StyleBlueprint » nashville style

Dress on a Dime: Designer Finds

Elizabeth — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:56:55 +0000

My love affair with consignment stores goes way back. I simply adore them, probably because they make the budget director voice inside of me so happy. The first time I walked in Designer Finds I met Rheem Acra’s Mom (the incredible designer of Jill Biden’s inaugural dress) and I was completely hooked. When you walk in Designer Finds, it has great space. It is neat and orderly, the clothes are separated by color and by type of clothing. Honestly, it is filled with designer treasures: Gucci boots, Tori Burch pants, BCBG shoes and so much more. If you hit it right, like we did, you can find discounts up to 50%.

the camisole and jacket work together

The playful earrings and clutch complete the look

Liza and I thought it would be fun to ask the closet organizers, Tina Adams and Rebecca Thompson, to meet us at Designer Finds and work their magic. I asked my walking buddy Amy to meet us at the store and be our model for the day. Amy has your classic girl- next-door look, and in fact, she is my girl -next- door (she lives two blocks from me.) It also doesn’t hurt that she’s got a fantastic figure at about 5’9″.

Here was our challenge to the Closet Girls (my endearing name for them): put together three outfits including accessories for under $100. We wanted to see a career look, casual look and a drop dead evening outfit.

The tailored shirt with rolled sleeve and pencil skirt create a sophisticated look

For those of you who are not familiar with Tina and Rebecca, they are closet organizers extraordinaire. For a nominal fee, they will meet you in your closet, pare down the things you don’t need and create tons of outfits from your existing wardrobe. I can attest to their expertise since I invited them in my closet.

Here are some of their pearls of wisdom which once again were emphasized during our visit to Designer Finds:

Invest in a good camisole as it makes your clothing lay flat and look better.
Jeans must fit well and be the right length as they are a key component in your wardrobe.
Accessories truly finish the outfit. Don’t hold back and don’t be too “matchy-matchy”.
Use accessories and shoes to add contrast to an outfit.
There are always more clothes. Don’t settle for clothes that don’t feel good or don’t fit perfectly.
Don’t buy an item without considering how you’ll use them in your wardrobe.

The end result of our shopping trip: three outfits under $100 including accessories. And as an added extra, Tina and Rebecca took the evening outfit and created a totally new look for perhaps a day at the Steeplechase. Tell us about your favorite consignment store and your finds.

Designer Finds
Gallery at Green Hills
2210 Crestmoor Road
Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: 615-279-1994

Don't you just love the ruffles and neckline of this dress?

Accessories give the same dress a differrent look

The Perfect Bedtime Look & Feel

Liza — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:26:27 +0000

I had dinner with one of my BFFs a few weeks ago. As we drank mojitos and watched the lightening roll in, we lamented nightwear. Her husband hates her Roberta Freymann PJ pants with long- sleeved tee that she is forever pairing at bedtime. He claims it sends a certain vibe which screams, “This is MY side of the bed which I will only share with my cats.” Meeoooooow! For the record, they have no cats.

These come in 3 lengths. Each is made out of 65% bamboo, 27% cotton and 8% spandex. Super soft. The shortest is basically a long tank for $42; The mid-length is $72; This long length (my favorite, but I'm really tall) is $92

But, let’s be honest, don’t we all have this same outfit that we reach for most nights? Mine is a pair of long and comfy yoga pants, an ETC cami, and sometimes my husband’s long sleeved tee on top of that. I do have a “His is Hers” nightshirt from Claridge and King and it is honestly the first PJ thing that has gotten an equal thumbs up from both my husband and myself. So, the point I’m getting to is that what He wants and what She wants is well divided in the nighttime wardrobe department. I’m not about to don anything with lace, ruffles, garters or bows. And I want to be able to pop out of bed in the morning with my kids in the room.

Since my only luck has been Claridge and King, I decided to go back to that brand to find something else. Jamie is now carrying the line and it’s apparently doing quite well there. And with the newest additions to their collection, I have found my new favorite PJ’s that once again gets an equal thumbs up from my hubby. Here is a picture of my newest find. Do you think with a wind machine I could look as good in mine? Inside scoop: they run small. I ordered a size medium and I’m a solid 8, sometimes a 6. I like the medium, but it is snug. Mine is black and I promise with a pair of spanx I might be tempted to wear it to dinner! It is super soft and runs long. It may be too long on someone under 5’4″. In that case, order the mid-length.

