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PROPAGANDA at the New Orleans Bookfair & Media Expo

I’ve got a little somethin’ somethin’ happening. Along with my project partners, I’m debuting an exciting new venture I’m involved in at the New Orleans Bookfair & Media Expo today. Find out more about the expo via my Uptown Messenger article (yea, I’m double dipping in the self promotion) and I’ll see you between 11am-6pm today. Can’t make it out? Don’t worry, all will be revealed soon.

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NOLAFW Construct Jewelry & Amanda deLeon Recap

by Meghan Wright

My favorite part of New Orleans Fashion week is getting to see first hand the local talent we have and the creativity of our local designers. It isn’t just about New York and Paris, all of those people had to come from somewhere and I’m convinced some of our locals will one day be there.  I was very excited to check out Construct Jewelry and Amanda deLeon’s presentations, and was definitely not disappointed.
(Click on the photos to make them larger and see more detail)

Construct Jewelry

So I might be a bit of a nerd for all things local, and I am certainly a lover of all things vintage. Construct Jewelry is a wonderful combination of those two elements. Designer Lauren Eckstein takes those beautiful, rare vintage pieces I love and revamps them to give them a more modern feel, but without losing their classic touch.

 The presentation itself was an interesting one. A lovely room at the soon-to-be art gallery, restaurant and music venue Cellar Door was decorated with Lauren’s pieces and very patient models wearing them. They sat posed, like breathing mannequins while we made our way around the room viewing the pieces. I like the way it was presented, we all got to see how the pieces could be worn, and how they actually looked on a person rather than laid out delicately on a table. They weren’t flying by in a runway setting demanding a second look.

Amanda deLeon

Amanda deLeon is not one to lose focus on detail. Her presentation was small, but it was extravagant. When one thinks of fringe, they typically think of the flapper style of the ’20s or the boho style of the ’60s and ’70s. Amanda took fringe and made some fantastic pieces that one would not expect. The fringe pants had me drooling, until during the show a box was opened and out came a be-fringed (new word y’all) ballerina. Thinking of the work that went into those pieces made my lazy brain start to ache.

It was all so delicate, there was creme wool and purple silk adorned with intricately placed sequins. It was not as dark as Amanda’s usual fair, but still took classic pieces and materials and sent them away on an acid trip. The glitter-coated riding caps showed exactly how she adds fantastic madness to polished pieces. As I’ve said a thousand times, I cannot wait for her next collection.

Here’s some detail on those amazing pants

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sweater weather, for now

It finally got cold y’all, for now at least. It’s time to bust out the sweaters and layer, layer layer. Down here in New Orleans, you never know what the weather will be like. At this time of year, I opt to wear a tank top, blouse, sweater, or any similar combo. It can be nippy in the morning and downright humid in the afternoon, so adding and subtracting clothes throughout the day is a necessity.
 I’m not sure why I’m fond of elbow length sweaters- they’re kind of an oxymoron but in this unpredictable climate they just make sense. After all, what better way to complement your thin tee shirt than a pair of elbow length wool knit gloves? Bundle up y’all.

Sweater- Lia Molly
V-neck tee- Everlane
Skirt- Everybody’s Buying Vintage
Calvin Klein belt- Buffalo Exchange 
Earrings- Elle Dee NOLA
Velvet rhinestone flats- Swap Boutique

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Cavortress at Voodoo Music Fest

Halloween in New Orleans is huge. In addition to the costumed people watching happening on Frenchman Street, Voodoo Music Fest brings hoards of festival goers to the city, coming to celebrate all weekend long. With this many events going on, having a stash of costumes at the ready is practically a requirement to being allowed into the Big Easy.

 Charleston based swimsuit line Cavortress (read my Oxford American piece on the brand) will be at Voodoo this year, with plenty of costume accessories to keep you looking festive if you came unprepared for the party. Custom tutus, devil horns, animal ear and tail sets, and Swarovski magic wants are just some of designer Julie Wheat’s pieces that she’ll be hawking in addition to vintage ensembles. Go check out her booth at Voodoo and make sure you tell her Slow Southern Style sent ya!

