Pachuco Boogie

 (Photos By Rafa LA for Pachuco Boogie)

*Excuse the late post it was meant for October 2013*
Orale! I love me some Pachuco Boogie! If you're unfamiliar with all that is the Pachucado it is like a subculture within itself , a Latino movement, fashion, culture and music that stemmed in the 1940's with it's roots in Mexico, El Paso Texas and Los Angeles California. Of course more widely known and recognized from the Jazz culture and the always flashy and dandy Zoot Suit!
My interests going into the Pachuco culture goes to my forever love of the 40's but it's also more of a homage to my culture, history and family. It all started when I was 17 years old and tried out for the my High School/ College musical "Zoot Suit" which documents the historical LA Zoot Suits of 1942.

 

 Back in 2008 in the East LA College production of Zoot Suit 

pictured with actors Mike Aceves (left) and Victor Rodriguez (right)

For me I grew up listening to all my grandpa's stories of his crazy teenage antics and his involvement with the Pachucos in LA, which though he never called himself one he "affiliated" with them and has those homemade tattoos to prove it! In fact he witnessed those riots and had plenty of stories to tell about al the neighborhood events, gang wars, and the fashion. Plus on both sides of my family are from El Paso Texas! I could go on and on and on talking about the history and my family ties, but more importantly I'll talk about the new nights my friends are hosting, "Pachuco Boogie Sunday's at Eastside Luv"!
 My friend Nick whom I'm pictured with at the top and my friend John Carlos De Luna are always pleased to host and help put on these great events. They were even featured along with friends and well known musician Pachuco Jose for  a special Telemundo segment. These fellas know their history and are some of the best dancers and dressers out there! In fact be sure to check out Nick's blog Eastside Jitterbug, he not only teaches, he djays and he's one hell of a swing dancer! Also if you're wondering just how you can look the part especially if you're a guy be sure to check out my friend, artist John Carlos De Luna's site and label Barrio Dandy. He has his own designs, artwork and sells vintage too! So check that out for tons of inspiration. I'm proud I got a chance to participate in these series of photos and I even made it onto the Telemundo segment! But most of all I'm proud to see my friends, artists, creators and so many others embrace the culture.
 Be sure to check out Pachuco Boogie Sunday's the 3rd sunday night of the month at Eastside Luv, they always have a record hop going,  movies screening, poetry readings and sometimes even a live band or show! It hopes to continue on into 2014!

The first Pachuco Boogie flyer

With Friends at Pachuco Boogie

With my friend artist Jake Prendez and our friend Lorena

My ensemble for the night, wearing an authentic vintage knit and some reallly big 40's hair!
Gotta have that Pachuca Pompadour!

Some screen shots my my national television vintage debut! haha

"Estilo Pachuco"
A special segment for tv network Telemundo featuring well known vintage/rockabilly scene musician Pachuco Jose and my friends artist John Carlos De Luna and dancer Nick.

I'm a Beauty Queen! Miss Uptown Whittier 2013-2014

Me! Miss Uptown Whittier 2013-2014

Well I'd never thought I'd see the day! I guess I now can add Beauty Queen to my list of titles, say hello to the 2013- 2014 Miss Uptown Whittier!! Remember my most recent post I did where I talked about The Miss Uptown Whittier Contest and how I previously entered and was planning to enter again? Well what do you know, third times the charm and I won! I was so extremely thrilled and surprised and I can't believe I get to go on this new exciting venture. I'm so very proud of representing Uptown and it's a neighborhood I dearly love and one that holds sentimental value for me too. Even though it's been two weeks since I was crowned and I already attended my first event as Miss Uptown it all seems so surreal. So let me share with you all the fabulous fashion and style details and how about that tiara!!

Before the contest
(Photo by. The Uptown Association)

Here I am posing for the camera! I decided to do a late 1940's look this year (you know how I love my 40's) and again wearing a deep blue, which is probably one of the most flattering shades I could wear. The dress is a vintage rayon 1940's faux wrap draped dress in a midnight blue, I bought it from a friend of mine at a yard sale  a few months back and it was my first time wearing it out. I designed and made my shoe clips, hair accessory and dress brooch all matching miniature midnight blue rosettes covered with rhinestones.

