Slow Southern Style

Ragdoll- An Adorable Time Warp

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

This post was written by Meghan Wright, one of Slow Southern Style's interns. You'll get a chance to meet her in the upcoming weeks but for now check out her fashion blog, Fashionably Meg, and be on the look out for her bio soon.

When I entered Ragdoll I felt as though I had stepped through a fabulously adorable time warp. The clothing selection is vintage inspired, the jewelry is handmade, the skin-care is organic, and there's even a great little section of actual vintage in the back. There is also a small selection of home decor, so there's definitely something for everyone. The best part, in my opinion is the selection of glamorous dresses. They have brands like Heartbreaker, Rock Steady, the Spanish label Pepa Loves and even a selection of American Apparel basics which can help you complete your retro ensemble.

Ragdoll

5235 Magazine St.

New Orleans, LA 70115

(504)304-5073

Hours:

Mon - Tue:12:00 pm-7:00 pm

Wed - Sat:11:00 am-7:00 pm

Sun:12:00 pm-5:00 pm

I just love this fun intro from their Facebook page:

“Hi. I’m RagDoll!

I am cute. I am quirky. I am adventurous.

I am inviting. I am playful. I am one-of-a-kind.

I welcome all near and far to come join me and my fashionable frocks. I’ll take you on a journey back to the good-ole-days where crocheting was the cool thing to do and black-and-whites were all you could watch on the tube.

We can dance around to some Frankie Valli tunes blaring on the jukebox while getting you all fancied up for your big date with Billy down the street.

I’ll fix you up in a one-of-a-kind ensemble, created just for your liking. Come on in and experience a truly unique boutique!”

Like what you see here? Keep up with Ragdoll on Facebook and Twitter,

or see what inspires them on Tumblr.

All photos and text (except for intro) by Meghan Wright

Making Mardi Gras: A Quasi DIY Part One

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

Mardi Gras isn't some random Tuesday where everyone day drinks and goes to parades, although that is certainly part of it. It's an entire Carnival season, steeped in revelry and traditions, some going back hundreds of years.

I'm on the hunt for costume pieces year 'round. If I see something with potential I buy it, even if I don't have anything specific in mind. This year I bought a flamingo hat during the summer, and while I was shopping for our Halloween costumes I found the sequined tux blazer for him. It's all very serendipitous, which makes for the best costumes I think.

Flamingo hat, beaded jacket, oversize hoop earrings, men's sequined tuxedo jacket

Everything in the above image looks finished and ready to go right? Nope, not by a long shot. I never buy something off the rack and just wear it out- that's a big no no in our house. While most sane folks wouldn't even wear a sequined jacket on a dare, I see a plain tux just begging to be embellished.

Pants from Red White & Blue. Feathers, fringe, and flamingos from Jefferson Variety

Follow my adventures in craftiness this Carnival season with needle, thread, feathers, and more sequins than legally allowed each Thursday as I share the process of transforming raw materials to Fat Tuesday worthy garments. Trust me, there is a method behind this madness.

Molly Stackhouse- 100% Made in NOLA

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

This post was written by Brandy Gaspard, one of Slow Southern Style's interns. You'll get a chance to meet her in the upcoming weeks but for now check out her blog, Rambling Brandy, and be on the look out for her bio soon.

“Having a tag in your garment that says Made in New Orleans is a big deal.”- Molly Stackhouse

Photo by Jason Kruppa

I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Molly Stackhouse, the designer and mastermind behind MESDRESS. Stackhouse started MESDRESS as an Etsy shop that made custom clothes for her clients, and has since expanded and is available in boutiques in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas.

Molly has a love for New Orleans and is proud to say that her line is 100% made in the city that inspires her, in fact everything is produced locally and the fabrics are also from Louisiana. While this drives up the cost of each garment Stackhouse believes that it is important to keep things local. She loves contrast and geometric shapes, a strong theme in her spring collection. For the fall expect metallics and spaced aged looking garments, which Stackhouse hopes to have in even more stores soon.

MESDRESS can be found in Angelique (New Orleans), The Mix (Mandeville), Fleurt (Covington) and NK Boutique (Baton Rouge). You can also see her collection at Fashion Week NOLA this spring.

Photo by Jason Kruppa

Brandy Gaspard

What I Wore: A Trip to the Zoo

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

This post was written by JeLlyn Morvant, one of Slow Southern Style's interns. You'll get a chance to meet her in the upcoming weeks but for now check out her blog, Bayou Bohemian, and be on the look out for her bio soon.

Hello from Lafayette! A New Orleans neighbor. A short drive across Lake Pontchartrain, across the Mississippi River, on the other side of the Atchafalaya Basin and a small town rich with culture welcomes you. Rather you are in The Big Easy or Cajun Country one things the same our southern locale temperature fluctuates regularly, even drastically. As all of us southern belles know well it can approach freezing one day and reach comfortable ideal temperatures before that week ends. This past weekend was one of those ideal weather days. We spent a beautiful Saturday morning at the zoo and this is what we wore.

