Painfully Hip » fashion photography

Painfully Beauteous – The Artwork of Fuco Ueda

amber — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:53:11 +0000

The internet gasped audibly when Fuco Ueda launched her website last year. Ueda’s works of in-exhalable beauty (acrylic and powdered mineral pigments on paper, cloth, and wood) are cloaked with an intangible darkness which is sometimes cloyingly subtle. However, in Fuco Ueda’s earlier works from 2000-2001 themes of stripey socks, incandescent sea creatures and schoolgirl honey drool give way to lost innocence, vulnerability, clutched skulls, and defenseless goldfish. A period so dark, it would best be described in the voice of Werner Herzog. I’ll shoot him an email.

Fuco Ueda’s prolific portfolio
via My Modern Met

Fuco Ueda’s prolific portfolio
via My Modern Met

PHDC: Wingflash Snowstorm

amber — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:43:25 +0000

I love working with jewelry designer, Laura Kepner-Adney of Wingflash Designs. Nevermind the fact that her prolific collections consist of the most gasp-worthy, covetable objects I’ve ever ogled, she’s actually grateful to me when I borrow them for extend periods of time. Sometimes I think I must have secretly assassinated Hitler in my past life.

In addition to the jewelry, there were a lot of things that made the following shoot awesome. And that brings me to yet another reason I love working with Laura. She comes up with these genius ideas about snow machines and a Painfully Hip 20% OFF everything (until June 30th 2010) if you mention this post! The male model, however, was my idea.
You’re welcome.

Photos by Ryan Mihalyi
Models – Asher Caplan, Ashley Geiger, and Sandra Solial
Jewelry by Laura Kepner-Adney, Wingflash Designs
Hair by Addam Moreno, ISO Hair
Makeup by Lauren Malanga
Styling by Amber Mortensen
Special thanks to Abraham Cooper for his assistance, Lauren Malanga for going on a mad hunt for white mascara and saving our lives, and Adam Lehrman for being late to a wedding in the name of this shoot.

You’ll want to check out Part 2 of this shoot up tomorrow… but only if you’d like to see the aforementioned models in various states of undress.

I thought so.

Beauty on the Fly Sweepstakes! Enter for your chance to win Southwest Tickets & Benefit Beauty. Enter Now!

PHDC Mixed Prints

amber — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:33:32 +0000

My team and I loved the outfits for our Mixed Prints story so much, we decided to use them again to shoot Paige, this straight-to-the-top 14 year old model, who rocked these duds to their maximum rockability. This girl was obviously born to be a model. She and her size 11 tootsies! I had to make a rush trip to Marshall’s and Ross on my way to Phoenix to get some basketball player-sized shoes for her. But oh the results!

Photography – KailasPhotography.com
Model – Paige
Wardrobe Styling – Amber Mortensen, Painfully Hip.com
Hair – Jenny Strebe
Makeup – Jordan Dudgeon
Jewelry Designed by Laura Kepner-Adney, Wingflash Designs
Outfits 2 & 3 designed by SapphireCordial.com
Shoes from Marshalls and Ross
Everything else is vintage

PHDC: Stars and Garters

amber — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:38:08 +0000

One of the first sections I ransack at thrift stores is the oft-overlooked lingerie section. Besides romantic escapism, lacy onesies and bustiers can also function as pretty camisoles when worn with a high-waisted skirt and shrunken blazer. A detailed nightgown can be easily shortened into a sweet mini dress or top.

Partially shot in the historic Hotel San Carlos, this PHDC shoot features vintage lingerie, chunky modern jewelry by Diana Deaver, fine, semi-precious jewelry by Laura Kepner-Adney of Wingflash Designs, and shoes from Marshalls and Ross. You can also spot my backless “Edie” dress by Sapphire Cordial.

Photography – Kailas
Model – Lauren, Ford Models AZ
Wardrobe Styling – Amber Mortensen (me)
Hair – Jenny Strebe
Makeup – Jordan Dudgeon
Jewelry Designed by Laura Kepner-Adney, Wingflash Designs and Diana Deaver

One Dress Three Ways: County Fair Chic

amber — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:16:04 +0000

Remember how your mom would dress you and your four siblings the same when you all went to Universal Studios or a three legged chili cook-off or something and you’d hypothesize profusely about looking like buncha tools? No? Well, I was getting some vivid childhood flashbacks on Diana’s birthday. After we surprised her with a bedroom mini fridge (so she could do her two favorite things at the same time – eat and sleep), we kidnapped her to a secret location custom designed for nausea-inducing amounts of fun.

