: How celebrities Katy Perry, Kesha and Jordin Sparks Got Their Look

Posted on by Cider House Media

Ever wonder how pop starlets such as Katy Perry, Kesha and Jordin Sparks come up with innovative nail art for their photo shoots and videos? I found their secret weapon, celebrity manicurist Kimmie Kyees.

I caught up with Kyees to speak with her about how she came up with artistic looks for some recent music videos and what it’s like to be a manicurist in midst of an army of stylists and quick wardrobe changes.

Check out some of her work below and read how she did it HERE.

Get your nails on,
Kastle

Photos courtesy of Zing USA PR

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Nails: Polish, Press-Ons and Stick-Ons

Stiletto City’s Nail Art Pinterest Board



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Falling for Fall: Leaf Peeping

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I love fall. It’s my favorite season – the weather turns cool, the leaves change to a bonfire of colors and drift from the trees to give me the delight of crunching under my feet like potato chips. I get to bundle in groovy jackets, stylish scarves and boots, and I just have more energy to go out and be adventurous.

I recently got to escape the relentless 90 degree weather of LA’s late summer go to to Eastern Europe where the weather was in the 40s-60s and I couldn’t have been happier, especially when we stumbled upon a gorgeous park in Warsaw Poland covered with a blanket of orange leaves gently touched by perfect sunlight. I just had to stop and play!

Read about my adventures in leaf peeping last year in Vermont in the interior design blog I contribute to HERE and on the Lomography site HERE.

(Look for a full report on my recent travels to Warsaw, Budapest and Amsterdam coming soon!)

Hooray for fall!
Kastle



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The Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en: I’ll Drink to That!

Posted on by stilettocity

When I was at Tiki Oasis, I picked up a postcard for a YouTube show called The Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en. I loved the name and the look of the card so I decided to check it out. What I found were little campy clips basically showing how a good cocktail and retro party dish (think Spam and Jello) can help make any of life’s mundane tasks a bit more festive – after all, we gotta clean the house, do taxes, entertain unexpected guests and so on. I loved the clips so much I watched every single one of them and they made me laugh out loud more times than I could count – and I learned some great drink recipes along the way! I especially love the host’s ‘60s-era outfits and the ever-changing memorabilia in the backdrop. Check out the latest on how to survive election season:

The Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en was created by actress/writer Kelly Camille Patterson and  video producer Paul Spencer.  So sit back and enjoy their most recent video and more on their YouTube Channel HERE.

Cheers,
Kastle



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Brian Setzer at the Hollywood Bowl

Posted on by stilettocity

As Brian Setzer wailed, “Rock This Town,” fireworks shot out over the arena in a celebratory display of rock ‘n’ roll revelry. Playing three nights at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, backed by a 96 piece orchestra, the simple yet beloved rockabilly song, originally written for three piece band The Stray Cats, never sounded so good. Setzer was all smiles as he let his guitar rip across the hills of Tinsel Town and through a collection of songs from his days with the Cats to his own rockin’ big band, The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Read the full review in my report on Yahoo!

Brian Setzer

Go cat go!

Kastle

Photo of Brian Setzer by Kastle Waserman



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The Sock Bun: How-To and A Man’s Opinion

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Putting hair up in a sleek bun is always a classic look – those ballerinas always appear so lovely, don’t they? Even more flattering and fun is a chunky, slightly messy bun, which is what made the “sock bun” a trending look this year.

Not hip to the sock bun? Yes, it’s created using an actual sock and it gives that bun some volume to make it more stylish.

Here are the steps to create the look:

  • Snip off the toes off a sock. (Make use of those orphans whose partner got “lost in the dryer!”)
  • Roll the tube of fabric into a doughnut.
  • Pull your hair into ponytail on top of your head.
  • Pull the sock doughnut onto the ponytail and push down to the base.
  • If your hair is fine or short and needs some umph, give the ponytail a little teasing.
  • Pull the hair around the sock doughnut to cover and bobbie pin at the base, wrapping the ends under the sock doughnut.
  • Leave it a little messy for a full, sexy bedhead look.
  • Voila, you’re a supermodel! This also gives you a little statuesque height so work it!

