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Fashion-focused senior portraits gain popularity in Siouxland

HULL, Iowa | Like a model, Emilee Benson got ready to pose for the camera. Out of the stylist’s chair, her eyes shimmered bronze. Big, loose curls flowed over her shoulders. Nothing was out of place.

Onto the next thing, getting dressed. A lover of hippie fashion – headbands and all – Benson took along a ton of outfits for her senior photo shoot with no idea what to wear.

She knew what she didn’t want: the same outfit in the same place with the same hair and makeup. That’s why the Dakota Valley High School teen went to MVG Photography, a high-end boutique business based in Hull, Iowa.

“I wanted a variety,” Benson said.

The photographer helped bring out her best boho chic look with a touch of country on the side.

They traveled to multiple locations around the small town to find surroundings that suited Benson’s four outfits, ranging from high-waisted print pants paired with a black crop top to a flowing bohemian dress with a flowered headband. Depending on the desired look, her makeup changed, too.

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Meeting a rising demand, Mindy Vande Griend doubles as a photographer and personal stylist to give glamour girls a senior portrait fit for a magazine spread. With social media sites populated with personal photos, teens are looking for something stunning.

“We’re in the age of the selfie. They can snap anything and put that up,” she said. “I think they want to feel … the glamour. They like that they look like a fashion model.”

Social media has shaped how seniors and photographers approach their sessions, according to Vickie Black, founder of Senior Style Guide magazine, a trade publication and daily blog that follows current trends in senior photography.

“Teens today are constantly bombarded with beautiful imagery from their peers all day long on Instagram and Facebook,” Black said. “As a result of social media, we are seeing a fashion infusion in senior photography and a focus on styling.”

Vande Griend offers what she calls the MVG experience. She enlists the help of hair and makeup artists, and girls spend about two hours getting glam before the photo shoot.

While a client is in the stylist’s chair, Vande Griend picks shoes and jewelry to accessorize outfits. The looks inspire locations from the countryside to more urban settings.

She has a keen eye for what will look good on camera. Even before girls show up for the photo shoot, they’ll text her pictures of the clothes they own. Vande Griend guides them through their closets to pick pieces that will pop.

“That’s always what I loved: makeup, hair, fashion,” she said. “And then I found photography.”

Before her niche market came into focus, she photographed families and kids. Now, she specializes in senior portraits and caters to Siouxland fashionistas like Emilee Benson, who also served as one of MVG Photography’s Senior Models. Others call them representatives or ambassadors. They get perks in return for posing in photo shoots and spreading the word about the business to their friends.

Even though Vande Griend gives girls a style guide and outlines what to expect the day of a photo shoot, some still get nervous. The feeling falls away when Vande Griend shows them a couple images on her camera.

“That’s my favorite part – just to see that look on their face,” she said. “They want to see themselves as beautiful as everyone else sees them.”

At the end of a five-hour session, from hair and makeup to the final shot, Vande Griend eagerly loads the images onto her computer and posts one her favorites on MVG Photography’s Facebook page to give girls a sneak peak and let admirers “like” and comment on her latest work.

They say, Gorgeous. Stunning. Wow.

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"Breakups suck. You know what makes them easier? Re-imagining your happiest times together with none other than Queen B," Cassandra Blackwell writes on her genius Tumblr "Beyoncify My Boyfriend. And we couldn't agree more.

 

Instead of merely deleting/crying over/cursing/denying the existence of all the photos of herself with her ex, as we are all apt to do post-breakup, Blackwell did one better: She slapped him with Bey. "I’m not trying to properly cover him, I’m just slapping him with Beyoncé, and people are really responding to that," she told Buzzfeed. "If imagining yourself at your happiest with Beyoncé doesn’t help, I don’t know what will." So true. Why do some of your best memories have to be tainted when they could be Beyoncified? In fact, this sounds like an improvement.

 

"This was a fun thing that made me forget about the breakup," Blackwell told ELLE this morning. The 19-year-old, who works in retail management in Toronto, says this all started as a personal project that has caught on, fast: "I made the first picture on Twitter a while back and re-posted it this Sunday and it just blew up—my follower count doubled in a few hours. People asked me to do more. So I just made a Tumblr and posted them there. Tumblr seemed like the perfect platform," she said. And the response has been immediate: "I think it's doing so well because everyone can relate to it. It's just fun and innocent I think that's why everyone is enjoying it. I made the blog for my friends and never expected it to get like this.

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"Incidentally, Blackwell has corresponded with her ex since his Beyoncified self became an Internet sensation. "When the blog started to blow up I reached out to him and made sure he was okay with it and he said it was fine as long as we kept it anonymous and lighthearted and fun," she explained.

 

When we asked her why Queen B, Blackwell said the answer is obvious: "I think it's pretty self-explanatory. When you go through a terrible breakup, you feel miserable and down in the dumps. Beyoncé exudes so much confidence, empowerment, sexiness—the qualities we forget we have in ourselves when we're going through a breakup." As for what she'll do if all the terrible rumors are true and Beyoncé herself goes the breakup route: "Obviously I'll Photoshop Beyoncé's face over Jay Z's. Beyoncé would probably rather date nobody but herself. She's the perfect human so she couldn't do any better." Truth.

