Never Too Retro: A Girl Is a Gun

New Orleans is no stranger to boutiques featuring vintage-inspired clothing, and the most recent shop to join those ranks is A Girl Is a Gun.

The store has an cool, modern vibe with Pop Art inspired accents. The clothing has a very sixties feel- think Mad Men meets Pulp Magazines. Owner Patricia Steere stocks separates from Collectif, gorgeous dresses from rockabilly staple lines such as Bettie Page and Stop Staring, jewelry from Tarina Tarantino and Eldorado Club, and even custom shop tees for around $30.

Boho Mercantile Bayou Bazaar

GATHER*COLLECT*HANDCRAFT

A place to offer our most recent creations and sometimes overflowing back stock. 

A monthly gathering of the local and creative. 

What I Wore: Work Outfit

I'm always the first to admit that I'm terrible at taking pictures of my own outfits. My typical morning routine is hobble downstairs, make a pot of coffee (french press, always), check some e-mails with bleary eyes, then shower, and get dressed. Then I still have to walk the dog, get to work, and then my day really begins. I'm always amazed that bloggers find time to take pictures of their outfits. As for me, I'm lucky if I can find a pair of shoes.

Sponsored: Anjolee Diamonds

If there is one thing I love, it is jewelry. Which is funny, since my mom and maw maw (that's grandma for you Yankees) don't even wear their wedding bands, much less a bracelet. Somehow I'm making up for the rest of the family. I never leave the house without earrings, a ring, a bracelet, necklace, or any combination of those.  If you are like me, then this month's Slow Southern Style sponsor, Anjolee Diamonds, has plenty of gems just for you. 

beautiful diamond tennis bracelet

Anjolee sells ethical diamonds by complying with the Kimberly Act. Passed in 2003, the law requires all diamond retailers to only purchase from legitimate sources. So you can sparkle and shine without questioning where your diamond tennis bracelet  came from. They also tout themselves as eco-friendly, since their process involves recycling and cleaning the products used during manufacturing.

diamond hoop earrings

Whether you are looking for a custom made diamond bracelet, an engagement ring, or a                               

tennis bracelet to celebrate a milestone anniversary,  you can make your purchase with a reputable business that has been around for  over 35 years.                                        

       

Thanks to Anjolee for sponsoring Slow Southern Style.

Going to the Mardi Gras- Flamingo Style

I teased y'all enough this year with my Mardi Gras Quasi DIY series, where I gave a sneak peek into the raw materials that were transformed into a hot pink, flamingo spectacle.  So without further ado here's what we wore on Fat Tuesday. There are plenty more pictures on the Slow Southern Style Facebook page, click here to see the entire album! I put a ton of work and a whole lot of love into our costumes, let me know what you think in the comments section.

Don't become too entranced with my pasty white, flabby abs now.

Made By Hand In Lafayette

I am blessed to be surrounded by creative ladies that inspire and push me to further height,s creatively. They give me confidence to express myself with my personal style.  I would like to begin to share their beauty with you and introduce you to Lafayette's style more and more over the next few months.Beauty resonates with the individual,  personal truth of each of us. It's the practice of being ourselves.  I came across a quote many months back that says it quite well I think.

 "I wanted only to live in accord with the promptings which came from my true self. Why was that so very difficult?" -Hermann Hesse. 

Everything's White

One of the most exciting things about Etsy is that you can find beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces which might be difficult to find otherwise.  These items are much more personalized and have the potential to be heirloom items or treasured possessions.  The beautiful crotched items in Joyce Florence’s etsy shop Everythingswhite fall into this category.  As the name implies, almost everything in the shop is made of white thread.  Joyce agreed to do an interview where she shared some more about her lovely creations with us.

