AsianCajuns

The New AsianCajuns!

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Hi Wonderful Readers!

AsianCajuns has moved to:

www.asiancajuns.com

Woohoo! This is the beginning of the changes we alluded to before.

607 blog posts, 27 months, and 121 followers (we love you guys!) later... we decided to change it up. We're hoping to make a better blog for you guys and for us. We hope to inspire a little more and edit better (our design, our fashion, our content). We'd love to hear your imput on our new "digs" and let us know if you have any recommendations.

Let us know if you aren't linked on our new site, and if you would like to link us back you can find us here.

As always, thanks for reading and following us. We're excited to see you guys at our new home, www.asiancajuns.com!

Our Weekend Recommendation:

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:03:00 +0000

Metromix 1 Year Anniversary Party hosted by our favorites, Esperanza and Whynatte.

This weekend is shaping up to be a busy one. Here's what I have on the sched:

Our Lady Peace concert
Sir Paul McCartney concert
The party to end all parties (see above image)
Revamping AsianCajuns (see previous post)

Pretty exciting stuff, no? So you local Atlantans in for Saturday night? (I'm looking at you Hippie Frou Frou!)

Buy your tickets here and we'll see you there!

Stay Tuned...

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:55:00 +0000

For ch-ch-changes!

We have some fun plans ahead for AsianCajuns in the coming weeks. Our blogging might be a bit spotty while we pull it together, but we promise it will be worth the wait!

LL

Hoot Hoot

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:22:00 +0000

Mr. Hoot in his natural habitat.

He obviously is most at home in my faux-fur blanket, but from time to time I slip him on my finger.

Don't you love him? I got him at one of our favorite local boutiques in Decatur, Heliotrope. He's cute and sweet and only $18.0 0. He's worth every penny.

Get him online here.

Blog Hopping

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:55:00 +0000

Just a quick FYI. Check out the guest post I did on our lovely friend Ashley's blog Hiking in Stilettos. Here's a preview:

Photo courtesy of Band of Outsiders.

CL

Of Books and Bags

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Sorry for the somewhat pretentious title. I couldn't help myself because this post is about books and bags. Actually, it's about the Decatur Book Festival and tote bags made out of old Book Festival street banners.

The 2009 Decatur Book Festival isn't until Labor Day weekend, but things are gearing up for it. You can check out the author line up and event details here: www.decaturbookfestival.com. If you like books and reading and/or funnel cake, this is the festival for you. So mark your calendars.

Back to the bags. Lauren and I not only love tote bags, we also love any accessory that has a little bit of a past (recycle, reuse, woohoo!) and helps others at the same time. This is why we love Toms Shoes and why we love these Decatur Book Festival totes. Not only are they recycled street banners for previous book festivals, they're made by a Colombian refugee who just recently moved to Atlanta.

So, what starts out as this:

Photo courtsey of Lenz Marketing

Turns into this:

Pretty cool, no?

Stay tuned to the Book Festival website for details about how to get your hands on these highly covetable totes. In the meantime, check out this article in the AJC today about the project. It'll make you feel more socially conscious just reading it!

Attention Locals! Boutique Warehouse Sale This Weekend in Decatur

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:28:00 +0000

Lar and I are going home to Maryland for a few days so we'll miss this (boo!), but all you locals can attend and make me jealous about the bargains you will find. The sale is right in downtown Decatur so you can be green and take MARTA - woohoo!

Lar: Napoleon Complex

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Dress is Old Navy, belt is thrifted, non-Napoleonic hat is Minnetonka, shoes are Frye via Jac.

The story in our family goes that our Cajun ancestors are actually deserters of Napoleon's army. When Boney left his army to wither in the Egyptian desert, our great-great-great-etc. grandfather high-tailed it to The "New" World and settled in an only slightly more hospitable place off the Gulf of Mexico.

I felt concern at first that this tyrant looks a bit like a cross-dresser in the left-hand photo, but considering the fate he left our dear old descendent (and so many others), that feeling is brief and fleeting. And really, I think Josephine would have envied those earrings...

