On My Grind

We did this shoot a few months ago and I’m thrilled to finally share it! Mel (from Mayapple) wanted to create a look for me that was atypical of what I usually do. I guess I gravatate towards the feminine, the retro or even the sleek – but I don’t really do…dirty. That’s not to say that I don’t get dirty. I do. I just don’t usually have photo evidence. I can’t even get beach spray to work; I almost always end up washing it out. I have two bottles of it in my bathroom and I use it…to no avail. I just don’t do the gritty, grungy look well…on my own.

Ahhh, when the professionals step in, anything can be done. Case in point…

IMG_1314-1hair/mu by (the multi-talented) Melissa Arens of Mayapple
photos by (the incredibly versatile) Bo Counts
styling by Melissa Arens & Payton Bridewell

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…so from now on, I’m leaving my “messy” look to the professionals. x

Outfit Creds: Fanny Pack, Sunflower Button Down, Suspenders –> Mayapple || the rest is all mine <3

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All the cool kids are doing it.

20140404-015609.jpg I’ve always been enamored with tattoos. I admire the people who have a veritable art gallery on their bodies but I’ve never (not even once) come close to getting one myself. Come to think of it, I’ve never actually stepped into a tattoo parlor. Wow. Anyway, I recently came across the coolest thing. A new-ish brand of modern (dare I say chic?) temporary tattoos: Tattly. Tattly is an online retailer/supplier that provides many of the designs hipsters, young professionals or kids could desire in a washable, 2 for $5 format. What could be better? I attended a birthday get together last weekend that claimed to require neck tattoos for entry. It felt like the right time to don my “to live, to learn, to love” ink right across the chest. While I happened to be the only party guest in compliance, I didn’t mind because this amazingness was fleeting. Your thoughts? The vast variety of tats are shoppable on tattly.com and a curated selection is available locally at Shindig Paperie. If you’re STILL not impressed, there is one more thing. Tattly offers the option to customize tats for your business, brand, bash, basically anything…this is big.
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Stickered

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I’ve gotten a few ups on my recent manicure. This is a rare occurrence for me, as I rarely do my nails (well). I got some nail stickers at walgreens – they come with around 40? – so you can squeeze several uses out of them. When you’re done, you just peel them off! The whole sticker thing is pretty genius. It’s super easy to do and it ends up looking pretty fly, if I do say so myself.

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NWAFW 2014 Recap

I’m not going to pretend I didn’t have a fashion-hangover afterwards but all in all it was a ton of fun and quite impressive! I must give a shout out to 3W Magazine/Tres Lifestyle for sending me behind the scenes.

Also, check out Elysian, E. Leigh’s, NA Martin, She Said Yes, SOHO Clothiers, Jodie Franklin, Nicole Shipley in the NWAFW Window Shop! A huge thank you to Mallory Berry, Kory Tyler Simpson, Suzannah Files, Samantha Clark, Darcy Morton Munoz & Celi Birke for their contributions to the Window Shop this year. It was truly a labor of love.

If  you STILL need more, here are all the photos I took during NWAFW 2014. And, my buddy Jess Whalen of Truebadours did badass videos for each night.

NWAFW: E. Leigh’s, The New Girl in Town

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Erin, before the launch of her first store in 2012

That “fashion doesn’t have to be a luxury,” is E. Leigh’s shop mantra. Erin Hohnbaum is at the helm of the quickly expanding brand. I visited the Fayetteville store and found that the clothes are pretty, feminine and fun; just like Ms. Hohnbaum.

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with Erin “E. Leigh” Hohnbaum outside her store in the Heights

Meet Little Rock native and U of A Alumna, Erin Hohnbaum. You know the type…ferociously driven, gregarious, beautiful, the type of young woman who starts a business hocking clothes out the back if her car, then turns it into three successful retail stores in less than two years. A young woman who made the 2013 Arkansas Business top 20 in their 20s and was named one of Soiree magazine’s 24 women to watch in 2012. Yeah that’s right. She did all of this before turning 30. So maybe you don’t know the type?