The good ol’ county fair. Diana’s only clue was a stipulation that she wear one of these identical graphic floral sundress which apparently none of could resist for $1 at the Buffalo Exchange Outlet. Admittedly, it should probably have interfered with her already decided on leopard print “birthday headpiece,” but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. It was her motherfucking birthday and we were going to be just fine in our obnoxious headpieces, 5 inch architectural wedges and stiletto heels, thankyouverymuch.

The following is a step by step example of How to Look Like a Bunch of Tools in Matching Outfits.

(photos by Ciaran Harman)

As we walked in, one security guard told us we looked like “those girls from the 1920s” while his friend exclaimed “SUPER DIVAS!” We were profoundly flattered. I’m pretty sure Diana hasn’t taken her leopard print birthday headpiece off since.

Let’s Get On With It

amber — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 01:22:47 +0000

…Annnnd we’re BACK, from our regularly scheduled, annual late spring “break” where I, in no particular order, have a stupidly dramatic month, go on a minor bender, cop an inspirational epiphany, and reinvent Painfully Hip. With vigor. Last month treated me like its redheaded stepchild, but I am ready to rise from the rubble in a foliage of flames. So I apologize for the pause in our regularly scheduled programming, as we are conniving to to re-launch next week – with a new look, new logo, and well yes, a new attitude.

There will be not only more photo shoots styled by yours truly, but I am taking it all to the next level. We are out to make some real art this time, no foolin’ around, by collaborating with local artists and fine art photographers. My goal is to generate some legit dumbfoundery.

First off, the lovely, and nauseatingly talented Kristin Cofer of Hiss and Hearse, has offered her next-level graphic design services to bless this page with a brand spanking new masthead for our re-launch next week! Here is my new business card, featuring the last sweet logo she made for me:

Thanks, Kristin!

I would also like to thank divine men’s fashion website, Definitive Touch for honoring me as the very first female in their holyshit! Lifestyles section alongside the likes of Allen Schwartz of ABS and Örjan Andersson of Cheap Monday. Apparently, I’ve not known humility till now.

photo by Krysta Jabczenski

Thank you for reading and see you late next week after our makeover!

Nomad Land

jamaica — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:26:01 +0000

Ever since my relocation to the glorious Sonoran Desert, I can’t seem to get enough of sandy Southwest shades and be-jangled Bedouin baubles. (You may have even noticed that I wore the same coin scarf in both of my previous Check Me Outs. If so, give yourself a silver rupee.)

Granted, I’ve been on a gypsy kick for the past… well, ten years. This is mostly due to my impossible wanderlust and the fact that I share a birthday with Mata Hari. But whereas my past bindi/mehndi exploits may have hit one costumey note too many, this particular brand of nomad strikes a very wearable chord. Jewelry overload? Sure. But paired with knits, clean lines and subdued patterns, it’s more modern than maharajah.

And what better styling option for the upcoming scorcher that is an Arizona summer? Bring on the bare legs, white linen and headscarves!

Olesya Senchenko by Matteo Montanari | Mirage Spring 2010

Karmen Pedaru by Catherine Servel in The Wild Frontier | The Sunday Telegraph

via Fashion Gone Rouge
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Check Me Out: Impersonating Edie (…or attempting to)

amber — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:15:32 +0000

Last weekend was… as surreal as it gets. Describable in one made-up word: WARHOLMANIA.

The Tuscon Museum of Art is now showing an amazing collection of original Andy Warhol screenprints so they wanted to do something special for their opening. And special always means dead people impersonation, right? So Friday the museum invited Drew Krewer and I to come in full costume and full character as Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick, making a surprise appearance directly from that “Factory in the Sky.” We were even featured on the Six O’Clock News!

While Drew could easily sashay into the room with only his charm, his usual styling finesse and a spritz of silver hairspray, it took an entire team to get me in fighting Edie form. First off? The fabled dress by my beloved roommate and besty, Jamaica Cole of Sapphire Cordial (pictured in the previous post).

photo by Jessica Castillo

photo by Omer Kreso

(Hair by Addam Moreno, Makeup by Lynette at Toni & Guy, Tucson – Thank you!!)

