because you'll pay for each one on the rooftop of The Montalban!
Last Thursday officially kicked off our weekly Nike Training Club workouts. The day was busy as most event days are, last minute construction, cramming loads of product into inventory, merching, and...sidewalk chalking? It's always something at that theater I swear...
Anyway, snuck up to the rooftop where our celeb DJ facilitated a flash dance to pump up the crowd for the NTC butt-kicking led by Marie Purvis.
VIPs customized bras, perused retail (where special QR codes led them to NSW styles by yours truly!), and enjoyed post workout cocktails. Nothing like a little champagne recovery!
"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong"
I practiced this quote today before I even knew it was a quote. So must 'we' also be psychic?
Don't worry if you're not, I don't believe in those guys.
Today I styled on the set of "The Look of The Montalban" photoshoot at NSW's Hollywood Home,
THE RICARDO MONTALBAN THEATER
Re-read that if you forgot to say it in a booming Latino accent.
I was given the opportunity to fully take on the styling responsibilities and see each look through from concept to execution.
I now apologize for ever underestimating the true work that goes in to an entire photo shoot.
Conceptualizing, being tasteful with available product, staying true to the brand, creating a story through color, inspiring, utilizing ugly things, innovating, "making it work"... it really was the real deal! I spent all day pulling, steaming, re-working, not eating (and this is huge for me as I eat 4 lunches per day minimum with a snack in between), dressing, undressing, tucking and tweaking all while keeping 3 models looking good, happy and pushing through 10 complete looks before the run of show ran out.
Nailed it? I sure hope so.
No, I take that back...Nailed it.
(I'm working on accepting success. Big props do go to NWM's stylist, Samantha Jo Alanzo, for working with and inspiring me back in Oct.)
I went into the day really excited to see my ideas come to life but extremely self conscious about what Nike would think about the looks I created ("what the heck is she thinking, THOSE socks? She's crazy, what's she even doing here? Why couldn't we book a real stylist again?"). But then I got stuck on that word...
create
How can fabulous things come to be without going out on a wacky little limb and stretching it a bit? Even coming out of your own comfort zone to what is safe for not just those around you but for you so you feel safe for those around you (that sentence doesn't even make sense but you know?!). So they might laugh and not get it, at least you gots flava. Nobody goes for vanilla when they're trying to party.
Long, fabulous fun story short, I discovered (well re-discovered) how in love I am with this realm. Be it the creating, the responsibility, the dri-fit, or the way the girls lit up when they tried on the new Nike Free Twist...or maybe just the culmination of it all, but whatever it was I want more.
During a time that has, well, frankly blown a fat one, I've found an energy store. I've found God reaching down to me through all the things that are driving me to despise this move and wonder how I'm ever going to climb out of the hole I've created, and give me a source of excitement and purpose. Of renewed motivation and a direction to focus my attentions (reads: away from the extremely negative).
PLUS the fact He just provided me with a HUGE experience that many dream about (myself included if I ever even dared dream such a thing).
This is what my great friends Tatiana and Joe talk about day in and day out. Dreaming Impossible! Two years ago in FIDM's styling class I rolled my eyes at fashion styling. I was probably only defending my dreams from being crushed by not even letting them be dreamt. Flippin look at me now (sing it C.Brown).
I don't know that this is necessarily my ultimate career goal or where God wants me (I'd love to think no seeing as I still have no walls or heat in my apartment and the toilet won't stop flushing itself) but I do know that the 'ness of today is in fact where I belong. When you run on caffeine all day with no break, your back hurts, and you still can't wait to get after it again in the morning...you've found it.
The neon leaves distract you from your impending doom.
The distracted me at least and I blacked out again only to wake up to a body bag of Nike. Crap.
Oh yeah so I went to Portland this weekend...but first maybe I should back up a month or so. NWM!
Nike Women's Marathon was last month in October but I worked on the back end a few weeks leading up to race day. Nike Sportswear put it's stamp on the amazing event promoting the "cool look of running" with their activation, Run This Town. 8 girls were chosen to be in the Runway Crew (and that was the point I wanted to quit and enter the contest...lucky, lucky girls) based on their submitted photos of their Nike style. These girls got hooked up with some of the hottest product across Sportswear, Training, and Running categories before their ultra-VIP experience even began.
BEFORE this though, I got a true feel for the life of an agency. They actually don't sprinkle a little swoosh dust before big events and watch it all come to life. Go figure.
I had the super fun task of managing all the product going into this activation. Basically a dream come true for me, I almost made snow angels in all the boxes of beautiful Holiday product that was brought in for a runway show and for the Runway Crew's experience.
A couple sleepless weeks later I found myself back in the city I fell in love with at the same event that triggered this unreal Nike ride for me exactly one year ago. This time around though I stepped up my game from gait analysis and boxed myself into a room at The Handlery Hotel. I literally slept with boxes of product in the bed with me...the one night I slept that is. I've never been so absorbed in a project and so "on" at such a crazyfrusturatingexciting level. The night before the girl's arrived at their 3 story palace in The Mission District, I finished up loose ends on their Welcome Packages which translated into a 33 hour day and a constant flow of coffee. Death.
Probably the sweetest death anyone ever died though as I got to work alongside the amazing stylist (part of the Runway Crew's entourage...photog, bloggers, and chef close behind) on the official photoshoot.
The rest of the week unfolded into the big runway show that was a crazy beautiful mess that was "Run The Runway".