< papa >

cream linen pants from Banana Republic

thrifted embroidered ethnic cotton tunic

< mama >

thrifted vintage denim shirt

black dress and black leggings from Target

grey suede fringed ankle moccasins by Minnetonka

Essie russian roulette red nail polish from Target

< baby >

thrifted overalls

pearl snap plaid long sleeve from Goodwill

thrifted brown suede shoes

denim news boy cap from Target

I seriously enjoy and sincerely recommend a good thrift store, previously owned, or vintage find. There is something so rewarding about scoring a great find at an incredible, sometimes unrealistic price. Even better when you unveil a find that is vintage and clearly from another era. Having a variety of new and old in your closet and adding vintage pieces to an outfit can allow for an individual statement that sets your look apart from ordinary with a splash of unconventional.

from one southern gal to another,

JeLlyn @bayoubohemian.com

Guest Post: Cavortress

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000-06:00

I'm out at sea this week, so while I'm cruisin' around Mexico I've got several lovely ladies taking the blogging reins for me. Let them know how much you like their posts by leaving words of wisdom in the comments. See y'all when I get back and sadly no, my pasty white self won't be bringing back a tan.

My name is Julie Wheat and I am the owner, founder, and designer at Cavortress that was recently featured in Slow Southern Style’s last guest post, by Katie Kozar Thompson featuring a wedding dress I that designed and created for her. When Christy offered to have me do a guest post for January, I was totally excited to share more about Cavortress with SSS readers. In fact, Mrs. Kozar Thompson’s dress was our first ( and pssst….we want another bride but we can only handle one a year!).

Cavortress is a Charleston, SC based company known for designing swim and resort wear known for offering ‘conspicuous classics perfect for fun the in the sun’. This is our first year manufacturing our products that will be available at Hampden Clothing, which has been named by both Town & Country and Coastal Living as one of the top shopping destinations in the South. Cavortress can also be found at the well known Southern chain Monkee’s , and on our website www.shop.cavortress.com and at Austin’s SXSW event in March. Our swim and resort wear features prints that I designed and fabric and hardware imported from Italy. Not to mention, and all of our products are made in the United States. Cavortress swim and resort designs are inspired by the number of requests we received from or vintage clothing clients over the years for vintage swimwear.

Excerpt from Cavortress vintage campaign ‘Sugar and Spice’ featured at 2011 SXSW’s STYLE X event. Photoraphy: Cyle Suesz.

More than a decade later, Cavortress vintage has expanded to sell clothing to a number of private clients including Charleston Magazine’s Style Director and brains behind Charleston Fashion Week, Ayoka Lucas; runway coach and former model (for Armani, Vivienne Westwood, and Clairol) Michelle Wood who was

recently seen on MTV’s True Life, as well as a number of radio and television personalities and musicians including second time Grammy nominee Spencer Chamberlain of Tampa’s Underoath and his girlfriend for their attendance at the 2010 Grammy Awards.

Our vintage fashions are also available at a number of independent boutiques in the South (including House of Sage and Rogue Wave Surfshop) throughout the South where we carefully curate monthly ‘mini-collections’ based on the boutique’s clientele. The Cavortress ‘Great American Vintage Collection’ will be
shown at SXSW’s second STYLE X event in Austin, TX March 15 and 16 along side of our swim and resort collection. Shoppers can expect to find hand knits, silks, woven wools, cottons, plaids, leathers, as well as strong American brands like DKNY, Pendleton, and Levi’s, including some that don’t exist anymore like Campus Casuals, I. Magnin, and Bleeker Street. Fashions featured in the Cavortress ‘Great American Vintage Collection’ have been plucked from thrift shops, auctions, and private collections across the country from Sioux City to Palm Beach, Honolulu to Salt Lake, Huntsville to Galveston, and San Francisco to Buffalo. This year vintage jewelry will be included. The 2012 advertising campaign for the ‘Great American Vintage Collection’ is being photographed this month with Tout Talent’s Madeline Cimone.

In addition to designing swim/resort wear and placing vintage fashions, I most recently worked with TBA Productions and Seamless Pictures on the full length feature horror film, III, as a producer, wardrobe designer/supervisor , and as the effects assistant. Principal filming wrapped in December and the movie is currently in post production. The III team is excited about entertaining purchase offers from a number of studios and distributors. Being new to the film industry, it was thrilling to read a script, meet the actors, and make decisions about how to curate the character looks, not to mention figuring out how to
manufacture practical effects for an impalement, human gutting, and amputation. III unearthed totally new applications of my talents that I look forward to using again soon!

Cavortress working on special effects for Robert Dough, lead actor in III who will also appear in HBO’s East Bound and Down this February.

