An Interview with Deena Marie Manzanares

First a quick apology; I haven't blogged in the last week because I went on a wonderful first wedding anniversary trip with my husband and as soon as I got back, I caught the flu, which makes you look like crap. Although I could technically look that bad when I write about fashion, that feels like a cop-out to me. Even Instacare without my makeup was just painful. Anyway, today I got as far as showering and putting toenail polish on, so I think I'm ready. If anyone has tips on how to look gorgeous when they're sick, please send them to me at fashiondaisyblog@gmail.com and I'll include them in a future blog.
My interview subject today is one of my best friends and was head bridesmaid at my wedding. I met Deena when I first moved to Utah and was working at Salt Lake Acting Company; she was auditioning and doing shows there. She is is a professional actress who trained with the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School and Juilliard in NYC. She models and and has appeared in high profile runway shows, shoots and pin-up. She's also a popular You Tube personality who entertains with the sketch comedy and impressions she writes and performs.
Please don't take this the wrong way, D., but she's one of those girls that when I first met I thought might be a little bit mean because she is shocking beautiful and has the most impeccable style 24-7. But the amazing thing about Deena is that she is also one of the most loving, down-to-earth, loyal people I have met in my life. Her beauty on the outside is truly reflected on the inside, which is rare.
Deena is currently appearing in Shakespeare's "A Winter's Tale" with The Sting & Honey Company at the Rose Wagner; go to arttix.org for tickets. It runs through Saturday, Sept. 29, and then she is temporarily moving to NYC.
When I was combing through (and styling) my brain for ideas for the blog, the person that came to mind that I most wanted to interview about her unique look was Deena Marie. So here we go:

So it's obvious you have great style, can you remember the first outfit or piece that you absolutely could not live without?
A pink tutu! It's not so much a memory as what I've seen in pictures and been told by family. I was around three years old. It was always on, be it my waist or my head. What can I say? I must have figured it went with everything! I'm also told I played dress up every day and changed my outfits multiple times. I do remember I liked to feel dolled up, fancy, like a princess. Any kind of gown or long skirt, preferably pink, I was drawn to. I also spent time sitting with a towel wrapped over my legs and feet, which was my mermaid fin. Obviously.

I had a couple pink frilly party dresses, one at five and another at eight that I was particularly obsessed with. Picking out my birthday party dress as a little girl was, what I thought, the most important thing in life. After Christmas, of course. When I was little if I went to a play date and the other little girl had some good party dresses to play dress up in, that was the stuff dreams were made of!  

Over the years I have been known to fall in love with certain items and wear them way too much. I have multiple drawers and three closets overflowing with clothes (I know, I know) and only manage to wear maybe 10% of it. I have favorites. I am picky about materials too. I remember while I did love clothes from day one, if it was at all itchy or stiff material I could barely stand it. To this day I won't buy it no matter how cute it is if it isn't soft on my skin. I know by now it will never get worn. I also hate long sleeves if they're tight. Too confining.  

Deena Marie

What was your style like as a teenager? Any fashion disasters?

Oh boy. I am both cringing and feeling nostalgic. Your teenage years are definitely for fashion blunders! I was really into the Spice Girls, particularly Posh Spice. I had my hair cut in a bob just like hers. I wore huge platform shoes all the time. The bigger, brighter, funkier the better. I had a closet full of sequins, silk, feathers...oh boy. I wore a lot of makeup and this often meant glitter. For me, less was definitely not more. More was more! I am laughing out loud. I always had elaborate prom dresses. I still have them all and have surprisingly (or maybe not too surprisingly) found a reason to wear most of them again.  

Deena Marie top right standing.

What style tips did your mum or dad give you that you keep to?

Well I'm still drawn to frilly pink. I'm a girly girl at heart. I still love a good party dress. I was my own woman from the start, however. I didn't consult anyone for fashion advice other than maybe Posh Spice and Gwen Stefani.  Even in seventh grade I was sneaking the shorter skirt I'd been forbidden to wear to the school dance in my backpack and changing in the bathroom. Sorry, mom and dad.

How did your sense of style develop to where it is today?

Oh boy, life and fashion are always evolving to something else. I am a different person all the time, and I do pay attention to trends. So I guess I'm a combination of the product of what's currently hot, my own taste, what's comfortable and what flatters me. At the moment I love peplum shirts, bright colored pants, mint green nails and anything floral. I need floral leggings and universe leggings asap. Americana, grunge, spikes and studs. Things are all about to change for fall though, so we'll see what I'm into by next month! While I do follow fashion and keep up on trends, I never want to look like a copy of everyone else. I have never been one to play it safe. I've tried, and it doesn't feel authentic to me.

How would you sum up your attitude to fashion in one sentence?