I finally had the opportunity to meet Erin this summer. For years, mutual friends had been saying that we would get on famously. Of course, they were right, (had we but known!) Anyway, I was working on a business venture that gave me a reason to call her up. That particular business relationship didn’t work out but we remained friendly.  So friendly in fact, that she recommended me to a friend of hers at Mangan Holcomb who needed help with PR. She has taken the time to help me personally and professionally. I’m indebted to her, but she has yet to call in the favor. I have a feeling if she did, I wouldn’t even notice.

Despite how busy and stretched she is – Erin remains refreshingly gracious and accessible. She’s open to new challenges like the upcoming NWA Fashion Week. This will be E. Leigh’s inaugural time participating in the Northwest Arkansas based event. Her shop’s involvement, (along with West Little Rock store, Scarlet) begs the question; will this soon become Arkansas fashion week?

E. Leigh’s will be hitting the runway on Saturday, March 8th. Keep up with Erin & her fabulous trio of stores on facebook & instagram.

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Look #1: Dress E. Leigh’s * Heels Lulu Townsend * Blazer Thrifted Ralph Lauren * Rhinestone Ring Kate Spade * Rhinestone Necklace Mae’s
Look #2: Top Everly, E. Leigh’s * Skirt E. Leigh’s * Belt Vintage via Cheap Thrills * Earrings * Vintage via Grey Dog * Heels Shoenami NOLA
Look #3: Dress E. Leigh’s * Hat Vintage Thrifted * Silk Blazer Thrifted Argenti * Heels Michael Antonio

The Window Shopper for NWA Fashion Week | styling Payton Bridewell | MU Samantha Clark & Hair Suzannah Files for Crown Beauty Bar | photography Celi Birke for MGB Photo | shot on location at Daniel McCormick Accounting (designed by Fay Jones)

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Q & A with Erin
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Erin Hohnbaum

The Window Shopper: Tell me more about the E. Leigh’s brand. Who is the E. Leigh’s girl? Erin Leigh Hohnbaum: I describe the E.Leigh’s brand as feminine and fashion forward. We know that modern women wear many hats. We (as a company) are working women, on-the-go mothers, fun, flirty date-night girls. The E.Leigh’s brand tries to help women be everything they need to be seamlessly.  
TWS: Describe your personal aesthetic. ELH: Personally, I love clean lines and feminine pieces. Clothing that make me feel strong and put together, but look like a woman.  
TWS: Describe your aspirations for E. Leigh’s short term/long term. ELH: Goodness, this is a hard one. I feel like my aspirations for E.Leigh’s are constantly evolving. My number one priority when I started this business was to make sure our customers AND my employees love E.Leigh’s. I have always wanted it to be a place where people look forward to coming. A place you feel better leaving than when you came in. Would I love to have 100 stores someday? Absolutely! But, I certainly do not want to sacrifice quality for quantity. A very short -term goal is getting our website back up and running. (Editor’s note: look for this to launch soon @ eleighs.com)
TWS: Who/what inspires you style-wise? ELH: Of course, my style is always a direct reflection of my mood that day. Comfy casual or sleek and buttoned up, I just wear what feels good. My celebrity fashion icon of the moment has to be Zoe Saldana. I just love her.
TWS: What trends/looks/colors/whatever are you looking forward to this spring? ELH: I’m SUPER excited about this spring. There are so many wearable trends. I’m always a fan of shift blouses. I saw TONS of these at market. I’m also really into skater skirts right now. They’re so girly and easy to wear.  
TWS: Do you have any advice for young women (like myself) who look up to you for your entrepreneurship?  ELH: One of the biggest life lessons I’ve learned is “thoughts become things.” Your thoughts and energy shape your life. If you want to change your life, first, you have to change what’s going on in your head. Second of all, I believe that a woman’s intuition is one of her greatest gifts on this planet. Listen to it. Fine-tune it. You’ll end up right where you’re supposed to be.  
TWS: What can we expect to see at your NWAFW 2014 show? ELH: Since E. Leigh’s is a NWAFW virgin; we decided to just be very true to who we are as a company. We are striving to show NWA exactly what being an E.Leigh’s girl is all about. We couldn’t be more excited!

