lauralaQue

Frida. (by Laura L.)

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:55:00 -0600

This is my first experience working on a window display in my...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:38:09 -0500

This is my first experience working on a window display in my Visual Merchandising class at The Art Institute of Austin. We all came up with the concept for channeling Marie Antoinette, and her days spent in les jardins de Versailles. We worked hard (and jammed to great tunes while doing so), and created a piece of art we were proud to call our own!

J’espère que vous aimez!

~Laura LaQue

This is the production process of our Brand Marketing Class...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:26:12 -0500

This is the production process of our Brand Marketing Class visual merchandise window for TOMS- Holiday window 2010. Enjoy!

Bisous,

Laura

Austin Fashion Week Blog

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:26:06 -0500

Austin Fashion Week Blog:

Today the Austin Fashion Week blog (whom which I intern and write for) debutes their weekly newsletter. This week features behind-the-scenes at a fall shoot photographed by Juan DeLeon, and styled by Michelle Washington that will be featured in the Austin 360 editorial! Check it!

“Luxury Tennis” Beauty Shoot Photography: Juan...

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:01:00 -0500

“Luxury Tennis” Beauty Shoot

Photography: Juan DeLeon- http://juandeleonphotography.com/

Stylist: Michelle Washington- http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=25896654&authType=name&authToken=TV5x&goback=%2Econ

Assistant Stylist- Laura LaQue

Model: Hannah Jones- America’s Next Top Model Cycle 16

“Lovely Bones” Photo Shoot Photo: Tania...

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:36:00 -0500

“Lovely Bones” Photo Shoot

Photo: Tania Quintanilla- http://www.tqphoto.com/

Stylist: Michelle Washington- http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=25896654&trk=tyah

Assistant Stylist: Laura LaQue

Denfert Rochereau. (by Laura L.)

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:37:00 -0500

Denfert Rochereau. (by Laura L.)

Hello Loves! I recently entered one of my looks for the We Love...

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:45:38 -0500

Hello Loves!

I recently entered one of my looks for the We Love Wool contest. Check it out, show some love, and even feel free to leave a comment!

Abientot!

Laura

http://www.fashionbyfeelings.com/?source=tw&look=699#/look/699

Indian in the Cupboard. (by Laura L.)

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:31:00 -0500

Indian in the Cupboard. (by Laura L.)

I returned from Paris one month ago, today. I miss it like...

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:50:00 -0500

I returned from Paris one month ago, today. I miss it like crazy. <3

An awesome recap of our Paris trip by the beautiful Brooke...

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:34:00 -0500

An awesome recap of our Paris trip by the beautiful Brooke Holland (@bhoook, http://bit.ly/iYZb1D). Not only does it feature the beautiful city of Paris, but also the faces of our traveling family of 20, professors, new friends, and the familiar places we grew to love. Merci, Brooke : )

Hello, my name is ...

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:46:39 -0500

I never quite stated my story at the beginning of this blog, and I feel like it is the perfect time to do so. I am Laura, 25 years old, and I live in Austin, Texas. I started this blog over a year ago, and only managed to put a couple of posts up before completely ignoring it all together - sad, I know. If you are wondering why I stopped blogging, I can say that it was probably because I felt I had nothing to share. Naturally, I do not want to just post random shenanigans for the hell of it, I want to share things that I love, and that are inspirational to me, and hope that those who read, or look will be inspired by them as well. Not that I did not have anything going on in my life- I am a full-time student studying fashion merchandising, I’m an aspiring stylist, I live in the live music capital of the world, I have an awesome group of friends, I have a wonderful and corky family, two dogs, I love to dance (all the time), I love happy hour, I love to dance at happy hour, and the list goes on. But, I think what was wrong was that as much as I wanted to inspire people with what I love, and do what I love, I needed inspiration myself. I really enjoyed my little life in Austin, but I needed something new, eye opening, and life changing. And so, I left to study abroad in Paris.

