Categories
food local flavor

Southern Living Heirloom Recipe Cookbook: Shrimp Destin

Whenever I have friends come to visit, I plan their trip around meals. I tend to err on the side of strategic over planning. I’ll pencil in a day of sight seeing, but the main attraction will always be breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So when Southern Living sent over a copy of Southern Living Heirloom Recipe Cookbook, I was eager to thumb through it.

The recipe I tackled was Shrimp Destin, a fairly easy one.  Given my penchant for the tasty crustaceans (I’ve got a shrimp tattoo after all) it was an obvious choice. I’m definitely not a by the book cook- I prefer to improvise if I don’t have all ingredients on hand. For example, Shrimp Destin called for dinner rolls or rice, so I substituted what I had on hand. In this case it was jalapeno bread. I’m sensitive to gluten, but trust me you’ll want something to sop up the aromatic butter with. Aside from the generous helping of carbs, this recipe is one of the lighter ones in the book. Since my husband and I try to eat fairly healthy, we used Earth Balance instead of real butter. The dish turned out great- we both snuck seconds.

Many thanks to Southern Living for the gift! Pick up your own copy on Amazon.
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Categories
skirts spring what i wore

What I Wore: Mistakes Happen

BREAKING NEWS:

No one is perfect.

 Shocking, right? Sometimes I get sick of scrolling through images of perfect fashion bloggers. I want to see a hair out of place, a  belt sitting slightly askew- just some sign to indicate they are in fact, human. I must be overcompensating for those modelesque types on the WWW ’cause I’ve got enough flaws to balance out all of them.

It was one of those rare days when my husband and I shared a morning together. He was doing a little work from home, I was getting ready to leave for the day. So I had him snap an outfit photo of me. And you know what? It sucked. Nothing made sense together, and since I didn’t bother scoping myself out in a full length mirror beforehand, I never would have known. The t-shirt didn’t match, the socks looked stupid, but I didn’t have time to change. 
So I adjusted, and dealt by pushing the socks down, threw on an old printed hiking bandanna and suddenly the outfit made a bit more sense. I shaved twenty minutes off my morning by not pulling together an entirely new look. Plus, I wanted to show off my sexy white knees. Stop lusting. 
And I’m actually freaking the hell out in this picture. I hide my emotions well, no? There was a spiky green caterpillar taunting me, rearing its ugly little head, writhing on a frond beside me. I’m deathly afraid of those suckers, and quickly ran inside after we took these half ass photos. Venomous snakes? Bring it and I’ll call it by its Latin name.  A mostly harmless caterpillar? I go running like the girl I am.

T-shirt: American Apparel

Bandana: Prana via REI
Belt: Armoire
Skirt: Fossil
Boots: Steve Madden via Buffalo Exchange

So what are you afraid of? I’ll add cockroaches to my list. 

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Categories
events new orleans spring

MiH at the BJB in NOLA

I hate to admit it, but I’m a denim snob. Back when the designer jeans trend peaked a few years ago, I became hooked.  I need denim that fits, washes well, doesn’t stretch out, and lasts several years. I’m also no Nicki Minaj lookalike in the junk department, so selecting a pair that dissimulates my inadequate derriere is a must. So when I received an invite to attend the MiH Jeans trunk show at the Blues Jean Bar, I was eager to see what this British line is all about.

Springtime denim from MiH 
MiH is really big into pastels, flared legs, and cropped styles for spring. Channeling the company’s 1969 roots, there’s a slight flower child feel to the kick flare hems and easy going spirit. As Southern women, we can appreciate easy going fashion, especially when humidity starts creeping up on us. Looking cute and being comfortable? That’s tricky. Fortunately, the light weight fabrics keep you on trend and feeling cool so you won’t have to worry about being a sweaty mess come summer. I snagged the London Boy Short, perfect since I’m in need of shorts and I love the subtly engineer stripe on these. You may need to go up a size or two as the cuts are rather slim.

Dominique and I with our picks c/o MiH Jeans
Belly up to the jean bar
Dorothy of Meet Dorothy Young and Kristi from Lucky Girl Finds
Lovely Stella & Dot jewelry- buy it here
Genevieve from Uptown PR and Dominique of Copy that Services
Apparently we got the blue/ pattern mixing memo
For more pictures visit the Slow Southern Style Facebook page.
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Categories
alabama fashion week southern fashion designer

Tallulah Faire

In case you missed her at New Orleans Fashion Week, Birmingham, Alabama based designer Heather Williams is the creator of Tallulah Faire, a clothing and accessories line that embraces bold prints and color. Slow Southern Style was able to chat with her about her work, who the Tallulah Faire woman is, and to hear about her experience as a fashion week participant. 

