A Thought Is The Blossom

snow day

2015-02-28T14:43:00.001-06:00

sweater: @thejacobsharp on instagram | jeans: urban outfitters | hat: brixton | boots: thrifted

transition to fall

2014-09-12T21:37:00.002-05:00

dress & hat: thrifted | sweater: american apparel | necklace: hardware store DIY

Laurs Kemp

2014-01-16T09:52:00.002-06:00

Photographer: Amber Byrne Mahoney
Model/Stylist: Emily Theobald
Make-up Artist: Allison Perlstein

My friend Lauren just launched a new website for her fashion label, Laurs Kemp. If you've followed this blog for a while you may remember me taking some photos of her collection back in 2011. Lauren has since moved from Arkansas to America's hippest city, Portland, where she has been working on a capsule collection titled L'Heure Magique which was inspired by the 1970s work of photographers Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton and the 1996 film The Craft.

I have always loved Lauren's designs and I'm so smitten with this batch as well. The simplicity of the silhouettes and the cool crescent moon prints are right up my alley. I love that she sent her work off to Brooklyn to be photographed by the talented Amber Mahoney and the gorgeous model/stylist Emily Theobald.

You can see more of the Laurs Kemp capsule collection lookbook here.

denim overall dress

2013-10-17T21:50:00.002-05:00

_____________________________________________________________

Photograhpy: Heather Canterbury
Dress: The Little Rack on Etsy

My friend Amber Taylor is a really great seamstress and designer who moved off to Nashville last year. The past two falls I've walked in a fashion show wearing her beautiful designs, but this year neither of us were home to take part in the festivities. Fortunately, she has put her time and talent into creating an Etsy shop where, instead of coming up with a full collection, she focuses on offering custom orders in a a few staple designs.

This makes me extremely happy because I was at a loss trying to figure out where to find a sturdy denim overall dress. It's like Amber took the design idea right out of my head, and I'm so happy she did! I'm pretty much in love.

My friend Heather and I got together one afternoon to capture a few shots of me wearing it.

Lady Katy

2013-09-16T14:30:00.001-05:00

Models: Katy Tipton
Stylist: Starr Crow
Photographer: Stephanie Parsley

I had an opportunity to work with my talented friends Katy and Stephanie again recently. They had a boudoir shoot in the works and when I overheard them talking about it I mentioned a few pieces of vintage lingerie I had been hoarding for a few years. The delicates were too beautiful to part with and I was elated to finely have an occasion to show them off.

I hope you like our work, we sure had a good time bringing it together. Stephanie tells me there are several more pictures that I haven't seen yet that she's just saving for a rainy day. I look forward to seeing them and sharing them here someday soon.

southwest

2013-06-27T19:27:00.002-05:00

Dress: Estate Sale
Saltwater Sandals: Heel & Sole
Vintage Coach Purse: Antique Mall
Necklace: c/o Sway Chic

Muscle Tee

2013-06-25T19:08:00.001-05:00

Shirt: c/o Sway Chic
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: c/o Free People
Ring c/o Romwe

I don't talk about it much anymore, but I still get dressed from time to time. Lately I've been enjoying this geometric muscle tee that Sway Chic kindly sent me. It gets so hot and humid in the South this time of year and my remedy is to wear loose-fitting light weight clothes as much as possible. The skirt was a $6 Forever 21 find from last fall that I'm still pinching myself over. Seriously, a $6 staple. You just can't beat that.

I'll be back with another outfit soon. :)

three years later

2013-06-24T13:21:00.001-05:00

Model: Katy Tipton
Stylist & Photos: Starr Crow

Those of you who have followed my blog over the years may remember some of the first projects I did with model Katy back in 2010. I knew I wanted her to be my go-to model back in 2008––two years before I knew her and about a year before we even had any real friends in common––because I loved her face and style so much. Eventually we were introduced and the projects started coming together. I'm not certain how many times we've worked together over the years, but I guarantee that each time we do I call it "my favorite collaboration ever". She's brilliant.

