#2outfit

I've been looking for jeans like this for a while and I finally found them in Mississauga. The white shirt is a staple of mine. I love how it flows in contrast to the jaggedness of the pant. As you will notice in my upcoming daily looks the purple turtle neck is an award winner. The neck roll could cover my whole face if bitter cold was oppressing me.

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Everyday I will post the outfit of the day using all the clothes I have and those I keep on buying at the salvation army. Of course every piece can be bought or exchanged. I will try to include a garment story with each posting.

#1

• Checkered wool Skirt found in Mississauga. (greens, oranges and purples)
• Antonio Marras shirt that zips from the back. Embroidered lady on the front. Bought in Los Angeles.
• Purple Turtle neck bought in New York on a rainy evening at the unset of the fall.

Facebook | Elli Hollands's Photos - Daily outfits

Children photography

Photographers have a big responsibility since their is the signature on the image not the stylist or make up artist... Therefore I don't think stradelling the fence is a good place to be when working with children. The media should be responsible and take on the perverted agenda by discussing these issues in their shows. Their is a vibe been promoted on the family channel everyday. (Zoe 101, Hannah Montana...) I would love to see a photo shoot shot through the eyes of a child. I'd be curious to see how they see themselves.

My esteemed self

A model is as good as her last job. Then the model must start all over again the rejection process. One needs to find stability outside the industry in order to be able to handle the stress. Here is how I went about it....

A photographer asked my employer (aunt) when i was 13 if I could model. She said no without asking me. I only found out years after I had started modeling locally and internationally... I was 23. My work reflects my life. In the end it is good to have faced sorrow before entering this world. I was able to look for the adventure not the destination. Modeling became my ticket to enter a life full of culture and unheard languages. I've learned I can be more effective when I lower my expectations for the future and am ecstatic about the present. My goal is set on an eternal perspective . I aim to embrace and interact with what surrounds me by extending grace to those around me. (ie: giving a hand to those in need.) That is where my heart is. I first learned to build the right walls by exposing myself to pain. It is as if I tested all types of experience to understand how people live. I then realized the world was full of pain so I took what I new of Jesus and applied it to how I store information in my psyche. soon I started to adapt my action/reaction triggers. Each of our personalities has its roots in what we attach importance to from our often difficult lives. When one attaches a usefulness to the pain it becomes a mere frustration in our one track life. That is how I do it now. My self worth comes from knowing I am used of God. I want to be his hands and feet. Less of me more of others is a nice change. I now live in the now with an eternal perspective.

We all have a chance to build our self esteem from scratch. Many reevaluations take place throughout our lives. Our society is a conglomerate of faulty creatures. God is in the business of rebuilding broken lives. Their is so much hope ahead.

First trip to Milan

My first trip oversees was in Milan. I got lost in the subway for a while since I did not know that Uschita ment exit. It took me a week to start understanding where I was stop following other models to all castings like a zombie. After 3 months without a job my booker took me aside and told me I was to go back home. Well, you can be sure I shed a few tears but went straight to one of the best agency I new at the time. As soon as I became a part of their agency something in me changed. I felt proud but forgot to put their name next to mine on the casting sheet being so used to write the old one down. So the client called the old agency to put me on option. They proceeded to trash me saying that I was not reliable and partied all of the time. They in turned replied... well that perfectly fits the women's profile for the Casio G-shock commercial we are looking for. So that is how I booked my first international job and when I started to tell others if asked that I am a model. The funny thing is that soon after, it became evident and I no longer had to answer the question. Now I am back to answering it but that is another story.

It's all in the vibe

I went into Toronto last week to see some agencies but had only time for one so I saw Giovanni models, I am with them in Montreal. After meeting Sharon from Giovanni, I got to thinking about first impressions and how personable she was. I enjoyed my meeting with her. It would be great if I can find the closest agency fit for me. One with the client base for my abilities and who gets me more bookings for less castings.. oh and of course, a great relationship.