The Napoleon Complex describes an alleged type of inferiority complex which is said to affect some people, especially men, who are short in stature (thank you wikipedia).

On a good day Cath and I can boast a solid 5' 3." However we rarely feel the urge to spark revolutions or crown ourselves emperors. Our "complex" manifests itself solely (harhar) in frequent purchase of tall shoes; preferably tall, nude colored shoes (see Frye sandals in above photos). I love my black platforms, but nothing makes me look more like 5'7 to 5'8 than towers that match the color of my legs.

All that said, Cath and I do not bemoan our stature. Being petite (just like being very tall) has its advantages. But on those days that I want to feel a little like a mini-despot, a strong heel is just the thing. Once I start brandishing a bayonet and wearing fifteen pounds of gold encircled upon my head, feel free to pry those heels off.

Microeconomics

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:42:00 +0000

This might sound a bit shocking coming from a fashion blogger, but sometimes buying clothes just doesn't cut it. Sure I would like the latest dress from Bona Drag or the 80%20 black canvas boots at Moxsie, but that desire is currently being overshadowed by a completely stuffed closet.

So instead of buying a new pair of shoes and another purse this weekend, I decided to do the more economical thing and spiff up some of my reliable standbys. I brought the two items pictured below to my local shoe repair place.

New soles for these black SATC knock-off heels that are outdated, but I wear all the time because they're easy to walk in and go with almost every summer work outfit I own.

I bought this purse at Urban Outfitters last year and had to stop using it this spring because the zipper was totally shot. It wasn't cheap to get the zipper replaced, but it was cheaper than getting a new purse.

On a funny side note, when I went to pick up my purse, the woman who works at the shoe repair place asked if I need the purse cleaned. I tried to explain that the purse was meant to have a grungy look, but I don't think she was convinced.

-CL

Lar: White and Plywood

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:00:00 +0000

I love the way this dress zips up the front, but keeps it soft with eyelet ruffles at the bottom (three tiers of ruffles, Tracy Feith, well done!). The shoes are from last summer. I waited in line at the South DeKalb Mall DMV to get my Georgia license for three hours and figured I "deserved" some new shoes for the wait. I got these at Rainbow for $19.99. They lace up the front and are very comfortable to dance in.

Hope you all are having a lazy delicious Sunday. I plan to eat breakfast, read, eat lunch, read, read and read and read and eat and read. Maybe drink some sweet tea. It's an ambitious plan, but I think I'm up for the challenge.

That Ikea Rug

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:03:00 +0000

This is the rug Cath and I settled on at Ikea this past week. We almost got the fluffier beige one and then decided we would dislike anything so blah under our toesies. So this one is wool and a bit scratchy, but isn't that pattern nice?

We're almost to the point where we can take more photos of our place. We just need to get some art up on the walls and then we'll do a sneak peek a la DesignSponge!

A Salute to Merce Cunningham

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:01:00 +0000

photo courtesy of danceheritage.org

Reading about Merce Cunningham's passing earlier this week, Cath and I felt one of those great lights had gone out. As young dancers we dreamed of dancing with anyone as powerfully moving and awe inspiring.

"You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive. It is not for unsteady souls."

We never got a chance to dance a Cunningham piece, so I have no idea what I'm doing here. I'm pretty sure he would have vetoed the 5 inch stilettos.

Cath and I stuck with dancing from the wee age of three until the "end of our careers" at 18 (pesky college got in the way), but seeing that this man was still moving and pushing dance forward until his 80s proves that he is one of those steady souls.

Thank you, Mr. Cunningham.

Happy Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Troy, Cath, Lar, Ali, Frances, photo by Dave Kell at Indecatur

Just a quick Friday post, loves! Cath and I did make it out to The Clermont Design Contest last night, but only briefly- I think the rain/monsoon might have scared most people away for the night. We dried off at the Bookhouse Pub afterwards with La Chouffe and peppery grits- yum!

You can read about the design winners on Dave's blog.

Hope you are all having a glorious start to your weekends!