Presenting myself for the crowd

Answering a few questions 

Gotta wear those Backseam stockings, my favorite!

 I won! Getting my sash and tiara put on by Miss Uptown Crystal

(Photo by. The Uptown Association)

(Photo by. The Uptown Association)

 I'm a happy camper!

 I look silly here, making my acceptance speech

 Pictured here with the lovely Crystal, Miss Uptown 2012- 2013

 Here are all us Miss Uptown contest contenders

Here I am with the 2nd place runner up at my left and 3rd place winner to my right along with Uptown Association members and Miss Uptown
(Photo by. The Uptown Association)

Here I am with 2nd place winner Marily and 3rd place winner Emely. Both Ladies were very sweet & lovely and each go their own little tiara.
(Photo by. The Uptown Association)
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(all other photos by. Angel Rivera)

Fun Fact! The Miss Uptown tiara is actually a replica of the tiara actress Audrey Hepburn wore in the classic 1953 movie "Roman Holiday" as Princess Ann! How lovely, cute and perfectly retro is that! Wow! It's like I get to emulate one of my childhood idols, Audrey Hepburn!

First day on the job! Here I am pictured at my first event as Miss Uptown. I opted for a late 1950's early 1960's look.
(Photo by. The Uptown Association)

Such a cute giant pair of scissors! Here I am pictured with Uptown officials and folks from the Whittier Daily News celebrating the new office opening and headquarters.
(Photo by. The Uptown Association)

Two big Uptown events are on the calendar and the surely aren't to be missed!
So Mark your calenders come out and support the community, have some fun and see little 'ol me!
Oh and I'll be in the 60th Annual Christmas Parade!!

He's Like The Man Of My Dreams & He's From My Hood!

Hello Everyone I just thought I'd do this quick post I saw this online article and thought it was pretty fun and hilarious to begin with and once I noticed a specific feature I just had to share it!!

The LA Weekly Magazines' online blog Style Council released an article on July 27th 2011 titled,

"Six LA Neighborhoods With The Most Distinctive Fashion Styles"

And which neighborhood happens to be number 5? My hood, East LA!!! Just what are they going to feature some classic cholo style, some crazy paisa norteno goodness?? No, surprisingly and very much to my liking they featured this:

East LA Greaser/ Goth

Drawing by. Jason Levesque

Uniform: Cuffed Levis; black Creepers; black T-shirt with skull motif; slicked-back hair; sleeve tattoo, including spiderweb elbow; leather cuff watch; crucifix necklace; black nail polish; Pendleton jacket; a Latina gal in a leopard-print dress on his arm

Shops at: Glory, Iguana Vintage, Target, Hot Topic (but won't admit it)

Hangs at: Little Cave, Eastside Luv, Spikes in Rosemead, Lucha Va Voom, any burlesque show

Listens to/watches: Social Distortion, the Misfits, the Cramps, the Smiths

Trending: Less Fonz, more fun with nostalgic rawk style. A blending of the usual '50s looks with '70s garage/punk gear and '80s androgyny, including more spiky stuff, tighter pants and longer hair

Fashion philosophy: As Johnny Thunders said, always dress "L.A.M.F." (Like a Mother Fucker).

