Southern Living Heirloom Recipe Cookbook: Shrimp Destin

Whenever I have friends come to visit, I plan their trip around meals. I tend to err on the side of strategic over planning. I'll pencil in a day of sight seeing, but the main attraction will always be breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So when Southern Living sent over a copy of Southern Living Heirloom Recipe Cookbook, I was eager to thumb through it.

What I Wore: Mistakes Happen

BREAKING NEWS:

No one is perfect.


 Shocking, right? Sometimes I get sick of scrolling through images of perfect fashion bloggers. I want to see a hair out of place, a  belt sitting slightly askew- just some sign to indicate they are in fact, human. I must be overcompensating for those modelesque types on the WWW 'cause I've got enough flaws to balance out all of them.

MiH at the BJB in NOLA

I hate to admit it, but I'm a denim snob. Back when the designer jeans trend peaked a few years ago, I became hooked.  I need denim that fits, washes well, doesn't stretch out, and lasts several years. I'm also no Nicki Minaj lookalike in the junk department, so selecting a pair that dissimulates my inadequate derriere is a must. So when I received an invite to attend the MiH Jeans trunk show at the Blues Jean Bar, I was eager to see what this British line is all about.

Springtime denim from MiH 

MiH is really big into pastels, flared legs, and cropped styles for spring. Channeling the company's 1969 roots, there's a slight flower child feel to the kick flare hems and easy going spirit. As Southern women, we can appreciate easy going fashion, especially when humidity starts creeping up on us. Looking cute and being comfortable? That's tricky. Fortunately, the light weight fabrics keep you on trend and feeling cool so you won't have to worry about being a sweaty mess come summer. I snagged the London Boy Short, perfect since I'm in need of shorts and I love the subtly engineer stripe on these. You may need to go up a size or two as the cuts are rather slim.

Tallulah Faire

In case you missed her at New Orleans Fashion Week, Birmingham, Alabama based designer Heather Williams is the creator of Tallulah Faire, a clothing and accessories line that embraces bold prints and color. Slow Southern Style was able to chat with her about her work, who the Tallulah Faire woman is, and to hear about her experience as a fashion week participant. 

Decorate with Flowers in Southern Style

While I've always loved a lush, almost garishly colorful front yard I'm seriously lacking in gardening skills. Patricia Hall of Serenata Flowers shows us how to brighten up your home with flowers. And no, they aren't the plastic ones that my grandma has in her front yard. I'm not making that up. -Christy

Flowers grow abundantly in the South, and they are expressions of love for nature’s beauty and the home. Fresh flowers from a garden or landscape are beautiful anywhere, but flower ordering makes them available for entertaining or enjoying any time of the year.

A cut bouquet brings an air of elegance and distinction to a southern home that is unequalled. A welcoming home in New Orleans, Savannah or Charleston always includes a variety of flowers in treasured vases for friends and family to enjoy. Favorites include Fuji mums, gerbera daisies and freesia to create an abundance of color that distinguishes the rooms of a gracious hostess. The bright whiteness of the freesia flower creates a distinct contrast with the colors in an arrangement. Following in the southern tradition that reflects a preference for sweetness, freesia fits beautifully as an accent in any bouquet. Hydrangeas are typically very showy plants that are remarkably beautiful in the pastel colors that complement a home’s décor.

Exclusive Photoshoot: Blue Dream Vintage Part 2

If you didn't catch the first part of this photo shoot last week you can see it here. 

French Quarter Festival

Buffalo Exchange Earth Day Dollar Sale

While everyone is gearing up for festival season we can’t forget about Earth Day, an important time to make a difference with the daily choices we make. Each year, Buffalo Exchange hosts a Dollar Day Sale to help raise awareness of this important day and donate money to one of their favorite charities, The Humane Society of the United States. On Saturday, April 21 each store across the country will set up racks ou, with men’s and women’s clothing and accessories for a mere $1.00. All proceeds will go to the Humane Society, and it’s a great way to stock up your spring closet on the cheap and help the environment at the same time. Since 1997, Buffalo Exchange has raised over $345,000 for environmental causes during these Earth Day sales events.The store will be open our normal summer hours, 11:00am-8:00pm.

Southern Gent: Dressing Well With Kenny Rubenstein

This post is the second in a four part series. Each Thursday in April Kenny Rubenstein, General Manager of Rubensteins, will dole out simple ways to spruce up your wardrobe. The men's only store is celebrating it's 88th year in business this month, and we couldn't be more pleased to help them celebrate. Please see the first post here.

Accessories make the look- image c/o VK Nagrani

Slow Southern Style Contributor's Meetup

Given the overwhelmingly positive response to our call for writers and photographers, we're throwing a meetup to help generate ideas for the upcoming months. If you are a first time contributor or a friend of the site, we are expanding and want to include you! Whether it's coming up with your own original content or taking a stab at our editorial calendar, anyone who's interested can attend.