Baby Girl Dress- image c/o Everything's White

A Picture A Day

I've always liked the idea of taking a picture a day, but sheer laziness sets in or I can't find anything of note to visually document. On my birthday (Groundhog's Day) I started taking a picture each day. Whether it was what I wore, an "only in NOLA" moment, or just something interesting, I snapped a shot. Aside from the usual high dosage of cat portraits, follow me on Instagram at @slowsouthernstyle for the daily peek. And since we are in the heart of Carnival season I've been documenting all of the crazy that happens down here. Here are some of my favorites so far!

A favorite pair of boots, from Born

Meet The Staff

By now you've probably noticed a few new voices on the site.  Slow Southern Style brought on six great interns this past January, and it's been  fun to watch them settle into their roles here. Click through the page break to meet Amber, Brandy, Elizabeth, JelLyn, Meghan, and Miranda.  And don't forget to click on their names to see what they've written so far!

Giveaway With Shabby Apple

I'm very pleased to be working with Shabby Apple again, an online boutique of women's dresses. One lucky reader will win the La Noche Negra dress. With a shirt dress style bodice and full skirt, this military influenced frock combines a proper dash of masculine details while keeping a decidedly feminine silhouette. 


To enter simply like Shabby Apple on Facebook and go to their website and comment here on your favorite dress on the site. Be sure to include your e-mail address in your comment. The contest ends on February 23rd so make sure you enter today!

For additional pictures click here

Simply Stunning Designs- The Name Says It All

There are people who attend Mardi Gras, and others whose lives revolve around it. For Edward Cox, his career is one "glittery, sparkly lump" and he wouldn't have it any other way. Cox has been designing costumes since he was 5 years old. That's right, f-i-v-e. He claims even at such a young age, helping his mother sew he knew what he wanted to do, and he's been doing it ever since.

Archived design- image c/o Simply Stunning Designs

Making Mardi Gras: A Quasi DIY Part Four

Making Mardi Gras: A Quasi DIY is a four part series. Catch up and read parts one, two and three here, here, and here.

The devil is in the details, so make sure you don't miss an opportunity to accessorize accordingly. Since the husband and I are flamingos this year, we can't let any opportunities for glitz slip by. Some feathered eyelashes here, some sequined trim there, I always try to max out what we are wearing. The problem lies with time constraints. Without fail, every year I'm up to my eyeballs in bead work or sewing sequins, only to come up with more and more ideas for the perfect costume. Just when I think I'm getting close to finishing my creation, one more detail pops into my head. 

Be sure to check in next Friday when all will be revealed!

black & pink feather eyelashes

Carnival Season Charms: Bygone Beads

There’s no better way to get in the Mardi Gras spirit than by checking out some truly unique and original jewelry from a local New Orleanian! Bygone Beads has the perfect accessories to make your entire carnival krewe jealous.

Designer Eileen Bevis-Bennett crafts one of a kind, southern New Orleans nostalgic charms and Czechoslovakian glass bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings and ornaments – a perfect gift to pickup for the Mardi Gras hostess or ya momma and dem’.

Book to Buy: Designing in Ivory and White

Photo Credit LSU Press

Your Opinion Please

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Valentine's Day at Feet First

Valentine's Day is coming up and Feet First has something for all you single gals out there. Instead of spending the evening alone, treat yourself to  complimentary champagne, chocolate dipped strawberries courtesy of Lolli's Chocolates, and king cake while being surrounded by fabulous footwear.  Guests will enjoy a Kay-la Handbags trunk show, and 1/2 off the 610 Stompers will be there to sell their calendars at 50% off the normal price. There will also be door prizes, a scavenger hunt, and possibly some smokin' hot special guests.

Tuesday, February 14

5pm - 9pm

4119 Magazine St.

Making Mardi Gras: A Quasi DIY Part Three

Making Mardi Gras: A Quasi DIY is a four part series. Catch up and read parts one and two here and here.