So, now you, too, can send a good vibe that is neither “come hither” nor “go-away”. It’s just a strong woman vibe…and that’s always a good thing. For the record, I have a cat and he sleeps in the bed with us:-)

Head to Jamie or Rebekka Vaughn and check out the new collection. Or, order online here.

Half of the Claridge & King lives in Nashville (Liz King), so you are supporting all sorts of local when you buy this brand at one of these stores!

4th of July in Balsam, NC

Liza — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:11:29 +0000

We spend pretty much every 4th of July in a little NC mountain community called Balsam. Nestled in-between Waynesville (home to The Swag, a Nashville favorite) and Sylva, on HWY 19/23, the 4th always seems to be straight out of Southern Living Magazine. Actually, as under the radar as Balsam is to Nashville, let me amend that to be straight out of Garden and Gun magazine.

When the 4th hits, you can dress very appropriately (as we did the year we spent the 4th at Sea Island) or you can go all-out-tacky. Balsam calls for all-out-tacky dressing and people hunt all year for the tackiest of all. Next, you decorate your car as wildly as you possibly can. Streamers, flags, horns, balloons, cans dragging behind. If you think it might make someone’s smile just a little broader, then on your car it goes! You finalize the whole thing with candy to throw to the few people on the mountain that are not actually IN the parade.

Everyone lines up in the meadow, next to the horse barn, at 1:00. Any earlier would disturb the hangovers felt by all after the community wide July 3rd cocktail party held at the most beautiful house, with a 270 degree view of The Great Smoky Mountains. This cocktail party is where the nice and appropriate patriotic wear is seen!

The 4th of July parade winds through the mountain community at about 10 miles per hour. My favorite spectators are inevitably the 75+ year old ladies in their high-school sparkly baton twirling outfits, in red, white and blue, and yes, they have their batons and a synchronized routine to boot! Another lady sings next to them and we all wave hoping they will be back next year. The road takes everyone over a 100 year old bridge that clearly states that driving over is at your own risk. 75% of the cars ramble over. We however, turn around. I just won’t risk it!
The parade ends at The Balsam Mountain Inn (formerly owned by TN native Merrily Teasley who also previously owned and restored the Edgeworth Inn in Monteagle, TN). Current Balsam Mountain Inn owners Kim and Sharon Shailer, provide a free lunch and concert for all parade participants. Hot dogs and BBQ with local brewed Heinzelmännchen Brewery beer sets the perfect mood to sit and listen to every single patriotic song you could ever imagine sung in an opera style, by a sweet elderly lady who is given the stage each 4th. She needs to be a YouTube sensation…and we may just work on that this 4th.

The fireworks take place at 9:00 in the cleared meadow. Many a 4th we are wearing jackets and jeans as it gets pretty chilly at 3,600 feet above sea level!

We celebrate with a huge family get together of about 30 of our closest and dearest. My Dad then has our own personal fireworks display in which he inevitably burns a hole in his shirt…or face….each year. But, it always provides a lesson to my kids about the dangers of fireworks. This lesson hits home when we are forced to occasionally take cover under the picnic table! Ahhhhh, family fun!

I love the 4th of July. If you want to experience a 4th of July Balsam style, make a reservation at The Balsam Mountain Inn and join us! It’s a great Inn to visit anytime of year, with an award winning restaurant and a huge porch just full of rocking chairs waiting to be used.

Vintage Cowboy Boots Galore!

Elizabeth — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:45:52 +0000

Kim at the Nashville Flea Market with some smokin' vintage boots

Last week the Closet Girls, Tina Adams and Rebecca Thompson, paid a visit to my closet. What I wanted from them was not a complete wardrobe overall, just a lively collaboration session, a little fun and another set of eyeballs on my wardrobe. I love the art of collaboration because it always yields wonderful results, and in my case, our brainstorming created another 10 – 15 outfits for this season.

They pointed one thing that was woefully missing from my closet: a pair of vintage cowboy boots. I bought one pair from a consignment shop in Aspen, but the pros said I needed some in a neutral color with a higher heal.