LL

Lar: The Mean Reds

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:00:00 +0000

sunnies from UO, scarf from H&M, dress from Rockit in Decatur, shoes are Tarjay

I don't at all look like I have the Mean Reds here in these picks. I grumbled my way through the work day and then delighted in the fact that Cath and I were going rug shopping at Ikea. (Rug shopping is a lot like shopping for pants to me: not much variety, but a necessary part of your apartments wardrobe- and if you cheap out, you can usually tell).

Apparently my Tiffany's cure for the "mean reds" equivalent is a trip to Ikea and a smooch from the bf. More satisfying than diamonds or a sterling silver telephone dialer for sure!

p.s. We hope to see some of you guys at The Clermont Lounge tonight!

LL

Cath: Round Sunnies

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:08:00 +0000

sunnies from F21, tunic is Rogan for Target, skirt is Old Navy, shoes are Frye via Jac

So I had this marvelous idea (it only took me 2 + years to get here): Cath and I should post our outfits separately so you guys (dear, lovely readers) can get a better understanding of who wears what, and how our styles differ. I'm not really sure if that is ground-breaking stuff, but let us know what you think.

Before we took a jaunt to Ikea this evening, I caught Cath in her mid-week work gear. That tunic she is wearing as a shirt is one of my most favorite things in her closet. Surprisingly we hardly ever share clothes. The only time we are telepathic is when we are sharing something and we inevitably both want to wear it on the same day. No exaggeration, this happens every single time we decide we will share something in our closets. And we usually can't share shoes because my feet are bigger. Go figure.

LL

The Clermont Hotel Design Competition and Party!

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:00:00 +0000

photo by Andy J Scott

We hope all of you can join us and the Whynatte crew at The Clermont Lounge on Thursday night! (Non-locals, we are hard at work at that teleportation device). Gene Kansas (property developer of The Clermont) is throwing a party in hopes to save this Atlanta institution. Gene sent out a call to all architects, creatives geniuses, bell hops, butlers, etc. to redesign a room, the lobby and/or the roof of The Clermont hotel. The design winners are to be announced at the party. Read the invite below- sounds pretty sweet, no?

For those of you not familiar with The Clermont Lounge, let's catch you up. It's Atlanta's longest continually running strip club. Now, before you get too skeeved-out (completely understandable- the AsianCajuns don't usual advertise for such things), The Clermont is a different beast than what you have in mind. The stripers are a more mature set and don't exactly look like your run-of-the-mill pole dancer (we think). It's safe to say that generally Cath and I would stay away from even kitschy strip joints, but when it involves a design competition and cocktails mixed by our favorite people- well, we can't pass it up.

Not really into design competitions and kitschy strip clubs that hold dance parties? Well, do you guys remember us swooning over that caffeinated coffee drink Whynatte last year (see this post)? If you have yet to try this, we think you should hightail down to the Clermont for that reason alone: drinking Whynatte.

Local bloggers, please let us know if you will be there- we'd love to meet up!

photo by Andy J Scott

This is the event we alluded to a few post back. We thought we would share a few more of Andy J Scott's photos of us. He's good. Real good. Check out his other work here if you haven't already. Thanks again, Andy!

photo by Andy J Scott

Down below is my redesign of the Clermont lobby. I'm good, aren't I?

photo courtesy of the New York Times

Wait, you say it looks a lot like Julian Schnabel's redesign of Gramercy Park Hotel in New York circa 2006? For shame! He got all of his genius ideas from me...
In all seriousness, if I were fabulously wealthy and owned the Clermont, I would have Mr. Schnabel fly down to Atlanta in his pajamas and have his way with the hotel.

See you Thursday!

LL

Top Flr Decor

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:02:00 +0000

The other night Lar and I decided to check out Top Flr in midtown. It's been open for a couple of years and we've been meaning to go ever since we read about it on Daily Candy Atlanta. It's a hipster's dream come true: Domino Magazine-worthy interior, a perfect blend of comfy and chic, and a simple à la carte, fusiony menu.

We sat upstairs that had this great wallpaper and black laquer floors:

On Lar: F21 tunic dress, necklace from Salon Red in Decatur, Jeffrey Campbell shoes.

