A collection of articles, interviews, fashionable musings, and photos from the adventures of sci-fi author, interviewer and fashionista Kendra L. Saunders.
This blog celebrates body positivity and body diversity!
As a sci fi author AND a fashion lover, I can't help completely losing my mind when designers bring those two worlds together. Once again, IIMUAHII creator and Project Runway finalist Elena Slivnyak has done just that... and this time she's also done it with perhaps one of the most incredible lookbooks I've ever seen.
Something straight out of a blue and silver-toned scifi dystopian move set, the SS2016 collection features stark photographs of angular, intimidating, and tech-punk designs. These are not clothes for the meek. These are clothes for taking over galaxies, and treading on stars. Check it out...
Elena also recently shared information about her new tech-infused jacket on twitter... so cool!
I'm super excited to get to feature a male model on the Kendry Bird blog again. Sebastian is super professional, positive, and fun... I felt so bad for taking forever to get this post up, but here it is finally!
( Model: Sebastian Lysén
Photographer: Orada J.
Hair & Make up: Timothy Willy
Wardrobe: Alannah Jones )
It's exciting to have a male model again at the Kendry Bird blog! The last we had was Cory Wade of America's Next Top Model fame. So first of all, welcome!
Interesting to hear since I was in the first (and still only) season of Sweden's Next Top Model with guys and girls. ;)
You walked for Control Sector, of course, but also for Malan Breton (of Project Runway fame) at NYFW this year. Had you been a fan of his before that?
Honestly I didn’t know much about Malan before he chose me for his show, I really didn’t do his casting either I was just very lucky to meet him on set the same day and he wanted me on his catwalk. I even ended up closing his show which is an amazing thing for me as a male model in a show with both women and men's design! Malan Breton was my first show ever in NYFW and I was really impressed about his uniqueness and also his men's wear, I loved every piece of it!
The runway presentation for Malan was very special, with an opera singer and a theatrical edge that included beautiful umbrellas. Was there a lot of practice before the show to get all the details right?
We just had our run-through like every other designer, so no there was not much practice before. As you saw one guy had problems closing his huge umbrella and that was because we only practiced a couple of times and not all of the umbrellas were the same, so I guess that model got surprised and couldn’t figure out in the moment how to close that certain umbrella. To have those big things on the catwalk made my first experience even more nerve wracking, but I did it - flawless if you ask me! haha
I agree, you did! What has been your funniest backstage moment as a model so far in your career?
Oh my it’s always easier to remember the worst memories. Lol But I guess the best one must have been the over all experience of Style Fashion Week New York since it was my first time in NYFW.
What designers would you most love to walk for?
My absolute goal is to walk for Calvin Klein and Dolce and Gabbana. They have always been my biggest dream both on the catwalk as well as on the billboards!
I'm obsessed with D&G! What is your greatest advice for readers who need a pick-me-up when they're having a bad day and not feeling very confident?
I am really amazed about the power we all have to chose our attitude. I mean, I also have really bad days and moments but I always stay focused because it’s not until you lose your focus and are giving up, that you fail. A quick fix for me is to listen to great music and watch incredibly talented people on YouTube. If I feel really blue I call my twin sister who’s back in Sweden to just talk about what it is that make me feel that way. Most of the times it’s just stress, prestige and big dreams that makes me feel inadequate. Solution: be proud of how far you’ve come already and be brave, rely on your own strength and just go out there and do what ever you have to to reach your goal. Chocolate is a great medicine too.. just saying.
I love that advice! Totally inspiring. As a guy, what is your favorite thing that is special and unique about women?
Oh, I’m not a person who makes differences between men and women. But as my best friends in life are all women I just can’t deny how I love their way of understanding. Strong, successful women that know how to step out of a situation and be impartial are the best ones - since they give the best advice.
Okay, you have to dish-- as a male model, what makeup or skincare products (if any) do you use and which are your absolute favorites?
I’ve been using most of it out there and I can tell you, with my hand to my heart, that I’ve never seen better results (I’m known for being a guy with the pretty skin) then when I started to use the Nutricentials by Nu Skin Enterprises. Not too surprising did I also choose to become an independent distributor for them since I couldn’t stop talking about their products.
Awesome! If you could act in an episode of Game of Thrones or have a part in a Star Wars movie, which would you choose and why?
Oh I love Star Wars. I have many older brothers and I saw all of the episodes already as a kid so I guess I have a bit of SW in my heart. Haha When I was a boy I always dreamt about being a prince, so some heroic character for sure!
How can your fans best keep up with your adventures around the world?
I would say that my Swedish fans best keeps up with me through my blog (http://covety.se/sebastian) and everyone do it best by following me on Instagram and Snapchat (@sebastianlysen).
Finally, what is your current favorite:
Song: One of the most played one right now is by my favorites Ella Henderson and Kygo ’Here for You’.
City: I am so happy that I moved to Los Angeles this year and I for sure love it here!
Movie: Oh I am a huge fan of the Hunger Games and can’t wait for the next one to get released!
