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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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NOLA Fashion Week: Style Sightings

Image c/o Lizzie Ford-Madrid Photography
From runway shows, catching up with old friends, chatting with designers, photographers, PR people, and all other sorts of creative types, NOLA fashion week is quickly turning into a twice yearly community gathering for the fashion set. Meghan Wright and I are bringing you coverage of several runway shows in the upcoming weeks, but for now here are some favorite faces we ran into.  Also check out my girl Leslie Almeida’s recap on her site.

with Charle’
Blouse, skirt, and Saint Claude necklace via Hattie Sparks
(for detail shots go to our Facebook album)
Amanda deLeon tunic
Banana Republic leggings
nelson+little necklace
Nine West booties via Buffalo Exchange

Andrea Loest + Amanda deLeon in their own designs

Leslie Almeida + Lindsey Strong
NOLA Fashion Week Creative Director Andi Eaton + jewelry designer Douriean Fletcher

Charle’ Washington + Dorothy Young

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NOLA Fashion Week

NOLA Fashion Week is back for their fourth season and with an array of seminars, fashion shows, and parties it’s going to be a jam packed week of things to do. Along with Meghan Wright I will be covering some of the shows and events, spanning October 13-20. Get the full NOLA Fashion Week schedule here, or check out our own special selection of events below.

Sunday October 14th
Construct Jewelry 4:00pm
Amanda deLeon 5:00pm
(read Amanda’s Oxford American write up here)
Cellar Door 916 Lafayette St.

Monday October 15th
Millinery with Sigourney Morrison 4:30pm
Goorin Bros. 2123 Magazine St. 
Tuesday October 16th
Libellule 7:00pm
Isavel Varela 8:00pm
The Saratoga 212 Loyola Ave.
Wednesday October 17th
Mesdress 7:00pm
Loretta Jane 8:00pm
The Saratoga 
Thursday October 18th
Iacono 6:30pm
Kallen Forster 7:30 pm
Jolie & Elizabeth 8:30 pm
(Read their Oxford American profile here)
The dope. Game 9:30 pm
The Saratoga
Friday October 19th
Brennan Manuel 7:30 pm
Andrea Loest 9:30 pm 
The Saratoga
Saturday October 20th
Tallulah 5:00pm
Union Lofts Rooftop
334 Carondelet 

Sunday October 21st
Garden Games: A trunk show with Tallulah Designs
Hattie Sparks 714 Adams St.
Izavel Varela look

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Made & Made by Tiia Maria

 I discovered Finland native Tiia Maria’s line of handmade hats Made & Made at the Frenchman Art Market just a few weeks ago and was instantly smitten with her perfect toppers. What drew me in was the quality and detail in her designs- teeny fascinators are adorned with kitty ears and a birdcage veil. Slightly cheeky and not too precious these are the perfect toppers to add a glamorous touch without being too over the top. Learn more about Made & Made on their Facebook page after finding out about the brand in the interview below.



Why hats? How did you get started as a milliner?

Up until a couple of years ago, I spent most of my time studying, writing and reading. I have a Masters in Adult Education, but I felt like the career path it was taking me on wasn’t creative enough. I also wanted to do something with my hands. I love the process of shaping felt hats. Millinery is like sculpting but only with felt and other materials. I also want hats to make a come back because it makes dressing much more interesting.
I’m interested in vintage clothing and hats are a big part of that. I admire old hats and I have been collecting vintage hats for many years. Two years ago I did a few millinery courses in Finland and after that I wanted to learn more.
Flora Turban Hat

You’re from Finland originally. How long have you been in New Orleans, and what sparked the move?

I moved here in December 2011 after falling in love with the city on an earlier visit. New Orleans is a very creative environment and new ideas and faces are welcome. Moving to New Orleans gave me a chance to do something completely different and really focus on my craft. I also enjoy the warm weather and sun!

Your hats have a decidedly vintage feel to them. How do you keep them feeling modern and wearable for everyday life vs. feeling like a costume?