Giovanni seemed like the easiest fit but the minimal look of the agency left me wondering... about the value of design... I rationalized that it does not influence bookings. Now that I am married and stable, I am finally not in a hurry and have no desire to perform in a fake world. I can take my time to develop great working relationships with clients and just enjoy my work. Then I passed by Surtherland to see if they still had copies of my book. I did not tell them I was back in town. (Thinking a change might be for the better.) The office looks great and the people are kind but the office always felt a little ascetic to me. The vibe felt great a couple of years ago when I had just come back from my spin around the world. It was a time when I felt I had to hurry up and get jobs because I never new what was around the corner.

I just got off the phone with Brandon. He asked me what I am up to and told me they no longer have copies of my book. (I did 10 jobs in about 1 month and a half while they represented me.) He congratulated me for the wedding but did not assume I was still with them, which is just how I wanted it. This was an easy phone call to make after all. I was dreading it, afraid to be stuck in between two agencies. I am glad it has worked out so far. I left a message with Sharon and spoke with "I forget his name", He let me know that they loved my book and had been waiting a year for me to get in touch with them. I guess everything is on track now. I just have to start exercising more.

Sharon and I spoke again. She really is lovely. We spoke of how important is was for relationships to be fluid. All their models have an inner vibe that transcends hype. Often client comment on how Giovanni models are always a pleasure to work with. I truly resonate with what this agency is about. I am glad to be apart of them.

What I do

I recently moved to Mississauga after modeling all over Europe and South Africa doing over 30 commercials and a couple of short films all the while shooting catalogues and magazines.
After being in the business for more then 10 years. I am quite level headed about the type of work I am looking for. Now that I am 34 years old and married since this past Summer, it shows.... I have an active, healthy women look. I will try to get into an exercise routine and and start contacting agencies to get working again. I know I have to meet all the clients in Toronto first.. I appreciate a good agency who sends you on the appropriate castings, nothing bogus. I am presently represented by Giovanni in Montreal and will meet with them here in Toronto. A few years back I was with Sutherland and then I moved back to Quebec. So I will check them out again as well... mainly to get copies of my book back. Let's see what happens.

Great expectations

I am on my 5th glass of water

We had a wonderful time with the kids this weekend. As soon as my husband came in with them he expounded the virtues of being tidy... allowing me the freedom to encourage the kids to be more conscientious about the mess they create. It made me love him more to see how conscious of my well being he is. The first night we went to visit friends with kids in a similar age group who have a big house. So they got to run around as much as they wanted. Space can be an issue. I have tried to create an environment for them to fill comfortable in... sometimes to the detriment of my own sense of space and needs. But I find it is more important that they create memories I am a part of.

So The fridge was packed with comfort foods, good protein they would like!! and a panoply of fruits. L had to work a couple of art projects so the fruits came in handy. I started cooking right away and soon the place smelled like brownies, strawberry pie and beef Pot Roast. Which got me great raves from C.. Good thing I made a double brownie recipe. In the past when we still had all of our computers... each kid was plugged into the "matrix" which began to drive me nuts. Now at least it is easier to get them to play a game or make jewelery which the youngest loves to do. Our C is in hockey but boy does my husband find it painful to watch. I see it more like a comedy act. He plays a couple of times a week and every weekend... We have the kids every other weekend.. It's just tough to have to stay in town in our small condo because of hockey. He enjoys it though and that is what counts. It is the first time in my life that I am sorta exited about the upcoming super bowl. I never took the time to sit in front of the TV for any sport before. But my husband is so beautiful to watch watching the game that I am looking forward to FEB 3 as well. His two favorite teams are playing so either one to win is great. Of course it would be sad to see the patriots lose which makes it even more thrilling if they do so to the giants. As for the keeping track of the intake and output of my calories... I have been steadily gaining weight ever since I found the love of my life... After Christmas I had added 20+ and was on a roll to add 20+ more within the next 2 years. So I am nipping it in the bud. This way I can start modeling again. I am getting exited about the new market and age group.

Into it

Since my return to Canada I have put modeling on hold and started a one year school program that is when I met C online and started the lovely stage of cocooning almost right away.

Developing systems for cooking and cleaning is fun.

Over the holidays I baked tons of goodies, one huge Tourtiere and in the process added 10 pounds to the 10 already gained since the onset of our relationship.