It has been fabulous to grow as a part of the Southern fashion community in a number of capacities and Cavortress is excited about the future. We hope to meet y’all soon!

Cavortress and quality control manager/husband at Bonnaroo 2011.

-Julie

Guest Post: Timing is Everything

2012-01-19T10:00:00.000-06:00

Anyone can find out where to shop, but a smart southern fashionista knows that when to shop is just as important as where to shop.

For decades the Junior League’s Bloomin'DEALS Thrift Shop has been a New Orleans shopping destination for those in search of everything from designer handbags to Halloween costumes. But you already knew that.

Ann Taylor Tweed Blazer

Gently Used Cole Haan Handbag

What you might not know is that at the end of every season, Bloomin'DEALS Thrift Shop holds a bag day. Patrons fill a 33 gallon bag with “all you can push, pull, or drag” for only $9! The next Bag Day is Saturday, March 3^rd.The doors open at 10:00 am, but to get first dibs you'll want to grab a latte and be in line before then!. It’s a perfect time to literally grab those staple clothing items that will fill the gaps in your wardrobe.

Return the week after a bag day, to have the first pick at all of the merchandise for the new season. Speaking of new, Bloomin'DEALS Thrift Shop also has Boutique Days featuring brand new merchandise at significantly reduced prices.

A true southerner can never have enough of her team colors

Bloomin'DEALS Thrift Shop

4645 Freret St.

New Orleans, LA 70115

(504)897-9128

Thanks to Junior League of New Orleans Member Veronica Del Bianco for writing this post.

Guest Post: Orange You Glad It’s Almost Spring?

2012-01-18T10:00:00.000-06:00

Image Credits – (Clockwise from top)
nastygal.com - freepeople.com- urbanoutfitters.com

asos.com- couture.zappos.com- jcrew.com

Hello all you Slow Southern Style readers! I am Jasmine, from Sequin Crush, a fashion blog about my personal style and my fashion crushes of the moment. I am excited to be sharing this post about my inspiration from the runway to real life looks. One particular recurring trend from the Spring 2012 runways really caught my eye (or made my mouth water) and that is the juicy hues of ORANGE. From lighter, sherbet shades to deep blood orange, and from head to handbag, to toe, orange was everywhere. There are a few ways to recreate these runway looks. Go for a monochromatic look by layering different shades of orange or pair one statement orange piece with neutral shades. If you want to be really bold and make the orange pop even more, mix with the contrasting color of blue. I am not only looking forward to brightening up my wardrobe for spring but also enjoying a nice cold Orange Crush (pun intended) on a warm sunny Spring afternoon in NOLA! But until then, cheers to the short-lived southern winters.

Image Credits – (Clockwise from top) Jenny Packham via nymag.com // Peter Som via thebeautydepartment.com // Rebecca Minkoff via style.com // Proenza Schouler via realbeauty.com // Charlotte Ronson via Style.com // Marc By Marc Jacobs via vogue.com // BCBG Max Azria via style.com

Mardi Gras Event- Costumes, Comedy, and Coffee

2012-01-17T10:32:00.000-06:00

Need a costume? Of course you do, and don't argue with me. Buffalo Exchange is hosting a Mardi Gras costume event on Friday, January 27th from 4:00-8:00pm that's sure to give you plenty of inspiration for your own carnival ensemble.

Burlesque performers Ariette Toulouse, Cherry Brown, and Cherry Bombshell will be on hand to serve king cake and coffee courtesy of Community Coffee while you browse the racks. At 7:00pm the ladies will be modeling the stores' best costumes, with The New Movement providing hilarious commentary as part of their Raising Comedy Awareness extravaganza. Pretty girls, glitzy get-ups, caffeine, and comedians. What's not to love? See y'all there!

Guest Post: More Mixing, Less Matching

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-06:00

Hi, Fashionistas!

It's Samantha here...you may remember me from my guest post last year. Yes, I'm the Feet First girl! I'm excited to bring you this "tandem post", which you can also check out on our Feet First fashion blog, and I'm even more excited to be writing about how much fun it can be to mix and match colors in your wardrobe.

The inspiration behind this post comes from my every day experience in the store. So often women come into the store agonizing over finding the perfectly colored brown/silver/green/pink/whatever shoe/handbag/jewelry/whatever to match a specific outfit. A head-to-toe one-color look is usually not nearly as fun or interesting as a dynamic look that has variety, but is still cohesive. Plus, it is almost impossible to find the exact same color in every accessory you want to wear. You will end up looking like you tried to match, but failed (like Judy in the photo below, bless her heart).

Judy in head-to-toe yellow, photo courtesy of tomosaito.com

For easy mixing and matching of colors, remember these tips:

Metallics complement anything. They are the easiest way to avoid feeling like your accessories need to match exactly.
Silver looks especially great with blues and greens.
Mix rich jewel toned fabrics with gray accessories, or vice versa.
Pair solid colored pieces with solid colored pieces in complementary colors. (Mrs. Obama is a fan of this...more on her soon!)
Look closely at your patterned pieces. You can accessorize with any color in the pattern, and usually any color that complements any color in the pattern.