And, of course, the ever-important jewels, designed by my dearest Laura of Wingflash Designs!

Paula Taylor and Amber Mortensen - photo by Tucson John

Necklace by Wingflash, Whipped Cream by Diana

While Edie managed to last about 27 years, I lasted exactly 10 hours – through the epic POP! Afterparty at the Rialto, complete with a Velvet Underground cover band, mylar photo booth, gallons of whipped cream, a Warhol Death Reenactment, endless dancing, and a good slathering of Tomato Soup. SPENT.

But no rest for the weary, because the next day we had a request to transform into go go dancers at the Eric Firestone Gallery. They had THE most amazing exhibit, including some never-before-seen Andy Warhol photographs. Unbelievable.

Jamaica Cole photo by Tucson John

Danielle Theriault Sit-Down Dancing photo by Tucson John

The gogo dancing lasted for 5 hours straight with no less than 4 costume changes each. So it goes without saying, I spent the last three days in bed. Sick as a dog. Like Edie coming down from a multitude of barbiturates.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

PHDC Painfully Trip: Edie Sedgwick Takes San Francisco

amber — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:47:22 +0000

Have you ever had that feeling that life is happening at you? That you’re suddenly caught up in a wave of good news, exciting prospects, turned corners and open doors?

I have.

How did I possibly manage to: score a room at an historic luxury hotel from the City of San Francisco), model for an incredible photographer in clothes dropped at my hotel by up-and-coming local designers, encase my face in faux lashes and whopping earrings courtesy of Mac Cosmetics and a collaboration with Wingflash Designs in bustling San Francisco locations, attempting to echo one of my favorite personalities, Edie Sedgwick…. and NONE OF IT WAS MY IDEA??

And that was only the beginning of this epic tour. Right now I’m in Chicago receiving more luckbombs, having a soul-illuminating few days with close friends and bracing myself for:

-another roadtrip, starting wed, with a rough and tumble all girl band who just happen to be as obsessed with thrift stores and fashion as I am.

-a stylist gig back in San Francisco with my first legit celebrity, the Hipster Prime Minister himself. I will not deny it if you guess correctly! Think ironic. A little Brilliant, slightly sleezy. Think vacant, traffic-stopping gaze…

I keep having to check for the horseshoe in my ass. That would be embarrassing…
Thank you all so much for reading.

photography by Cecilia Austin
couture fray dress by Abi McCannon, Your Crutch
t-shirt dress from Painfully Hip Vintage
other clothing by Danielle Due Citta, Dyno-Solo
earrings by Laura Adney-Kepner, Wingflash Design
hair by Addam Moreno, Iso Hair
makeup by Oaeza Pathan, retail manager at Mac Cosmetics, Nordstrom – Westfield Mall San Francisco
styled and modeled by Amber Mortensen

Painfully Hip Design Collective F/W 2009: Daphne

amber — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:31:12 +0000

The Painfully Hip Design Collective are on a roll. This time within the walls of the lofty new Eric Firestone Gallery, a magnificent building full colored glass and beautifully weathered murals and seasoned brick, what Eric hopes to call “Tucson’s version of Andy Warhol’s Factory.” So on friday night’s big opening (starts at 6pm, the gallery expects around 500 people), we plan to take that literally… by doing a live photo shoot with the art opening party as a backdrop. I can’t tell you how excited this makes me. Make sure you stop by if you’re in the area so you can witness my hummingbird-like styling and direction …although some may come for the champagne.

I am getting ahead of myself. The following is my interpretation of Autumn this year… a jaunty 70s schoolgirl with Biba Girl tendencies.

Shop the shoot (click images to see listings)!

Painfully Hip Design Collective – F/W 2009

photos by Ryan Mihalyi
model: Katie Palmer
hair: Addam Moreno
makeup: Octavio
styling and concept: Amber Mortensen
wardrobe and additional styling:Diana Deaver
accessory styling: Jasmine Jarrett
painting: “Pavane for a Dead Princess: Jezebel” by Terence La Noue
location:
Eric Firestone Gallery, Exhibition and Event Space
403 North 6th Ave
Tucson, Arizona 85701
Ph 520.882.2616

All clothing is vintage, except the luscious, soft as butter, cornflower denim (J Brand jeans. I found them for $30 at TjMaxx. SCORE.