On me: June Shin necklace, H&M dress, shoes from Eviva in Decatur.

Here's what the Top Flr looks like:

I spend way too much money eating out each week, but it's hard not to when there are so many great restaurants in Atlanta/Decatur. My boyfriend and I just discovered Ra Sushi on Peachtree and 11th (a sushi chain based in Arizona that serves surprising good sushi for it's overly-polished decor) and Ri-Ra Irish Pub on Crescent and 12th (also a chain, but has the best historically-preserved bar in town).

CL

On Being Sporty

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:17:00 +0000

Lar and I have never been the sporty types. When our mom asked as five-year olds if we wanted to do ballet or soccer, we told her we'd cry everyday if she forced us to play soccer instead of do ballet. So somehow, even at an early age, we've been biased against sports.

That being said, I've been trying to be more open-minded about sports and have gone to a few games recently. Plus, I like the whole social aspect of watching sports - hanging out with friends, eating junk food and drinking ice-cold cokes and beers.

About a month ago I went to a Braves game with some friends. Being more of a skirt and dress/ non-sporty type, it took me a couple of moments to figure out an appropriate game-watching outfit. A summer dress with sandals seemed too dressy, so I went with a denim skirt and tank. Lar took these photos of me when I got back from the game. I actually wore my red Toms Shoes to the game, not these impractical heels:

Hat from a local boutique in Decatur, skirt and tank from H&M.

I don't like wearing a lot of jewelry with casual outfits, so Lar let me borrow her trucker hat - I think it added a little bit of sportiness to an otherwise ho-hum outfit.

I know some of you non-fashion-obsessed out there can't understand planning out an outfit to wear to a baseball game, but I think that's half the fun. Who's with me?

CL

Andy J Scott Shoots The AsianCajuns

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:14:00 +0000

Not fatally of course! Just for fun.

Cath and I are promoting an upcoming event (more to come in a few posts) with the lovely people at Whynatte. We thought it would be great to get some photos on location and hoped to wrangle a local photographer into helping us out.

Enter Andy J. Scott:

There he is saying hello. Such a friendly bloke. www.andyjscott.com

Readers might remember Andy in this post (with photographer Wes Sumner). Not only is Andy a very talented photographer and super sweet guy, he can sweet-talk like nobody's business (the hotel manager was a little reticent at our picture taking proposal) and will lie down in a sketchy parking lot to get the best angle. You should check out his other work here.

We'll be posting more photos in a following post, and explain what's with the Clermont Motor Hotel sign. Locals might have an inkling.

LL

AsianCajuns Plus One

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:56:00 +0000

This weekend one of my best friends came for a visit. Being from Charleston, a city chiefly known for not having an H&M (oh and beautiful historic homes, fresh seafood and the beach), we had to take Nate shopping. And what better way to cap off a day of shopping? Taking overly pose-y photos of your purchases!

I was trying to be good to my credit card and only got this tube dress from H&M with studs down the side (yup I fell into the stud trap again- I guess that trend isn't quite out of my system). Nate's summery oxford (also H&M) has a detachable collar that made me drool. Cath wore her American Apparel dress to offset all our H&M. Doesn't the color make you want to eat lemoncello gelato? Is there such a thing? Yum yum!

Cath's sweet bf took all of these photos. He's a bit of a Renaissance man- check out his myspace page here. My sweet bf got out of most of the shopping and our "photoshoot"- there's always next time- muahahaha!

LL

Night of the Iguana: The Fantastic Level and The Realistic Level

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:37:00 +0000

Night of the Iguana is one of my favorite movies/plays. I won't babble about it too much here, but you should watch it when you get the chance. It's especially appropriate for the summer time (what Tennessee William play isn't) because it takes place in gorgeous, sunny and hot Puerto Vallarta.