 

"The pictures aren’t the best quality, but that’s kind of the point. I have no idea how to use Photoshop," Blackwell told Buzzfeed. Well, we think they're flawless. Plus, Blackwel is paying the Bey forward: Send her your own photos and she'll Beyoncify your ex for you. "I posted on the blog that people could send submission and I've received hundreds," she told us. Bow down, bitches.

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Fancying themselves as the fashion police, netizens zeroed in on Sen. Nancy Binay’s gown during Monday’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) event.

 

“Tell her the World Cup is over and that Brazil lost. Time to return its flag,” one Facebook post read, referring to the yellow-and-green skirt panels on the gown that Binay wore to the Senate’s morning session.

 

Facebook also bloomed with pictures of hot air balloons and ice bags posted alongside Binay’s gown, a rather unflattering two-piece ensemble consisting of a long-sleeved blouse and multicolored, ankle-length tulip skirt.

 

Some also described the senator as looking like a mascot for Korean Air for the high-waisted gown that resembled the Korean hanbok or national dress.

 

Binay’s afternoon gown, a white number also by designer Randy Ortiz, got as much dissing for its draped bodice and serpentine skirt, with netizens comparing its front panel to the “Easter Bunny,” and its voluminous side folds to “the satin lining of a coffin.”

 

Getting as much attention for her outfit was Dionisia “Mommy D” Pacquiao who was tastefully garbed in an immaculate white terno lashed with a tulle skirt, its bodice studded with green sequins.

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Hair pulled back in a bun and wearing simple pearl studs, she was a picture of elegance, restraint and taste, although some netizens described her gown as “Santacruzan-inspired.”

 

In fact, the usually flamboyant mother of world boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao created such a commotion with her entrance on the red carpet—with kibitzers breaking protocol and crossing the velvet rope to take selfies with her—that House security personnel quickly declared the red carpet pictorial over as they herded the journalists and photographers covering the event out of the room.

 

Gowns and formal wear also proved to be convenient political statements in Monday’s Sona, as allies and critics wore either yellow or peach outfits to signify support for President Aquino or to call for his impeachment.

 

President Aquino has been under fire from several quarters over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) that the Supreme Court had declared unconstitutional.

 

Glitz and glamor

 

For other politicians, government officials and their spouses and guests, the lingering effects of recent natural calamities and political scandals did little to dim the glitz and glamor they had been accustomed to at every Sona event.

 

Less than two weeks after Typhoon Glenda hit southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, politics and fashion converged anew as leading public figures strutted their stuff on the red carpet, with their respective ideas of Filipiniana finery.

 

Leading the pack of fashion mavericks were Sen. Loren Legarda and actress Heart Evangelista, as well as congressional spouse Stella Quimbo and senatorial wife Tootsie Angara.

 

Sen. Grace Poe, on the other hand, looked “presidential,” according to netizens, who posted pictures of her in an off-white creation by upcoming designer Roulette Esmilla that also had intricate embroidery.

 

Legarda wore an authentic Mandaya costume gifted her by the Mandaya tribe of Davao Oriental province.

 

“I’m doing this to celebrate the Unesco inscription on Mt. Hamiguitan as a World Heritage Site,” said the senator who was helped into the outfit by a member of the tribe flown to Manila, according to Davao Oriental Gov. Cora Malanyaon.

 

Legarda’s blouse had geometric designs and was accented with intricate beadwork. The skirt called dagmay was made from abaca and used natural dye. The senator’s accessories—a huge, round, silver pendant called patina and a pair of wooden bangles—were lent her by the Mandayas.

 

Cordillera roots

 

The wife of Sen. Sonny Angara, Tootsie, paid tribute to her Cordillera roots by asking designer Rajo Laurel to fashion a stylized and beaded terno using native fabrics in red and black with touches of yellow.

 

Laurel, one of the event’s busiest designers, accented the skirt’s chevron pattern with black and white bugle beads.

 

“It fuses tradition with modern and stylized elements,” Angara said, referring to her short terno sleeves.

 

Quimbo, a lawyer and wife of Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo, opted for a terno-cum-stylized Maria Clara gown by Jun Escario. The white number was accented with black lace on the bodice and sides of the serpentine skirt. The net-like material accenting the terno sleeves extended across the back, a design that Quimbo described as a “modern version of the pañuelo.”

 

Quimbo, who also designs and makes footwear, proudly showed off black satin and snakeskin shoes under the Lope Saenz label that went with her outfit.

 

Evangelista, the girlfriend of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, was easily one of the afternoon’s most photographed personalities in designer Joey Samson’s trademark off-white “caged” terno top, with fitted bodice and godet skirt.

 

Sen. JV Ejercito’s wife, Cindy, wore a red chiffon terno with a fine ruffle finish and horsehair trimmings by Paul Cabral.