The main reason for not assertively developing my market here in Canada is all the driving around I would have to do. When I lived in Quebec it took me 1h30 hours to get to Montreal and now we live about 30 minutes give or take from Toronto. It's a lot of driving.

It took me a while to transfer from an adventurous-girl-look into a women-look capable of posing as a career women or in mommy roles. I think I am finally at that point where I am fully women. I will always be the adventurous little girl who asks random teenage boys if I can try their skateboards for a second so I can pop a kickflip then continue walking on with a grin on my face thinking I still got it. ;)

8 years ago while my parents were living in Huntsville, I had looked around for an agency but they had said that I was too young for Toronto was an older market. Which in retrospect does make sense if Montreal is more edgy and Europe, the fashion-mecca experience models seek.


I used to be 35 24 36 now I am 38 27 39. Over the next couple of months I will continue to actively play xbox Dance Dance revolution shedding 20 pounds as a dance away. I tried to work out in the condo gym but this is the only exercise I am excited to do and look forward to doing everyday. It will be interesting to see I can actually work off the 3 inch layer of body fat accumulated in my cocooning stage. I will still make plans to put my book together and go see an agency this week. I look forward to entering spring as a butterfly... buff and light.

This said, I have done a couple of jobs while in Canada first in Toronto then in Montreal. The last job I did the client asked around for me for weeks without knowing where I was or which agency I was with.. Its good to know that if I need to be found I will be.

I am equiped

Over the holidays I got the message while receiving a blow dryer and a straightener... I should do something about my hair. So every morning I get up and either straighten or blow dry it. I even got another hair cut and a color to no avail. It seems there is nothing I can do other then chopping it all up or getting extensions. I admit it my hair looks terrible. The last time I had nice hair was in Europe. I miss my hair dresser in Milan.

It's in the frizz

At the moment I do not feel the need to be glamorous... just plain old me. This summer I went blond and curly. The perfect combination for dry hair so I cut a lot of it off one day at the mall and now I am stuck with a flat bob hair cut. I knew when she was blow drying it that keeping it looking nice would be a problem. However, here in the suburbs there is no excuse for flat hair. Therefore I have to either get a straightener or a proper blow dryer to give it some pizzaz for the holidays. I wanted to get those clip on extensions so I can play between two hair styles but since there is only 3 days till Christmas and I have no appointments. I will just have go to the pharmacy. I just want my life to stay simple that is why I love it at the cottage.. If I can get into a routine maybe I can still have a simple life and bouncy hair. Now I spend no time at all on my hair.

My vision of suburbia

I love my new found "housewife" life. Loving him love God is energizing. We resonate on all levels. It is a joy to love him. My man is incredible and so are the kids. I caught my first fish of the season last weekend. Wooohooo!!! I threw it back in though. My step daughter's was bigger so we ate hers. I am blooming and will soon transition fully as a woman. I am thankful to God for his grace. I enjoy listening to the Edge while doing my housework. I now created a peaceful ironing laundry room and a reading/ electronics corner. Yesterday while folding an enormous pile of laundry I watched the last episodes of Alias season 2.. I am hooked. Now I live vicariously through Sydney. I am getting used to the highways and malls way of life. Organizing and cleaning, I am building my nest. I now understand what a bird feels like. I have never loved cleaning more then I do since I am married. I wonder if one gets over the joy of homemaking or once you got it it's yours. I love that everyone here is into fire works. Its quite insane I never saw so many houses have their own little show going on. From the 17th floor we could see the whole city going off in sparks. Made me think of Beirut and how sparks were flying there too.... but worlds apart. As for today it will be a beauty day for me. (Silk nails. Brazilian and Blonder highlights) morphing into my vision of suburbanism. {xox} Taking the acrylic off was intense. They did such a hack job. I've been letting them breathe for a good two weeks now. You know when the sides keep peeling and bleeding a little. Normally I go to whole in the wall shops thinking I might get a European experience there. Well this time I went to the best shop in town and made an appointment. Anyways, I was told to put tons of Polysporin on them.. It's working.