Downtown Mesa, Arizona shopping: street art, bohemian fashion, anime toys & home decor. Salvador Dali’s house?
Where in the world is La Carmina? I’m currently in Miami; last month, Arizona. Here’s the first of my many desert photo diaries.
Don’t tell my earless cat that I was petting a dog in Mesa (east of Phoenix).
It’s an illusion. This Salvador Dali-esque melting building…
… is in fact a 2D mural, on the side of a vintage clothing store called Eclectic Monkey Emporium.
Downtown Mesa has become an arts destination. I met life-size sculptures as I wandered the streets.
Black and white draped jacket: Miffy x TwoPercent, from Hong Kong Causeway Bay
Polka dot skirt: vintage
White tank top: Muji Japan
Blue shoes: John Fluevog (similar to these Fluevog Munster shoes)
The pig is one of my favorites.
Murals, murals, on the walls.
Main Street Mesa was a joy to explore. Small business owners sat at the counters, giving greetings and shopping advice.
So much to browse at the vintage bohemian Blossom salon and boutique.
Steampunk love.
None of the stores were mass retailers. Instead, there were one-off gems like Design*Lab for home decor. (My bag is Hyoma by Izzue, from Hong Kong.)
Lulubell Toy Bodega has Japanese collector toys, anime goods, and books by my Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants publisher.
After a long walk, I was relieved to drink mint tea at Lo-Fi Coffee — followed by fish tacos, rice and beans at Mango’s Mexican Cafe.
Three cheers to Downtown Mesa for supporting indie, one-of-a-kind boutiques and street art!
Do you have shops like these where you live? What do you think of my “sleek-kawaii” look these days?
PS: Currently having an incredible time at Art Deco Weekend in Miami. For 1920s outfit previews and architecture, take a gander at my Instagram.
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Cover model for Dark Beauty Magazine! Hong Kong Gothic Lolita photoshoot: Spider fashion line, Mongkok modeling.
“Dark Beauty Magazine strikes again… Get to know La Carmina as she adorns our first issue of 2013!”
What can I say? It’s an incredible honor to be on the cover of this much-loved, dark fashion magazine. I can’t thank the Dark Beauty enough, and my team for creating these glorious images.
You’ll have to get a copy of Dark Beauty Magazine to see the full photoshoot, but here are two alternate images to whet your appetite.
John Skeleton modeled with me, in the streets of Hong Kong.
Gigantic thank yous to…
Photographer: Ken Yuen
Assistant Photographer: Jacqueline Kwok (noircorner)
Photo manipulations: Kanae Hamatsuka
Hair: Emma Woodall of Toni & Guy Hong Kong
Wardrobe: Spider by Natalie Lam, Hong Kong (pictured below)
Let’s take a behind-the-scenes peek at how the shoot took place.
We started the day in Soho, at the Toni & Guy Hong Kong hair salon. A magazine photoshoot is the perfect excuse to wear dramatic, crimped hair.
Emma Woodall did this masterful hair styling. She also created my spray-painted locks for Hong Kong Social Media week (fashion bloggers panel).
Onwards to Mongkok. I wanted to shoot in the streets, under the famous neon signs, to capture the energy and color of Hong Kong.
We reunited with Natalie Lam of Spider, a Hong Kong Gothic Lolita designer. (Remember when Seby and I visited her store last year?) I adore her designs: elegant frills, corset lacing, Victorian accessories.
John and I wore her clothing for the shoot. We thought it’d be a nice departure from the usual Japanese Gothic & Lolita brands that you see in magazines.
I did some shopping at the same time… bought this Pirate Rum shirt, and studded dress (I ended up wearing it on TV: CBS The Doctors).
If you visit Spider, you absolutely must stop by Spider (say hi for me). The shop is in Mongkok; address, maps and directions here.
What do you think of our photos? To see all the images and read my interview, grab a copy of Dark Beauty Magazine: Jan 2013 street-style issue, with La Carmina on the cover (it comes in digital, print, and both). Thank you everyone — what a dream!
LA CARMINA
