Month: February 2013

The Window Shopper’s MACA Musts

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[CLICKABLE: see all the photos from the shoot!}

MACA CLOTHE | 745 E Joyce BLVD Suite 118 | Fayetteville | 479.935.4235 |email| web | insta | fb
Photography: Mallory Berry [web | fb | insta | email]
Hair: Taylor & Lindsey of Guillotine Hair Lounge [web | fb | insta | 479.582.8770]
MUA: Kory Tyler Simpson @ MAC [ insta | email]
Stylist, Writer, Model: Payton Bridewell [web | fb | insta | email]

Hi beautiful people! Are you caught up on the window shopping  happening for NWA fashion week? So far I’ve featured Maude, Plato’s Closet & Mae’s Heirlooms. Now that NWAFW is less than a month away, it’s time to really gear up for March 13-16! *get tickets *plan outfits  It’s less than a month away, have you gotten your tickets? I think NYFW has really gotten me in the mood for glamour, and speaking of…

MACA Clothe is in the window shop this week! I have been dying to share these ensembles with you. MACA is a new favorite of mine, I was actually able to pair some of my very favorite items with my finds. I can’t tell you how many staples/basics they have in stock right now and I assume, always. Jeans. Blazers. Color. Jewels. It was very difficult to choose.

MACA’s Mandy Rogers told me she is obsessed with Gwen Stefani, Chanel and her three furry babies. She’s the personification of a “fireball”. When I met her in late January (to peruse the store), I was immediately put at ease by her gregariousness but fully intimidated by her chic ensemble and fabulous makeup, complete with false lashes. She later confessed that she had been in a photo shoot for MACA earlier that day. PHEW. I was worried she was able to run a business and apply lashes daily. Having met her, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

Mandy opened MACA’s dapper doors in 2007. The store leans toward edgy and trendy but budget-friendly. The store carries gobs of denim, shoes, jewelry in addition to the tops/dresses/bottoms you might expect. Did you know they’re online? Their webstore has a huge selection and everything purchased online is shipped within two days for a flat rate of $6 anywhere in the US! How’s that for service? If you’ve met Mandy, you know that she loves to make people happy; this is obvious when you walk into her store. MACA endeavors to provide affordable/attractive variety for the girl that is confident, fun loving and ahead of the fashion curve. On the MACA girl, Mandy says, “she has no rules and is not afraid to fall in love… MACA love!”

So…I have something really REALLY exciting to tell you. MACA is generously offering 15% off of the items I featured through the end of February {mention WINDOW SHOPPER at checkout}! This would be a fabulous opportunity for you to get ready to strut at NWAFW. Almost everything can also be purchased online, so the convenience factor is at an all-time high. If shopping is your cardio, the shop provides free gift wrap, alterations and custom spray tanning.

MACA takes over the runway on Saturday, March 16th!

About our shoot:

Taylor and Lindsey @ Guillotine helped me with a petite rocker faux-hawk in the front and spirals in the back for the first few looks. It was super easy to let down for a few of the later looks. It just cascaded into curls.

On the beauty, I have a confession. We had a little shoot the night before and Kory (from MAC) couldn’t make it the next day. I told him I wanted to attempt to keep the makeup on and try to make it work. He is really, really good. A little concealer and lips and my makeup was good to go!

Vetro 1925 was an absolute delight to have as a backdrop. They are very fashion-friendly and even made me a cocktail! They’re hosting NWAFW’s LBD event on Monday, March 11th, so don’t miss that!

Mallory @ MGB Photo is absolutely amazing. She actually shot my wedding and has done all the photography for these shoots, save for Mae’s. She and I have built a really good rapport, so it’s great that she can tell me to put my chin down or to suck in. She’s great at taking random/normal backdrops and making them appear high end. I feel very fortunate to have these artists on my team!

OUTFIT DETAILS:

click to purchase  à MACA OVI blue blazer | worn with vintage tropical strapless dress – all that jazz, turquoise beads – Mae’s, heels – target, earrings – thrifted

MACA Xtaren nude sequin tank dress (purchase in store) | worn with sweater – Moda International, heels – charles david, vintage earrings – grey dog, cuff – forever21, necklace/locket – mae’s | location: Vetro 1925 Ristorante

MACA onemanband. by Emily Smith handmade bustier (purchase in store) | worn with sweater skirt – My Michelle, blazer – Georges Marciano, heels – banana republic, necklace – forever21

purchase à  MACA Rehab black pleather pleated skirt | worn with swimsuit as top, heels/necklace – forever21, bracelets – thrifted  | location: Vetro 1925 Ristorante