1.       What was your experience with NOLA Fashion Week like?

Fabulous, as always! This was my second season with NOLAFW, so it was great to see “old” friends from October and meet new designers this go ’round. It was especially wonderful to see designers who showed last season show again because I can see the growth that has taken place in their vision and perspective. NOLAFW has also grown; new ideas were introduced, new venues were used, etc. I’m glad that they’re trying new things and seeing what fits and what doesn’t. I’m so proud to be a part of a group of people who want to support artists and encourage fashion in the Big Easy. 

2.       What was your main reason for participating? What were you hoping to gain, and was it a success?

 I participate every season because NOLAFW is one of the few Fashion Weeks where designers are chosen not based on commercial potential but on point-of-view and creativity. Most are very sellable and have created quite a following, but that’s more of an effect of showing, not a prerequisite. I participate because I believe in supporting artists and cultivating talent, which I think is the platform of the week-long event. I also participate in the Fashion Market so that commerce is achieved. Every designer wants a customer to not only love their work, but take it home as well. Fashion Market provides shoppers with the opportunity to purchase apparel and accessories that may not be available in New Orleans at any other time. I’m hoping that my partnership with NOLAFW is a long and successful one!

3.       Given the amount of press of more established brands (Billy Reid, Alabama Chanin) where do you think the future of Southern fashion designers lies?

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: fashion is becoming regionalized, tailored to local flavor and expression. I believe that we’ll see a major progression in the next five years of major cities all hosting their own successful, large-scale Fashion Weeks. Nashville has been doing it for years, Austin for a while now, and Birmingham for two seasons. And I’m so excited! I would argue that the South has the most culture, the most tradition, the deepest roots to turn out designers who are uniquely regional and capture the essence of who their clients are. Both Billy Reid (who is not from Florence, but hey, he gets us) and Alabama Chanin are always my go-to names when I’m proving this point. And the best part? They do very well nationwide, which shows that Southern designers create pieces that fit the Southern woman but are not limited to the Southern woman. Forget New York… Southern designers need to build where they are, pour into their hometowns and heritage.

4.       If you could define the quintessential Southern aesthetic and attitude, what would it be?

Well I think it’s evident from my previous answer that our attitude is pride in where we’re from, but in a nice way. I think we are doing a great job of holding the past in one hand and honoring our families and traditions, while looking forward to the future and holding progressivism and change in the other. And I believe that our aesthetic embodies this. We still love our seersucker and sun dresses, but can put on a pair of Jimmy Choo platforms and a high-low hemline skirt in a hot minute. The Southern woman isn’t limited to just one archetypal “look” anymore. We get to be a different person every day of the week if we choose.

5.       What’s the Talluah girl like? Where would she wear a dress, for example? And can you describe the inspiration behind the two collections?

“Tallulah” is Native American and means ‘leaping waters’, which is the best way to describe a Tallulah girl. She’s natural but fierce and beautiful in a timeless way. Her energy is refreshing and she’s every girl’s best friend. I really try to design pieces that reflect these images; that’s why there will be a few very sweet sun dresses mixed with structured pieces with more powerful hues. 
A Tallulah girl wears a dress every day! Both collections have casual looks that are great for day, as well as snappier dresses that are perfect for a night on the town. Looks from the Tallulah line are meant to be closet pieces that you live your life in, not pieces that are only pulled out for one event. The inspiration for the Spring ’12 collection came from playing with the idea of being both bold and bashful. We all have our sweet ‘ballet flats and nude lipstick’ days, but we also have our ‘I could conquer the world today!’ days. You should have apparel for both! The Fall ’12 collection inspiration came from my obsession with rich fabrics. In the summers I prefer light cottons and easy silks, but my true joy – my favorite textiles- are luxurious leathers and wools and suedes. The hand is heavier and allows for superb structure and subtle details. I am so excited to share the full Fall Collection in the months ahead. 