I recently started digging through my archives on flickr where I have 9,803 photos stored (dear god, I can't even believe how many have accumulated), and I found this set of photos we did together for an etsy update in July 2010. When I originally posted the photos on my blog, it was still cool to put weird old photo borders around images. I loved it at the time, but in recent years I was bummed because I thought those were the only files I had kept of the photos. Much to my surprise, during my flickr rummage I unearthed the original files!!!

You'll have to excuse the photography since I didn't ask a real photographer to help shoot these at the time. I re-edited them in an attempt to correct the color a bit, as you can tell after looking at the original blog post. I like them much better now, and I'm amazed to say that three years later my style hasn't changed to much either. I still want as many white silk button ups and cotton dresses as I can find. Oh, and floral crowns still rule too.

Instagram Pop-Up Sale

2013-06-10T17:36:00.002-05:00

Models: Katy Tipton & Annie Oh
Stylist: Starr Crow
Photographer: Stephanie Parsley

Jake and I are moving to a new city new month so I have to get rid of some of my stuff. I've been holding on to a bunch of clothes and shoes for a while just waiting to have a sale, and last week I assembled a talented team of friends who helped bring it all together. The sale went on this afternoon on Instagram and it was a success! It was my first time selling clothes on Instagram, and I'd advise it to anyone. Sometimes things are just too good to send to Goodwill and just too new to send to Etsy. There are a few bags, shoes, and clothes left in the shop if you'd like to take a look. Just visit @shopstarrcrow on Instagram.

Thanks to Katy, Annie, and Stephanie for all their help and good spirits!

free people

2013-02-28T22:51:00.002-06:00

Jeffrey Campbell ankle boots: c/o Free People
Sweater Jacket: c/o Free People
Dress & Coach Purse: Thrifted
Necklace: Forever 21

have you seen free people's latest video, roshambo? it's a glimpse at the company's february catalog featuring the handsome christopher abbott from everyone's favorite show, GIRLS (marni's ex). i'm a long time fan of free people's bohemian aesthetic and, like most of my girlfriends, I'm currently hooked on GIRLS, so this video fits well into my world right now. in the video abbott plays a touring band member who reunites with a past love, played by sheila marquez, and together they embark on a whirlwind romance. it's perfectly dreamy.

take a sec to watch it for yourself and check out how i styled a few of the pieces.

Office Peek + InstaThis

2013-01-24T17:54:00.001-06:00

This tiny peek of my office is brought to you by a nice little company called InstaThis––a site which allows Instagram users to print their photos on assorted sizes of wood and acrylic. Being the Instagram lover that I am, I happily accepted InstaThis' offer to review one of its products; the most difficult part of the process was selecting which photo to print––something cute and family related (e.g., my dog & cat snuggling) or something a little more artsy? In the end I went with the latter, printing a photo of some antlers and a vintage blouse that I took after a trip to my favorite antique mall. I am beyond pleased with the results and have already began talking to my boyfriend about which photo we should print next.

At the end of this post I snuck in a photo of my mom in her wedding gown, mostly because it had already found its way into the photos anyway. I've always loved how well the author describes her dress, veil, and bouquet in the newspaper clipping: "She wore a formal gown of Chantilly lace over peau taffeta featuring sequin and pearl trim. Her bouffant tiered skirt extended into a full cour train. The bride's veil was attached to a frontal headpiece of organza loops, lace leaves, and peral trim and she carried a bouquet of glamelias centered with an orchid." What a babe.

• Get your own print from InstaThis here.
• See more of my Instagram feed here.

Wartime Winter

2013-01-23T17:52:00.002-06:00

Duffle Coat: Sally Jane Vintage
Shirt, Bag, Boots: Thrift
Jeans: H&M
Hat: Forever 21

Over the winter holiday I devoted most of my free time to books and films about wartime America. Most of my curiosity pertained to the second world war, and most of it was influenced by shows like The Pacific & Band of Brothers and corresponding books like With the Old Breed and E.B. Sledge's follow up China Marine. Perhaps it was the winter weather that influenced my devotion to bleak programming. Whatever the case, I happily neglected my social life in exchange for reading first-hand accounts of wartime events. I even wrote my grandmother asking about my grandfather's stint in the war (he was tank driver in the 2nd Armored Division). It was a strange phase that certainly poured over into my daily style. I didn't leave the house much but when I did I wore black jeans, brown boots, my duffle coat, and anything army green; anything that looked like something Sledgehammer, Snafu, or Major Winters might wear.