What: Slow Southern Style Contributor's Meetup

Why: A general meet & greet and brainstorming session

When: Sunday, April 22nd 4:00pm

Where: RSVP for location details

Exclusive Photoshoot: Vintage Cars and Clothes from Revival Outpost

Revival Outpost recently asked if I wanted them to do a special photo shoot just for Slow Southern Style. How could I say no? Joining several other secondhand, vintage, and antique shops on Magazine Street, Revival Outpost specializes in vintage and retro clothing. They also do fantastic, professional photo shoots, pulling all of their clothing from their own store. Revival has also teamed up with Blue Dream Vintage, which now functions as a store within a store. Many thanks to Christina Flannery and Akasha Rabut for supplying us with the beautiful images. Check back in next Tuesday when we share the rest!

Campus style, what’s yours?

This post was written by Rachel Gulotta.

           

  Can a college campus have a specific style? On campus tours prospective college girls, maybe even some guys, pay attention to the buildings, curriculum details, and members of the opposite sex. Most girls, when not comparing the cuteness level of every boy they pass to those of other schools, are actually paying attention to what the college ladies are sporting to class. Davidson College is a small liberal arts college just north of Charlotte–– by geographical definition it’s a Southern school. I expected Lilly Pulitzer, cowboy boots, lots of blond hair, and Polo. I visited the campus for the first time as a sophomore in high school. It was a beautiful summer day to see such a mesmerizing campus; I was hooked when I saw a swing hanging lightly from the branch of a water oak. The only thing I didn’t see much of that day were the students–– the campus’ personality, lifeblood, and style.

Tumble Over To Buffalo Exchange

Every blogger has a reason why they started their site, and my biggest personal motivator behind creating Slow Southern Style back in September '09 was my day job. I've been a Buffalo Exchange employee for the past seven years, which means I'm essentially a professional thrifter. Working in a secondhand store goes beyond what a normal retail job entails. All day long we inspect clothing for construction, fit, fabric content- the list goes on. Keeping up with current trends, studying vintage, and staying abreast of what customers want to wear lends itself to an unending stream of information.  With all of that knowledge taking up space in my brain, I felt the need to share it with the masses. Nothing like a little Southern hospitality, right?

Southern Gent: Dressing Well With Kenny Rubenstein

Morris, Elkin, and Sam Rubenstein. Image c/o Rubensteins

Ladies sit this one out- Thursdays in April are dedicated to the gentleman. 


We live in a time when most everyone rushes to the mall, battles for a parking spot, settles for a shirt that fits "good enough", waits in endless cash register lines, then wonders where the joy in shopping went.Rubensteins is the antithesis of that. Celebrating it's 88th anniversary this month, Rubensteins is a men's only store with a department store selection and a boutique service feel. Complimentary valet parking, expert alterations, and impeccable customer service have helped keep them in business since 1924.  And what better way for Slow Southern Style to celebrate than with a very special guest column from General Manager Kenny Rubenstein? Each Thursday in April he'll serve up some stellar style advice for the modern, Southern gentleman.

What I Wore: Outside My Comfort Zone

worst.pose.ever. and no, we don't use the abacus in the background.  i suck at math.

I'm currently devouring Amanda Brooks book I Love Your Style, which is a great read for anyone trying to define their personal style. Over the years I've come to realize that I always go back to the same silhouettes. Hey, why mess with a good thing? Normally I wouldn't wear a cream top or a ditzy floral pattern. But the shape of these pieces are tried and true, so it didn't feel like uncharted territory. 

STORYLAND DRESSING! An Interview with Threadbeat

Hey there Slow Southern Style readers! The weather in New Orleans has been crazy... "Hey, it's nice outside."

"OMG! When did it get so cold?"  

"It’s raining now?"

"What? It's only 3PM!"

I'm wishing for those sunny Saturday trips to City Park to run around like a kid again. So what if I'm a grown up without any kids. I'll borrow my nieces for the day and play dress up! Don't you remember the feelings of freedom and carefree joy when walking into the Storyland Village in City Park? 

Threadbeat brings back those memories of a time where peter pan collars and ruffled slips where for every girl. She recreates the idea of Storyland dressing for the modern wardrobe. Great fitting garments and girlie charm in all the pieces she creates.

If you have a chance today go outside and smell the crisp fresh air, the nice breeze. Hey, why not go ahead and climb a tree or enjoy a picnic. If you're stuck to a computer like “moi”self, read this interview with Rebecca from Threadbeat and check out her Etsy store for some Storyland dressing inspiration!

Shop Threadbeat now!