For more information on Tallulah’s Designs, please visit the website: http://www.tallulahfaire.com
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TallulahsDesigns& Twitter: @TallulahFaire
The Tallulah S/S ‘12 line is currently carried at the following retailers:
Birmingham:
    City Arts Boutique – http://www.cityartsboutique.com/  
  Molly Green – http://www.mollygreenboutique.com/
New Orleans:
        Hattie Sparks – www.hattiesparks.com   
 Abeille NOLA – http://www.abeillenola.com/
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Categories
decor flowers guest

Decorate with Flowers in Southern Style

While I’ve always loved a lush, almost garishly colorful front yard I’m seriously lacking in gardening skills. Patricia Hall of Serenata Flowers shows us how to brighten up your home with flowers. And no, they aren’t the plastic ones that my grandma has in her front yard. I’m not making that up. -Christy

Flowers grow abundantly in the South, and they are expressions of love for nature’s beauty and the home. Fresh flowers from a garden or landscape are beautiful anywhere, but flower ordering makes them available for entertaining or enjoying any time of the year.

A cut bouquet brings an air of elegance and distinction to a southern home that is unequalled. A welcoming home in New Orleans, Savannah or Charleston always includes a variety of flowers in treasured vases for friends and family to enjoy. Favorites include Fuji mums, gerbera daisies and freesia to create an abundance of color that distinguishes the rooms of a gracious hostess. The bright whiteness of the freesia flower creates a distinct contrast with the colors in an arrangement. Following in the southern tradition that reflects a preference for sweetness, freesia fits beautifully as an accent in any bouquet. Hydrangeas are typically very showy plants that are remarkably beautiful in the pastel colors that complement a home’s décor.








Orchids and lilies add elegance to a room


Orchids provide gorgeous blooms in many shades that range from white to pink that extends to deep purple, breathtaking as an indoor arrangement. They are available all year round as fresh flowers, and they hold up very well for table arrangements. A few stems of lilies make an excellent accompaniment with their stately shape and appearance in a tall crystal vase. Such an arrangement on a table in the foyer welcomes friends and family with an unmistakable aura of southern hospitality.



Lilies are an especially good choice for several reasons. The long bloom time makes them a durable flower to consider for an arrangement, and the beauty and elegance they add are second only to their delightful fragrance. While lilies may cost a little more than some flowers, their extraordinary beauty and long-lasting quality make them a favorite in many homes.








A southern tradition of sweetness and beauty


A hallmark of a traditional southern home, true of New Orleans and other southern cities, is the abundant display of vibrant colors in flower bouquets. Likely coming from a tradition that encouraged the cultivation of gardens, southern families still enjoy the fragrance of flowers in the home. With so many activities available today that compete for time and attention, many families now choose a reliable service for fresh flowers delivered on a regular basis. Seasonal flower arrangements provide a delicate touch of color to any room, especially when they accent the chosen shades in the décor.



The dining room is frequently the heart of the home, and it is an ideal location for a flower bouquet set in a deep cut-glass bowl. White tapers add immensely to the elegance of the display, bringing a sense of warm and welcome to the room. Many flowers in the south exude a delicate, sweet aroma, and it is a lovely scent to have wafting around the room. Roses brim with color and aroma, and they are the classic flower to use in almost any arrangement. Small sprigs of Confederate jasmine add a light scent of the old south that is delicate and sweet.

The southern expression “beauty is as beauty does” sums up the importance of always displaying flowers in the home. They silently represent the love of beauty and the important role that it plays in the functioning of a gracious, southern home.








About the Author


Patricia Hall works part-time for an online florist in the uk and loves to surround herself with flowers at any given point of time. Even in her free time she loves to involve herself with everything flora and fauna.
'To me there is nothing more beautiful and global as the language of flowers - it is the easiest to understand all around the world in the same way. That is one reason why I truly admire flowers for what they represent in some ways - unity of all mankind!'
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Categories
magazine street new orleans secondhand vintage

Exclusive Photoshoot: Blue Dream Vintage Part 2

If you didn’t catch the first part of this photo shoot last week you can see it here. 

 Inside of Revival Outpost there’s a store within a store. Blue Dream Vintage complements the rest of the inventory but stands alone thanks to owner Akasha Rabut’s keen eye for mint condition, one of a kind vintage clothing, accessories, and household items. 

“Blue Dream is heavily curated by myself and my boyfriend Sam, who is also my business partner. Sam and I are obsessed with collecting old objects and clothing which is why we opened Blue Dream.  Everything in the shop is personalized and has a story. All of our fixtures are hand made by Sam from old cypress and other trees native to New Orleans, we even hand painted our floors! All of our items are hand picked by the two of us and have been gathered from around the country. We staunchly believe in recycling the old and supporting artisans and independent designers. In addition to vintage clothing and goods we also carry cold press soap, beeswax candles, household items, plants and terrariums.”