MACA !iT flare jeans (purchase in store) | worn with crop top – banjo via grey dog, DIY flower wreath, sunnies – a gas station pick up, wedges – bamboo

click to purchase à  MACA OVI white blazer leather collar | worn with tank – gap, polka dot shorts – grey dog, heels – forever21, sunnies – ultra studios

What I Wore: Weekend Wedding

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IMG_7171

what I wore: dress – gracia c/o plato’s closet, heels – bcbg, coat – marvin richards (my mother in law gave me this!)
This past weekend, we went South for the wedding of one of Ro’s childhood friends. It was a  lovely wedding complete with so many gorgeous flowers that I was tempted to break in later and steal them all. This Gracia dress (which normally costs $120+) was a gift from Plato’s Closet for my feature on them for NWAFW :). Love.

The Window Shopper marvels in Mae’s Emporium

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photo by Jade Howard

photo by Jade Howard

[CLICKABLE: see ALL the photos]

NWAFW March 13-16, 2013 The Chancellor Hotel

MAE’S| 352 N West Ave, Fayetteville | 479-575-9626 | fb | insta | email
Photography: Jade Howard [web | insta | email]
Hair: Jenn Harbour of Ultra Salon [web | fb | email]
MUA: Fallon Yockey of Luxe Beauty [ web | fb | insta | email]
Stylist, Writer, Model: Payton Bridewell [web | fb | insta | email]

*window shopper photo by Mallory Berry of MGB Photo

favorite maes

So… you can see that I love Mae’s (let me count the ways). This collage is a mix of outfits from the past year or so, each one contains an element from Mae’s Heirlooms .. Click à here for all things tagged with Mae’s on The Window Shopper.

Mae’s Emporium (or Heirlooms – it’s listed as both on various outlets) is unlike any store I’ve ever been in. It holds the stuff of dreams. The vintage/antique bauble boutique is housed in a room the size of a tin can. It’s very small but packed to the literal brim with sparklers and trifles from almost every era. Jessica Graham, the lady of the shop, opened Mae’s nearly five years ago after a stint of successful trunk shoes. The shop has since become an institution for avid collectors and date-party-bound sorority girls alike. She, along with the two close friends that convinced her to set up shop, is and has always been a vintage jewelry enthusiast. They saw the opportunity to translate their zeal into a completely individual offering for our area. The shop has a short week {w-s 11 to 4ish} but it’s not for a lack of merchandise. At any time, there are pieces from the 1860s to the 1980s and almost every time in between.  Jess loves the history behind each shiny thing and that inspires her to travel far and wide in search of pretties. She tries to stay close to home for most searches, though. She (like most of us) attempts to keep her money in NWA when she can, plus she has two adorable young sons.

In my opinion, what’s extraordinary about Mae’s isn’t just its distinct place our community; it’s the range of items available, the multiple price points (multiple options for $8 to $800, most in the bottom half of that array), and quality wares. A rival just doesn’t really exist anywhere else. Take a gander at the gorgeous, expertly-styled snaps on the store’s instagram, maintained by Jess, of course.

by Jade Howard

I feel like this picture is a perfect representation for what happens each time I stop in Mae’s. I’m like, “I’m here! Make me sparkle!” I feel like I’m bursting in, bull-in-a-china-cabinet style, every time I walk into the teeny shop. Blink and you’ll miss it from the outside, the small space is a veritable treasure trove past the front door. Personally, I have always preferred pretty over practical in a gift, especially from a man. Every holiday that implies gift-giving, I tell Ro (my hubby) that I want something sparkly. He usually delivers. But, I have no qualms buying jewelry for myself. I could complete any ensemble with something fabulous from Mae’s.  I’ve worn my finds all over the place, to my rehearsal dinner, to Razorback games, to events, to work, to everything. Each piece is one of a kind and reminds me of a special time in my life.

Jess, on the origin of her store’s name:

Seven years ago (while I was still doing independent trunk shows) I bought a locket to chop for parts from a dealer in Texas. I unpacked the box of estate spoils to find a handwritten note that warranted a change of heart…the note read;

“I hope that you enjoy this necklace. I have owned it myself for over 25 years and it’s time to pass it on. It belonged to one Ella Mae Prothrow- a gift from her husband, Samuel “Boss” Cain, for her birthday. That would have been in May of 1885- give or take a year or two. Her beloved husband died in a mill accident the very day he gave her this. She wore it every day until she died at the age of 92 and never remarried. Theirs was a great love story I have cherished and I hope you will too. It should be worn and shown- enjoy!”-Fanny B

After such a tale how could I do anything to it but preserve it? Not only does that piece hang in Mae’s under glass, but we took her name as well- and MAE’S it was :)