I knew that I was leaving at the end of March-2011, and I was excited of course, but I do not think it hit me that I was actually going to be living in Paris for three months until I landed at the Charles de Gaulle airport. I was scared, sleepy, and had no clue as to what would be in store for me. The first few weeks were difficult, but by the end of my first month, I really started to feel like I had made a new little home for myself. I figured out the metro, I was learning French phrases to use in restaurants, and grocery stores, and most importantly I knew my favorite wine, clothing, and pastry shops. I bonded really well with some of the girls I traveled with to Paris, and by the end of the trip, the entire group of 20 became a family. We met awesome friends who lived in Paris, and who kindly showed us the ropes, and created memories with us that will be sketched in my mind probably for the rest of my life. I fell in love with the culture, and history of Paris. Like the French, I too was proud, and appreciative of the timeless monuments, museums, parks, river, cafés, and just the city all together. As the trip went on I felt my confidence rising, and creative juices flowing, and I knew it was the perfect time to put this towards my dream (and portfolio) of styling. My dear friend, Dee, and I had to work on our internship project, and we decided to take photos of some looks that we put together. Being the perfectionist that I am when it comes to recreating a vision, I was nervous that I would get an unsuccessful shoot - BUT, I didn’t. In fact, I was pretty pleased with the pictures I took with my measly Coolpix digital camera (these pics are the 8th posting from the beginning)! Once I posted them to Tumblr, and got a positive response, I was so pleased, and was driven to do more. For the duration of the trip I continued to be inspired, I took the modernist point of view, and like Charles Baudelaire would have wanted I sought inspiration from the beauty of life, found mysterious beauty in the new, and added my own twist to it. This made me happy, and I found myself benefiting from taking these small, but scary steps. I just had to put myself out there, and great things followed (see the post before this one).

I returned to Texas a week ago today. I was very sad to leave Paris, and I’ll admit that the first couple of days I was a recluse. As the week has gone on, visits with good friends, responsibilities, and a move to a new house have given me a full schedule, so there is not much time to sit and be sad. However, I think about my life in Paris all through-out the day, and the emotions are morphing from sad, to happy, and thankful. Of course I miss the city, I miss all of the dear friends I met, but I can see that this trip has totally inspired me, has given me a different perspective on life, and I am so grateful for that. Looking at my first post to the most current I can just see how I have evolved, and I will continue to work hard, and strive to be great. Now I know for certain that I will not neglect this blog, because I have things that I love, and that I am inspired by to share, and I hope that all of you will be inspired by them, too.

Pleasure to meet you,

Laura LaQue

On my last day in Paris I got the opportunity to have a photo...

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 11:10:00 -0500

Turquoise/Violet Floral Dress

Sheer button up, Long Floral Skirt

On my last day in Paris I got the opportunity to have a photo shoot taken by Cècile Cèe, one of the coordinators at Les Noubas D’ici/Les Noubalooks-Paris, for placing second in a styling/stylist competition. What a perfect way to spend my last day!

The theme was inspired by the 1930s, and French philosopher, and writer Simone de Beauvoir. The photos capture the life of Simone, and her time spent in Saint-Germain-des-Près with husband, Jean-Paul Sartre, who were both associated with the existentialist movement. The couple could almost always be found at Café de Flore, and Deaux Magots (envision deep, heartfelt conversations on life, over café crèmes, steamy love letters to Beauvoir’s secret lover, and a smoky haze created by the forever burning cigarette).

The turquoise, and violet dress that I wanted to shoot gave Cècile the idea of the ambience, and the second look I created to go along. The dress and skirt are vintage pieces found in Paris, and the shirt I purchased at H&M. The shoes I purchased in the States prior to my visit. Hair- I played with for about an hour to create pin-curls (I’m sure there is a simpler solution). Make-up- Kept it simple- existential women aren’t suppose to be flashy!

I love the outcome of the photos, because the destinations we shot at enhanced the beauty of the garments, and gave them a natural, and artistic feel. Not only that, but knowing the history of this street in Paris took me back to the 30s, and I felt as if I had caught a glimpse of the cultural, and intellectual insight of Parisian life at that time.

Here’s to a wonderful experience I will never forget, and an amazing last day in Paris. Tu me manques, Paris.

Many Thanks/Credits:

Photos: Cècile Cèe- http://www.lesnoubasdici.com/

Wardrobe/Hair/Make-Up: Laura LaQue (moi!)

Long Skirt: Ana Navarro