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Categories
festivals french quarter local flavor new orleans southern street style what i wore

French Quarter Festival

Sunglasses & dress, Buffalo Exchange
Melissa shoes, Nordstrom Rack
It’s fest season y’all! What the hell does that mean? Eating your weight in fried food, humidity, throngs of people, bike rides, live music, slathering on sunscreen, day drinking, running into old friends, and having lots of fun. We went to French Quarter Festival this weekend, what did you do?
My friend Kasimu Harris of Parish Chic

How we roll. Not my bike but I wish it was.
My sweet friends Corey and Hattie Collins.
Fish tacos from G. W. Fins

A lush French Quarter balcony 
Life imitates art imitates life- painter creating art via her marionette puppet

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Categories
charity events secondhand

Buffalo Exchange Earth Day Dollar Sale

While everyone is gearing up for festival season we can’t forget about Earth Day, an important time to make a difference with the daily choices we make. Each year, Buffalo Exchange hosts a Dollar Day Sale to help raise awareness of this important day and donate money to one of their favorite charities, The Humane Society of the United States. On Saturday, April 21 each store across the country will set up racks ou, with men’s and women’s clothing and accessories for a mere $1.00. All proceeds will go to the Humane Society, and it’s a great way to stock up your spring closet on the cheap and help the environment at the same time. Since 1997, Buffalo Exchange has raised over $345,000 for environmental causes during these Earth Day sales events.The store will be open our normal summer hours, 11:00am-8:00pm.


From the Buffalo Exchange website:


Save ocean animals while shopping for hip used clothing at a bargain. In celebration of Earth Day, Buffalo Exchange is recognizing the work of The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, and its international arm, Humane Society International, in helping to protect ocean animals. All proceeds from the sale of items offered for one dollar each at your local Buffalo Exchange on April 21 will go The HSUS and HSI. The oceans are home to millions of animals. From whales to polar bears, sharks to sea turtles, marine mammals to the smallest fish — each plays a vital role in the life of the ocean. The health of ocean ecosystems is critical to each animal’s survival, and to the health of our planet. Earth Day benefits at Buffalo Exchange stores have raised over $345,000 for environmental causes since 1997.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the nation’s largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. Humane Society International (HSI) is the international arm of The HSUS. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty. 
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Categories
guest louisiana menswear new orleans mens fashion

Southern Gent: Dressing Well With Kenny Rubenstein


This post is the second in a four part series. Each Thursday in April Kenny Rubenstein, General Manager of Rubensteins, will dole out simple ways to spruce up your wardrobe. The men’s only store is celebrating it’s 88th year in business this month, and we couldn’t be more pleased to help them celebrate. Please see the first post here.

Accessories make the look- image c/o VK Nagrani







What’s a good way to update pieces that you already own to make them feel fresh? 

    Accessories!
      
    Buy a new tie. I always buy two ties for each suit/sportcoat because I never know how I might feel on a certain day.  Bright or dark, bold or subtle, patterned or solid.  I have days where I put a suit on with the same shirt and tie and I think, “This again?”  I pick out a new tie and presto! I feel reborn.

    Add a colorful pocket square to your coat! This works whether you are wearing a tie with the coat or not. It adds a fresh look to what you have been seeing on yourself day after day.

    Buy a new pair of Shoes. Try a shoe like the new brown suede Dacio from Donald Pliner.  You may have a brown slipon, but this one is a rich suede and has a blue contrast stitch. While it isn’t a bold shoe, it has a great new eye appeal that everyone will notice. 

    The secret to freshing up your wardrobe is to pick an item that has that little something extra.   Whether it’s orange trim on the pocket square, a hint of pink in the tie, or a unique texture to a shoe.   Of course you could do what I do- buy a fun pair of socks from V.K. Nagrani or Overdafut.  Any outfit will look fresh when you sport a new pair of colorful, patterned socks.
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    Categories
    events freelance writer

    Slow Southern Style Contributor’s Meetup

    Given the overwhelmingly positive response to our call for writers and photographers, we’re throwing a meetup to help generate ideas for the upcoming months. If you are a first time contributor or a friend of the site, we are expanding and want to include you! Whether it’s coming up with your own original content or taking a stab at our editorial calendar, anyone who’s interested can attend.
    What: Slow Southern Style Contributor’s Meetup
    Why: A general meet & greet and brainstorming session
    When: Sunday, April 22nd 4:00pm
    Where: RSVP for location details

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