Happy Friday, friends, and cheers to the weekend! Our boy headed home last night… I wish it was to see us, but it’s really for the big OU vs Texas football game (a big deal in our area!). He brought a houseful of friends with him, so that might prove eventful. I’m just happy to see his face, and hopefully grab a few hugs.
We’re only 11 days from the launch of the Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Holiday Collection, and I literally can not wait! Hurry up, October 22!! I’ve been sharing little sneak peeks on my Instagram, have you seen them?
Today I’m excited to share behind-the-scenes of the photoshoot that brought this new Collection to life (along with some sneak peeks!)! All our collections to date have been warm-weather based, so we’ve shot them in sunny locales…but as much as I like frolicking with the palm trees, Holiday called for something a little different.
Of course I took Mama Sugarplum with me…not only is she tons of fun, but super helpful, too. Projects of this size definitely require all hands on deck! Mr. SP usually comes too, but he stayed back with Little Miss for this one.
I love every single step in the process of creating these Collections with Gibson, but the photoshoot is definitely the cherry on top! Working as a team to bring the pieces to life for you is such a joy. (You can watch it all unfold on my GxHSP highlight video in my Instagram profile.)
The planning begins weeks before the photo samples actually arrive… creating shot lists, outfit combinations, and accessory options. Then it’s time to pack it all up and head west to meet up with the rest of the team in Los Angeles.
Striped Henley | Jeans | Sandals | Carry-On Bag | Mama SP’s Jeans | Wedge Sneakers | Luggage
Usually we stay on location where we want to shoot (like here and here), but since we shot the Holiday Collection in a studio, I found a fun loft nearby. It was a little worn around the edges, but a great location and incredible views.
Downtown Los Angeles has great hotel options (love this one!), but being together is what we love most, and this 2-bedroom rental was perfect for the four of us. (Find it on Air BnB here.)
Mom and I arrived a couple of days before the shoot for a few meetings and a final fitting of the Holiday Collection. Then spent an afternoon exploring downtown, before meeting up with the rest of the team.
Striped Pullover Sweater | Sandals
Square Neck Bodysuit (XS) | Jean Skirt (XS on sale!) | Sandals
Day One of shooting began before dawn, with a full hair and makeup transformation…thanks to the talented Suzie Moldavon! I love that quiet time together before the craziness of the day…she’s so much fun, and has the best advice! We became fast-friends on the first Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection, and we’ve been together ever since. Check out our first Beauty Q&A here.
Black Fleece Pullover (XS) | Fleece Joggers (XS) | Pink V-Neck Sweater | Curling Iron | Nail Polish ‘It’s Raining Men’
Pink V-Neck Sweater | Black Fleece Pullover | Fleece Joggers
Suzie studied the colors of the collection for weeks before the shoot, and assembled a full palette and lip colors (she knows I love a bright lip!) to make it shine. Her makeup was genuinely an integral part of showcasing the Collection. She shared several of her professional makeup tips in this post and this one!
The effervescent Valorie Darling was our photographer extraordinaire, and it was such an honor to shoot with her again… she is insanely talented and truly brought the Collection to life! She radiates more joy and kindness than anyone I’ve ever met, and has such a passion for what she does.
We shot in a bright studio space downtown, with fans blowing and Beyonce blaring on the speakers. Between Val, Suzie, and Mama SP, someone was always fussing over me and making sure I looked and felt my best.
I’m so thrilled to have Mama Sugarplum part of this again, and couldn’t do it without her help and support. (Plus, hello gorgeous! Wait until you see her in the Collection October 22!)
As if the day wasn’t amazing enough, Suzie Turner, the founder of Gibson Look, hosted us and the entire Gibson team behind the Holiday Collection to a beautiful dinner. Of course I reached for my go-to blazer…it’s perfect for adding chic to any outfit!
Fit Tip: I size down to a PXS for a shrunken fit.
Blazer | Bodysuit | Distressed Jeans | Leopard Flats
Day Two was another fun, full day of shooting, lip changes, and silliness…and I was so excited to have my friend Nicole of Curves to Contour join us! We met earlier this year, and I was thrilled she agreed to help us showcase the size diversity of our Collection. Isn’t she stunning?
Black Fleece Pullover | Striped Romper
Strappy Heels | Striped Flutter Sleeve Tee | Wide Leg Pants
Watching months of dreams and hard work come to life is indescribable! And working alongside such kind and passionate people makes it that much more rewarding! It’s amazing to watch these women work, and have so much fun doing it!
Someone is always either working on a shot, prepping for the next one, or tracking what’s already been done. To photograph an entire Collection in two days requires constant movement and pushing forward, and I couldn’t have done it without this team!
We ended the day with takeout and girl talk back in the apartment, and it was the perfect ending to another amazing photoshoot. Of course there was more ridiculous antics…you can watch it all unfold on my GxHSP highlight video in my Instagram profile.
V-Neck Pullover Sweater | Bralette | Jeans | Leopard Flats
The next day we packed up the gorgeous Holiday Collection, and headed back home.
Striped Cardigan | Scoop Tank | White Jeans | Sandals | Carry-On Bag
A huge thanks to everyone on #TeamSugarplum for your talent and unlimited enthusiasm for this project!! And thank you to Gibson and Nordstrom for trusting me with this incredible Collection. I’m beyond proud of what we’ve created together, and I can’t wait to share the fruits of our labor.
I hope you enjoyed this look behind-the-scenes, and stay tuned for more sneak peeks of what’s to come October 22! Do you have your calendars marked?! Did you catch the sneak peeks in this post? What piece are you most excited about so far? Do you have any questions I didn’t cover in this announcement post?
And don’t forget today is the last day to enter for the $500 Nordstrom gift card! Simply subscribe to my emails! No spam, I promise, and current subscribers automatically entered.
*Photos a mix of my iPhone and the talented Valorie Darling. This post is created in collaboration with Nordstrom and ShopStyle, but all product selections, styling, and grateful heart are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors!*
So excited to see this collection! You always knock it out of the park!
Thank you so much, Gentry!!!
Thank you for sharing. It’s fun to see the behind the scene shots and live vicariously thru you and your mom.
It’s so much fun to see the behind the scenes. I love the navy and white striped crew neck.
I’m really happy for you and all your success! Looks like you had a great time. One thing that has been a little disappointing in the last year is that you’ve gotten away from what your blog used to be about and all I see are promotions for your Gibson line and nothing else. There’s so many other things you used to do and stand for that I no longer see on your blog. To be honest I’ve been looking at other blogs to continue to get those items instead of yours.
Thanks for your honest feedback, Bonnie. I’ve been lucky enough to partner with Gibson to design and release clothing lines at Nordstrom, a huge dream and accomplishment, so of course I’ll be sharing those here. However, there are only 3 a year and each lasts about 2 weeks, so I love talking about travel, motherhood, and fashion from a range of retailers in the remaining 46 weeks of the year! xo. C
Awesome post! Keep up the great work!