As it was the third weekend of the month, I wandered around the Flea Market this past weekend not thinking the least bit about my need of cowboy boots. I was preoccupied for a while over my harried negotiation with a jewelry vendor which I lost. As I began negotiating, she very curtly said to me, “Honey, I don’t stay up all night putting stickers on this jewelry to give you a discount.” (Well, OK….but, I thought that negotiating was what you were supposed to do at a Flea Market). Well, since I didn’t get the dang piece, maybe she lost! Rude!

Happily, I turned a corner and found my old friend Kim Brewer. There she was surrounded by boots, boots and more really COOL boots. She has over 600 pairs! Why, she even had a pair of turquoise boots lovingly named the mermaid boots. In my trying on frenzy, I forgot to snap a picture. Dang it!

Aren't these the best?!

Quickly, I relayed to her the closet girls suggestions and voila, there they were, my new boots. What do ya’ll think?

Kim is a vintage queen. She sells only men’s vintage clothing and cowboy boots at the Flea Market. However, at her booths in the Downtown Antique Market on 8th Avenue and in the Tennessee Antique Mall on Wedgewood, you will find a complete line of vintage clothing and oodles & oodles of boots! You’ll never find a nicer and more gracious person to do business with in this town. She loves finding the perfect boot for you and your taste. Cowboy boots look great with shorts, skirts, sundresses and your favorite jeans. They are the perennial trend that lingers in NashVegas for obvious reasons.

Give Kim a call or email her. She’ll find you some of the hippest cowboy boots around. Promise.

Kim’s email: kimvintage@comcast.net
Cell: 615-578-4693

The Closet Girls:
Tina Adams and Rebecca Thompson: tinaadamsandrebeccathompson@yahoo.com

Important info to acquire boots. The Nashville Flea Market is open every 3rd weekend of the month.
www.tennesseestatefair.org/expo/fleamarket/dates.asp

The Perfect Pair Sale

Elizabeth — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:18:19 +0000

A postcard arrived in my mail box yesterday. On the front was the word S-A-L-E. Each letter was composed of different types of shoes – really just so clever! The rest said:

For our preferred customers

Saving up to 90% off entire spring and summer inventory

Offer ends June 27

If you love the Perfect Pair as much as I do, and let’s admit, it is the best shoe store in Nashville, then stop by today and take advantage! I may be a preferred customer, but you are our preferred readers and this sale is for you as well!* Here is why you should go. The shoes this season have been hard to embrace, the quality is average and generally, there’s not much to choose from. I think the manufacturers put the brakes on after seeing the economic forecast and we’re all suffering. Gladiators are everywhere so I’m kinda scared to buy some at this point. The Perfect Pair, however, while pricey as hell, gets a 10 on quality, creativity and selection. No other shoe store in Nashville can come close to this one. It’s not the store that most can fill up their closet with…but your favorites, your “perfect pairs” will come from here. And with this sale, maybe you can fill up your closet!

Here’s a quick bite on Perfect Pair. Perfect Pair was started over three years ago by Whitney Dunn and Casey Stribling. These Real fashionistas were boarding planes to New York and LA to find the shoes that the Perfect Pair now sells. The store is lovely with an interesting mix of bohemian and chic. Their shoes and accessories reflect the same feel. Liza and I have always loved their jewelry. Currently on their website is fabulous jewelry with iconic religious cuffs and necklaces. Check out the archangel cuff in gold.

If you are worried about walking in the store for the first time – don’t. Whitney and Casey are like the girls next door: friendly, unassuming and willing to help you find something in your price range.

*Mention that you are a StyleBlueprint reader and you,too, can be eligible for a thank you “happy” if you spend $100! “Happies” include your choice, while supplies last, of a Perfect Pair tee (this may be kinda lude across the chest….hmmmm, need to see that in person to judge!), a lip gloss, or a cute as all get out scarf!

The Perfect Pair
2209 Bandywood Drive
Suite i
Nashville, TN 37215

www.theperfectpairnashville.com

Take Those Sneakers off with That Outfit!

Liza — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:23:39 +0000

We are Southern Gals and really, we care what we look like! But, truth be told, we all like our feet to be comfortable. Especially with this jungle heat that has smothered us. Remember Melanie Griffith in Working Girl? Socks and tennies to work, change to heels upon getting there. It looked bad, but we all got it. She had blocks to walk and what else was she going to do?

