This issue we're featuring the work of fashion designer Gino Velardi, native resident of Denver, Colorado... Galina wears two of his smashingly elegant and sexy gowns.

Gino discovered fashion magazines when he was 5, and portentiously declared "I have to be a part of this world." After years of making it a hobby, fashion design was thrust upon him when a gallery-owner friend put Gino's name on the invites for an upcoming show and told him he had six weeks to design six outfits for the exhibit. The show was outstandingly received, and Gino's reputation was solidified as a maker of classically inspired designs with a modern, sensual and creative twist.

What kind of woman wears Gino Velardi? "The woman who is not afraid to project confidence," he says, defining what he believes is the most important thing that makes a woman sexy: "Confidence makes the woman that makes the dress." Gino believes (as sugartwist does) that any woman (no matter her age) can be sexy, and designs "skimpy, sassy little dresses for a 21-year old, to classic items your grandmother would wear."

Those of you who live in Colorado, the don't-miss fashion event of late summer is the unveiling of Gino's fall line, Friday, August 26th at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science... more info.

Inspired by old Hollywood glamour, the red carpet, and paparazzi, evening gowns are Gino's favorite thing to create.... and this shoot is vintage Velardi all the way: a black number that couldn't be cut any lower, and a gown that covers everything from neck to floor in a sparkly revealing transparency. Galina of the perfect figure wears both, need we say more?

Hair & makeup by Ty and Andre for Blanc the Salon

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Remember Paris, that hot blonde with the forever legs whose test shots we posted a few issues ago? Well, she's back... in black! She debated dyeing her hair for just a little bit, but change is good, and we think you'll agree the new look is killer...

Modeling has been a dream for Paris since she was a little girl... now 19, her dream has become a reality. Originally from "all over Texas", Paris moved to Colorado as a child and got started in modeling a year ago by posting her photos on OneModelPlace... a slew of photographers have enjoyed working with her since then, and the modeling assignments have been getting steadily cooler, since her first shoot.

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Despite her admitted avoidance of nutrition, Paris stays in amazing shape. "I can't cook and I love fast food, but I'm addicted to working out," she tells us. "And dancing at the clubs for four hours is a really good workout!" Recently, she joined Avalon Entertainment as one of their go-go dancers, and enjoys being up on stage at the nightclubs, rather than being down on the floor having masses of guys who don't know how to dance hitting on her.

So, aside from not being a fool on the dance floor, what does Paris look for in a guy? "I need someone that can handle me, because I'm really blunt. If someone bores me, or is mean, forget it. And humor... I think that's so important. I like someone that can make me laugh." And you might be surprised that church-going boys have an advantage: "I look for someone who has some sense of religion... I'm all about how you feel, and church helps you get into that." But you won't be surprised that she's already taken... her current boyfriend is lead guitarist for the hard-core band Augustine, and when he's not on the road, is busy keeping up with Paris. "I'm always looking for the next project. I work really hard for it, and then I'm on to the next thing."

The "next thing" this time around is modeling for sugartwist... and these shots taken lakeside are an excellent debut.

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Those of you who have been following sugartwist for a while have no doubt been sorely impressed by the amazing Chandiss, a sexy changeling of a girl who covers so much ground in a single shoot that there was nothing for it but to post this huge set of her moving fluidly and expressively, alone against a grey seamless... this can be a tough setting for even an experienced model. But Chandiss is no ordinary model, and her training as a dancer and fashion designer is on show here, as well.

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Yes, she designed this outfit... a funky cropped one-armed top and black lace pants with nothing underneath... could you imagine anything sexier? This is her genius: it's not what you see, it's what you almost see that counts.

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Mandy has some natural attributes that make her an ideal photo subject: a wonderful dancer's figure, a great sense of style, and of course the amazing mane of red hair. Now 22 years old, she's blessed Colorado with her presence her entire life. Though she's spent the last few years living in the little college town of Fort Collins completing her graphic design degree, now that she's moved to the big city, she says "Denver is growing on me... I'd much rather be in the city than anywhere else."

Since being discovered 3 years ago by alternative glamour pub Eyecandy Magazine, Mandy has done everything from fashion shows to television shows, and says one of her favorite modeling experiences so far has been for Denver Glitterati, a weekly tv program that covers the local fashion scene... but declares that her series in this issue was her favorite photo shoot!

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Well, you might see why when you look at these shots, since Mandy is one of our favorite new models, and she shows off her 2 years' experience as a go-go dancer quite well as she frolics gracefully on a grassy knoll.

Hair & makeup by Vanessa Vieni

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