Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Johnny's Bird // fuck drugs lets skate














Who's that Girl? | Hope Leslie

Photo © Sonja Lux

Age: 23
 Ethnicity: Caucasian
 Currently live: Boston, MA, USA
 Day job (what pays the bills): 
Sales/Makeup Specialist for Urban Decay Cosmetics


Photo © Sonja Lux


Hobbies:
 I do a lot of reading & researching in magazines and fashion blogs for makeup inspiration, a lot of walking the dogs, I like discovering new places around where I live, so on days off I do a lot of wandering.

Aspirations: 
To build my career with Urban Decay, I want to be the one at the drawing board. I’ve always wanted to be a part of the Makeup Teams at NYFW, and I’d love to take my modeling to the high fashion world.

Single/Taken: 
Married! Our year anniversary is just around the corner, actually; 1/18


Photo © Sonja Lux

Education/Study: 

I started college with the intention of becoming a Historian/Museum Curator with focus in the Elizabethan era, and then realized I hated school, so I have an Associates’ Degree in “General Studies” whatever that means…


What was growing up like for you? 

I was the only child, raised by the hardest working single mom, and while I learned the value of hard work at a young age, I was also left to figure out a lot of things on my own. I was brought up with very traditional Southern Roots (minded my manners) I was born in South Carolina, and we wound up moving to Florida when I was seven. It was a lot of trial and error. I wasn’t the best teenager, but looking back as an adult, I am thankful I got a lot of things out of my system when I did. People always thought I was older than I was. I preferred hanging out around adults rather than getting to know the other children. Still to this day when I say I’m 23, people always have the same reaction, and hopefully that is due to my demeanor and not my appearance!


Do you see yourself as Model? 

When did you become involved in modelling and what do you love about it? I believe you really need to own what you aspire to be, so yes I do consider myself a model. Still a beginner but a model nonetheless. I started modeling in a runway/fashion show setting for a designer friend. It was at the Boston Tattoo Convention in 2012. I love the entire process of setting up and then executing a shoot. All of the creative juices are flowing in not only yourself, but with the photographer and the makeup artist and the hairstylist. Everyone kind of comes together with this one final objective and then you are left to execute. It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also a wonderful challenge.


What would you like to do it more in the future? 

2014 is a going to be a huge push in my modeling career. I have a few sets that are to be published early this year in some notable prints, which I cannot wait to see – and hopefully that kind of starts a wildfire. I hope to have accomplished countless shoots, concepts, and endeavors by the end of the year. I’m always so ready to work.


Photo © Tiffany Ann

What do you admire most in other women?

Versatility. When a woman whether she is familiar or not, can look one way and then completely change her look another with the same amount of confidence. Something about that ability to change and adapt is so powerful, and something I try to take note of.

Who is Hope Leslie? 

I’m a wife, a daughter, and strive to be a loyal friend and confidant. I love my job and pride myself on being a hard worker, someone who will go the extra mile. I’ve become a little more reserved as of late, but I am embracing the change and attributing it to growing wiser.


Where do you draw inspiration from? 

As I noted before I am a huge history enthusiast, so Boston and the surrounding areas provide a lot of aesthetic inspiration. My phone is either photos of my dogs or screen shots of magazines, books, ads, anything I see that I think “I will definitely want to look at this again later”. So many of those random things develop into concepts either for makeup or for a photo-shoot.


Photo © Sonja Lux

How would you describe your style? 

Unfortunately, here the weather dictates what is practical. I have so many pieces I haven’t even worn since making the move from Florida to Massachusetts. My heels and towering wedges would mean death on the frozen sidewalks outside! The boots I do get to wear get ruined from the snow and sludge so I usually go with either cheap or practical. This will change at least a little bit in the few months that I don’t have to be bundled into a ball. I’m mostly a shoe and bag girl. Everything in between is usually put together after deciding on which shoes and which bag. I want to make it a point in 2014 to think more before I run out of the house though, so thank you for reminding me!