My Sock Bun

Now if you don’t want to use a spare sock, Claire’s just came out with a hair doughnut made of mesh, which also allows you to stick bobbie pins in it, nice!

And what do guys think of the sock bun look? My boyfriend seems to like it. Of course you don’t have to tell them there’s an old sock in your hair! I had a good LOL at an article I came across on The Frisky who got one man’s opinion on finding out his date had a sock in her bun –

“I would be taken aback if I found out she was stuffing her hair bun with a block of aged Parmesan.”

Read more in the The Frisky HERE.

So have fun with your new hairstyle, it’s a lifesaver on bad hair days!

Rock the sock,
Kastle



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Nail Art: Polish, Press-Ons and Stick-Ons

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I’ve become addicted to nail art. I used to never pay much attention to my nails. In my hurried, blogging life I’m pretty hard on my nails. I was thrilled when quick-dry polish came out because I could make my nails look half decent in a jiffy. But it always chipped away after a couple of days.

In watching the current booming nail art trend (see my growing Pinterest board), I found myself fascinated with all the possibilities of achieving really beautiful or funky nails. So I’ve started experimenting with polish – matte, glittered, french tips in offbeat colors, ombre and gradient looks. I’ve come up with some cute looks and some real disasters! It’s all about practice, practice practice – and just having fun with it! A quick tip – YouTube has some great nail art tutorials so check them out!

Kimmie Kyees Press-On Nails for Elegant Touch

A couple of options in the stores these days just may be my favorites for getting a quick, fun look that is durable to boot – press-on nails and stick-on polish. Plus, I had the good luck of catching celebrity manicurist Kimmie Kyees do a presentation at ULTA Beauty for some great application tips. Read all about it in my latest beauty article for Yahoo! HERE.

 Bling Envy Wraps Stick-On Nail Polish by Elegant Touch

Nail it!
Kastle

Review samples of Elegant Touch nail products were used for this blog. See Disclosure.



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Billy’s Fish Fry: Where Hollywood Scenesters Go “WACKO”

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WACKO/ Soap Plant in Hollywood is probably the greatest pop culture store ever opened and one of the longest standing boutiques in Los Angeles. It started in Los Feliz in the early ‘70s as a family run shop selling hand-crafted soaps, ceramics and leather wares. By the early ‘80s it became legendary when it moved to Melrose Avenue in Hollywood and expanded to include a pop culture toy and book store and was a well-known hangout for rockers, nerds, collectors, and hipsters to get their knick-knacks and generally see and be seen. Owned by Billy Shire, the shop has a long running history of hosting events from art openings in the La Luz de Jesus Gallery to book signings and concerts. Basically, any excuse for a party with Hollywood underground’s coolest!

For a little taste, hit up Billy’s Fish Fry & Community Social, which takes place the last Thursday of the month and features a diverse mix of bands and spoken word, with hearty vibe of anything can happen! When I last went there,  The Purple Gang were headlining with members of Tex and the Horseheads, The DI’s, The Hangmen, Kix, Thelonious Monster, The Joneses and Rhino Bucket (some of you ‘80s LA punk scenesters know these bands well!) Plus, there were stand-up comics, live art creation, a special acoustic performance by Prima Donna (who I reviewed on the blog previously as one of my current favorite local bands), a jam session featuring Michael Rozen, Johnny Indovina, Billy Shire and Lee Joseph. And serenading everyone into the store, was one of my oldest and dearest scenester friends, Francois from Motorcycle Boy and a few of his buddies playing with the ol’ clip on belt amps. They even pulled in my pal Fabby to play washboard! Click on the image below to check out the photos:

Wacko / La Luz de Jesus Gallery is located at 4633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 and admission is FREE!

Wack out,
Kastle



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Eyebrow Stencils: Put Some Wow in Your Brows

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I have eyebrow envy. When I see a girl with really great eyebrows, I can’t help but stare at them. For some reason, my brow natural shape never looks quite right. Perhaps it’s because I shaved them in my teens to draw them in all crazy and punk rock. Now they are getting their revenge. But I have found something that helps – eyebrow stencils.

Since I discovered this handy little item, I’ve never looked back and I have three brands I like to rotate for different variations on my chosen “medium arch.” Read all about ’em in my beauty article for Yahoo! HERE.

