Lulus.com Fashion Blog

July
16
2010

Greetings from L.A.! I have just completed my road trip of California and I thought I'd share my trip with you all (while sharing some fun travel tips)!

My roommate and I started from our hometown of Sacramento and drove down to San Francisco to visit one of our friends (Travel Tip #1: Instead of spending loads on a hotel, stay with a friend. They'll be happy to have you... although don't stay longer then 3 days, you don't want to impose). While there we shopped on Market St., walked around Haight and Ashbury, and had a picnic at Golden Gate park. (Travel Tip #2: Pack some groceries. Eating out can be fun, but it can also be unhealthy. Instead of going to fast food joints, pack trail mix, fruit, and sandwich makings.

From San Francisco, we left for our 6 hour drive to L.A. Neither one of us wanted to stay in the car for that long of a time, so we thought it'd be fun to make a little detour to Solvang. Solvang is an old Dutch town with fun shops and amazing restaurants/bakeries. We ended up choosing a place to eat, and indulged in a dessert known as Aeble Skivers. These are pancake-like balls topped with Raspberry syrup and powdered sugar sprinkled on top. Delicious!

After our amazing meal, we continued on the road and eventually made it to L.A. The next day we ate lunch with a friend at Mini Kabob (Travel Tip #3: Don't judge a book by its cover, especially when applied to restaurants). Mini Kabob is this tucked away Greek restaurant run by a loving couple, and I have to say, it was the best Greek food I've ever had!

Next we went to Santa Monica! We walked through the 3rd St. promenade where there were a bunch of cool stores and some street performers. Then we headed to the Venice boardwalk where there were more street performers and street merchants. A lot of cool art and jewelry can be found here.

Last, but not least we finished up in Hollywood! After some shopping (Hello Rodeo Drive!), we went back to Graumen's Chinese Theatre where I got to compare myself to the stars...at least with my hands and feet. FYI I fit perfectly into Marilyn Monroe's hands and Arnold Schwarzenegger's hands are HUGE!

Overall I had a great trip! Talk to you all soon!

XOXO

Jenny, the intern

P.S. Do you have a crazy vacation story? What tips do you use to travel?

Meet Vintage Model Diana D!

May
20
2010

If you haven't checked out our vintage section lately, you really should take a look! We had a recent photo shoot in L.A., and model Diana D was happy to dish about modeling, fun and life in L.A. She is even one of the Paul Mitchell faces, check her out!

1. At what age did you start modeling?

I was discovered by a scout at 13. They expected I'd grow incredibly tall. They were mistaken; just 5'4" (tear).

2. Tell us a little about your modeling career path?

Modeling granted me pardon for absences from school. Often caught a flight to Los Angeles (from my hometown, Las Vegas) the evening prior to a booking. A few of my first gigs included Stila, Nylon (their first year in print) and this British line called Sugar. For Sugar, we drove to a fruit stand within few miles of Joshua Tree, CA. We had an old classic mustang convertible. Inspiration for the shoot was a vintage road trip. I was sitting pretty in the driver's seat with these massive retro sunglasses on. Just 14. No drivers permit. Surreal.

3. How is life in LA as a model?

Got the bones to make a move to LA at 19. Pursuing the dream. Still going. Modeling gigs are always lovely. The exposure to creative folk and artists alike makes modeling seem more like being an essential element to the making of a group art project.

4. What is the best part of being a model?

The Perks -- The ability to manipulate your own schedule, make it to all your castings, feed yourself, meet a friend for coffee, take a trip. Work comes in clusters. Sometimes it's wildly hectic and other times, quite lackadaisical. There's always time to take a pause and read Albert Camus beneath a tree or runaway for a weekend music festival. You just never really know when or with much advance. A model must be spontaneous.

5. How did you become one of the Paul Mitchell Faces?

The Paul Mitchell gig came about through a series of unpaid creative projects I decided to model for. The hair stylist for one of these shoots happened to be an assistant to Lucie Doughty, Editorial Director for Paul Mitchell. Lucie saw the finished photo series, and set up a test shoot with me immediately. A few months later, I found myself sitting at PM headquarters for a casting. Sitting in a room with 20 Amazonian goddess types, I had to wonder, whether I had any chance of getting this gig at all. Within 20 minutes of my departure, I received a call from Lucie herself; I had booked Paul Mitchell, (cartwheels and screams!)

6. What are some of your daily activities?

Daily activities include french pressing my coffee, checking favorite music & style blogs, pen to paper, bicycle riding, treasure hunting, chasing raccoons, taking photographs, conversations with friends & attempting false grand self confidence at castings.

7. What do you do for fun in LA?

LA fun includes farmer's markets, weeknights at the Hollywood Cemetery, the Wiltern theatre, thrifting, taco truckin', chasing carnivals, record collecting, double features at the Beverly Cinema, fellow mouseketeering, group sing songs, Dodger games, LOVE & summer BBQ's.

8. As a model do you have a lot of free time or are you pretty busy?

Currently, I have nothing but free time. Someone book me on a gig quick!!