Ugh I've been trying to get this post up all month! I've been having major computer, technical difficulties. Well I can't remember If I even posted about Ink n' Iron 2011! I know I didn't post about 2012, so I might as well post about them both! Last year I got to experience Ink N' Iron all three days, versus the one day I had attended in 2011. I was pretty much working the whole time well I helped my friend vend vintage clothing. I met new people, made new friends and bumped into familiar faces. All in all I had a great time hanging out, seeing some great bands and all the attractions! Being that Ink N' Iron 2013 was held earlier this month I was thrilled to find out that one of my all time favorite performers Punk legends, Iggy and The Stooges are playing! I've always wanted to see Iggy Pop since I was a teenager and I vowed I'd go, though I'm wasn't working the festival this year. However due to buying up concert and event tickets lately I'm a little short on spending funds, so I didn't make it out this year (soo sad!). I also wish that some of Friday's performers would be performing on Saturday night (like Wanda Jackson, The Growlers, Tijuana Panthers). To be honest this years lineup is not that exciting in my opinion, I did notice that there seems to be a 1960's theme with some of the performers this year. A lot of bands have that retro, soul, garage, lo-fi sound going on which is interesting for Ink N' Iron. Though I do enjoy those type of genres when I go to Ink I want to hear some good ol' Psychobilly! A lovely gentleman who I met at last years Ink N' Iron told me that the show promoters are trying to cater to a more "Alternative" crowd, therefore adding bands that you wouldn't typically see playing the festival in previous years. But the times are a changing and sometimes change can kind of be a good thing. So here are some photos of both my 2011 & 2012 Ink N' Iron experiences. Enjoy!
2011
Here I am with Jerome singer of the psychobilly band Batmobile!
Batmobile on stage
Pin Up Contestants
Here I am with my friend Gabriela Hernandez Owner and Creator of the amazing repro vintage inspired makeup line Besame
Unexpected Twinsies! Haha Here I am with my friend Justine, she's currently filming her documentary about women in the Vintage Scene, titled "Vintage Vixens"
I don't remember this fella's name, but I thought he was the best dressed guy here at the festival. The crowd is much different,but similar though it's no Viva. So yay for his spiffiness!
I don't remember this gals name either, but I thought she had such a cute little outfit and check out that cool mini double tier parasol! I want one!!
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2012
Here is my friend's booth, Got Vintage. We're set up and ready to sell! It was the first time Ink N' Iron decided to have vintage vendors, though it was new we didn't get much traffic. But we did make sales and met new people too! I had a lot of fun vending, it made me think about going into sales.
Here I am with one of my favorite ladies, the lovely Amanda Lee! She's such a beauty in person and totally sweet!
Here I am with my lovely friend Gloria and fellow blogging buddy. Her and her gal pals came all the way from Las Vegas to check out the festival, they weren't expecting such a casual crowd. If only every festival were Viva, haha
Some of the afternoon crowd
Cool a giant Tecate can!
I believe this gentleman's name is Jason. I thought he certainly looked very spiffy for Ink N Iron! Yay for dressing pre post war! haha
During my break I decided to do a little dancing with my friend Jason, because no one jives at Ink N Iron haha
Aren't they the cutest and fabulously dressed couple you've seen! I had to take a pic! This is Heather and (I think) Paul, they came from Northern California for their first Ink N Iron. I complimented them on their great garb, they too expected it to be like Viva. I actually spotted them this year at Viva, but I didn't get a chance to speak to them.
A sword swallower at the Pleasure Portal
Whoa! Work that Pole!
I loved this womans burlesque performance! She was so lovely and it was so 1920's-esque! I completely forgot her name (as of right now), but ever since I saw her consider me a fan.
Magician Christopher Wonder and his Chicken! He was a hoot and put on a great performance!
Ooohh
Such a classic and tantalizing burlesque act!
What a sunset!
Fire Dancer
Tight Rope Walker
Ready to watch the band!