NWAFW: Elysian Feel

By definition, Elysian is  an adjective  defined as “of, relating to, or characteristic of heaven or paradise.” I headed North to get a feel for the Bentonville boutique. 
Elysian/NWAFW Look #1

Elysian/NWAFW Look #1

Peach Palazzo Pants – Elysian * Cropped Carrot Sweater – Elysian * Handmade Bowtie – Emily OneManBand Smith * Heels – Forever21 * Earrings – Dillards

Elysian/NWAFW Look #2

Elysian/NWAFW Look #2

Kimono – Elysian * Dress – Vintage from Cheap Thrills * Hat – Vintage Metal Belt – 410 Vintage * Heels – Forever21

Make-up: Kory Tyler Simpson /MAC
Photos: Mallory Berry/MGB Photo
Styling/Concept: Payton Bridewell/The Window Shopper
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Lisa & Me, Summer 2013

Lisa Wright opened downtown Bentonville’s Elysian Boutique at the end of 2012. In March 2013, shop moved into its current spot, conveniently located a block from Bentonville’s booming downtown square. When she initially opened, she kept her full-time dental hygienist job while her mom, who retired from WM corporate, worked the store. In the evenings, she would photograph her inventory and post on social sites. At the end of last year, Lisa decided it was finally time to give up on her dual career (as a dental hygienist) to focus on Elysian full-time. Fast-forward to today and the shop is already in the throes of a success story.

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The lovely Lisa Wright, Elysian owner

Women of all ages and incomes shop at Elysian and Lisa aims to please them all. She endeavors to remember details about everyone who shops at Elysian, she credits her customer service for shoppers returning over and over again. Lisa, and in turn Elysian, is style-focused. The shop is stocked with multi-use pieces, items that can be worn a variety of ways. I asked Lisa for her wardrobe staples and she told me “a blazer, a pencil skirt, a pair of pumps and a tunic can get you anywhere.” For Spring, she is looking forward to mixing black & white with pastels.”

Expect whimsy with an edge from Elysian on Saturday night (March 8th) at NWAFW. Check out Elysian’s latest stylings on Instagram, Facebook or ShopElysian.com.  – The Window Shopper

NWAFW: SOHO CLOTHIERS

I visited the new & improved SOHO Clothiers in Rogers to pick up a few transitional pieces just in time to look chic for Spring.
Look #1
|Pants - Ella Moss/SOHO Clothiers | Bolero - Vintage | Bow ties - Vintage | Heels - Plato's Closet

Pants – Ella Moss/SOHO Clothiers | Bolero – Vintage | Bow ties – Vintage | Heels – Plato’s Closet

I chose the slouchy black & cream pant for it’s supreme versatility. Comfortable but still dressy, the trouser can be paired with virtually anything.

Look #2

Blazer - BB Dakota/SOHO Clothiers | Earrings - Grayling/SOHO Clothiers | Shift - Scarlet Clothing | Sunnies - Vintage/Grey Dog | Heels - Go Jane

Blazer – BB Dakota/SOHO Clothiers | Earrings – Grayling/SOHO Clothiers | Shift/ Scarlet Clothing | Sunnies – Vintage/Grey Dog | Heels – Go Jane

I was immediately drawn to the BB Dakota embellished blazer. The sequins picked up whatever color they were near, making it a wear-with-everything staple. It also had a trim fit which gives it a continuity with the outfit rather than feeling like an add-on.

Make-up: Kory Tyler Simpson /MAC

Photos: Mallory Berry/MGB Photo

Styling/Concept: Payton Bridewell/The Window Shopper

SOHO:

Leslie Claud Freeman and her family finalized the purchase of the Rogers shopping staple, Soho Clothiers on April 20th, 2013. After almost a year on the ownership side of retail, she’s as enthusiastic as ever. She speaks about SOHO with an air of gratitude, excited to see the store continue to grow, while still satisfying the existing customer base.

SOHO Reopened with a ribbon cutting on April 20th, 2013

SOHO Reopened with a ribbon cutting on April 20th, 2013

She hopes current and new shoppers will come see the “updated” shop. Shoppers have actually been her priority long before she bought the store. Leslie was an apparel studies major at the U of A and spent several years in the fashion industry – first at Mason’s, then at BCBG. Even in high school (yes, I remember!) she always dressed to impress and had the best hair.