Once work was over I took a quick breath, ate a full meal, and woke up to run my very first half marathon. I woke up like WHY did I sign up for this...but all 13 miles turned out to be an incredible experience I'm so glad I didn't miss (and there were many moments through the week I thought I'd never even survive to see race day). I ran with my first four miles with my Nike soul mate Tatiana and took on the monsterous hills with my cute new Lunarglides. So many moments I was tempted to stop and walk and my knees actually told me many times to do just that but the amount of women around me pushing through the same pains didn't allow me to actually entertain those thoughts. Aside from the sheer "girl power" (is it still cool to say that?), the inspiring momentos on race shirts and sideline posters kept me going. I had my own reason for running (aside from the Tiffany's box waiting for me at the finish) that ran along with me. My grandpa died in 2003 from Lukemia so he was integrated onto my race day shirt with one of his favorite verses along with the blue ribbon tied to my wrist which is my grandma's favorite color. With the struggles he endured, my 13.1 was absolutely nothing.
Post race I fell in love with 3 firefighters and proceeded to down 5 plates of VIP tent breakfast...probably had no business being there but what're ya gonna do :)
Since the marathon life has slowed a bit, Montalban events have been few and far in between but I did make my debut to a few hundred Filipino grandmas and grandpas waiting in line for the Pacquiao fight...still waiting for my check on that guest appearance...
I spent this past weekend in Portland visiting my favorite Nike family and hopefully opening some huge doors to a very promising position. Portland is exactly what everyone pumps it up to be...incredibly cold and dreary. Aside from that though, it's gorgeous. Gorgeous, inviting, andwithout 1 am LA traffic nonsense. I have a feeling of peace there...a calm that goes hand in hand with a deep hunger and motivation to work harder on the palace that is the Nike Campus. So many put the environment down and warn me to really think twice before I sign up for that "type of lifestyle". "That type of life style", I've concluded, is in less words meaningful work. Meaningful work in a city that is actually human and not self-seeking or pretentious or angry or "in the studio" <----all = LA if you weren't following...
I love the neon trees, I love the funky antique shops, and I love that I can compost my banana peel at any given public establishment.
Nike World Headquarters
Take me away P-Town! Maybe not forever, but I'd love to come hang for a bit :)
I ran 14 miles on Sunday. Double digits baby!
Never did I ever (ever never ever never) think I could do such a stupid, stupid thing. I didn't think my mind or body was capable of it.
And I ran all 14! On accident no less. The goal was 13.1 and the amazing Phyllis I made it a goal to hang tight with the last 2 miles had a GPS watch that was about a mile slow. At that point it hurt just as much to stop as it did to keep going so I'm grateful for the extra mile.
After maneuvering through the Venice beach bum slumber party we finished up near the Santa Monica pier and then back to Marina Del Rey where I proceeded to help myself to every single breakfast food available at the Souplantation spread. Twice.
The beauty of struggling through 14 miles is the 1500 calories you burn. I don't even mind that my knees feel like they're being shanked with a crude weapon every time I take a step. That cinnamon roll was beyond worth it :)
I wish I could have crawled into bed after that mileage and food overload but it was off to the Montalban for an EKIN soccer university. Of course the girl with busted knees and no medical insurance was the one who had to climb a ladder 47 times (I counted) to change the theater marquee TWICE and trek 5 flights of stairs numerous times to the rooftop futsal court. Of course!
The university was pretty neat though and the nighttime soccer session was not a bad way to get paid.
Ladies and gents, The Ricardo Montalban theater rooftop:
The Monty is taking a little 3 week nap while John Leguizamo performs his comedy "Ghetto Clown". In the mean time I will be working on a product project for Nike Sportswear's activation at Nike Women's Marathon. SO excited for this! Last year I was just the event staff trying to make a few extra bucks for my CalTrain ticket, unaware of the Nike flood that was coming my way. This year I got an e-mail from the event company On Board Entertainment to join their staff again and with an appreciative and humble smile I was able to respond with a "Sorry, I'll be working alongside Nike this year."
HA! How rad...AND I'm running! I'll be putting in some work in SF leading up to the race as a stylist and managing product for the Run The Runway contest that I wish I could enter...
Yesterday we brought the future back in out "It's About Time" themed event at the Montalban Theater in Hollywood. Nike finally released the Nike Air Mag shoe from the Back to the Future II film and everyone in the shoe scene lost their minds.
Like, lost them. 34,000 dollars lost them. That was how much our pair at the Montalban was auctioned off for along with commemorative ceramic Air Mags which were basically a steal at $88 a piece.
Cray.
Last night's event was the big release (read:HUGEENORMOUSDON'TTELLASOULORWEWILLFINDYOU release) where the press, VIP's and ultra VIP's (since there is a thing apparently) were invited to come enjoy passed hors de vours and drinks in our upstairs rendition of the movie's 80's Cafe. The lobby housed a floor to ceiling shoe wall where the Air Mags lived (lit up of course) and also props from the actual film. The auditorium was the stage for Arab Music, the official reveal (up through the floor of course), a talk by Tinker Hatfield. Michael J. Fox also had a video and all the proceeds of the night went to his foundation. Check out more HERE.
Earlier that day I worked at a precursor to the big event at Universal Studios where a small group of top Nike execs were given a stage tour, stopped along the route for a talk at the courthouse by Bob Gale (I was his personal golf cart chauffeur for the day. Huge deal. lol), and dine on the green screen of Universal's Stage 36. Pretty rad driving into Universal NOT as a theme park goer and Tokyo drifting the cart through the street facades of the back lot.
I helped Pete Wentz with his 88 dollar ceramic shoe purchase last night from Fall Out Boy and had no idea until someone pointed it out. Whoops.
VIPs customized bras, perused retail (where special QR codes led them to NSW styles by yours truly!), and enjoyed post workout cocktails. Nothing like a little champagne recovery!