Our very own First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama is a mix-and-match expert. Let's take a look at some of my favorite Mrs. O looks:

Courtesy of mymodernmet.com

On the cover of O Magazine, looking darling in her red dress and yellow cardigan. How cute would this outfit be with some royal blue shoes? A primary color love affair!

Courtesy of putmoneyinyouridaho.blogspot.com

On the Today Show, Mrs. O sported and black and white polka dot dress with a coral belt and yellow shoes. Most people would have let the belt or shoes be the only pop of color, and I love that she wore them BOTH. It takes the outfit from good to great.


Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com

And how could we forget Mrs. O's inauguration outfit? She looks stunning in her yellow dress and the teal shoes are the icing on the cake.

Another combination that women fear is wearing black and brown together. Black and brown complement one another, and wearing them together is easier than you think. To ease yourself into this, find pieces that contain both colors, whether it is a patterned top with black and brown, or an accessory with both colors, like the black and brown boots below. The best part about them is you don't have to buy a black pair and a brown pair! Who doesn't love saving a little money?

Nicole Dreamer-Women's Cowboy Boots

Lane Cowboy Boots Margaret

You don't have to have a piece that contains both colors to wear black and brown together, though. Just last week I wore a pair of brown boots with jeans, a black and white sweater, and a tan cardigan. I know I looked chic and sleek...don't be afraid, ladies! You'll look so good!

One last thing I want to point out is the versatility of a good dress shoe in a pewter-y color, like the Nina Faviola here on the right. Now, Nina calls the color "Malinda", which I'm pretty sure is code for "life saver". The shoe has an almost iridescent quality, and when you hold it up to ANY other color, it reflects bits of it and just kind of melts into the perfect complement. Seriously, you will be able to wear this with your cocktail and evening dresses of every color from black and brown to pink and blue and anything in between. Every woman should have a shoe in this color in her closet. It's the perfect go-to.

(By the way, I know the monochromatic look has made its way to the runways as of late. I support this chic trend, but this post is simply letting you know that it is not a necessity! If you want to pursue the monochromatic look, keep the fabrics rich and mix and match different materials. Have fun with it, but avoid the Nicki-Minaj-head-to-toe-leopard look!)

Courtesy of stylebistro.com

So, ladies, how about we give it a try? There's no need to get yourself all worked up when you can't find something to perfectly match your dress/bag/shoes when you can look so much more fierce without matching!

Happy Shopping! xo

Samantha Capone
Feet First, Inc.

Uptown
4119 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504)899-6800

French Quarter
526 Royal St
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504)569-0005

For Variety's Sake

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-06:00

It's carnival time y'all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you have any idea what this means? It's my favorite time of year, and I can't freaking wait. This year I'm going to be documenting the creation of my Mardi Gras costumes, since so many people always ask me for tips on how I make mine. Fashion designer I 'aint, but I know enough to make 'em look good. In fact I wrote a DIY Mardi Gras costume article for this month's issue of New Orleans Magazine, pick up a print copy or read it online here.

Photo courtesy of Charle'

I've been working on my Mardi Gras costumes since Halloween and I already have a jump start on next year. Yea, I might be slightly nuts but this is serious stuff.

I took a trip out to Jefferson Variety last Saturday to purchase some important finishing touches for our costumes. Normally I try to thrift and re purpose everything, but sometimes a girl just needs to buy brand new sequins. Enter Jefferson Variety, an unassuming building in an industrial looking part of town.

Walking into this place is like dying and going to Mardi Gras Indian heaven, or beauty pageant queen heaven, whichever you prefer. Everything was starting to get picked over when I went, but there were still mountains of sparkly trim, appliques, and fabrics luxurious enough for Carnival royalty.

Appliques for days

No idea what I'm using these for, but sequined shrimp had to come home with me.

Rhinestones in every shape and size

Sparkles everywhere

So many bolts, the options were endless

So have you started working on your Mardi Gras costume yet? Any idea of what you're going to be yet?

Jefferson Variety
239 Iris Ave.
Jefferson, LA
(504)834-5222

Hidden Treasures of the Cabildo: Carnival Edition

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-06:00

This post was written by Elizabeth McNair, one of Slow Southern Style's interns. You'll get a chance to meet her in the upcoming weeks but for now check out her blog, Life of Lovely, and be on the look out for her bio soon.

Now that the holiday festivities are finished, you might be wondering what to do on your quiet evenings in January. Why not view Hidden Treasure: Carnival Edition at the Louisiana State Museum?

