(AKA Molly Crabapple’s den of debauchery!)

On Sunday morning I packed a bag with accessories & showed up at Molly’s door. I did my best to mask my nerves — I marched around talking about Important Virgo Business — but underneath it I was all a-tremble. Why? Because I had to take my clothes off & prance around for three lovely ladies… & A CAMERA!

(Dun dun dunnnnn!)

Unlike many of my friends, I am not, in fact, naked on the internet. Years ago, I considered it, but I never went through with it. Pretty funny, since I don’t even like wearing a bathing suit in public! But somehow, when my friend Gaby from Hopeless Lingerie & I were talking, & I came up with the brilliant idea of trotting around in her wares & putting it up on the internet, I kind of forgot that that would entail me showing… well, you know, most of my body.

At times, I felt like the shoot was cursed. I booked a room in a hotel — a hotel which was once a patron of the arts, which was once my favourite — only to have the man at the front desk refuse to let Bianca Alexis, my photographer, up into the hotel. It would cost us thousands of dollars for production fees, he said. Oh, & did I mention I still had to pay for the room? (RAGE!)

Finally, finally, Bianca & I organised to shoot in Molly’s amazing apartment. I turned up in the morning, plugged in my steamer (My Little Steamer to the rescue again!), & started chatting away as I flattened my frippery. …Until the power went out. Yes, we had overloaded the circuits. Molly had to call a man so she could fix it. All was going well, & then it happened again. If I hadn’t just had extensions put in, I would have been tearing my hair out!

Thankfully, eventually we sorted it out!

Bianca showed up with an enormous lighting rig & brought Mischa Golebiewski with her to do my hair. I had emailed them both a bunch of reference pictures & we decided to curl my hair. I’d never had my hair curled before, so had no idea what to expect…

I’m wearing…
Hopeless Lingerie Sally silk ruffle bralette
Garter belt by Hopeless Lingerie
Fishnet stockings
Bordello Pleaser platforms

Isn’t this totally what you want to be wearing every evening when your lover gets home from work?!

I’m wearing…
Lace bunny ears (from Hot Topic, if you can believe it!)
Rhinestone collar (borrowed from Molly)
Hopeless Lingerie Ellen silk halter bra
Hopeless Lingerie Ellen silk garter belt
Fishnet stockings
Bordello Pleaser platforms

I also climbed onto the fire escape wearing this! IN THESE HEELS. Trooper!

I was having fun rolling around on the couch, but it wasn’t until I put on this green set — & my trusty new bowler hat — that the pictures really came alive.

Meet my alter-ego, Eyelashes Akimbo!

Eyelashes Akimbo is a tap-dancing sensation & spy. Her performances are often, secretly, Morse code. She enjoys scotch straight from the bottle, tapping her cigar ash on rambunctious men & imported chocolates.

I’m wearing…
Straw bowler hat (from Eye Candy by New York Hat Co. & made right here in the city!)
Hopeless Lingerie Dahlia silk bralette (I love the straps around the waist, they are sooo sexy & flattering)
Our Darling funerary ring by Bloodmilk
Lace-trim cheeky leopard print knickers from Victoria’s Secret (which you really only see a peek of in the following picture!)
Hopeless Lingerie Lily silk garter belt
Fishnet stockings
Bordello Pleaser platforms

Isn’t this such a perfect little corner? You gotta give props for the way that Molly’s aesthetic permeates everything she does. LOVE that girl!

By the way, while we were shooting this, she was sitting at her desk drawing portraits of old jazz masters with a fountain pen, & kept looking up & smiling at me & making me laugh! Hahah. She is a wonder.

Bianca Alexis did an amazing job with the photos & made me feel so comfortable. Not to mention, she had them to me, retouched & ready to go, by Monday evening! (Almost unheard of!) Bianca, I looooove you! (By the way, if you feel like a blast from the past, here are some of the other pictures we’ve made together! Daily Outfit: 10th July 2008 / Daily Outfit: 13th September 2008 / Daily Outfit: 17th September 2008)

Bisoux to Mischa for giving me amazing hair!

Molly Crabapple is a superhero for accommodating us, & was the perfect host. MWAH!

Last but not least, huge thanks to Hopeless Lingerie for making me custom garments & being so wonderful in general! I think the quality of their pieces speak for themselves — they’re gorgeous, hand-made & really flattering. A perfect treat for you or your lady.

You can follow Hopeless Lingerie at their blog, on Twitter & on Facebook!

Eyelashes Akimbo is waiting for you (& your chocolates)! Until then…