 

Mae’s is partnering with Lola on the runway Friday night of NWAFW 2013 (3/15). I know I can’t wait…

 

Details:

All jewelry from Mae’s, styled by Jessica Graham & Payton Bridewell

Dresses/Shoes – Payton’s own | Black Dress – Ann Taylor (thrifted) | Floral, White Eyelet, Teal Dresses – Vintage (Cheap Thrills)

The Window Shopper plays in Plato’s Closet

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Payton for NWAFW-4164
[CLICKABLE: –> SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOOT!]
Hi pretty people! I hope you are well and getting excited about NWAFW! Are you following @nwafashionweek on instagram? liked on facebook? Just looking out for you! Isn’t it surprising/wonderful how many fashion conscious people there are in our little neck of the woods? I found a few to help me with this project. They areridiculous talented. Quickly, let me give credit where credit is so very due.
L to R Mallory Berry, Kory Simpson, Payton, Taylor Johnston, Lindsey Wright
THE TEAM:
Photography: Mallory Berry [web | fb | insta | email]
Hair: Taylor & Lindsey of Guillotine Hair Lounge [web | fb | insta | 479.582.8770]
MUA: Kory Tyler Simpson @ MAC [ insta | email]
Stylist, Blogger, Model: Yours Truly, Payton Bridewell [web | fb | insta | email]

Ok, did you catch my first NWAFW Window Shop collaboration with Maude? If not, head –> here !
If so…let us venture on! Up next, window shopping in Plato’s Closet.
 was thrilled to hear that Plato’s Closet (PC) was participating in NWAFW. I am in my element buying resale. I was already a stopping by PC on occasion, attempting to sell clothes and typically buying some instead. I’m a treasure-hunter by nature and I enjoy perusing and browsing. I tell myself I won’t buy unless I can’t live without it. But I’m really good at convincing myself of that, especially with the affordability factor. I almost always find something special hiding/wait! They recently opened a new, much larger location, everything is really streamlined and they have GOBS of shoes in every size. Just last night, I went back and found some Jeffrey Campbell cutout platforms (regular retail: $100+/ PC: $20).I found Marc Jacobs, DVF and all kinds of name brand jeans almost immediately. I kept my closet in mind and settled on a mix of pieces. As their Facebook page explains, Plato’s Closet “specializes in gently used clothes and accessories for teen and twenty something girls and guys”. They will also pay cash for clothes, if they’re on trend (mine usually aren’t…boo) and allow shoppers to drop off their stuff and leave, returning anytime that day. I don’t know for sure but I think that several of the boutiques send stuff there after the current season… I can’t wait to see what PC shows on the runway because I love that we have the option to buy “green” clothing that is has been worn and loved and is now CHEAP! I’m not kidding when I tell you that you could spend HOURS in there and not see everything. Thus, I was able to widen my range at PC and pulled favorites from my personal collection to create looks.
Staci Deal is the proprietor of the local Plato’s Closets. With her family, she opened the Fayetteville location in 2008. They quickly expanded to Rogers and Fort Smith in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Staci and her husband (Rob) have three dogs and spend a lot of their free time outside. She’s obsessed with Rachel Zoe & Taylor Swift and says that “fashion is everything.”
So I styled & piled. My team fluffed & puffed. Then magic! Oh and keep your eyes peeled for my hubby as a very handsome prop in one look :)

ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOOT IN THE NWAFW ALBUM –> HERE.

Details
1. Plato’s Cisano red cotton pant | worn with red Pendleton blazer, black tank from Maude, Stuart Weitzman heels, earringsMae’s (location: Dickson st inn)
2. Plato’s Rory Beca long black sheer skirt | worn with Stefanie peter pan blouse, Jessica Simpson heels, Target sunnies, Kate Spade ring
3. Plato’s Judith March silk china blue strapless dress | worn with forever 21 leaf necklace, Stuart Weitzman heels (location: Dickson st inn)
4. Plato’s free people beige tank dress | worn with vintage scarf, bow Forever21 necklace/earrings, Michael Antonio heels, Bebe fuzzy (location: Dickson st inn)
5. Plato’s Danny & Nicole striped blazer | worn with unlabeled vintage white mini, vintage baubles from Mae’s & Cheap Thrills, Kate Spade cocktail ring, vintage belt, Jeffrey Campbell platforms {on Ro – thrifted pinstripe suit, ray bans} (location: Dickson st inn)
Most vintage is either locally purchased at thrift shops or Cheap Thrills in Fayetteville, AR
Special thanks: the Dickson Street Inn in downtown Fayetteville for being quite the gorgeous backdrop / to my hubby for being a handsome prop