Book: I mostly read self developing books for the moment (a moment that’s been a few years long..lol) but I would say I love the Hunger Games and actually enjoyed the books more than the movies.
I apologize for lack of updates, but the last three weeks have brought great and sad things. I moved to NYC (!!), got a book deal for Dating an Alien Pop Star (!!!!), and have gotten to do some really fun things like attend fashion events, and a Renn fair.
However, I also am couch-hopping at the moment because I lost the place I was living in the city, and my phone AND laptop were stolen in a really frustrating turn of events at a place I found on Travelocity. While I don't fault Travelocity for this, I will say far and wide that the hostel on 186 Linden in Brooklyn is not a safe place, and is run by a corrupt person who will not compensate for someone who has had their belongings stolen out literally from under their bed while they are sleeping, by a stranger from the outside. It's insane.
I'm still on my feet and still moving forward though, my dears, and have ideas for new posts soon!!
Every now and again you bump into a social media account that just changes your life; whether it's a Twitter account that makes you laugh until it hurts, a Youtuber who gives the actual best tutorials on hairstyles, or an Instagram star who makes you want to up your makeup game, sometimes you just find a go-to favorite. For me, one of those go-to favorites is Martina Gutfreund of instagram/enchanted.forest
Martina is many things- part modern fairy, part hippie, part artist. She creates paintings, jewelry, and beautiful pictures that she shares on Instagram, all from her stunning Canadian homeland. Her 25k+ followers know they can look to her for inspiration in magic, purple hair, great lipstick, and brightly colored paintings, and there's a sense of easy girl power about her circle of friends and social media presence. And she loves sci-fi! (Super excited about that, as a science fiction author myself). I reached out to her for an interview, and we talked about cultivating a social media brand, spirituality, her favorite model, and how she upkeeps her gorgeous hair...
I’ve
been following your Instagram for quite some time, and have found
myself having the following conversation with friends, “Look at
this… isn’t this beautiful? This girl is amazing.” You’ve
curated such a beautiful, peaceful social media presence, both
because of the content of your pictures AND the color palette. What
is your secret to making a cohesive Instagram presence?
I
definitely started my theme from the very beginning and improved the
quality of what I was posting over time by browsing through popular
blogs and other Instagram accounts. It really helps when you can take
inspiration from other popular photos and re-create them in your own
unique way! I figured I wanted to share the things that I found most
important in my life, which are art & the environment, so most of
my photos generally relate to those themes. I’m not sure why my
colour palette is so cohesive, I’m not the best at editing so I
will give all of the credits to my camera and the Valencia/Aden
filters. The best tip I would give, is to choose a theme that you
seriously enjoy in your own life, so that creating the photos never
becomes a chore… the only times I struggle are when I can’t find
the time to paint enough new stuff!
You
are very interested in spiritual matters. Do you have any rituals for
happiness or peace when you are feeling stressed out?
To
be honest, I have very strange spiritual views; they can appear very
dry to most outsiders, but I find a lot of comfort in my ideas of
existence. Usually when I’m getting overly stressed, I just remind
myself that I’m a tiny blip of nothing in the midst of more nothing
in the grand scheme of things, really what I’m going through is
just another incredibly insignificant moment within the space-time
continuum. It sounds a bit dark and pessimistic, but man the universe
is immense and there is so much more you could be doing than spending
your energy stressing over little things. I’m not sure if I’m
making much sense at this point, but being so incredibly
infinitesimal tends to put things into perspective.
What
is body confidence to you, and what do you do on days where you feel
less confident?
Ahhhh
the never ending struggle of body confidence! This is a tough one for
me, as I have really only begun taking confidence in my appearance
and personality in the last 2 years or so. It is a constant battle to
stay positive about those aspects and truly love myself, I’m not
even sure how to define what that would look like if I were to ever
achieve it. I suppose not putting myself down would be a good start;
I usually deal with it by throwing on a flattering outfit and doing
some stellar makeup. It’s not the best solution, but it’s
something that has always worked for me… I know it’s a Band-Aid
more than anything else, and that can be bad when those feelings
build up over the years of being covered up and pushed aside.
Stellar makeup and a standby favorite outfit do it for me too. No shame there! Your
hair is gorgeous. What do you use to upkeep the color?
Ooooh
noooo, not this question! Well, I dye it about once every 2 months
with Manic Panic dyes, but it’s really my washing habits that keep
the colour. I wash the actual dreaded part once every 10 days or so
with a really gentle dread shampoo and lukewarm water, so the colour
lasts foreeever. My non-dreaded section gets a lot more attention
though since I hate it when my hair feels greasy, so it’s usually
really faded compared to the dreads.
(Some of Martina's beautiful creations)
You make jewelry, but do
you have a favorite jewelry designer? Clothing designer?