Whatever looks like Deena Marie, to me.  Trendy, a little edgy, a little off. The more off, elaborate, or original it is, the more comfortable and like "me" I feel. 

How do you know what looks good?I think I've gotten really good at this as far as knowing my shape and proportions.  You have to be honest with yourself and know what you can and can't pull off. You hear designers say just because something is trendy or you love a certain shade doesn't mean you should wear it, and it's so true.  Pass on the one you feel you have to force, embrace the one that you truly know feels great.  You have to experiment with when form fitting works in your favor or against and same goes with anything flowy.  This is all very specific to each person. If you don't do it right, you do yourself a great disservice. You have to learn what slims, what shows off, and how to give illusions. I've learned my body very well. I know where and when I want things to hit hips or waist, when heels work best (If you have bare legs I'm a huge fan of nude heels, you'll slim and lengthen like crazy).  

Like any other girl, jeans are always the hardest. We all have to search, search, search, for the ones that fit both thighs and waist, at the same time, the best. It's hard, but can be done. Don't settle when you're buying jeans/pants. You won't wear them and you know it. You won't feel comfortable, so keep on looking.  Branch out, shop where you haven't shopped before. You don't always have to buy the super expensive jeans, either. I used to work in a boutique in NYC where I helped women find the pair of $200 + jeans that fit them best. Often, they'd have to tailor them anyway. You'll be surprised at the gems at Target. I've ended up wearing cheap jeans and pants far more often that when I used to have a closet full of True Religions, Rock & Republic and Sevens.

Mossimo jeans and sweater from Target. Cat eye classes from Urban Outfitters and fringe bag from Tai Pan. 

What are your favorite stores, including online?

At this point in my life I have no shame in telling you that my closet becomes more and more entirely made up of two stores only. Forever 21 and Target. When I worked retail in NYC and locally at Nordstrom years ago I was buying what I was selling.  It was normal to spend $300 on a pair of red oversized Dior shades. And believe me, they were beauties. Until I dropped them on tile and they broke. That combined with all the jeans I was telling you about that just weren't being worn enough, I realized how silly it was to invest in trends. At an inexpensive store I can get more, experience has proved that I wear them more, and if I don't? Well it' s much easier to see you're only out $25 vs. $200 on a pair of pants. I can buy a few pairs of $5 sunglasses and not be devastated when they've broke. I love when Target gets a designer line for cheap.  

However, I do have to occasionally go to Urban Outfitters (which I love and want one of everything the second I walk in), Bebe and Nordstrom. And never underestimate the power of Nordstrom Rack! 

And your fashion icons?

I don't know if I have one? I just know what I like and what I want to embody on any given day. The thing is, clothing is art. It is costuming. One day I might want to be a pin-up and the next a hippie. So I don't know that I have a specific person.  I mix in bits of inspiration from some, but I really just do my own thing. I like when Kate Bosworth is doing the 90's grunge thing. I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for the 90's. Kirsten Dunst is an effortless, slightly messy beauty, Lana Del Rey is an amazing throwback bombshell, and Dita Von Teese is the epitome of glamour. I think Zoe Saldana always looks perfect. I'm loving when Pink and Miley Cyrus wear their hair big on top to show off the shaved sides. Angelina Jolie and her nearly all black or nude wardrobe. You just can't go wrong with black. Black always has been and always will be a favorite staple. I told you I'm all over the place! Recently I've been re-inspired by little pixies like Audrey Hepburn and Twiggy since I've cut my hair short. I'm obsessed with Michelle Williams' hair.   



Deena Marie, styled by Deena Marie,

  Shorts, top and boots from Forever 21.  Photo courtesy of Lauren's Photography.



What designer would you like to be dressed by?
The late  Alexander McQueen. Zac Posen. And what girl doesn't want to wear an Oscar de la Renta dres? 

What look should readers rock for fall?

Unicorns. Seriously. I just bought this unicorn cardigan from a super cute online store called Ruche (shopruche.com). I saw another unicorn button-up sheer shirt on the Forever 21 website (forever21.com) last night too, in pink and mustard. I've also been told there is a similar unicorn cardigan locally at Q Clothing.  

Questions for Daisy or Deena? Mail fashiondaisyblog@gmail.com.

Wardrobe by McKell Maddox. Makeup by Karl Geiger and hair by Chaunsey L. Hildebrandt. Photo courtesy of Cat Palmer.



Urban Outfitters dress, shoes from Payless.





Wardrobe by Pretty Macabre.  Makeup by Scotty Vaughn Day and hair by Tyrel Knight.  

Photo courtesy of Renee Keith of BellaOra Studios.