The Carnival Collection at the Louisiana State Museum will allow a small number of visitors to see the museum’s large collection of costumes and other pieces related to Carnival. While the public does not usually have the chance to view the entire collection, Wayne Phillips will take visitors through the museum’s storage rooms to get the full experience. The location for these tours will be the Museum’s Collection Storage Facility at 1000 Chartres Street in the French Quarter.

This special opportunity is hosted by the Friends of the Cabildo. For two days only, January 17th and 19th, tours will take place at 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The cost for this exclusive tour is $15 per person or $10 for Friends of the Cabildo members.

If you’re interested, you will need to call Rebecca Duckert at 504-523-3939 to make the required reservations. Call soon because spots are limited.

Interested, but can’t make it to this tour? Another event Hidden Treasure: Decorative Arts Edition is planned for March 20th and 22nd showcasing Newcomb Pottery and led by Curator of Decorative Arts, Katie Hall.

Elizabeth McNair

New Year, New You, To Heck With Everyone Else

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-06:00

Technically it's winter, but damn it's hot in the south. Instead of being enrobed in a goose down cocoon every night I've been sleeping with the windows wide open. Just kidding, I'm too afraid that my cats will jump onto my roof to open the windows but you get the idea. Instead we are experiencing something more akin to a spring renewal, which I guess is appropriate for New Year's resolutions. Lately I've been inspired by Advanced Style, the fashion blog with a focus on exquisitely dressed women in their 60s-100s. I'm having a "to hell with everyone else" moment, just wearing whatever I want and not caring about what others think. It's quite liberating, and I highly recommend it.

To help you get a jump start on jumping the "I dress for myself" ship I rounded up a few recent favorites that I've stumbled upon.

I'm deathly afraid of the eye doctor, so getting new glasses is a real ordeal. In 2011 I broke down and had an eye exam and lived to tell about it, so this year I might do it again. These Oliver Peoples frames at St. Charles Vision would be a great second pair of frames for me, that is if I get the guts to go.

I can't help but notice a lot of art deco designs, especially in jewelry for next spring. Why not get a jump start on the trend with this Lulu Frost for J. Crew art deco bangle. I love how classy this design is, especially in white. Not that I've ever claimed to be a classy broad, but still I'd wear the heck out of this bangle.

Oversized day clutches are one trend that gained momentum last spring and are still going strong. This ASOS portfolio clutch is super sleek, and the blush color keeps it feminine while the gold metal hardware keeps it from being too twee.

I definitely know my favorite dress when I see it, and this color block dress from Urban Outfitters is certainly my dress shape of choice. A strapless, fitted bodice with a pleated and slightly flared skirt? Yup, that's all me baby. When you've got a good thing going, why mess it up? Find what's flattering and roll with it, make it your signature look!

I always have trouble finding my iPhone in the bowels of my purse. This leopard print Rebecca Minkoff phone cover lends a fun factor and is bright enough to spot from a mile away, or at least an arms length.

Committed to giving yourself a refresh for 2012? I'm giving away a free closet overhaul session to one lucky lady. Read the giveaway post here to learn how to win but hurry, you only have until Friday the 13th to enter.

Styling session: How to Land a Big Girl Job

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

At some point in your life, you'll have an "Oh shit! I'm an adult" moment and suddenly feel the pressure to dress like one. My sister had one of those moments recently, and I was more than willing to help her out.

Christin has been living in scrubs or sweatpants from undergrad through the master's program, and needed some clothes, not only for job interviews but for weekends as well. Given that she just graduated and hasn't started working yet, we didn't want to spend a lot of money, something that I'm really good at.

This is a fun weekend look that we put together. We bought the dress and tights on a shopping excursion, so all we had to do if find something she already owned to pair with them. This entire outfit cost less than $100 and each piece is incredibly versatile, which is important when you are building a wardrobe from scratch.

These are two interview appropriate looks that are both flattering and comfortable. Not shown is the blazer we purchased. Christin is 4'11 so it was difficult to find clothes that didn't overwhelm her small frame. We picked up a 3/4 sleeve version from The Limited, one in camel and one in black, which worked perfectly for her figure. She wore the first outfit to her interview and nailed it, scoring her first big girl job in Savannah, Georgia. She starts in a few weeks and I couldn't be more proud of her.

If you're in need of a makeover, whether you want to look more polished or want to get out of your style rut, or even add some quirky touches to your conservative style I can do it all. Check out my wardrobe consultation services at Slow Southern Styling if you are in the New Orleans area, and don't forget that I'm giving away one FREE closet overhaul session for the new year!

The first 2012 giveaway- Closet Overhaul from Slow Southern Styling

2012-01-04T00:00:00.001-06:00

New year, new you, resolutions, blah blah blah. We all know the drill. You are going to write down a list of approximately 3,492 things that you are so pumped to do in 2012 and by the time January 31st rolls around you'll have completely lost motivation.