She Wants Revenge!
Some cars out on the lawn
Someone's gone and lost their weave!
That's my friend Jason right in the middle! Haha go Jason go!
This cute little lady was one of our customers the previous day. She bought this awesome two piece vintage 1970's set and she wore the top out the next day! Awesome!
"High Heels coming back in fashion.. High Heels walk over me.." (Demented Are Go- High Heels)
Such a beauty! I'm loving that Cherry Red, can I get lipstick and nail polish in that shade?
Another shot of lovely and fabulously dressed couple Heather & Paul
Here I am with my lovely friend Ariana! Fashion Designer, Pinup Model and first ever Miss Uptown Whittier!
Well I hate myself for not having shared with you my first ever Viva, now I'm posting it a year later a few months after my second time attending! What a weekend and I'm barely talking about it now!!
Well since I practically ended up creating a photographic diary of that adventure let me now share with you a few photos from all of the craziness that is Viva! From dancing and drinking all night, to buying up vintage, meeting and making new friends and spotting out cute boys!
Well I left with all my girlfriends (do any of you remember my vintage posse 'Ghetto Vintage Bitches' that I mentioned once?) who live in the San Fernando Valley and on our way there my friends car died in Pomona! We were stranded in Pomona, tried to get the car fixed it didn't work so we were towed all the back and it took four Mexicans five minutes to fix the car in no time!! Yay for brown power!!
The following day once we arrived in vegas the girls and I attended Rocking Ronnies Pre VLV Party! Which was of course tons of fun! Here we are with our friend Gary from California.
Here is some of the crowd at the party
Some great live entertainment
Smell the Nostalgia!
Strolling around the house checking out Ronnie's cool Americana and Rock N' Roll collection
It's cool to know I can now call them friends & acquaintances
Day 1 Thursday Here we are with The Orleans Alligators (or are they crocodiles?) ready to hit the vendors
Day 1 Thursday Night Here I am with the girls and our friend Richard (he's part of our Ghetto Vintage posse too) Apparently I didn't get the red memo, but the girls said "It's like you're our pimp and we're your hoes" okay haha! I wore a faux gold lurex halter (designed and made by me) and my vintage embroidered and pleated slacks that I bought for $1!
Yay another blogger meeting! Here I am with the lovely and awesome Gloria of the blog That Vintage Broad. This was our first time meeting after we both follow one another's blogs. She always has the coolest hair and great makeup, Fierce! It's cool that now she too is a friend of mine!
Day 1 Thursday Late Night
Here I am with my good friend Ernie (he too is also part of the ghetto vintage posse) in my late night outfit (not that exciting I know, but it was my 1st viva) repro Rayon Hawaiian blouse and high waisted jeans.
That's my friend Christina being attacked on the dance floor by our friend Benny.
You see what happens Viva makes people crazy!
Day 2 Friday Day two of viva and here I am for VLV Bowling with two of my very lovely friends Mother and Daughter, Rena & Justine. They're always the sweetest and always have some pretty fab clothes. Justine is in fact writing and currently filming a documentary about women in the vintage scene and culture. I'm wearing a shirt of my own design from my menswear look I did for my school fashion show back in 2011 ( I still have to share that with you) and some black capris. Pretty casual for bowling.
That's our friend Jeff Beaugard. Known for his witty and memorable remarks, awesome vintage and is one hell of a dancer. Here he is bopping away in the bowling alley.
Day 2 Friday Night
Can somebody say Patio Party? Here we are in our Patio/Squaw dresses we planned it out that night, but we unexpectedly coordinated in color (we tend to do that). My squaw dress isn't as nice as the ones with the shimmery ric rac and it's too short for me you can see my slip! Major style faux pas, that was the first and last time I wore that dress.