Styled by Deena Marie. Hat from Forever 21. Dress from Urban Outfitters, boots from Dillards. Photo courtesy of Laruren's Photography. (Deena adds: "I love a cat eye and a pink or red lip. That's my go to.")



Smokey, Sexy Eyes

If you hadn't guessed yet, I play roller derby. And the first Fashion Daisy question I'm going to answer is from my very good friend and Red Rockettes league mate, Bone Junior. We attended a bout together Saturday, and afterwards, she texted me to ask me to blog about how to achieve the perfect smokey eyed look, without looking like you live on the Jersey Shore. She was very kind to ask me, since her eye makeup always looks perfect, but I'm very happy to give my two cents!
Now as you know if you've met me, I love a good smokey eye. In fact, for me, there is no eye makeup without smoke. If I'm going to the grocery store, it might be just a little bit, but at derby, well it's full blown smoke and hopefully a little bit of fire. It's also a very fun look because it's easy to achieve and hard to mess up, and it often looks better at the end of the night than the beginning when it's had time to smush in and get a bit dirty, if you know what I mean. Don't tell my mum this, but one of my best smokey-eyed looks was achieved at the Pride Parade by going to bed the night before with full makeup on and then just piling more on in the morning. Obviously I don't recommend that for every day! (Unless you're really busy, then do it.)
The tools I use to do the smokey look are a small stumpy eyeshadow brush (like a little blusher brush) and an eyeliner brush that looks like a paint brush. I have also at times stolen my parents' paint brushes and used them for eye makeup in times of need. It's art, right? For eyeshadow, you really can't beat Urban Decay, although both of my very favorite products have now been discontinued. It might be worth looking for them on eBay or other sites. I was given the Book of Shadows for my last birthday from two of my fave derby girls which is a veritable smorgasbord of gorgeous colors- the closest I can find on their website now is the Eyeshadow Ammo Shadow Box ($38, urbandecay.com). I also use their Rollergirl Palette every day. The other product I use on my eyes every day is the Wet n Wild mono eye shadow in Jet Black, which is around $2.
My two main tips for creating the perfect smokey eye; first, don't try and match colors to what you're wearing. For example, if you're wearing black, sure, do the Jet Black under your eyes and at the top corners, but then add a color that's going to pop and contrast; maybe purple or green. If I'm wearing blue or red or pink, I will again do the black, then add a nice gunmetal grey. It's all about what you think looks good, but I would say, don't match, but don't clash completely.
My second tip is to start with the light colors first so you can get darker without having to take make-up off, which is a total pain in the arse. The order I do my make-up is to do my foundation first, then start on the eyes with a neutral color that you sweep over your whole lid using the little eyeshadow brush (I use Suspect from the Rollergirl Palette, it's a champagne color.) Then, pick the color that's going to be your popper. If it's gunmetal, load up your stumpy brush and sweep the color over about three-quarters of your upper lid. The bit you leave neutral is by your nose, I'll explain what to do with that later! Because I only use one stumpy brush, I sometimes find that another color from the last time I did smokey eyes will linger on the brush. I actually quite like that, because you'll get like a tiny little hint of blue or whatever the other color was. The next part is when your personal preferences really come into play. Take a look at your eyes at each stage. If you want to go smokier, load up the brush again and sweep it over about half of your upper lid. Smokier still? Load up again, sweep over the outer quarter. Make sure it's all blending smoothly and nicely. You can also put some of the color under your eyes with the eyeliner brush, just do a fairly thin line so it doesn't get too Kung Fu Panda, but a little smudgy so it doesn't look too '80's. I usually will do a line right from the inside to the outside of the eye.
Then, to get the real smokiness going, bring in the big guns; your Jet Black eye shadow. Squoozle it onto your stumpy brush and brush it onto the very outer part of your upper lid. Then grab your eyeliner brush and start work under your eyes. The key to the make up under your eyes not moving is putting it on with a brush rather than an eyeliner pencil. Again, this part is all a matter of taste and layering to see what looks good. It's the same process you applied to your upper eyelid. If you've already put some of the 'pop' color under your eyes, sweep the black over about three-quarters of your lower lid so the other color shows. Again, you want the line to be fairly thin, but a little smudgey. If you want more smokiness, go back in on the outer half and if you want to add the cat-eye look, paint upward beyond the outer corners of your eyes. This is really simple with a brush. I usually go outwards towards my hairline, then to get the precise line, lick the brush (again, sorry mum) and go the opposite way, towards your eyes.
I know this sounds a bit like rocket science, but honestly, it's more like finger painting. A tip I read recently to really make your eyes pop is to use a fairly bright pink (I use Woodstock from the Rollergirl palette) in the inner corner of your upper eyelid. It really looks good. Finish it all off with mascara- I personally never use it on my lower lashes, but that's up to you. My fave is the classic pink and green Maybelline Great Lash in Very Black, which is around $5, and I also like Rimmel and Urban Decay. Make sure you really get your outer upper lashes.
So your eyes are done and looking super-sexy. If you're husband or partner doesn't rip your clothes off at this point, continue with your makeup. This is the part where you put powder on, so you can wipe away any rogue eyeshadow that has got on other parts of your face. Another tip: if you're doing the smokey eye, don't wear red lipstick. I'll write about lips in another blog, but you want your eyes to be the focus of this look. Any pinks or neutrals are good. If I'm going to derby, I like to use a sponge eyeshadow applicator and smack on three go-faster stripes on each side of my face, usually purple, green and black. If you use Urban Decay, these won't move, however much you sweat.
I hope this helps Bone, and sorry I don't have any close up pics of the smokey eye. I'm posting a couple of pics where I've done the smokey eye and you can see how it looks with a whole ensemble. Just remember like I said, there are no rules, so play until it looks good and then play some more!