And a (slightly naughty) video.
Cavortress in New Orleans at Voodoo for Halloween from Cavortress on Vimeo.

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Cocktail as Art Competition at L’Entrepot Gallery


FREE DRINKS

How’s that for an attention grabber? While I don’t condone attending events just got get good n’ liquored up on someone else’s dime, Bombay Sapphire needs to borrow your taste buds to help select the official cocktail for Art for Art’s Sake. Might as well heed the call, right?


A panel of five New Orleans bartenders will be concocting a signature cocktail, which will then be voted on by the event attendees. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served up from Carmo Cafe and door prizes too.  Gin ain’t your thing? There will also be a cash bar for other liquor and non-alcoholic drinks. Swing by L’Entrepot Gallery this Saturday from 6-9pm.


For more info or to RSVP check out the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/104407079714465/


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Soap Dude: So fresh and so clean in Baton Rouge

I’m not the type of gal that has a medicine cabinet brimming with beauty potions, age defying serums, and imported oils that guarantees to make my hair as thick and as a horse’s mane or my money back. The fact that I have a Birchbox subscription is deceiving- try as I may to up my beauty regime I always rely to my tried and true products.

 One thing I do indulge in on a daily basis is handmade soap. None of that artificial, chemical smelling stuff or dried out skin for my inner hippie. One of my new favorites is The Soap Dude. Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Jeff Loquist tempted me with two samples of his suds, so how could I say no? Read on to find out how he got started out with soap, and some other random questions I subjected him to. Pick up a bar for yourself here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSoapDude

Image c/o The Soap Dude

Can you describe the soap making process?

 Ah, the soap making process. I actually use the hot process method to make soap. There isn’t a lot of difference other than I can have the soap ready for use in a few hours rather than weeks and there is a bit more danger to the whole ordeal, which is how I got into soap making in the first place.

Why soap?

My wife, Sara came to me one day and said “let’s make soap”. I was a little apprehensive at first as it seemed like a lot of work, but I figured I would help out anyway. Turns out the use of lye was a little more danger than she was into, but I was hooked from the first batch. I get a kick out of mixing scents and am currently trying to make scents that will mimic things I love, like beer, scotch and cigars 🙂
And now for the hard hitting questions:
Favorite local beer
I’m as big fan of a good ale and Tin Roof’s American Blonde Ale is probably one of my favorites.
Best place to get a bite to eat in Baton Rouge
Man, up until this past weekend I would have sat here for a while thinking about it, but Frankie’s Dawg House is AMAZING. Great specialty dogs. You have to try the…man..I can’t think of the new name, but they used to call it the Chuck Norris. Wrapped in bacon, chili, cheese, grilled onions and jalapenos…so good.
I wouldn’t be caught dead without {fill in the blank}
a notebook and something to write with.
Share a brief funny hurricane evacuation (or staycation) story.
We just recently moved into our new house and one of the things that sealed the deal was all of the great old trees. I was sitting on the couch the day before Isaac hit looking out the window. The trees started swaying, i looked at Sara and said “maybe the trees weren’t such a good idea”. Sure enough, the next day we got a branch through the window before the storm even got started.
Name one reason why you love Louisiana.
Can I wrap up a couple in one? The weather, the culture and being within driving distance to a beach.
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Hurricane Isaac

Nash Roberts- a hurricane legend

We’re hunkering down for Hurricane Isaac at Slow Southern Style headquarters- with extra toilet paper, kitty litter, and enough bottled water to last us for a while.  Pandemonium ensues anytime there’s a storm in the Gulf of Mexico, and this time is no different. Growing up on the Gulf Coast, I’ve learned that the only thing predictable about hurricanes is their unpredictable nature. I’ve rode out some bad storms, and I’ve evacuated for no good reason. You just never know.

As I’m writing this on Monday night, things might change by Tuesday morning. We could get a category 5, or we could get an extra breezy day off work. While everyone is working themselves into a tizzy, I’m reminding myself that my house didn’t flood for Katrina and my grandparents have a generator should I need the luxury of air conditioning. Whatever your decision, stay safe my friends.