I’ll raise a brow to that!
Kastle

Products mentioned in this blog were purchased by the author. See Disclosure



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Going Tiki: Review of “Paradise Lost” and Tiki Oasis Preview

Posted on by stilettocity

I’m hereby declaring it officially “Tiki Season!” With the annual blow-out Tiki Oasis in San Diego just around the corner, the Egyptian Theatre kicked things off with “Tiki Night” featuring a Luau Dinner, venders, the Polynesian Paradise Dancers, a performance by King Kukulele and the Friki Tiki’s (featuring guest appearances by Crazy Al and Judd Finkelstein) and the Premiere Screening of “The DVD of Tiki Volume 1: Paradise Lost”

I got to hang with my pal DJ Lee Joseph and we stopped in for a pre-screening cocktail in the adjacent bar with some of the film’s luminaries including Shag and Bamboo Ben – a fruity rum based drink was a must for my Tiki mood, and then we took our seats in the theatre to enjoy an extensive exploration into Tiki Culture by Director Jochen Hirschfeld who held is own during an offbeat Q&A with King Kukulele before and after the film.

Kastle with DJ Lee Joseph

King Kukulele and the Friki Tiki’s

The film chronicles the origins of Tiki to the birth of the Polynesian Pop movement that centered around the romantic idea of Tiki as an escape from squares-ville conformity of the ‘50s and ‘60s. I especially enjoyed the research on the origins of the cocktails and the sounds of Tiki from exotica music (think Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman), to “hapa howlie” and ukelele sounds. Anyone into Tiki Culture would benefit from this quick crash course that pays tribute as to why we are so in love with this idea of an island paradise. The evidence was in the audible gasps when the film showed of some of the greatest Tiki bars closing and being steamrolled into history. Be sure to pick up a copy of the DVD when it goes on sale and catch the screening of it at Tiki Oasis.

Director Jochen Hirschfeld

To further get you in the mood for Tiki Oasis coming up August 16-19, check out my three-part series on Tiki Culture featuring:

And the slideshow from last year’s Tiki Oasis Stiletto City review, click the photo:

This year’s theme is Spy Tiki: Exotic Espionage and Polynesian Pulp,” featuring The Untouchables performing on Saturday night. (I can’t wait!)  Here they are doing “(I Spy for the) F.B.I.”

See you on the island!

Aloha,
Kastle



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Pin Up Girl Boutique: Va Va Voom!

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If ever there was a night get your va-va-voom on, it was the opening of the Pin Up Girl Boutique last weekend. Located along the increasingly vintage fashionable Magnolia Park in Burbank, it was a welcome addition since Pin Up Girl Clothing, (which carries brands such as Deadly Dames and Dixiefried) had only been available online up to this point. And let me tell you, when you’re shopping for a form-fitting wiggle dress, it’s really hard to eyeball the size you need from a picture. Now all pin-ups, and aspiring pin-ups, can go to this gorgeous new boutique and try on these glam dresses and see how they look on.

The opening was a night to turn up the glamour. The shop is a pop of colorful girly-ness, filled with vintage-inspired dresses, shoes, handbags and a beauty bar. All of the Pin Up Girl models from the website also work the store and they are jaw-dropping knock-outs in real life including, Micheline Pitt, Doris Mayday and La Cholita. There were so many curves, red lips, eyelashes, big hair and high heels, it was hard not to feel like you stepped into some alien planet of glamazons! As the band, Nick Waterhouse sat in the back waiting to go on, surrounded by wall to wall beautiful women, I overheard someone say they uttered, “This is the best gig we’ve ever played in our life!”

Nick and the boys rocked the house, cocktails were had, shopping was done, makeovers were given in front of broadway-style Vanity Girl Hollywood* mirrors, it was indeed a reason to celebrate. Check out the party photos by clicking on the photo below:

The Pin Up Girl Boutique is located at 3606 Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, CA.

You can have your very own Vanity Girl Makeup Mirror at home! Shop for the lighted Makeup Stations* as used in Pinup Girl Clothing Boutique pictured here!

Go glamourous or go home,
Kastle

*Disclosure


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