Category: mannequin mondays

The best boutiques are the ones that you walk in and instantly get the person’s perspective. I detest walking into a shop and seeing the same 6 brands stocked that everyone else in town carries.

Milton and Rachael of Pack Rats aim to break the mold by offering up one of a kind items that you won’t find anywhere else. Their shop, located in Columbia, South Carolina, opened  in June 2010 and 100% of their stock is vintage (not retro) and handmade items.

Rachael has been a professional crafter for over two years and creates all sorts of knitted items. She specializes in berets and beanies but also makes scarves and occasionally sells vintage items in her Etsy shop as well.

Let’s face it, sometimes it is hard to stay motivated to work out. Lately I’ve been bad at hitting the gym and even though I ride my bike to work most days I’ve been feeling the extra holiday pounds waiting to spring up and attack. One thing that always helps to get me motivated to move my butt is new gym clothes. Call me crazy but a newly purchased cardio appropriate ensemble  is just as much motivation as an extra love handle popping up.

Life yoga + boutique on Magazine St. also appreciates my physical philosphies, which is evident with these fun window displays. Not only is this location a yoga studio but they sell everything you need to look cool even when you are working up a sweat.

With popular brands such as Lululemon, Hardtail, and local favorite Thriv you are sure to find what moves you. So what do you do when you find yourself in a workout wear slump?

One thing I love is a well edited boutique that really displays the owners vision and style. Elizabeth Laird does just that at Fairy. The shop opened in September of 2001 in the Garden District and has been in its current location nearby Whole Foods on Magazine St. for four years.

 Elizabeth says:

“I wanted to  open a store that I would want to shop in.  I strive to find unique, items with a little quirkiness (you won’t find a lot of basics or pants).  It is also very important to me to have fair prices.  I don’t target a particular age group.  I target a particular customer.  She likes to travel, read, she has a sense of humor ( a little twisted).  She is into art and music as well as good food.  She likes clothes with a feminine edge. When I first opened, I would get upset when someone came in and didn’t find my selection to their liking.  Now, I appreciate the fact that ” Fairy is not for everyone”.  When the right person comes in, it makes all of my hard work so worthwhile.”

 Of course Fairy has its own special little guardian,Toulouse. His cheeky personality is a perfect fit with the store and he’s even amassed a fan club all his own..

Fairy is also located next door to Pixie, a fabulous cosmetics store owned by makeup artistKatie Seghers Malone opened Pixie next door.  Katie has a huge following for her brow shaping, offers Fantasy Tan and stocks hard to find indie cosmetics brands.  Fairy and Pixie are both offering a 10% discount to all readers starting Black Friday.  Just use the code “slowsouthernstyle” to get the discount.

Yet another obsession of mine that I picked up in Arizona is vintage western wear and cowboy boots are obviously on that list. Even though I don’t wear mine often I still lust over a good pair. I’m also a big nerd and have two books on the subject. (Buying hint: Look for boots with a hand finished sole. You’ll see pegs that lie flush in the arch, a sure sign of a good boot.)

If you are in the market for a new pair Feet First  has a great selection of boots and just how I like ’em- fancy schmancy.  

I’m a sucker for a good inlay and these red, black and white beauties are no exception!

This pair from nicole is what I call a “fashion boot” in that an actual boot maker didn’t produce it. However they are equally as fabulous and I love that chain detail.

Feet First

New Orleans, LA

4119 Magazine St.

(504) 899-6800

&

526 Royal St.

(504) 569-0005

As an average sized woman living in New Orleans I find boutique shopping either exhilarating or maddening. Depending on the owner small shops often cater to a particular style or body type leaving some people empty handed. Erin Hebert, owner of Armoire, decided to open her Magazine Street shop this past August and cater to a variety of shapes and sizes. Her stock has a wide range, from size 0 to size 20, and everything in the store has an affordable price tag of $100 and under with most pieces hovering around $30-$70.

A simple silhouette and bold necklace pairing is always a chic choice.

I spy my latest obsession on the left, one shouldered dresses!

This weeks Mannequin Monday features yet another Magazine St. boutique, Ah-ha. The shop is run by the daughters of the Rubenstein family but the ladies don’t advertise and have no online presence aside from online reviews.

 Instead they rely on their great location, word of mouth, and make good use of the big, wrap around windows. I used to live just two blocks from the store and I’d always get lured in by the consistently great displays. On a dinner date to the Rum House and Sucre this past weekend their displays did again and I had to stop and inspect each and every one. This white dress with a red wrap and bold accessories certainly shows how to take a summer dress, make it fall appropriate, and look great doing it all at once.