 

Also in red was Pangasinan Rep. Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas in a Cabral creation made of Thai silk.

 

Sen. Cynthia Villar wore an orange terno embroidered with vines and cherry blossoms on the bodice that was designed by her cousin Noli Hans.

 

Former actress Sheila Ysrael, who came with husband Rep. Dan Fernandez and their three kids, slipped into a fully beaded and fully embroidered sea blue terno by Gideon Sy.

 

A number of famous personalities tried to avoid the red carpet in vain.

 

Makati Rep. Abby Binay, who came with her daughter Martina, tried to go straight to the plenary hall, but was spotted by a group of photographers who requested her to do the red carpet. Binay, younger sister of Senator Binay, gamely obliged by cutting through the velvet rope. The Makati representative donned a fitted heather gray terno with a series of magenta trimmings on the bodice by her favorite designer, Ivarluski Aseron.

 

 

Daughter Martina had a square patch on her gown that, some observers noted, was actually a mosquito patch—a precaution, perhaps, against insect bites.

 

Marga Nograles, wife of Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, made heads turn in Bobby Castillo’s off-white hand-painted Mikado silk terno.

 

A pregnant Timi Gomez-Aquino, wife of Sen. Bam Aquino, asked designer Noel Crisostomo to produce something “light and easy,” and he came up with a mint green terno with beaded ribbons and pleated details on the bodice.

 

Fille Cainglet-Cayetano, who came with her husband, Taguig

 

Rep. Lino Cayetano, opted for a low-key, navy blue terno made of silk gazar and accented with French lace by JC Buendia.

 

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, wife of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, wore a lavender Thai silk terno with draped details on the sleeves by her favorite designer Onin Pagsisihan.

 

Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, a former TV reporter, opted for a red terno with fully beaded bodice and flouncy skirt by veteran designer Renee Salud.

 

New fashion darling

 

Mommy D, the new fashion darling, could not recall who made her gown. “Basta, taga-Maynila (someone from Manila),” she told reporters.

 

Actress Lucy Torres-Gomez came with her husband, actor Richard Gomez, wearing a champagne-colored cocoon serpentine terno by Randy Ortiz that had baroque basket-weave callado and embossed flower embroidery.

 

Angeline Lee-Tupas, wife of House justice committee chair Niel Tupas Jr., wore an off-white stylized barong over a magenta gown by Edgar Santiago.

 

Wearing Laurel gowns were Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco’s wife, Yulia, in an eggplant purple gown with embroidery cutouts, and Jenny Montejo, wife of An Waray Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo, who wore a serpentine terno of nude tulle embellished with lilac embroidery.

 

Early bird Joni Villanueva-Tugna, wife of Cibac Rep. Sherwin Tugna, donned a cobalt blue satin gown, a modern take on the tapis by Jo Rubio of Bulacan province.

 

Cecile Guidote-Alvarez wore an aqua Maria Clara from Tesoro’s.

 

Kitchie Ridon, wife of Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon, wore a strikingly simple terno with a beige bodice and black skirt by Toby Albrando.

 

Former Cibac Rep. Kim Bernardo-Lokin wore an apple green Aureo Alonzo that offset her gold necklace.

 

Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao went for a monochromic terno by cause-oriented favorite Joel Azebuche, whom her colleague former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros also chose for her dramatic white jusi barong over a black sheath gown.

 

Quezon City Rep. Alfredo Vargas III’s wife Yasmine’s bold lip color contrasted sharply with her mint green terno by Stephanie Gan.

 

Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson’s precocious daughter Samantha (“call me Ariel”) and her cousin Elise (“call me Cinderella”), daughter of Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson, elicited “oohs” and “ahs” with their red-carpet debut. Both wore similar-looking dresses in cream.

 

Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia wore an old rose, off-shoulder number by Philip Rodriguez that she paired with a brass and mother-of-pearl minaudiere.

 

Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita “Ging” Suansing chose an Aseron nude gown with red embroidery, while Senate President Franklin Drilon’s wife, Mila, wore a yellow outfit with an opera-length pearl necklace.

 

Head-turner

 

Easily a head-turner was actress Assunta de Rossi, who walked the red carpet without her husband, Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma, a frequent absentee in House sessions.

 

Other attention-grabbers were Diwa Rep. Em Aglipay, who came in Boom Sazon’s body-hugging, cream-colored, neoprene terno with strategic cutouts on the sleeves and back, and model-socialite Bambi del Rosario, who posed for photographers in a blue green Mikado silk terno with a serpentine silhouette and draped bodice.

 

As expected, lawmakers from several cause-oriented party-list groups wore their politics on their sleeves, as they donned peach-colored barong, terno and outfits to call for President Aquino’s impeachment.

 

“Dapat managot lahat ng sangkot (Those who are involved must answer for it),” chanted party-list Representatives Emmi de Jesus, Luz Ilagan, Neri Colmenares, Antonio Tinio, Carlos Zarate and actress Juana Change.

 

“We’re supporting [the President’s] impeachment on the basis of Edca and the DAP,” De Jesus said.

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