Coming next: Talking cankles with Unholy Roller.



Photo courtesy: Jay Perry



Photo courtesy: Jason Santti



Introduction to Fashion Daisy

I went to Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, last night because my mum was giving a lecture. A student asked her about artistic block and she said you have to find what lights your fire, something that you are burning to paint, or in my case, write about. It could be as simple as a peach, she said. Find it, capture it using the medium that suits you.
I was laid off from my job as arts writer at IN This Week, part of The Salt Lake Tribune exactly three months ago today. One of my goals at that time was to start a personal blog, about my life, looking for a job and roller derby. I'm embarrassed to say that since then, though many blog entries have started to write themselves in my head, I never sat down and actually lit that fire. I have to have a clear day, I would tell myself. To write a blog? Really? That's bullshit. It takes, what, half an hour, tops. I should have started right when I was laid off, I convinced myself. How would the journey make sense otherwise? Poppycock. Bad excuse.
I have been having a lovely time rediscovering my family, my friends and derby, and by the way I haven't applied for one job yet. But even as I watch my bank account diminish, what's really burning in me is that I want to be writing.
A few days ago, one of my best friends posted on Facebook a picture of a dress she had found at H&M for $10. Glittery, deep blue, beautiful. She said she wasn't sure if she'd have occasion to wear it but she loved it. I replied that she could wear it anywhere she wanted, and wrote down a few style ideas for if she wanted to wear the dress to work, or for a more formal occasion. How to dress it up, how to dress it down. My feeling is you can wear glitter anytime you want, you just have to be chill with the rest of the outfit. Her sister then commented she'd love me to be her personal style consultant. What a nice thing to say.
All the way down to Ephraim, the flames of an idea were smouldering in my head, and in the middle of the night I realized what my peach was. I wanted to write a blog about fashion called Fashion Daisy.
It would be a place where girls or guys could email me or leave comments and ask questions, about style, beauty, what to wear with an outfit or whatever else they wanted to ask. At times, I'd like to ask questions too, like whether I should bother investing in BB Cream.
The blog would also be a place where I could post about fashion; the best recent bargain I've found on the net (a dress for a wedding for $26.99 reduced from $89.99 at ModCloth, anyone?) or the latest fun look from somewhere here in Salt Lake City, or about my obsession with Knickerocker. Sometimes when I see an outfit I really like on the street, I'll write about that, to give readers and myself ideas.
Finally, the blog would have interviews with people I love that love fashion. I'm going to work on Stella McCartney. Also other designers, models, and people that I know whose style I admire. If you would like to be interviewed, contact me.
Please let me tell you also, I do not have a degree in anything fashion related. I studied theatre, and journalism. My entire family are visual artists of some ilk. This has made me aware of colour, line, and form, what pops and what doesn't. My mum has worked a great deal in cloth and started sewing her own clothes at the age of eight. She has taught me some fantastic, simple rules and ways to break the rules that made looking good much easier. I religiously read fashion mags and am pretty obsessed with style and beauty.
Another thing I do most nights (yes, I have chronic insomnia) is design my outfit for the next day. Those who know me will probably go, so, that'll be jeans or skinny jeans then? But I always carefully plan what shoes, what top, what jewelery, what make-up. It's fun. I do it for me, to feel sassy and in control.
This blog is a work in progress, so if you have feedback, comments, or things to add to what I write, I'd love to hear them. Same if you'd like me to write about something in particular. Just like in fashion itself, there are no rules. So let's start this fire.
You can email me at fashiondaisyblog@gmail.com, or find me on Facebook at Daisy Blake Perry and soon on Twitter.

My wedding, inspired by The Great Gatsby

Derby: photo by Jason Santti

Some early style!