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Oh man when I saw this I burst into laughter!! He's literally like most of the guys I've fallen for that are not only from East LA, but just the types of guys that sometimes catch my attention! He's like the man of my dreams bahahaha!!! It's great though, I really love seen a representation of the whole East Los alternative scene that started with those Rebels way back when! (By the way do you remember when I talked about Rebels last, in my Steve Naghavi post?) How cute is he with his cuffed jeans, Creepers, slicked hair, nail polish (woo extra points being a goth cutie!) and how can you forget the very "original" Spiderweb tattoo!! We even shop and hang out at the same places! (Hot Topic, hell no! That place used to be good back when you could get a decent band shirt which was a very, very long time ago!) Taste in music, ehh he needs to work on that if he wants to be with me! Drop Social D and The Misfits for some Depeche, Cure, and a great Psychobilly band like Batmobile and we'll talk!!  Oh man this cracked me up, and yeah I'm not gonna lie, yes I tend to fall for guys like this at times. Oh how embarrassing, am I in love with a cliche! lol But you know what would have been even better? If they featured The Cholobilly!! (If you have no idea what a cholobilly is, I'm just going to have to rant about it soon!) lol 

Have fun reading the rest of the neighborhoods I know I did!

http://blogs.laweekly.com/stylecouncil/2011/07/los_angeles_fashion_neighborho.php

Happy Birthday Steve Naghavi

Steve Naghavi

May 26, 1970

Happy 41st Birthday Steve!! Are you wondering just who Steve Naghavi is, never heard of him? Well I wouldn't expect you too especially since many Americans don't. If you would've asked me who Steve was 6 years ago I would've said the same thing. But all due to the little crowd I hung out with when I was 14 and going to certain backyard  high school parties I discovered And  One.  And One? Steve Naghavi is the singer for the band And One, an awesome Synthpop/ EBM  band from Germany!!!
I love And One's music! Plus the whole reason And One was created or more so influenced in the beginning was because of Depeche Mode! Steve was obsessed with Depeche Mode and wanted to be Dave Gahan! He still is a huge Depeche Mode fan, and if you ask me he kind of resembles Dave Gahan a little. Oh and Steve is a hell of a good looking man if you ask me! He's even a great dancer just like Dave and just as sexy and he even knows how to work that mic stand!!! Over time their sound and look has been less Depeche and more And One which is a good thing since they established and identity. Their sound is much heavier and I like that, but don't worry they're still very DM influenced. However being that they aren't very popular in the US doesn't mean they aren't liked, oh no they are! Lot's of goth clubs that play a lot of industrial and synth usually have their music playing on a regular basis (I've never been to a goth club). But the way I found out about them would I guess be because of the "Rebel Scene". [The Rebel Scene I really don't know much about it, I wasn't around when it happened. I guess it started in early to mid 1990's  Los Angeles where (It was extremely popular with Latinos in particular Mexicans) kids were into Rockabilly style, but they listened to a lot of 1980's alternative, synth, trance, and early house music. Listening to Depeche Mode, The Smiths & Morrissey, The Cure, 90's House and yeah, And One. In high school I hung out with a couple of second generation Rebels, I listened to DM and the Smiths before I met them, but they introduced me to And One, and I love what I heard ever since! ] In fact I dreamt of the day I would finally get to see them! I mean they're hugely popular in their Fatherland (Germany) especially in Russia and in Mexico as well as other parts of Europe and South America where the EBM scene is big (EBM stands for Electronic Body Music, it's like early industrial it's synthy too)! When they announced their new album last year and presented a North American tour I went crazy! I made sure I bought tickets! I had planned to see them May 15th in Hollywood and be in the front row, only for the show to be canceled, I was devastated!

I missed out on what could've been all this awesomeness! I frekin love Steve's outfit for the Tanzomat tour! Those dance moves!! And yes they even cover Depeche Mode songs!! The video is a little long, but you should so watch it!

I guess one day I hope to see them, maybe they'll come back if not I guess a trip to Europe is the works  I would love that, hahaha But I don't think It'll be happening anytime soon!
Alles Gute zum Gerburstag Steve!!



The First song that introduced and hooked me onto And One. "Military Fashion Show" from the 2004 BodyPop album.

And as if I couldn't love them anymore, they do this!! And One's Rockabilly version of Military Fashion Show!!! Wooo!!! The video is a little cheesy though.

And One's "Second Voice" an early song of theirs from 1991 and an old favorite!

*I think I'll do a post about EBM it will be interesting  and the whole Rebel Scene too! New posts to think about!*