Yee haw! We're all ready for a barnyard ball! Western Night with our friend Rhinestone Tom (in the green suit) and his friend and apparently some photo bombers in back. Tom always has the craziest, cool blinged out and embroidered suits. If you thought men didn't care about fashion and style, you're wrong he spends a pretty penny on his suits and he always look fab, us ladies love him!
Day 3 Saturday
Here I am at the world famous Viva Car Show! I didn't take pics with any cars really, it was way too hot and I'm not that great of a pinup haha Anywho I'm wearing a black and white repro ensemble with some gingham capris that give the illusion of camel toe (sadly) haha
Here I am with the girls. My friend Julie always as the coolest stuff like that awesome hand painted mexican skirt and sequined ric rac top!
At the car show I was approached by Punk Outlaw to be interviewed on Latinos in the Rockabilly Scene. I received some flak on youtube for not calling myself "Rockabilly" but like I explain in my interview and you can see from my blog I'm a lover of many things. Please excuse me for saying "A love for the passion" hahaha I was too enthralled with my conversation. Thank you again to Robert of Punk Outlaw for hosting this great little interview! I was also featured on their website! Here's the Article! PUNK OUTLAW: LATINOS IN ROCKABILLY Lastly I was also featured on the website Remezcla Musica for a relating article, ROCKABILLY & LATINOS: A REMIXING CASE
Later that evening we attended the Burlesque showcase, which was pretty cool and my first time ever seeing a burlesque performance! My personal favorite was Medianoche, lovely and quintessential, classic, burly Q!
Day 3 Saturday Night Saturday Night at Viva! Here I am with my always dapper and handsome friend Andre. I didn't expect to see him! You can usually spot him at Viva working the Allyn Scura Eyewear booth in fab 20's & 30's garb. As for me I'm wearing the first dress I ever designed and guess what? It's the same dress I wore to my high school prom! I wore it to viva because number one, I didn't have anything fabulous to wear. Number two nobody at viva knew me in high school so no one ever saw it! haha I ended up purchasing that vintage rhinestone brooch that night and pined it to my dress to prevent a wardrobe malfunction. My dress was to big due to weight loss and I had to keep it from slipping.
Here I am with the girls again and our awesome friend Ana. I'm loving my friend Corina's green hawaiian dress and my friend Julie looks like a diamond dreamboat!
The crowd dancing in the ballroom that night
Day 3 Saturday Late Night
Here I am with my very lovely and talented friend, fellow East Angeleno Artist John Carlos De Luna. He always looks very dapper and has done some amazing artwork! Be sure to check out his blog Barrio Dandy. As for me I went for a 40's daytime look, makes it easier for dancing. I wore my 1940's cherry earrings and cherry hairclip a gift from Vicky Tafoya.
Day 4 Sunday
It's VLV Pool Party time!! I gotta say my favorite viva outfit I wore that year had to be my vintage play/swim suit! I bought it a Valerie's Boulevard in Whittier and paired it with repro accessories to look 1940's pool party ready. Check out my friends awesome hawaiian prints and those accessories!
Yay another famous blogger encounter!
Well Youtuber I should say, the lovely Ashley of Lisa Freemont Street. She brings you all those really cool and really helpful vintage and retro inspired hair and makeup tutorials!
Check out the lovely ladies in the swimsuit contest, the cute petite redhead is my friend, hair & makeup artist, pinup, burlesque dancer and former 2011 Miss Uptown Whittier Sirena Siren!
Day 4 Sunday Night
The last night of Viva, how bittersweet here's a pic of me and the girls yet again. I'm wearing my off the shoulder silver lurex blouse and black velvet skirt with lucite mules all of which I got at the thrift shop!
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Well that's it the very end of Viva 2012 and I talked about it a whole year and two months later! Talk about procrastination! I shared what I could or should I say was decent enough haha Now to share with you my Viva 2013 adventure which was much more fabulous and fun the second year, yet it was also filled with a little heartache as well (but that has no place here so I'll shut up). Thank you again Vegas and Viva for introducing me to one of the best things to look forward to every year!
