The Pin-Up Session

Having had the pleasure of meeting Brenna this spring and then having had the wonderful privilege of photographing her during a Pin-Up Party session, I thought she would be the perfect client to tell you about her Bombshell Beauties experience. We photographed her at Celebrity Salon on Chicago Ave. in Evanston, then ventured over to the elegant Homestead Hotel on Hinman. We had a great time and as you can see Danielle of Celebrity Salon (who also works for Oprah, styling guests for the show) did a great job with the retro hair-dos, and Linda Tran brought glow and sensuality to Brenna's look with a facial and make-up (gotta love those lashes!). Make-up is an essential part of the portrait session and Linda is a true artist.

Have a look at this short video and let us know what you think. Thanks for stopping by to visit Bombshell Beauties!!

Hot Summer Wardrobes

Who says thrifty clothing doesn’t thrive? Bombshell Beauties has found a treasure trove of pre-loved designer clothing. Classy Closet in Evanston is full of pre-loved clothing that comes together with ease to create glamorous wardrobes. Gina used her exceptional sense of style to design a few sophisticated summer looks for work or play. These warm weather outfits were such a success we thought we would take our models to one of the HOTTEST spots on the North Shore for great food + entertainment -Union Pizzeria in Evanston.

If you’re a pizza fashionista stop by Union to try on their delicious thin-crust pizzas, freshly baked for you in a wood-burning oven. This venue is brought to you by the owners of Compagnola, also in Evanston. And what a bright and colorful setting for Dawn, Fruzsina and Nicolette to flaunt their Classy Closet finds! http://www.

unionevanston.com/

Hey brides - check out Classy Closet’s amazing pre-owned wedding dresses too http://www.theclassyclosetconsignment.com

Bombshell staff:

Photography by Jennifer

Styled by Gina

Make-up by Bibi

Hair by Ailie (for Amy G. Salon, Central St. Evanston)

Are any of you like me?

While putting on my makeup this morning I had an out-of-the-blue flashback to Jr. High Saturday nights (yikes!!). While all of my girlfriends were hanging out at that movies (no videos or DVDs back then), I was home with some of my best friends: dark blue eye shadow, light blue shimmering eye shadow, dark blue eye liner (on the lower inside lid - so 80’s!), and bright high-shine lip gloss. And with a sweep of blush up the cheekbones I was ready for my night IN!! Posing for the photographer-in-the-mirror and Sucking in my cheeks, I will take self portrait photos of an awkward adolescent with my Kodak Instamatic; those were the days of innocent images + cube flashes. I loved documenting time + beauty then, and I do so even more now.

Today I’m looking in the mirror once again, but it’s not a Saturday night, it’s Friday morning and I’m no longer 12 - I’m 42! 6:00 am and the little ones are around the knees needing this an that. I can’t sneak away to the upstairs bathroom but why would I want to? I’m a mature woman looking back on life and I’ve finally realized that I have all that I ever wanted: precious children, my best friend-husband, and life long friends (and of course long legs). It’s my joy to photograph women where they are in life, seeing how beautiful we are at every stage. Maybe it’s time for another self portrait. Hmmmm...stay tunes to this Bat channel, the story is to be continued!!!

Did you sit at home in front of the mirror as a teenager? Please write to us tell all about it!!!

Out with the old and in with the new-bachelorette parties

Las Vegas is a great option for a bachelorette party. ...If all you want is an over-the-top way to loose a lot of money very quickly and be extremely sweaty for a few days.

That may have been a tad harsh and in all actuality I just got back from a fabulous Las Vegas bachelorette party myself. It was a great bonding time for us girls and a weekend I know I'll never forget. We had a VIP entrance to clubs, a limo tour of the strip, saw Jersey Boys, danced the night away and got great tans.

What I also know is that if the bride had been aware of something like Bombshell Beauties, she would have chosen Chicago over Vegas in a flash. This bride in particular is very similar to many brides out there, wants an experience she'll never forget with her girlfriends and a fun way to "have one last hurrah".

If my friend had chosen a boudoir photo shoot with us for her bachelorette party she would have arrived in style in a swanky limo, been welcomed by a warm, friendly and all-female staff, enjoyed champagne and strawberries on-set, listened to fun music while being dolled up for her shoot, taken some amazing photographs and then she would have gone home with a alluring yet good-natured little black book to gift her fiancee with on their wedding night. Can you imagine? He knows she and the girls are going to this bachelorette party, he knows girls will be girls and they'll probably have a great time together, but he will have no idea that he will actually be the beneficiary of this girl bonding session. What a great surprise for him!

In no way do I wish this bachelorette party I participated in would have been different. I just know that we would have had a fabulous time in Chicago exploring the city, shopping Michigan Avenue together, seeing Wicked or Billy Elliot the musical, having a cocktail at the Signature Room of the John Hancock, and doing a boudoir shoot together. -But I suppose I'll absolutely have a few tricks up my sleeve when it's my turn to get married ;)

Chicago Style Weddings party

WOW!! What a fabulous time Gina and I had at the Chicago Style Weddings new release party last night. We loved meeting so many wonderful people and I will write more about them all next week. It was a blast handing out our Bombshell cookies (pink sprinkle high-heels and crown!). Baking is a labor of love for me - especially cut-out cookies. So, to show my appreciation to my next clients, be the next hostess to book your Pin-Up Party and there will be sparkly pink high-heels and crowns to greet you and your friends!