These photos were taken in the middle of that obsession. I've now moved on to new shows and new books, ironically all involving Damien Lewis (the shows, at least). I'm fully addicted to Homeland and can't wait for its return, and after making it through the first episode, I really enjoyed the Fosyte Sage (a 2002 BBC mini-series very similar to Downton Abbey) too. I'm all over the boards as far as periods go, but I'm addicted to them both, nonetheless.

Do you have any good program recommendations? Perhaps some good British television programs that aren't shown here in the US.

Mild October

2012-10-22T22:05:00.003-05:00

Photos by Corey.

Cardigan & Necklace: Thrift
Shorts: E. Leigh's in Hillcrest
Shirt: Forever 21
Boots: Shoemint
Bag: Fieldguided

Madewell at Mount Holly

2012-10-18T00:12:00.001-05:00

Photos by me & Corey.

Here's outfit two of three that Corey and I shot at Mount Holly last week. So glad to have finally photographed this dress from Madewell. It sat on my wishlist for what seemed like a year or two before I finally jumped on it, but at last, it's mine! The perfect addition to fall. I think it's all sold out now, but in case you're on the hunt, I've linked a similar Madewell dress below.

Dress: Madewell
Coat & Bag: Thrift
Necklace: c/o Maya Brenner
Shoes: Shoemint

Nautical

2012-10-12T10:58:00.000-05:00

Photos by Corey.

Outfit pictures! It's such a rarity these days. Lately my style has consisted of stripes, neutral colors, and menswear-inspired shoes. Here's one of three outfits that I recreated for the camera/Corey yesterday afternoon. This ASOS dress is a recently acquired staple in my wardrobe even though summer is gone and I should think about moving past the nautical.

Dress: ASOS
Sweater & Necklace: Thrift
Tote: Fieldguided
Shoes: Shoemint

Colenimo S/S 2013

2012-10-09T12:10:00.001-05:00

Photos from Honey Kennedy.

Here's a spring/summer collection straight out of my dreams. It's by Colenimo and called "Little Miss Poker Face", inspired by Helen Wills Moody, a famous tennis player in the 20s and 30s. I love the preppy, English feel to the whole thing, and the mix of menswear with really practical fabrics. Such a great collection from Colenimo once again!

Photography: Jenny&Lee
Makeup Artist: Natsumi Watanabe (Caren)
Hair Artist: Takuya Baba
Model: Tanya at First

More Greens by Grinshpan

2012-10-04T09:42:00.000-05:00

I'm always such a fangirl when it comes to Gabriel Grinshpan's clothes. Even though we're in opposite seasons, I'm always able to pull inspiration from his designs and beautiful lookbooks. I mean, most of the outfits with look great with a pair of tights! For the rest of the Greens by Grinshpan lookbook, visit the shop's facebook page.

Note: A while back I posted Greens' previous collection and labeled it "spring/summer" when it was really the fall lookbook. Sometimes I'm thrown off by collections coming out of the southern hemisphere, especially in the middle of changing seasons.

Bamboo By Fall 2012

2012-09-27T15:44:00.000-05:00

Lovely images from the fall 2012 Bamboo By collection. Bamboo By is an organic “room wear” collection by United Bamboo designer Miho Aoki, started in spring 2011.

Together Again

2012-09-21T09:40:00.003-05:00

Photos by me & Corey.

Ann Taylor Tank: Thrift
Skirt: Forever 21
Boots: Shoemint
Vintage Coach Purse: Thrift

Just another afternoon spent being silly with Corey. I missed our adventures. Glad he's around again!

