How I Did It

I promised a look at how I did the changing hair color in my last set of pictures. Using another picture, here's the process:

1. Start with the unaltered photo.

2. Define the hair as a separate layer and then copy it for later use. Then take the initial layer and increase the brightness and contrast.

3. Bring back the copy layer and paint it the desired color, here a vibrant red.

4. Make the colored copy transparent, so the original layer shows through.


5. Then adjust both layers to meet your goals. I darkened and sharpened the original layer just a bit, to make the hair strands show through more.

There you have it. Once again, I ask--does this work?

Last of September

Here are the pics from yesterday. They were delayed because I played with some new digital editing...basically, I worked with own short hair, but altered the color to my fantasy red (in the first set) and blonde in the second. Comments welcome.

First dress is the green sweater dress...it's tight, it's form-fitting, it's short.



Accessories are black headband, gold jewelry (including a new necklace), black belt, light hose, and black mary-janes.



I like both of these shots...the one on the top seems pensive, the one on the bottom has one of my most natural smiles.

Second dress is the very short pink checked dress. I think I've finally figured how to wear this to its best advantage.



Accessories are pink hair bow, pink scarf, silver jewelry, white belt, black pantyhose, and fuchsia pink pumps.




That last shot is really good, I think, with a caption something along the lines of "Can I help you?"

Over the weekend, I may put together a tutorial on how I managed to change the hair.

More pics on Flickr. I should be able to dress next week, including at least one new dress.

School Girl and Sophisticated Lady

We start today with a school-girlish jumper in black watch plaid corduroy, combined with a man-tailored blouse.



Accessories are white hair bow, a scarf tied like a school-tie, a mixed bag of jewelry--red and black beads, white belt, white hose, and black pumps.



The book just seemed like a perfect prop for this outfit.

Second outfit goes in a completely different direction. I imagine this as a dress for an afternoon shopping and tea excursion for a suburban matron. The zebra pattern is much in fashion these days.



I'm really pleased with that second shot--the body gesture, the expression (especially the eyes) all suggest having been caught in mid-conversation with someone just off camera. Accessories are white hair bow, red and black beads, black hose, and faux croc pumps.



I'm considering replacing this black wig with one in a different style. Any thoughts?

More pics on Flickr; two more outfits tomorrow.

The Training of Gwen: Third Session

After a few weeks of delay, engendered by difficulties on both our parts, Gwen went through her third training session last Friday. Her instructions were to work more on posing, especially on seated poses. For these pictures, she wore her gray schoolgirl uniform and her red-and-white polka-dot little girl costume.

Over all, the session was quite good, with far fewer corrections to be made in comparison to last time. Her move toward femininity is progressing very nicely.

This pose is not bad at all. I instructed Gwen not to be afraid to gesture with both hands, suggesting the gesture might be improved by extending the other hand, with a down-pointing wrist.
















A good start to the seated poses, quite demure and girlish--the head cocked to one side would be a more feminine look.
















I like this. I suggested that Gwen should keep her feet tight together as she swings them to the side.



















This is more like it...but I'd have preferred to see that hand outstretched or behind her head or something.


















This one is okay, but just okay. It would be far more femme with the knees pulled closer to the body. I told her to look over my own "curled up on the floor" photos for examples.









This one is just terrific! It has a shyness, a coyness, to it that is very femme.




Gwen's next training session is in two weeks. I intend to have her work on some very feminine movements, such as curtseying. Comments always welcome.

Casual and Formal

Can't get much more casual in a dress than this henley-collared frock in green knit jersey from Kmart.



Accessories are a blue hair bow, the narrow scarf tied at the neck, silver jewelry with rhinestone earrings, black belt, dark hose, and black mary-janes.



I realized going over my photos that I hadn't done that last pose in a while and I thought this was an appropriate outfit for it.

In a completely different mood is this little black dress from Target.



Accessories this time are a new black-and-white polka-dot hair bow from Claire's, pearls, the wide black belt, black hose, and black pumps with a metal spike heel.




I went a touch heavier with makeup for this, since I consider it something of a formal evening wear outfit. Here's a portrait:



More pics on Flickr, of course. Next week, barring unforeseen circumstances, a couple of schoolgirl looks, an animal print and the return of sweater dresses for the fall.

Suit and Dress

As promised, today started out with my new hounds-tooth suit from Fashion Bug. Suits have always been a problem for me, as I suspect they might be for most of us "girls". In my case, one where the jacket fits properly has a skirt that is too long or too loose in the waist (usually both). One that has a properly fitting skirt has a jacket that is way too tight for my shoulders and boobs.

Fashion Bug solves that problem by selling their suits as separates, hence I could buy a size 22 jacket and a size 18 skirt. (I guess they do that because the "full-figured" women they cater to have some of the same problems.)



These pics did not come out quite as well as I'd hoped--the camera settings got "jiggled" and they are somewhat fuzzier than they should be. (Compare them to the ones below of the summer dress and see what I mean.) Anyway, accessories are black hairband, red t-shirt, gold jewelry, light hose, and red patent pumps.



And because this is the first time you're seeing this outfit, here's the usual "triptych" view:



I followed the suit with the summer dress I bought at Kmart a few months ago...the last time I can wear this "in season" as it were.



In prep for this photo session, I made a visit to Claire's for some new accessories: They are the yellow hair bow and red beads seen here. Other accessories are gold jewelry, light hose, and the lynx-pattern mary-janes.



I especially like the second seated pose here--it seems natural, candid, and feminine.

More pics on Flickr, of course. Tomorrow--the little black dress and the casual green Henley.

Blackmailing Hammie

Gee, you think Zoe has a future as a feminizing domme?

Ides of September

Actually, in Roman calendars, the ides of September is the 13th, but what the hell...

For today, I started with this white and gray t-shirt dress, part of the Converse line available in several stores; mine came from Target.



Accessories are a red headband, red belt, black-and-white jewelry, light hose, and red plaid peep-toe mary-janes. This was another really successful photo session--either I'm getting better at posing or I've been lucky.




For the second outfit today, I chose another of my all-time favorites--this black-and-red crepe dress from Kmart's Jaclyn Smith line. It fits just right, the hem length is flattering, and the overall effect is elegant.



Accessories are the red headband again, gold jewelry, black belt, dark hose, and red t-strap patent pumps. And yet another very successful photo shoot.



Please check out the rest of the pics on Flickr. Next week, I'll be showing off my new hounds-tooth suit, as well as some other fave dresses.