This holiday season Bourbon & Boots, one of my favorite online retailers, is giving you a chance to win a $5000 shopping spree with their Pinterest contest Bourbon & Boots: Christmas is on us. Simply create a board, pin your favorite Bourbon & Boots products, and encourage your friends and family to repin. To help get you started I’ve created my own board on Pinterest, highlighting some of our favorites (my sis is helping me pin away), and be sure to create your own for a very southern holiday season.
monogram necklace from Abeille NOLA p.s. Xty- short for Christy since my initials CLL are redundant
This it it y’all. September is nearly upon us and the lazy days of summer have been hitting me hard. Maybe it’s the biblical amount of rain we’ve had, coupled with intense heat and humidity but I’ve been savoring my downtime. Weekends have been spent watching documentaries, hanging out with friends, and catching up on forgotten issues of National Geographic. September brings a road trip, a wedding, and preliminary plans for Halloween costumes. Yea, that’ll be here before you know it.
Growing up, I’ve never gave pause to the southern status of the desserts my family made. Everyone eats Bourbon balls and pecan pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas, right? When Southern Living offered to send me a copy of their latest book, Classic Southern Desserts, I hungrily agreed. I’m not much of a baker but this is a good excuse to take a crack at some of those favorites that bring back a flood of memories. On the shopping list? Buy an electric mixer, pronto. My brother is actually the real chef in the family, working at an organic bakery in Kentucky. At least I can bombard him with questions if Maw Maw doesn’t know the answer.
The book is chocked full of every dessert imaginable, from innumerable variations of bread pudding, cobblers, tarts, pies, and cookies. There’s a recipe to satisfy your deepest cravings, no matter the occasion. From classic sugar cookies for an after work treat, lemon tea bread for Sunday brunch, or a cherry bread pudding fit for a special dinner party. If you’re as inexperienced as I am, you’ll appreciate the detailed instructions and photos. In keeping with our tradition for rich storytelling, the anecdotes behind these time honored recipes will keep you entertained and amused. If you’re counting calories, consider this a good excuse to cheat. After all, everything is okay in moderation.
Southern Living Classic Southern Desserts (Oxmoor House, $21.95 paperback) is available for purchase via Amazon.
“Our eyes see beauty in simplicity and modesty and we highly value quality over quantity in every aspect of our lives. All our products share the common thread of craft.”
the summer uniform
‘Thread & Crescentis a New Orleans based lifestyle brand created by brother & sister, Donovan & Mitzi Guidry.’Just a few clicks around their online boutique and their passion for quality and craftsmanship becomes evident. Mitzi’s favorite quote sums up her vision quite well:
“Because there is complexity in purity, Elegance in plainness, Intricacy in streamlining, Richness in reduction, Depth in minimalism, Surprise in uniformity, Innovation in re-use, Cool in the avoidance of cool, And there is true sophistication in simplicity” -MUJI brand philosophy
Mitzi currently resides in Los Angeles, where she’s stayed since studying at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. She now co-owns and operates Los Angeles Leather Craft, a private label leather manufacturer “offering a complete product development service from raw material sourcing & sampling to production & quality management‘.” Having worked alongside skilled and experienced professionals before their previous employer closed its doors leaving all of them unemployed. Mitzi and her team put forth the effort to source their raw supplies from the USA, while keeping the manufacturing talent known to L.A. alive and well. Using this misfortune as an opportunity, the workers come together to create Los Angeles Leather Craft. Goodness happens with vision, heart, passion and bravery. This is Mitzi Guidry ya’ll, born and bred in Louisiana and half of the whole of Thread & Crescent.
you can find this picture and a full article on LAL here
What is your earliest memory of having an interest in fashion?
Growing up in a small town in South Louisiana, we didn’t have a lot of shopping options so my mom would commission an elderly woman in our neighborhood, Mrs. Costen, who was an amazing seamstress to make a lot of our special occasion outfits. Everything from my First Communion dress to my high school dance dresses were made by Mrs. Costen. My mom always let me choose fabrics and as I got older I actually designed these dresses and Mrs Costen would put them together. I was always fascinated by her sewing room tools and the whole process i.e. taking measurements, having fittings and then the idea materializes into something that you wear and feel special in.
Tell us a little something unexpected about yourself in one sentence.
My dream is to be an elementary school Home Ec teacher.
What inspired the idea for Thread & Crescent? When and how did it all begin?
Thread & Crescent has been a dream for my brother and I for maybe 10 years. We’re both obsessed with curation, design, art and home life. We’ve spent hundreds of hours talking about perfect rooms and perfect scenarios. Thread & Crescent is that perfect world where we get to package a lifestyle with finds and creations we love and are inspired to share.
What’s one of your favorite things to do and places to visit when you are back home in New Orleans?
I love music on the patio at Bacchanal in the Bywater. Its a great spot I like to take my west coast friends to and the food is remarkable!http://www.bacchanalwine.com/
How about sharing a little advice with our southern readers, maybe something beneficial you’ve learned along your way that has helped you get where you are today.
Building a network is probably one of the most important things I’ve learned. More than half of the work I get or products I sell come from a personal connection. In exchange I share my resources with friends and colleagues. Now with the internet the playing field is even and everyone has access to the same resources so that part has become easier. Using these tools to foster relationships is what takes effort but that’s where the real payoff can be.