My hats have a vintage feel because I use real vintage materials: laces from the 1920s, feathers from the 1940s, fur felt from the 1960s and much more. Even the wooden molds I shape the hats on are authentic hat blocks, many over 60 years old. I love using these antique materials because they are absolutely unique and very good quality too. There’s nothing quite like a piece of 1930s black veiling and you only get to use it once. Using these kinds of tools and materials makes each piece incredibly special.
I try to keep the trimming and decoration simple to avoid the costume look, the result is that each hat is modern and refined but shows its vintage roots. The materials – fur felt, silk, veiling, grosgrain ribbon – are quite beautiful, so rather than embellish each piece with lots of decoration, these special materials are given their own space. I make headpieces for special occasions but also have hats that are wearable every day. I want to keep my hats modern to show that you don’t need a vintage hairdo or classic outfit to wear a great hat.

Besides your site and the Frenchman Art Market, where are you selling your hats?

Visit www.madeandmade.com for the complete collection, and in New Orleans you can find Made & Made pieces at Bon Castor and Trashy Diva too.

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KC Thomassie Designs

I’m usually down for a good runway show, but the amount of work  that goes into a 15 minute event gets lost in the excitement sometimes. Never satisfied with a perfunctory viewing, I need to handle the goodies to really appreciate the craftsmanship, especially when intricate handiwork is involved. After attending New Orleans’ RAW natural born artists show a few weeks ago at 12 Bar, I got up close and personal with some of the pieces that Kaci Thomassie sent down the catwalk for their inaugural showcase.


Kaci works with new and re-purposed materials, breathing life into vintage fabrics. Silk taffeta ruffles that once adorned a pillow are transformed into a slinky bolero, with the addition of chain necklaces accentuating the back. An old fashioned cameo turns into a clever necklace, juxtaposed with brown suede, crystals, and feathers. Her work maintains a sense of modernity yet retains a nod to the first half of the 20th century. The pieces aren’t necessarily practical, yet they escape being categorized as too precious for everyday wear.  Kaci is all about taking the fanciful and putting a touch of everyday wearability to her work.  After all, it’s New Orleans, and no one will look twice if you take to the streets in a cherry blossom wire headband.

For event photos go to the Slow Southern Style Facebook page but be sure to check out the rest of the collection here. To purchase, visit her Etsy shop.

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RAW: natural born artists in New Orleans

Join Slow Southern Style favorite Kaci Thomassie for a night of fashion, art, music, film, and performance art as she participates in Solstice, put on by RAW: natural born artists.  This independent arts organization carefully selects up and coming artists in 54 cities and provides them with resources and exposure to grow in their respective disciplines. Catch their first New Orleans show this Thursday at 12 Bar on Fulton Street from 8:00pm until midnight. Dress code is cocktail attire, tickets can be purchased on RAW’s website.

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Andrea Loest Online Trunk Show and Sale

Photo collage c/o Megan Hargroder of Conversations

I have a confession- I’m a very selfish person. Just ask my husband- I always make sure we’re even steven when splitting a pint of ice cream, or indulging in a bottle of wine. So when Andrea Loest invited me to check out her trunk show before it was released to the public, I called a friend (hey- I’m not that greedy) and set a date to see the designs in person to get first dibs.



Andrea serves up one of a kind dresses, all handmade in New Orleans. Her creations normally retail between $600-$800 but you can get your own unique frock for a paltry $100. No two are exactly alike, but they each carry her signature style – lots of decorative stitching, repurposed fabrics, and custom dye jobs.  Make your purchase at her online store, or check it out in person at her studio by setting an appointment via e-mail to andrealoest@gmail.com. It’s a fun way to have your own private shopping experience with a friend or two. And make sure to tell her Slow Southern Style sent ya!
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Oxford American presents: Sewn In The South

Oxford American, which touts itself as “The Southern Magazine of Good Writing”, is revamping their website with fresh content and “all-star” columnists. There’s everything from fashion, film, food, art, music and literature.  I’m pleased and extremely honored to be a part of their new digital endeavors with my bi-weekly column, Sewn in the South. From well established brands to skilled individuals just starting out, my focus is on discovering talent below the Mason-Dixon line.

My first feature is a brand that’s well on its way to being classified as an iconic New Orleans label. Jolie & Elizabeth have managed to make seersucker cool again, with their line of dresses, skirts, and pants. Whether they’re sticking to a traditional look or incorporating the latest trends, these ladies really understand what their customers want.

Read the Jolie & Elizabeth profile here, and don’t forget to check out the other columns as well.

original sketch c/o Jolie & Elizabeth

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