Working Girl came out in 1988. It’s been 21 years and shoes have come a long way. There is no excuse for the sneaker swoop with your Nashville or Vacay outfit. Options to consider: Geox (ShopGeox.com). Billed as the “shoe that breathes”, this company creates the chic and the comfy. A quick search of Zappos finds 5 star reveiws across the board. In Nashville, you need to order these online. (If someone knows where to buy these locally, please comment!)

Stefany by Goex, available on sale for $55.

Surely you have tried the Cole Haan with Nike technology (ColeHaan.com). Heels and flats alike. Dressy and casual. Worth the money full price if you have feet like mine that get angry easily! They are stylish shoes that feel like a sneaker. Online, all shoes are 20% at the Cole Haan site. While the Cole Haan store at the Green Hills Mall does not have this offer, they will honor it if you mention the online sale!

$278 but now 20% off. Happy feet, indeed!

When I travel, I walk walk walk and walk some more. My next splurge for all that walking will be the Gizeh by Birkenstock (Birkenstock.com). You can find these at the 2525 Building where PF Changs Nashville is.

Regularly $120, these mango birks are on sale for $89.99 at www.birkenstockusa.com

Lastly, an option for around town errands and summer exercise out of the gym, the Fit Flop. Now, I’m not sure these give you the great legs and extra lift they advertise, but they are dang comfy and seem to do wonders for a tired back. Please leave them in your closet after 5 p.m.:-)

Available locally at Macys. Styles vary from $49.99-$59.99

Here’s to your feet staying stylishly happy!

I Hate It When My Jeans Rip….

Liza — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:49:32 +0000

I have two pairs of Sevens that have a rip in the same place. O.k., so one of my thighs is a little heftier than the other…the jeans were rude enough to punctuate that point to me with their ill timed rips. I’ve had them sitting in my closet for two years waiting to send them to Denim Therapy but just haven’t. Wait. Have you heard of Denim Therapy? If not, you need to. For $7 an inch, they’ll repair your jeans. Really. Almost like new. At least that is what their web site says….

Well, here I go. I’m sending them in. I’m posting my pictures. I’ll finish writing this post when I get them back and can post the after pictures. Maybe I’ll use that as an incentive to downsize my thighs…..I may just add Hot Yoga to the mix for the next two weeks waiting on my jeans to come back…..

Tory Burch Lands Another Melt Down!

Elizabeth — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:06:14 +0000

Tory Burch

As Liza and I chatted and rambled about interesting posts and topics, the subject of Rue LaLa came up. “What’s that?” I asked. Maybe it’s a little bit of dementia, but I entirely spaced that I had already subscribed and was a member of this site. Some of you may remember our post about The Gilt Groupe. It is an incredible company that offers designer merchandise, on-line, at deep discounts. It’s like being at the sample sale when the doors open. Well, RueLaLa does the same thing, with lines that are probably a little more affordable, but the same concept. Buyers are given incredible deals with a limited amount of time to purchase.

Yesterday, Tory Burch was featured on Rue La La and demand way out paced the technology and Rue LaLa’s system crashed. I hate it when that happens. Some of you may remember when Ms. Burch was featured on Oprah in ‘o5 as one of the “Real Big Things”. Sales bounced so high creating a phenomenon known as the Oprah Effect. Tory Burch’s online sales received 7 million hits after the show aired sending sales off the Reictor scale. This years’ sales are predicted at over $15 million.

The NYC Tory Burch sample sale held in early June created a two hour wait outside just to enter into the building! Further madness with another four hours to check out, and NYPD intervention, but lots of amazing deals for shoppers. Read more about it at www.samplesally.com.

True Tory devotees can become a member of her Facebook group and receive sale notices before everyone else (like the 20% off sale offered to FB member on June 11 for all items on her website!).

Tory Burch sample sale NYC

Tory worked for both Ralph Lauren and Vera Wang in PR, her marketing saavy is second to none.

So, I just checked out RueLaLa and right now until June 17th at 11AM EST, you can buy the following: you may want to “get on it” as we say in the South. Merchandise is moving fast. If you are interested in subscribing to RueLaLa, just let StyleBlueprint know. We will graciously sponsor you as our guest!

Tory Burch "Lisa" Watermelon Luau Skirt @ $129

Tory Burch "Dixon" banana slip on sandal @ $89