Well, I want to help you out. I'm giving away one free Closet Overhaul session from my wardrobe consultation service, Slow Southern Styling. All you have to do to enter is send me an e-mail at nolagurl@gmail.com stating why you'd like a styling session. Did you lose or gain weight, and now nothing fits? Are you bored with everything you own? Does the word shopping induce fear? Want to change up your look for a new job? We can work on YOU together.

Maximize what you've got

What the heck is the Closet Overhaul? I help breathe life into your existing clothes and fill in the gaps to create a fully integrated wardrobe to make getting dressed a cinch, no matter what the occasion. We carefully weed out what doesn't work, create outfits based on what you've got then I make recommendations on what to buy that complements what you already own. How's that sound?

To learn more about the services go to my Slow Southern Styling site where you can check out some testimonials, browse my portfolio and read my FAQ to see if this is the right thing for you. It goes without saying that the winner must reside in the Greater New Orleans area. You've got nothing to lose, except for that pile of clothes sitting on the floor collecting dust.

What I Wore: Xmas Eve in the French Quarter

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

No doubt about it, I love the French Quarter. When my husband told me he had downtown in mind as a last minute gift destination, I eagerly volunteered to accompany him. Some locals think of the Quarter as a haven for tourists, but I worked off and on in the Vieux Carre for years and personally love it. The history of the place permeates the air, and wandering the abundance of antique shops that fill the Spanish style buildings always bears hidden treasures. You can read my archived article in New Orleans Magazine for some of my favorite French Quarter shopping destinations.

Outfit details:

sunglasses, Buffalo Exchange

retro Liz Claiborne blouse, Funky Monkey

Forever 21 denim moto jacket, Funky Monkey

Forever 21 skirt, Buffalo Exchange

reversible leggings, c/o Life Yoga + Boutique

Born cowboy booties, Buffalo Exchange

Via Spiga shoulder bag, Buffalo Exchange

Mardi Gras Indian Finery at Greg's Antiques

A sea of mermaids at Voodoo Authentica

Drinks? Nah, more like an appetizer.

Eggs Benedict with fried oysters at Stanley!

A year's worth of adventure in clothing

2011-12-30T00:23:00.000-06:00

Whew! 2011, where did you go? It seems like every year the months just zip by that much faster. Still, it's always fun to look back and reminisce on the good times, the not so fun stuff, and reflecting on how to make next year even better. I'm proud to say Slow Southern Style had some milestone moments, minimal embarrassments, and damn it I had fun.

From curating an art show to meeting Natalie Chanin and her team, I couldn't have predicted that this year would turn out so great. I'd like to give a big, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has kept Slow Southern Style on their reading list, see y'all in 2012.

January

My favorite ultra cozy Lia Molly sweater

February

Mardi Gras- What I live for

March

The skirt that got a mention in the Times Picayune

April

Billy Reid y'all

May

Tiger print sarong

June

Linen is a must in the summer

JULY

Just one of many of my turquoise pieces

AUGUST

Armoire anniversary party

SEPTEMBER

Promo with Life Yoga + Boutique

OCTOBER

Top of the Halloween to ya

NOVEMBER

Sleeveless in November? Only below the Mason-Dixon line

DECEMBER

Outfits for the great outdoors

Urbandillo Needs Your Help

2011-12-29T00:00:00.000-06:00

When you live in the south you become accustomed to layered dressing. On any given winter day you could start out wearing a t-shirt and end up in a coat, all in less than a 24 hour time span. But how do you stash that cumbersome jacket? Throw it in the car, tie it around your waist, or do you awkwardly lug it around and deal? Enter Veronica James and her clever clothing line, Urbandillo. Inspired by the way an armadillo rolls into a ball, Urbandillo is a line of compacting clothing that folds up into itself and can easily be carried around in its own handy carrying case. From classic fleece jackets to stylish trench coats Urbandillo is not only functional buy stylish as well.

James is hoping to get the line going with Kickstarter, but time is running out as their fundraising efforts ends on December 31st at 11:00pm. To learn more about the project go to their Kickstarter project page or watch the video below and support the cause however you can.

What I Wore: Black Velvet Little Black Dress

2011-12-28T00:23:00.000-06:00

When you work on your feet all day, dressing for comfort is paramount. Since my shoe choices are largely influenced by avoiding to have a podiatrist on speed dial, I really enjoy occasions to dress up and dust off the high heels, not to mention the cocktail dresses. I've owned this velvet little black dress for four years now and for some reason never I got around to wearing it until two weekends at my company holiday party. Silly because it fits like a glove and hits at the perfect spot right above the knee.

Necklace, Nelson + Little

Dress and rhinestone belt, J. Crew via Buffalo Exchange

Platform heels, Tory Burch via Buffalo Exchange

New bangs! c/o Paris Parker blogger party

My secret santa gave me a pair of handmade earrings from her aunt's Lafayette based store, Bayou Bohemian. I love these black leather and driftwood earrings, they look substantial but are incredibly lightweight.

