Mountain Man

 

Heading to the mountains over Thanksgiving was a perfect opportunity for a picturesque photo shoot.  If your man's looking for a way to style his Christmas sweater for the outdoors, we've got your answer here!  We couldn't resist shooting Evan in his amazing vintage Eddie Bauer sweater paired with his trusted pair of blue jeans, his Sorel inspired boots and Ray Ban aviators.  The cuffed jeans peaking out from his boots adds a nice level of contrast plus this technique helps when trying to cram all that jean into a boot.  He snagged that sweet sweater off of eBay.  If you have the time and know your size, eBay will never let you down when you're in search of a ruby for your wardrobe!  Happy Holidays!

Mad Men Party Time

Velvet and Orange Sherbet

WWBDD:  What Would Betty Draper Do???

 

The Girl with the Green Earring

It's holiday season and that means it's PARTY SEASON!  Charlotte's Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is hosting a Mad Men themed holiday party on Thursday, December 5th.  Lauren and I will be attending and we hope you can join us too!  Tickets are available here for purchase. 

The Mad Men party theme is the inspiration behind today's post.  Many of the items styled in this shoot came from Summerbird on East Boulevard.  Summerbird is one of my favorite places to shop in Charlotte.  Cindy, the owner, has an amazing and very unique sense of style.  I always find a piece of clothing to take home with me each time I visit and you can't beat her prices.  I purchased the pretty red dress, showcased in this post, from her shop a few months ago.  When I asked Cindy if I could borrow a few items for today's post, I had no idea how many gems I would find.  All of the items are still available for sale if you need a last minute outfit for the party!  If I had to pick a favorite, I'd go with the red, mid-length skirt.  It has an amazing shape and is the perfect starting point for so many outfits for so many occasions.  Hope to see you on Thursday! 

a Man's Closet

Leather and plaid make a striking winter combo

Jackets and denim for a Sunday stroll

Keeping it real with wool and layers

Ladies for your viewing pleasure...meet Will and Donnie!  These two fine looking gents let us raid their closets for a photo shoot with a retro perspective.  Plaid blazers, crew neck sweaters, grandpa's hats; throw in a BB gun and we're in the 50's.  A put together outfit is timeless and these guys look good!  The pair are both students and we found a mix of vintage, a la family heirlooms, great thrift store finds, and denim - a daily student wardrobe staple. Will even told me he'd be into wearing one of the outfits I styled which differs a bit from what he calls his "daily uniform" or what is more commonly known as the Canadian tuxedo.  I say our job here is done!  Enjoy!

Camille's Closet

Cinching with a belt

Color & Texture

Short and long of it

First of all a big thank you to Camille for shooting outside in 30 degree weather!  Those arctic temps are unnatural for Charlotte this time of year and chilled us to the bone!  Despite the weather, we shot outside at the beautiful Asian Garden on the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's campus.  The entire garden was designed by students in the horticulture department and it's definitely worth a visit if you're ever on campus.  I can't wait to see it in the spring when all of the flowers blossom.  You can definitely count on us shooting there again! 

Camille, her husband John and their 15 month son "John John" recently purchased and moved into a beautiful, unique bungalow in the NoDa neighborhood.  Lucky for Camille, the master bedroom came with a built-in IKEA wardrobe which stores her collection of sweaters, long skirts and dresses very neatly.  Camille has a degree in fashion and a keen sense of what she likes and dislikes.  Her wardrobe has a strong color and fabric theme which can be great for pulling an outfit together quickly.  Since she's been busy carrying a baby to term and then raising an infant, now toddler, for the last two years, it's been a while since she's had a chance to spend time on her own fashion statement.    

What I believe resonated with Camille through this experience was the ability to use her wardrobe to transition her identity from two years ago to the present.  She was able to re-visit clothes that she purchased two years ago and then figure out how to make those items fit in with her new lifestyle.  Because she's been consistent with her purchases, we were able to take one idea of belting a skirt and adapted it for several additional items in her closet.  I really felt that me being there suggesting ideas and encouraging her gave Camille the confidence to re-establish herself in her wardrobe.  Maybe two years ago she wore a shirt diffferently than she will today but both ways look amazing on her in the past and present.  That to me is what makes fashion such an amazing form of expression!

Styling the Basics - dressing up with fur

Casual dress by day, perfect for catching a ride



Dressed up with fur, heels and funky earrings for a fun night out

Casual romper by day for a stroll in the neighborhood

Dressed up with fur and boots for a dinner date

Fur (real or faux) is a woman's best friend.  It's a fact!  As Lauren captured very well in these pictures, the texture, color and fit of this vest adds a level of sophistication to both outfits.  A well fitting vest made of any material is a timeless and very useful accessory in every woman's wardrobe.  Layering a structured vest or jacket on top of a simple outfit can add that finishing touch that completes the look.  Now that the weather's cool enough to start layering I hope you feel inspired to pile on your favorite vest or piece of fur with your casual dresses, overalls and rompers! 

fur vest, similar here; grey layering dress Monoreno, found at Nod & Rose Storehouse; tan hat Brixton, found here; silver heels Zara, similar here; romper Ace & Jig; brown boots Zara, similar here