{Edited to add: Looks like we are in for a category one. }

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A Call For New Orleans Artists

 I took two years of art class in high school, thinking a little instruction would do me good. I’ve never been a natural talent when it comes to sketching or painting, but somehow I  made it into the National Art Honor Society and won a department award. I think it was one part hard work, two parts the teacher feeling sorry for me. Having peaked my sophomore year, my rudimentary skills have dwindled to glorified stick figures. Needless to say, I’m sitting this one out but if you’ve got real talent and live in the New Orleans area, enter your original artwork in the 2012 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series in New Orleans, hosted by Cathedral Creative Studios and L’entrepot Gallery.

All local 2D and 3D visual artists may submit original artwork before August 24, 2012. Participants will be featured at L’entrepot Gallery on Julia Street. Winners will earn the opportunity to compete at Art Basel Miami, with the chance to exhibit at Rush Arts Gallery in New York.  Submit your work at the Bombay Sapphire website or contact info@cathedralnola.com or 504-333-6713 for more information. 
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Secondline Jewels

written by JeLlyn Morvant
A reflection of a shared love for handmade, UPcycling, music and jewels.

Secondline is a representation of her southern roots,her second line of handmade
jewelry and the second life of broken drum cymbals.All growing from a gift her
husband made her with a piece from a broken drum cymbal. It seems he may
have inspired that niche she was searching for. I recall her journey clearly, she
would often get discouraged with faint spells of wanting to give up but like most
natural born creative types she could not stop creating. It’s just the nature of
creativity and inspiration. A special little life lesson, through love and
perseverance greatness can be attained.



In her own words taken from here and said so well.
“SECOND LINE JEWELS was born on the bayou of south Louisiana when a 
multi talented musician stepped into his wife’s world of jewelry design, and made her 
a necklace using one of his broken drum cymbals. This gift inspired a whole line of 
accessories combining the couple’s love of music and jewels. Second line is mostly 
created using chunks of upcycled brass drum cymbals along with other metals, including 
salvaged copper, sterling silver, and gold. Accents of precious/semi precious stones, 
vintage treasures, and random oddities are thrown in for an overall look that just rocks. 
Hard.”  
Roz’s father and hubby are both percussionist, an art she has been exposed to since
she was a little girl. She is thrilled to have found a place for these heavy metals in her
work. Her collection is evolving and developing one piece at a time into something
uniquely beautiful. An expression of her own rhythm, consisting of what used to beat to
a different drum.

To upcycle and reuse is a part of her families everyday life and this is clear before you even 
walk through the door of their gypsy fenced yard.  A stones throw from downtown Lafayette 
is where Roz lives with her young family and where she creates her jewels of interest.  
Beautifully selected natural stone, an assortment of vintage treasures along with with hand cut,
shaped, filed, sanded and drilled drum cymbals combine to make her one of kind collection of    Secondline Jewels.
What would be your ideal way to spend your day?
sleep in, yoga, healthy lunch , make jewels, dinner with the fam, hot bath in the claw foot, 
a little DIY tv, early bedtime
What is your favorite thing about being a maker?
I can create whatever I want for others to enjoy and keep my most favorite pieces for myself.. 
as advertisement , of course!
What inspires you?
Pictures are very inspirational… if I feel a connection to it I try to create my version of that 
image, whether it be a piece of jewelry or a style of clothing, so I can have it for myself. 
I also love mixing shiny and earthy elements together- it feels necessary to achieve a balance 
of the two. I love rocks and stones..  I am amazed at what beauty lies in our earth.

What has been your biggest challenge along your creative journey? And your greatest joy?
MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE has been to find the time to create! I have 3 children now:
one in high school, one just starting school, and an infant. I think the inconsistency of
creating has been the culprit in whats taken so long for me to finally find my ‘niche’ 
in this business. 
MY BIGGEST JOY is to look back and see how far I’ve evolved, style wise, at what I do. ..
and I’m so excited about everything I have yet to learn, as well!

