Viva Las Vegas

ALL IMAGES ASHLEY MYERS
SHOT ON LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS

DRESS, VINTAGE | HEELS, PRADA | HEAD SCARF, HERMÈS | SUNNIES, GUCCI | NECKLACE, TIFFANY & CO | HAIR, CIVELLO SALON

Going to Las Vegas is sometimes like travelling through parallel time tunnels. There’s a lot to take in when you’re among the glitz and glamour of The Strip. Each hotel is hoping to outdo the next with bigger, brighter and more ostentatious trappings.

There’s also a more low-key, raw side of Vegas in its downtown that evokes a sense of 50s Hollywood moodiness. It's part of the city that's frozen in time - with a persona that's shaped more by the lost dreams of those who have wasted away years of earnings but still hang onto the chance that one day, they could strike it rich. There's a melancholy beauty in the downtown's independence and imperfections. There isn't a desire to rip off the look and feel of an Italian or French city, nor does it care if it has a great pyramid with which to impress you. It's not about adhering to any particular theme, other than it's good 'ol Americana. It's about staying true to its roots as the original gambling site before the massive glitzy hotels took over The Strip. It's about not giving a shit and trying to be something it's not. Why pretend to be European when it's perfectly imperfect to be shabby chic? To say the area has character would be an understatement. And honestly, I loved it. 

On this trip, I also met Ashley Myers: an incredibly talented Las Vegas-based photojournalistic photographer who captures the ethos that is old Vegas. As you can tell by the shots, she's done that beautifully; I'm so thrilled. In addition, I wanted someone who could inject a bit more warmth into my photos. This is somewhat of an experiment but I’m hoping you all like it. I’d love your feedback. The shoot was so much fun to do and Ashley is such a pro. If you're ever in the Las Vegas area and need photography, be sure to look her up. She's such a pleasure to work with.

As for my outfit, everything I'm wearing is either my own from years ago or second hand. The Hermès scarf was a gift from my boyfriend nearly 7 years ago. My vintage Gucci sunnies were picked up at a local thrift store in Vancouver. The dress is ten years old (weighs a TON with all those damn beads) and is from a tiny boutique in Vancouver that no longer exists. Lastly, the Prada shoes are second hand which I purchased online. 

I believe that you can pull off any outfit - new or old - as long as you have the right attitude. While buying something new for your closet is always fun (but can be expensive) it's a much greater challenge to see what you can do with what you've got - or buy second hand. It's better for the soul knowing that you're playing your part to be environmentally and socially conscious. So the challenge for myself this year will be to show my style - and not my fashion. Fashion is comprised of things. Style is an attitude; how you carry yourself. I look forward to showing you more!