- Buffalo Exchange is celebrating Halloween all month long! Comes dressed as your favorite decade, be it the 1880s or the 1980s on Saturday, Oct. 10th and get $5 off your next $20 purchase.
- The Encore Shop, a consignment store that benefits the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, is sponsoring a string of fashion events Oct. 13th-17th. There will be daily workshops delving into fall trends, accessories, and designer shoes.
- Local jewelry designer Mignon Faget has released a new line of wooden shotgun house pendants. The necklaces are a collaboration with artist and urban designer Robert Tannen and 5% of sales will be donated to Global Green USA for Rebuilding New Orleans Green.
She came from the swamps
Today we visit the eclectic, eccentric world of Andree Dupree of Blue Bird Art. Make sure you check out her artwork and vintage clothing on Etsy.
1. On your shop profile you state that you grew up with a swamp as your backyard. How do you draw inspiration from your childhood experiences?
I spent a lot of time in “make believe” world growing up- pretending that the giant cypress trees were castles; searching for dinosaur fossils and eggs, trying to catch swamp fairies with “fairy nests”….that sort of stuff. I’d use the clay from around the yard to create sculptures, often collecting the above-ground crawfish “tunnels” to use in my creations. My earliest memories are pulling wet clay out from under the cypress trees, making “cakes” with little drawings etched in and leaving them to dry in the sun.
Sexy eighties underlala and Timid
Bold bright eighties vest
- I Heart NOLA did a great write up about Brinkman’s Menswear. If you mention the feature you can receive a 25% discount.
- Are you torturing your feet in those 4 inch stilettos? The Gambit Weekly is here to help. I personally stopped sacrificing comfort and rarely break out a pair of heels. Unless I’m going to dinner or know I will be sitting all day flats comprise my everyday wear.
- Create your own fashionable spring break by attending Miami Fashion Week March 18th-20th 2010.
- If you are still in need of a Halloween costume check out Elysian Fleas (get it?) a new art/craft market that will be selling handmade costumes. Check it out on Sunday, 11am-5pm on the corner of Elysian Fields and Chartres.
- Do you want free makeup samples and a fall fashion show? Dillard’s at Lakeside Mall is hosting their 2nd annual trend show October 10th from 8:30am-10:00am. There will be a light breakfast, product demonstrations and a free gift to all event attendees. Get there early because seating is limited.
Let’s be friends
So I have joined forces with the dark side thanks to Leslie of NOLA Eats (yes she is a bad influence across the board) and have started a Twitter account. Does that officially make me a twit? You can follow me at http://twitter.com/slowsouthstyle and don’t forget to become a fan on Facebook. Or you can just represent old school and get a Slow Southern Style NOLA neck tattoo in Old English.
Shop Interview- Gurly Girl
Tell us a little about how you got into jewelry design.
The fleur de lis is close to my heart and a universal symbol of grace and elegance. It is an emblem of the city of New Orleans and when the flood came and washed everything out a lot of people gravitated towards it. Symbolically it was used to show love and respect for the city. I think it is a beautiful, versatile design that reflects a certain elegance.
The love charms also showcase fleur de lis and the name references the prevalence of voodoo on New Orleans.
My beans get snapped up quickly and make great gifts for moms.
The copper bookmark does pretty well because its substantial yet light and really holds a page without damaging your book.
Mannequin Mondays
New Orleans, LA 70130-1037
(504) 552-4301
- Bonjour Boutiques is a new website and magazine focusing on Northshore retail offerings. Be sure to check it out when it launches this November.
- Magazine St. newcomer Branch Out Shop, a new vintage and sustainable goods store, is slated to open tonight during Art for Art’s Sake.
- I’d like to thank my good friend Leslie of NOLA Eats for getting Slow Southern Style a Twitter mention from the Times-Picayune’s fashion editor.
Show & Tell
I’ve decided to start a Saturday segment called “Show & Tell” which will feature great finds and favorite pieces.
Tie on some style
Here in the south it is imperative to have a certain knowledge of things in order to be considered a true southern gentleman. One must know the right way to drink your whiskey, opening a door for a lady, and certainly how to identify quality linen and seersucker. According to Bow Tie Ben being skilled at knotting a bow tie doesn’t hurt either. Read on to learn how Ben got into the business of artisan neck wear.
Ben hard at work
What types of fabrics do you look for when creating your ties? Is there anything you shy away from?
I generally look for loud colors and crisp patterns. I feel like the man with the bow tie will never be someone that just blends into the crowd, so the tie might as well be colorful and catching. Stripes and polka dots are great, I’ve been happy with a light blue paisley with orange, purple and green highlights that I found but I use some solid colors as well. My friend brought me a stunning bright blue raw silk from India and I can’t wait to see what it looks like as a tie. I also make dupioni silk black ties and white ties for formal occasions, since moving from a clip-on to a hand-tied bow tie can add a tremendous amount to a tuxedo.
Are there any particular style suggestions you can recommend to guys who want to dabble in this look?
Smile; be confident.
What do you think about clip on bow ties? Is there a time and place for them?
No way! I think any man that has worn a hand-tied bow tie would agree. Part of this is the uniqueness of the hand-tied bow tie, part of it is the process of getting dressed up, part of it is the slight imperfection implicit in tying your own tie vs. the boring perfection of the clip-on, part of it is the fact that the only reason the clip-on bow tie exists is that bow ties are so rare, no one has learned to tie them. With YouTube (his favorite can be found here ) there’s no excuse for not learning and once you try one you’ll never want to go back.
You are originally from California. Has your style changed since moving to New Orleans?
I wear bow ties now! Also, some of my friends and family back home have been exposed to this “exotic” Southern Style and are now sporting bow ties on the west coast.
I haven’t adopted most of the stuff I see here, but I do like the formal clothing in the South, and hope to increase my wardrobe in that area. My linen slacks are my favorite.
Define Southern style.
I don’t think I could do that as well as you, and I hope to know your definition, although it’s probably a fluid work-in-progress encompassed by your blog. One of the things that’s always stood out for me about the South is that people will dress up no matter how hot and humid it is, and that has necessitated a style of light colors, loose fits, and great fabrics like seersucker and linen. I think that bow ties play a big role in traditional southern style but since I’m new to the South I don’t feel limited by classic southern patterns and colors. I enjoy experimenting with different colors and patterns and expanding the possibilities of what men can wear.
Ben’s unique designs can be purchased through his Etsy shop.