What advice have you learned along your way that has made a big impression on you, that you 
hold dear?
a wise girl once told me:
‘ITS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE.. THERE IS NO . NEW CONCEPT- 
JUST OUR OWN UNIQUE VERSION OF ART.’ Somehow that took this huge 
pressure off of me and reminded me that the wheel has already been created, 
I just have to create my interpretation of it to be able to ride! It helped me to stop 
constantly comparing my work to others’. I believe her advice applies to all modalities 
of art. I think it’s important to impress this concept on kids , especially, so they can grow 
up being less critical of themselves and more accepting of their own and others’ creations.
Where would you like to see yourself creatively in the next year or two?

In the very near future, like ASAP, my goal is to quit my day job and work at home. 

Raising my babies. Where a mother belongs. as long as I can remember, I’ve longed for 
a creative niche. I’ve explored many styles and modalities of crafting, trying to bring it all 
together in one line that I can market and earn a decent living from. To have my passion 
feed me mentally, spiritually, and physically is my idea of the American dream. But no matter 
what, I want my kids to see me practice what I love everyday so they know it’s an important 
thing to do.

What do you admire most about being a southern gal? If you could live anywhere else where 
would you go?

Being a southern gal is almost an indescribable feeling to me. It’s like being part of the 
coolest club ever! It gives me license to be charming and sweet yet hard core all at the 
same time. A tough cookie in a big grand vintage dress with cowboy boots on:) If I could 
live anywhere it would be right here except add clear watering holes( I can’t relax in muddy water)and more outdoor activities that don’t require a boat. Honestly, I think I was born 
in the south for a reason. The strong sense of family that we are raised with here is such 
a blessing- one that I want to give to my children. I love adventures, but I know where 
my heart lives.

…and she thinks she’s not that interesting!  I believe she is in fact.
A wife, mother of 3, massage therapist and a maker.  She doesn’t have much free time 
but for the most part thats how she likes it. She likes having things to do and like me 
she likes getting things done.  Maybe our strong bond has something to do with that or the
fact that her middle and my eldest are only a year apart while her hubby is one of my oldest, 
best’est’, closest friends ever. Also she introduced my hubby and I. Set us up even. For months preceding our meeting she would tell me “there is someone you need to meet I think he is your soulmate” and she would tell him the same thing.  Both of us had newly healing hearts from 
failed relationships and would respond the same way ‘please, I am not interested’.  Funny enough 
it only took one meeting and we both had instant crushes, a year later we were married and 
now 4 years later we are happy and thriving.  I guess I should add matchmaker as a word 
to describe her.




















<> Roz pictured here with her hubby <>

Rozalyn Galyean. An eclectic spirit who does things her own way. She is determined 
and overtly creative. A prime example of following your path steadfastly. No matter 
how rocky or bumpy, stay true to yourself and your passion with your eyes and heart 
open to the inspiration that surrounds you. Do not let the challenges discourage you. 
Let your dreams prevail. Keep creating!
You can visit her online at SecondlineJewels.com. 
She was mentioned before right here on SSS and she is 1/4 of boho mercantile.
WEBSITE // SHOP // BLOG
From one southern belle to another,
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What I Wore: Saturday Brunch on Magazine Street

Summertime humidity, too damn hot, I’m miserable, only wear natural fabrics,  blah blah blah. All I do from now until October is bitch about the heat and bad hair days. So anything that forces me to get out of the air conditioned house is a welcome excuse, especially if food and good company are involved. My friend Dorothy and I were invited to the grand opening of Delta Angel, a new restaurant inside the St. Vincent Guest House. The restaurant is quirky with  healthier options and plenty of vegetarian fare, which is a rarity in New Orleans.  Check them out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Meet Dorothy Young

Meet Dorothy’s bracelets
Delta Angel Restaurant
Ahi tuna salad 
Ring c/o Bygone Beads
See that? That’s my serious face.
earrings- Armoire, belt -Funky Monkey
chambray polka dot dress- Liz Claiborne via Buffalo Exchange

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