Now available atthreadandcrescent.com withThe Summer UniformandThe Perfect Beltyou can find the Bayou Bohemianindigo dyed hemp tenttankanddress, along with many beautiful items inspired by simplicity and travel being both elegant and comfortable.
A fellow Lafayette native, a friend, a maker. Mitzi and I were introduced many years ago by some of my oldest, closest childhood friends. Oddly enough our meeting was in sunny San Diego, no where near our roots. Since she and I shared a strong bond with the same very special folk, it only made sense that we too would share a friendship. We met when she was in town visiting mutual friends, who along with me lived there at the time, so our visits were always short but intimate and we always had our love of fashion in common. Each one of us is on our own path in the industry, not expecting that we would one day naturally collide. And here we are today.
Given that I used to work in fine dining and now run a style blog, I’m frequently asked what to wear when dining out. To that, my usual reply is if you are shelling out big bucks on a fantastic meal, why not surrender to the experience and dress up? A few months back, I collaborated with some fantastic people to produce a photo shoot at Restaurant August. Our ladies looked fresh and modern, with a hint of vintage inspiration that played off the opulence of the dining room.
Huge thanks to the entire team that made this happen, including Restaurant August for graciously letting us shoot and to Leslie Almeida, for her location and salon coordination. You can see the behind the scenes photos on the Slow Southern Style Facebook page.
I’m happy to announce a new weekly series that I’ve been scheming up for a while- welcome to Summer School. Each week we will be delving into a different topic, from mini sewing lessons, terminology, to fashion history. Fashion is so much richer than just trendy, mass produced items that get hyped up by grocery store magazines. It’s an art form, cultural touch stone, and a way of expressing oneself. So get ready to learn something new every week, and please let us know what y’all think in the comments below.
Finishing touches are the hallmark of good quality clothes. Call me a fashion geek, but whenever I’m trying to figure out if a piece of clothing is worth spending a few extra dollars on, I start inspecting the guts of the garment. It’s a habit I’ve developed thanks to working with secondhand clothing for over seven years- if I don’t recognize the name brand, construction is always a telltale sign that I’ve stumbled upon something special.
French seam, as seen on an Andrea Loest tunic
Seams are everything- no matter how luxurious that silk skirt feels, if it’s shoddily stitched together then it’s a waste of good fabric. One nice detail seen on higher end clothing is a French seam. Best used on light to mid-weight fabrics, this technique encloses the edges of the fabric for a clean finish. The seam is sewn with the wrong sides together, then the seam allowance* is trimmed and pressed. A second seam is sewn with the right sides together, enclosing the raw edges into the original seam allowance encapsulating the raw edges. It’s not difficult to do, but it does take a bit of extra fabric, thread, and work. In other words, you won’t see this on a cheaply made run of the mill dress. That additional cost is worth it- you’ll get a piece of clothing that’s built to last.
If you’d like to perfect your own French seam, check out this excellent instructional video I found on You Tube from Detroit Knitter.
*A seam allowance is the area in between the edge of the fabric and the actual seam. Just think of it as a little wiggle room- you wouldn’t want to sew right on the edge and risk ripping the seam open once the garment actually gets tried on.
If you’ve got a few seconds to spare, please vote for Slow Southern Style as best local blog in the Gambit Weekly’s Best of New Orleans awards. Vote by clicking on this link: http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/BestofNewOrleans2012Ballot/Page
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!
I just got back from my first trip to Savannah, Georgia and I’m downright smitten with the place. In many ways it reminded me a bit of New Orleans- the history, architecture, and the friendliness that the locals exuded felt familiar and comforting. I swooned for the trees dripping in Spanish moss, the downtown area lent a cool yet quaint vibe, and having the beach just a short twenty minute drive really made me feel like I was on vacation.
My sister moved to Savannah this past January for her first big girl job and while I miss our occasional lunches at Restaurant August and late night ice cream runs, I was thrilled she was moving somewhere I always wanted to visit.Here are some quick shots of some of my favorite places downtown, but there is more to come!
Coolest shop – Arc
Love the old fashioned feel in the men’s section
Mansion on Forsyth Park
Frilly and feminine looks at Terra Cotta Boutique
One of my favorites- Villa
Have you ever been to Savannah? What are your can’t miss destinations?
Dress- Imagine Scarf- Swap Boutique Earrings- Armoire Bangle bracelet- c/o In Pink Clutch Banana Republic, Belt American Apparel, Heels DKNY Collection all via Buffalo Exchange
My husband- he put together his outfit himself, no help from me!
Sippin’ In Seersucker was this past Friday, and I couldn’t have had more fun. If you’ve never been, read all about it on my weekly Uptown Messenger column. Seersucker is the ubiquitous summer fabric of the South, and it was a treat witnessing so many people decked out in puckered stripes. Aside from the mint juleps, sazeracs, and delicious food from local restaurants, the people watching was definitely the highlight of the evening.
Poor judgement on my part meant that I didn’t take as many photos as I should have. Juggling a clutch, a drink, and food while walking around was a challenge for sure. However I did manage to snap a few shots- to see some photos of friends that went visit the Slow Southern Style Facebook page.
It’s the details that help stand out from the standards
Another Instagram shot- shrimp (tattoo) and seersucker- follow me I’m slowsouthernstyle. Duh.