Throughout the entire movie, Ava Gardner wears this drapey poncho shirt with leggings and large earrings. If I wasn't going to work I would go barefoot too. Isn't that the perfect summer uniform? Before Lindsay even touched a pair of leggings, Ava was rocking them out in 90 degree heat, while serving rum cocos to her guests off the beach.

shirt from F21, leggings from Zara, shoes are Max Studio

I didn't have a shirt like Ava's (though now I'm on the prowl in thrift stores) and I had to forego the earrings because I've been wearing too many cheapie ones so now my ears need a rest, but I think this works when your beach is an office and your hammock is an office chair. Eesh- I need a vacation!

Courtesy of LIFE

This is a photo of Elizabeth Tailor visiting Richard Burton and Ava Gardner on set. Makes you want to get on the next plan to Mexico (circa 1960) doesn't it?

LL

Men and Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:53:00 +0000

Courtesy of the Sartorialist

The always inspiring Jon from Getting Beat Like You Stole Something, asked us to expound on men and their footwear. I'm always a little bashful about helping my fellow man friends with their fashion dilemmas. I tend to spend more time drooling over Louboutins and Kate Moss's latest TopShop offerings than the cut of a good suit. But lately I've been asked by a few male friends (bfs included) to help them with their attire.

Jon et al. got us thinking a little more about men and their fashion choices. Read our post on Getting Beat Like You Stole Something here. And we'll try to be a little more gender inclusive in our blog as well. A few our our fellow fashionistas have started including men's fashion in their blogging as well. Check out Wrecked Stellar's first Menopoly post here.

Fellas, don't be shy about emailing us with any questions. Thanks for asking us, Jon, and getting us out of our drooling Louboutin rut!

LL

Styled by the AsianCajuns

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:33:00 +0000

Photographer: Jamie Hopper

Model: Haley

Make-up: Amy Weissenberg

Stylist: Lauren and Catherine

Location: The Wren's Nest, home of Joel Chandler Harris, the author of the Brer Rabbit tales (Thanks, Amy and Lain)

Clothing: Jac and Kaleidescope

Let us know what you guys think!

Happy, happy Friday!

LL

Photo Shoot at the Wren's Nest: Take 1

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:50:00 +0000

So you guys have heard us babble about this photo shoot we styled this past weekend. Well we've got some of the photos back to show you how it went down. We'll post more photos tonight!

Some of you were asking about the details of the shoot. Cath and I were approached by photographer Jamie Hopper to style a fashion shoot for her portfolio. Kind of a dream come true for ladies like us (into fashion and design- oh and working with other creative peeps!). Jamie was dreamy to work with and got in touch with the make-up artist Amy Weissenberg (check out her site here) and the lovely model Haley (I'm completely blanking on her agency at the moment). I then contacted some local boutiques to borrow some lovely things, organized props (including cupcakes from the Cookie Studio- nom nom nom), and got in touch with The Wren's Nest for location (you should check out their blog here- it's a hoot).

We had no budget, so we had to be creative (i.e. rely on the generosity of others). Jamie was lovely to work with because she gave us complete reign over the location and entire "look" of the project.

Can't wait to show you more photos! Stay tuned...

LL

Work Outfit, meet Zorro

noreply@blogger.com (AsianCajuns) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:30:00 +0000

The Zorro mask is leftover from our photo shoot on Sunday. I used the mask here to cover the fact that my eye make-up had slid off my face throughout the course of the workday.

I've worn this faux Yves Saint Laurent/Mondrian dress before, but added the Asos belt I won from Wanderlusting a few weeks ago. Without a belt, sheath dresses can make me look a little too young because they tend to swallow up my frame- especially with strong lines and shapes like this one.

Cath used the Zorro mask as a fascinator. I think she looks tres chic. She's got you beat, Antonio.

While picking up some lovely things at Jac this weekend, Cath swiped these Frye platforms for 40% off. Is it weird to any one else that Frye makes things other than boots? Don't get me wrong, I have a pair of Frye platforms too, and they are dreamy. It's just weird. To me Frye's are distant relatives to the things cowboys or pioneers used to wear. I can't imagine cow herders in platforms- kind of like imagining the New York Dolls working on a ranch. Inspiration for the next photoshoot? Yee haw!

LL