Sunday

2012-09-17T09:10:00.002-05:00

Photos by me & Corey.

Dress: American Apparel (similar here)
Boots: Shoemint (similar here & here )
Ring: Modcloth (similar here, here & here)
Tee | Coach Purse | Hat: Thrift (similar tee | similar purse | similar hat)

Yesterday was a lazy, rainy Sunday in my part of the world. Jake and I took a small trip across town to eat brunch, but other than that we laid low and hung around the house all day cuddling furry friends, watching football (him), and sewing tank tops (me). We've been spending all of our free Sunday's at the kickball field these past few weeks (we joined a team) so it was nice to have an excuse to stay home and spend the entire day together.

Ace & Jig Fall 2012

2012-09-16T11:01:00.000-05:00

Ace & Jig has stolen my heart these past few months. I'm always thinking about this label and how simple, consistent, and beautiful it is. The fall line is no different. The ladies behind Ace & Jig have a real knack for selecting perfect yarns and dyes for their collections, and they really know how to work a stripe too. I only recently read about the design process on their website. I enjoyed it so much that I choose to include a small excerpt of it below.

A main drive behind ace&jig was focus and clarity. We wanted to create a seasonless women's collection loosely based on one fabrication. Not denim, tees or knitwear, we wanted to create our own yarn-dye woven fabric. A fabric that could lead many lives, and tell many stories. We wanted to create effortless clothes where the fabric could speak for itself. Read more. . .

Indigo

2012-09-05T18:27:00.003-05:00

Dress: Thrifted, dyed myself
Boots: c/o Dolce Vita
Tote: Fieldguided
Ring: c/o Romwe

A few years ago I thrifted an antique cotton dress that I loved so much but hardly wore because it was so transparent you could see right through to my bra and panties. I took that into consideration when looking for a piece of fabric to dye in a vat of indigo I whipped up with my friend Myriam one afternoon this summer. It took some time to make my decision because I didn't want to ruin the dress, but I reasoned with the fact that if I didn't give it a little color I'd probably never wear it anyway.

I tied my dress up with rubber bands making sure not to create any strange rings in chest area while Myriam worked on wrapping a v-neck tshirt. Together we took a chance on dip dying a pair of button up blouses, both of which we had found on recent thrift trips. Mine was a classic silk button up from J. Crew, and hers was a vintage chambray button up with a real utilitarian vibe.

After letting our garments soak in the vat for a while and then oxidize in the summer air (and then repeating that process several times), our clothes were ready to be rinsed, washed, and dried. I was so pleased with how my dress came out, and so so happy I took a chance on it. I added Instagram photos of the whole process and of my dip dyed shirt below if you're curious.

Creepers & Wu

2012-08-30T17:43:00.001-05:00

Dress: Jason Wu for Target
Purse: Mulberry for Target
Shoes: c/o Sheinside

Corey and I hung out together and made some photo magic for the first time in ages today. I haven't seen him in months (it was a busy summer), so today I made him lunch and we fumbled around with the camera for a bit (it's been awhile). It was really a fun afternoon with little pressure on photos. We set up a little spot in my little room and shot TWO different outfits. I'll share the others soon.

Hooked on Babes

2012-08-23T16:49:00.000-05:00

Photos by Keesha Bass. Edited by me.

Dress: c/o Francesca's Collections
Satchel: Romwe
Shoes: c/o Wanted Shoes
Necklace: Thrift

New shoes from Wanted. I'm so obsessed with this oxford. This is my third pair in the same style–– different color of course. If your in the market for oxfords, these Babe's are worth taking a look at. Big thanks to my pal Keesha for taking these photos for me!

Greens by Grinshpan: Summer 2012

2012-08-20T09:47:00.001-05:00

The Buenos Aires label Greens by Grinshpan gets it right every season. They keep it simple with lots of denim and stripes and a nice tomboy aesthetic. I post about them nearly every season because I love their designs so much and, just as I have in the past, I'm still wishing they'd open an online shop. I'm posting their summer lookbook below which is as good as ever.