The party was held at The American Sector and of course the food was incredible, but then again I've never been disappointed by any John Besh restaurant.. I had the shrimp in a cup, the mahi mahi entree, and for dessert we each had a peppermint patty. Last year we went to Domenica for the company party, not a bad habit at all. Did you have a holiday party this year? How was it?

Fashion Week New Orleans Top Designer Competition

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

With Christmas come and gone and New Year's Eve, the Superbowl, and Mardi Gras all in the near future who's thinking about March already? If you're an aspiring fashion designer, maybe you should.

Fashion Week New Orleans (FW NOLA) is currently accepting applications for their Top Designer Competition, which is part of their fashionable festivities March 21st-25th. Ten designers will be given the opportunity to compete for the title of top designer and a chance to win a 90 day in-store presence at Hemline, a professionally designed website, and a photo shoot of the winning collection. Deadline for applications is January 15th, 2012 and judging by the talent from last year such as Anthony Ryan Auld (of Project Runway fame) you wouldn't want to miss out on this chance.

2011 Top Designer Alicia Zenobia

Alicia Zenobia, winner of the 2011 Top Designer Competition, feels the opportunity afforded her served as a springboard to get her designs into the public eye.

"This was the best opportunity to showcase the uniquely wilder flavor of New Orleans fashion in a comprehensive and well produced fashion event. I was so happy that my out of the box creations were not only understood, but also celebrated by the judges and audience at New Orleans Fashion Week and consequently the press and people of New Orleans, and beyond!"

Alicia Zenobia's striking designs

FW NOLA's primary objective is to showcase the skillful individuals that comprise the burgeoning New Orleans fashion scene. The Gulf Coast region is known as a destination for food, music, and an entire film industry, so why not fashion? We've got the fashion designers, make-up and hair artists, models and the boutiques willing to carry the clothing, so we might as well nurture it and show the world what we have to offer.

Interested applicants should contact Mallory Domingue at mdomingue@fashionweeknola.com

Fashion Week New Orleans 2012 Schedule and Locations:

March 21, 2012 kick off party, Twist Lounge inside the Lafayette Hotel

March 22 – 24, 2012 Runway Shows and Top Designer Competition, The Sugar Mill

March 25, 2012 Bridal Runway Showcase, The Westin at Canal Place

Holiday Shopping and Dress For Success

2011-12-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

What's better than shopping local while buying holiday presents? Buying gifts that give back to the community. Several New Orleans businesses are selling gifts that benefit the local Dress For Success, a non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged women by providing them with work appropriate clothing and career development assistance.

Angelique, The Blues Jean Bar, Imelda’s, Mimi's, Weinstein’s, and Life Yoga and Boutique are selling perfectly preppy silk scarves, designed by Tommy Hilfiger for only $35 in which 100% of the proceeds will go to the organization. In addition to the scarf sales Adler’s Jewelry is donating 10% of the retail price of their popular white pearls in 50" or 100" strands.

Image courtesy of life yoga

The Dress for Success boutique is located at 4304 Magazine Street. To learn more about this program To contact the New Orleans chapter at 504.891.4337 or visit them online at twww.dressforsuccess.org/neworleans.

What I Wore: Jangueando con Lianamar

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of being a guest on Lianamar Davila Sanabria's radio show, Jangueando con Liamar. This bilingual show comes on every Thursday at 7:00pm and discusses a wide variety of topics, including a biweekly NOLA Eats dining segment from my friend Leslie Almeida.

Handled the mic like a pro...maybe

This past week I was on the show to talk "shop" about Slow Southern Style, my wardrobe consulting business Slow Southern Styling, my full time job at Buffalo Exchange and we even managed to squeeze in what to wear on New Year's Eve. Hemline Boutique in the French Quarter was nice enough to play host, which made chatting about fashion on live radio a breeze. The complimentary cocktails from Kru Vodka didn't hurt either.

See all of the photos from the night on the Jangueando con Lianamar Facebook page and listen to the show by clicking below.

Listen to internet radio with JangueandoConLianamar on Blog Talk Radio

Eyeing up the studded Sam Edelman loafers w/ host Lianamar

The gaggle of girls (and one guy) who were guests on the show

my outfit details:

cardigan, Coco Bourgeoisie

necklace, LF

bone and horn bracelet, c/o Macy's Heart of Haiti

sheer blouse, American Apparel via Buffalo Exchange

skirt, Kenzie via Buffalo Exchange

thigh high socks, American Apparel via Buffalo Exchange

platform wedges, Buffalo Exchange

Now Hiring a Stylish, Southern Intern

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-06:00

Due to the overwhelming (in a good way!) response, I have all positions filled. All applications will be considered for the next round in the spring.

Come be a part of the team! Slow Southern Style is looking for a good intern or two.