Hmm,
I would have to say my favourite jewelry designer is Studiolil on
etsy (her insta is just @Studiolil ) she makes the most beautiful
septum rings! I bought my first one from her when her shop was just
starting to gain traction around 2 years ago, and I am so impressed
with how much her work and business has grown since then. I can’t
say I specifically have a favourite clothing designer; I do a lot of
shopping in second-hand stores or re-purpose old unwanted items from
family members. I really admire anybody who sews or crochets their
clothes from scratch, it such an amazing skill set to have. A few of
my favourite instagrammers that do this are @cosmicsun_ &
@voodoufairy & @maya_gipsygreen … they’re all so talented!
You
live in Canada, and in the winter, it looks like you live in a snowy
fairytale. How do you keep to your aesthetic in winter?
It’s
a little tougher to keep up in the winter, since most of the flora
and fauna disappear under the snow and I can’t find as many
interesting things to photograph. I try my best to travel to the
Rocky Mountains on a regular basis, since it’s so incredibly
gorgeous there year-round. I guess things just get a little less
colourful for those months, I really love the beauty winter, but it’s
that dreadful grey period that kills me. Right before the snow and
right after the snow…everything looks so dead and lifeless - it’s
honestly a little depressing for me during those few weeks.
(Just try to tell me that this isn't a winter fairytale!)
What
are your go-to natural remedies and tricks for when you have a cold?
I
am a stubborn nut when it comes to sickness, I will do all it takes
to let my body fight it off without any help. I recently tried that
and ended up sick for 3 weeks; eventually a pretty little hospital
trip made me take some antibiotics… not kidding when I say
stubborn! Perhaps it’s a sign that I should start to use some mild
herbal remedies?
Ouch! Yes, herbal remedies for sure... Sambucol, vitamin C, and Zycam are some of my standbys. Who
are your female heroes?
I’m
not really sure how to answer this one, I want to come up with some
big name that people will resonate with, but all I can really think
of is Chantelle Winnie. She is an international model from Canada who
was born with Vitiligo and has become such a positive role model for
anybody struggling with low confidence related to appearance or
bullying. I mean she’s obviously freakin’ gorgeous, but I love
her level of maturity and depth when she’s speaking about
contemporary issues – definitely somebody to check out if you
haven’t heard of her!
What
is the greatest life advice a woman has ever given you?
Yikes!
I don’t have a very fantastic memory when it comes to the
specifics. I suppose I can definitely look to my sweet Mama for the
best life advice, she’s the only one that kept telling me to stay
true to myself and pursue what I’m passionate about. I highly doubt
that I would still be painting and creating if it wasn’t for her
constant support many years ago… believe it or not, I was actually
trying to go into business school before pursuing the arts.
What
would you like to say to all of your many, many fans who follow you,
create art inspired by you, and love your pictures?
A
lot. Too much, so get ready for some soft cheese, because what you
have done for me has melted my heart! You guys have no idea how much
my perspective on both my career and self-image has changed since
gaining a presence on social media. I’m quite an introvert so I
never had much outside input on my work besides family and a handful
of peers, having the encouragement and support from thousands of
people has really helped me break out of that shell. It feels amazing
to finally have the confidence to bring my work to festivals and
display it for so many people to see… and to actually be able to
talk to strangers (that has been a struggle my whole life, but
interacting with all of the beautiful souls via the internet has
helped my socializing skills immensely – people are pretty cool I
guess!) hopefully it will all stick for a lifetime! I will be forever
grateful for the endless kindness I’ve been shown, and am on a
mission to internalize that and continue to pass it on to others for
as long as I can. I want everybody to feel that they don’t need to
put up walls, and can be comfortable with who they are… so thank
you all for showing me so much love, you’re absolutely amazing! <3
Fun
questions:
If
someone wrote a science fiction or fantasy book based on your life,
what would you want them to name you?
Ha!
This is a great question since I’m a huge fantasy and sci-fi fan -
I’m going to have to choose wisely. First off, I’d obviously be
some sort of weird creature, because I’m only human in this
particular reality… hmmmm. Zorbina of Blagdalon! Blagdalon being my
home planet, which is covered with small tree caves that each hold a
different dimension within them. I think I’d probably be covered in
lots of eyeballs and would resemble a sea cucumber or starfish…
Zorbina seems to suit that!
Pretend
MAC cosmetics is going to make a lipstick for you. What color would
it be?
It
would be a pink & purple pastel glitter galaxy!
Finally,
what is your current favorite:
lipstick:
I mostly wear Sephora’s nude shade of lipstick with a darker liner
underneath; I’ve been trying to rock a more natural look lately
So yesterday I had a little run-in with an annoying stranger on Facebook, and I posted about it. The post was picked up by Buzzfeed and spread rapidly on the internet. For some reason, though, this morning the post had vanished.
I'm uploading it here, for your sharing and laughing pleasure.
Stranger guy sent me a bunch of annoying "hi" "hi sexy" "what's up?" messages, which I didn't answer, plus pictures of his face, over the span of about three months. Over lunch yesterday I had this conversation with him:
THIS is why you don't mess with a feminist sci-fi writer! ;)
Posts