Photo © Tiffany Ann

Are you a fashion brands girl or do you just wear what you like or whats comfortable? 

It depends. I’m one of those people that will seek out statement pieces. Those little gems that you aren’t sure if you will ever actually wear but you know if you pass it up you are going to kick yourself in the ass for days. So since my closet is mostly compiled of those “where and when can I get away with wearing this?” I find myself going to the old reliables. Most of my clothes are not high fashion brands, but an eclectic mix of vintage and sale bins. I do like fashion brand accessories and shoes though, just because of the quality of the product. That’s usually where I spoil myself.


Photo © Sonja Lux

 What are your top 5 fashion staples you cannot live without? 

Infinity scarves, wedges, high waisted everything, knit over sized sweaters, and princess sleeves.

 Favourite places to shop? 

Zara has everything I love. The variety is outstanding, the quality has never let me down, and it doesn’t break the bank.

Who would you say is your style icon? 

Daisy Lowe. She embraces her body and can literally pull everything from nude to flannel off with such ease.


Photo © Grace Taylor

Tales of love & lust? 

The love story of my husband and I is a cute one. We basically had been acquaintances and later friends since I was 17. We started seeing each other on and off again since 2011, and then became exclusive at the latter of 2012. We were in a long distance relationship, him in Orlando, FL and myself in Boston, MA. Distance really does create this electric kind of unwavering bond that built such a strong foundation for us. We decided that we were done dating. We were done looking. We wanted to get married, be with each other, end of story. 

So we didn’t tell anyone and got married the day before my birthday January 18, when I went down to Florida for a visit almost a year ago now. I hadn’t wanted the big show, the costly wedding, the dress, the distraction from what we were actually doing. I just wanted it to be us. I ordered a cute dress from Pinup Girl Clothing out of LA. I had never purchased anything from them, but luckily it fit like a glove. It was perfect for us. People were pissed off and felt left out, especially my mother. But once they kind of took a step back and realized why we had done it that way it all kind of made sense. We wanted to marry each other, not the room.


Photo © Sonja Lux

What is it that you love most about being a woman? 

Getting ready in the morning. People are always complimenting me at work about my makeup and then turn around and say “But you have the time. I would never have the time to do that! How long does it take you to get ready?” I love waking up the extra hour to really execute the best me I can and go into the world. I love that time I get to spend with myself, on myself

 What do you find sexy? 

Confidence. Knowing who you are. Nothing is sexier than speaking up for something or someone you believe in, and fighting with words rather than volume. Someone who thinks before they speak or act, and are calm and calculated.




Is there anything you would change about yourself if you could? 

I feel that I am always working to better myself as a whole. There isn’t just one individual thing or feature I would target because if it can’t be changed it won’t be and if it can, I am probably working toward doing that.


 When no one is around what is Hope usually doing? 

Nothing. I don’t get a lot of solitude, especially with working in such a social environment. I try not to talk, as in I won’t make or take a lot of phone calls when I’m alone. I love embracing silence, and just taking care of myself, rather it be taking a nice long bath or reading a book. I try to put my mind at ease.


Is there a public and private Hope? 

Not so much. I stay consistent.

Photo © Sonja Lux

If you were stuck on a desert island and your only shoe options were crocs or uggs what would you do? 

I would take the Uggs. Despite it was a desert Island and no one would see me, I could never tolerate myself in Crocs.


What's your take on life and what advice would give any of your fans? 

You have to live smart. You can’t react and live solely on passion. You have to remember the people you affect, and you need to love physically as much as you do emotionally. I truly believe that you dictate your own fate. If you want something to happen, you never really know if it is attainable until you put in the effort, and the work to get there. Always remember who you are, and don’t let anyone else take you over. Our self is the only thing we really have control of, and when you embrace who you are and who you want to be, everything else falls into place.



You can follow Hope on Instagram : hopelesliesmith