DaLipstickbandit of the Week: Alicia/Instant Vintage!

I've been a silent lurker on this girl's blog for a while and I absolutely love her! She's creative and funky....Introducing Alicia at Instant Vintage.

Hi Alicia,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions and to be featured on my little blog....I'm not going to take too much of your time or groupie out like I want to. SO, let's get to it...

1. I think your style is hella cool..kinda like if Pharrell, Andre 3000 and Zoe Kravitz were related (which they are cause they're all black and all black people are related, ha!) and you were their little sister. How would you categorize your style if you HAD to?
You know...that was like the best compliment ever...seriously. LOL.

Ok, categorically speaking...I'd file it under ecclectic tomboy. I like menswear and live in jeans, but I like to add in strange elements and accessories; harnesses, big rings, and things like that. Top it all off with some vintage pieces here and there and a kick ass pair of shoes, and that's me in a nutshell.



(click picture to be transported to Alicia's Etsy Store.)

2. You make beautimous creations, how long have you been at it and where do you draw inspiration from?

Not long, actually. I learned how to crochet when I was a lot younger and recently picked it back up. It sort of evolved from little flowers, to snakes, to ruffles...It sounds random, but it's pretty typical of me. I draw my inspiration from damn near everything, but 9 times out of 10, I see some piece of jewelry I like but don't want to pay for, so I figure out how to make my own version. LOL.

3. I love your shoe collection..what size do you wear? Ummm, no seriously..does the shoe make the outfit or is it just the topping on the cake? Also, any tips for trotting around in them all day/night? and no seriously, umm...email me your size...haha

Thanks! I'm a solid size 8 unless the shoe is extra pointy in the toe or something. And shoes can completely change the vibe of what you're wearing. COMPLETELY. More often than not, they make an outfit.

As far as tips go, make sure you buy the right size; a lot of pain comes from wearing shoes that don't fit correctly. Buy insoles. They are manna from heaven. Also, pay attention to the pitch of the shoe (the angle of your foot between the ball and the heel). Higher pitch means more weight is going to be on the front of your foot and that is going to be a problem. Another thing to do is make sure the entire ball of your foot is flat against the bottom of the shoe. You shouldn't be balancing on the front end of your foot. It can cause major back and leg problems on top of hurting your feet.

I've read up a lot on this...LOL.

4.You look fabulous but low-maintenance..don't recall any make-up in any of your photos. Are you into it? If not, why not? If so, what's your favorite product?

Girl, you so sweet! I don't really wear make-up...I wake up really late in the morning and don't really have time to put it on. On the occasions that I do, I use a bit of Sheer Cover mineral foundation (yes, the one from the infomercial) and Nars blush in Orgasm. That blush is dope. DOPE I tell you.

5. What are you into musically?

I listen to almost everything. Srsly. The music I like most is usually ska or some derivative, punk-funk type R&B (a la Janelle Monae, Kenna or J*Davey), punk rock, or hip-hop. The west coast classics, particularly from Dogg Pound, DJ Quik, and Dre, are also in heavy rotation.

Thank you Alicia for answering my questions! Make sure to visit her blog and her store.