Do you love fashion, writing and/or photography? Are you currently in a sordid love affair with Southern culture? Slow Southern Style is seeking to hire some truly awesome interns who are passionate about fashion on a deeper level than just what's being offered at the mall.

The ideal candidate is an individual who:

-appreciates personal style, not just recent trends or fast fashion
-has a desire to make connections within the fashion community
-has an eye for the Slow Southern Style aesthetic yet brings his or her own touch
- has a knack for writing, photography, or graphic design
-lives in the South, New Orleans preferred but not necessary
- desires to learn about blogging in general
-wishes to kick start a career in fashion and/or media
- can commit to a three month stint
- has a sense of humor

If you'd like to learn more about the position please send a resume, one writing example or link to your work, and a brief statement why you'd like to work for Slow Southern Style to nolagurl@gmail.com.

SlowSouthernStyle.com is a love letter to Southern style, written by a native New Orleanian. Featuring a hodge podge of local and regional designers, events, boutiques, street style, and outfit photos. Founded by Christy Lorio in 2009, Slow Southern Style LLC has been featured in a variety of media outlets both online, in print, television, and radio.

Haute and Handmade: A Recap

2011-12-16T18:46:00.000-06:00

Make no mistake, I'm certainly not a model. I'm about a foot too short, my cheekbones weren't chiseled by the hands of a Renaissance sculptor and the only way I'd fit into a sample size is if it were socially acceptable to wear a dress around one's upper thigh. Aside from my prototype setbacks I was pleased and quite honored to model Alabama Chanin's intricate designs as part of Haute and Handmade this past Friday. Each of Natalie Chanin's pieces are hand stitched with nary a sewing machine in sight. You have to really get up close and personal to inspect and appreciate the labor and love that goes into each garment. They are truly a work of art with needle and thread.

Along with six local designers, Andrea Loest, Grayson Gold (he's 12 years old!), Lorna Leedy, Kerry Fitts, Amanda Loest, and Rebecca Rebouche the Ogden Museum of Southern Art served as a pantheon of handmade looks, all designed below the Mason-Dixon line. I'm told there were over 400 people in attendance that evening, a great testament of support for southern based fashion. It was interesting to see which the similarities and stark contrasts of each designer but the common theme throughout the evening was a commitment to quality and originality.

For more photos go to the Slow Southern Style Facebook page and many thanks to Leslie Almeida for taking pictures of the evening while I was backstage being prepped.

My friend Chanel wearing a Bayou Salvage dress

Fancy Ponyland

Bayou Salvage

Amanda Deleon

Alabama Chanin

some random girl

oh wait that's me

Giveaway: Holiday worthy dress with Shabby Apple

2011-12-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

It's always exciting picking out dresses for special occasions, and the holiday season is certainly a time when there are plenty of reasons to wear a special frock. Finding multiple outfits for a plethora of end of the year celebrations can be a daunting task, so Shabby Apple is helping to keep you in the holiday spirit by giving away the Moon River dress to one lucky reader.

Inspired by the Jazz Age, this stretch sateen dress is party ready, with a nostalgic flair and feminine touches such as a ruffled waist and a wide boat neck. Demure enough for Christmas Eve with the grandparents yet chic enough for a New Year's Eve fete the Moon River dress is the perfect vintage inspired holiday dress. In order to win simply leave a comment here stating where you'd wear this dress, and your name and e-mail address. Comments without an e-mail address will not be eligible for the contest.

As an added bonus from now until January 16th enjoy 10% off your purchase with the code "slowsouthernstyle10off" and be sure to check out Shabby Apple's Facebook page for even more discounts and deals.

Outfits for the great outdoors

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-06:00

Make no mistake, I'm a city girl girl in the sense that I prefer to have everything I need within walking or biking distance. I enjoy the comforts of having a coffee shop a block away and making a quick jaunt to my neighborhood corner store. However I also crave the woods, and the luxury of solitude, if only for a few days. My idea of a vacation is getting away from it all, whether it's a romantic weekend getaway or a strenuous hike, I enjoy both equally. I shared an outfit post a few weeks ago from our Thanksgiving weekend at Forest Retreat, a magical little spot tucked away in the Homochitto National Forest in Mississippi. While what I was going to wear was the last thing on my mind that weekend it's always nice to feel confident in what you are wearing, whether you are in town people watching at a big event or enjoying some solo star gazing with a cup of hot chocolate.

plaid button down & charcoal grey sweatshirt: J. Crew via Buffalo Exchange
jeans: Seven for all Mankind via Buffalo Exchange
Keen winter boots via REI

rain jacket: Land's End Canvas
orange waterfall cardigan: Velvet via Buffalo Exchange
charcoal heathered tank: Alternative Apparel via Buffalo Exchange
sexy hiking pants: REI brand

For more photos from Forest Retreat go to my Facebook profile.