What separates the men from the boys on Fat Tuesday are the details. Anyone can throw on a bagged costume and say they are dressed. But you wouldn't do that, right? I'm a sucker for those important final touches, or rather a glutton for punishment. Anytime I think a costume is complete, I find one more minute embellishment that transforms it from plain to over the top. Last year, I was hand sewing tiny shells into the hairline of my husband's wig the night before. Did anyone notice? Probably not, but when you are Poseidon, King of the Sea,  you can't sport a pedestrian hairdo. 

This year it is all about going over the top gaudy. We've got more sequins and feathers than Liberace had piano keys. I like for our costumes to complement each other, but not mimic each other so I gave our flamingo hats their own personal touches.

The gal is on the left, the gentleman on the right. And kitty makes friends.

Gator Heads and Oyster Shells courtesy of Half Shell Productions

If you’re still looking for something to complete your Mardi Gras costume (or perhaps you haven’t even started on it yet), Halfshell Productions may have your solution.  Tracy Hamlin in NOLA offers a selection of appropriately quirky Mardi Gras headdresses and bustiers.  Like all good Mardi Gras costumes, Tracy’s designs feature plenty of feathers and beads as well as some more unconventional materials.

Photo courtesy of Half Shell Productions

Celebrate Black History Month at Macy's

This post was written by Miranda Humphrey one of Slow Southern Style's interns. You'll get a chance to meet her in the upcoming weeks, be on the look out for her bio soon.

February is Black History Month, and Macy's is celebrating the 100th birthday of noted artist Romare Bearden with a very special art exhibition. New Orleans was the lucky city to preview the collection before anyone else. Read on to get your own sneak peek and check out the Slow Southern Style Facebook page for more pictures. Click here to see the exhibit at a Macy's near you.

Trend Alert: Art Deco Jewelry

Many aspects of 1920's style have been making a comeback, including Art Deco jewelry. Art Deco was a much more modern style that differentiated itself from the intricate and flowy Art Nouveau of previous decades. Inspired by the paintings of Tamara de Limpicka and the architecture of William Van Allen (who designed the Chrysler Building), the jewelry gives off a vibe of modern elegance. With new collections from Pieces, House of Harlow and Kenneth Jay Lane, Art Deco has been given a very chic twist. 

Clockwise from top left:

Ring - House of Harlow

Necklace - Pieces

Earrings - Tarina Tarantino

Ring - Kenneth Jay Lane

Necklace - TopShop

Earrings - Forever 21

Cuff - Ranjana Khan

So which is your favorite piece? 
Are you excited about this trend?

Meghan Wright

Paint your Town Red on National Go Red Day

Slow Southern Syle is celebrating National Wear Red Day by participating in Go Red For Women.


Did you know that heart disease is the #1 killer of women?  According to the American Heart Association, more women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. There are 8,000,000 women in this country alone that are suffering from heart disease! The sad reality is that 90% of women have at least one risk factor for developing heart disease, yet only 1 in 6 thinks it is a threat.


By wearing red today you can help raise awareness, so find your favorite lipstick, grab your trusty ol' skirt,and paint your town red today. Since I look abysmal in any shade of crimson I asked for some help in celebrating. Why can I pull off red lips but not a red dress beats me.

Making Mardi Gras: A Quasi DIY Part Two

If you missed Part One check it out here.

So that sequined jacket I bought for my husband might be passable for other holidays, but for Fat Tuesday it's a downright plain piece of clothing. A good base for sure, but let's be real- the gaudier the better for Mardi Gras is my rule.

 I initially wanted to hand sew feathers onto the lapel and front flap pockets, but after sanity set in I realized that a few factors were working against me.

1. If it rains, all of my handiwork is destroyed
2. Sewing feathers is about as fun as getting a root canal.

Such A Doll

Do you love bold accessories? Have a love of feathers?  Then I have an Etsy shop you have to check out.  I had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Reeves Tullos of Automatic Doll. Automatic Doll is an Etsy shop that sells unique hand-made accessories that are made in Lafayette, Louisiana.  Jessica’s accessories are absolutely adorable and will have you feeling like a doll!  Check out her interview below and then go to her Etsy shop by clicking here.