Leslie Freeman

Leslie Freeman

When dressing herself, Leslie loves to be feminine but also comfortable. She likes an outfit (like a maxi dress) that takes her from low-key to dressy by the switch of a shoe or the addition of a blazer. But she admits, “nothing can beat a good pair of jeans”. Like most of us, Leslie is ready for spring. Drawing inspiration from magazines and stylish people everywhere, she’s stocked SOHO with color and prints. She’s especially looking forward to helping her customers find those transitional pieces (like the Ella Moss pant or the BB Dakota blazer I chose) to refresh their wardrobe. See the latest from SOHO on facebook & instagram.

NWAFW Window Shop: She Said Yes Bridal

So… turns out it’s really fun shopping for a wedding dress when it’s not for your wedding day. Want to play in a beautiful gown for a day and then give it back with no damage done to your pocket book? Yes, please.

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I met up with Farron & Deja at the She Said Yes store in Rogers. We easily fell into conversation about fashion and weddings and dresses (oh my!). Farron told me, “Brandi opened the store after shopping for her own wedding. She realized there was nothing in the area that provided the level of customer service or selection that you could find in bigger cities. So, she left her corporate job behind and opened She Said Yes to fill that void.” And fill the void it has for nine years and counting.  Since 2004 She Said Yes has helped over hundreds of brides locally and across the country to find the dress that bring them to say “yes”. But they aren’t sure how many exactly…they don’t keep count. They’re too busy focusing on the bride at hand and making sure she finds the dress of her dreams.

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IMG_2723I went into the appointment sure that they would let me leave with a couple of formals that I could whip up a situation where I would wear a formal in my everyday life. However, Farron quickly told me that they were only showing bridal on the runway at NWAFW. So, would I be down to be a bride again? Ummmm yes!IMG_2833

I decided that we should find a few dresses that weren’t too bridal. But that was my only qualifier. For my own wedding, I did not want strapless, only because that’s what you see the most of. For this, no such rules. Farron & Deja took me back to the dressing rooms where there were a few gowns left over from a recent sample sale. We ooohed and ahhhed and they quickly beckoned me to strip. You get really close with anyone who helps you in or out of bridal couture – take it from me. Farron & Deja saw me completely nude within moments of our first meeting.

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We found a gorgeous Anne Barge ball gown (a blush silk taffeta gown featuring a beautiful rouched drop-waist bodice that softly flows into a full skirt full of romantic pickups) that was so delightful and princess-like.  We went back out into the showroom and I began gravitating toward lace. We eventually happened upon a lacy Romona Keveza (blush silk shantung fitted, with Alencion lace overlay; featuring a beautiful lace illusion sweetheart neckline and soft sweep train) that was sweet and perfect in its simplicity. I told the girls I was feeling an “I skipped my wedding because I wanted to party” vibe for the window shop and they were totally down. Seeing so many brides on the regular, they seemed to get excited about the fashion aspect as much of more than the wedding side.  Speaking of the fashionable side of things, they have a very cool concept planned for NWAFW 2014. Farron said the goal is to bring the focus back to the beauty of the dress and how a bride will look in it.

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Find out more about She said Yes Bridal online & @shesaidyesbridal on Instagram. This post is in honor of Brandi Rushton and dedicated to her recovery.

Beauty by Suzannah Files for Crown Beauty Bar | Photos by Darcy Munoz for Hello Luvvy | Styling/Concept: Payton Bridewell for The Window Shopper | Flowers by Pigmint | The jewels are available for purchase at Cheap Thrills

buy these one-of-a-kind vintage baubles NOW at cheap thrills

buy these one-of-a-kind vintage baubles NOW at cheap thrills

Best Outfits of 2013

IMG_0385Clockwise from top: 1. Grey Dog by MGB Photo; 2. Mayapple Salon by Celi Birke for NWAFW, 3. Mertins/Lola by MGB Photo for NWAFW; 4. Vintage from personal collection by Darcy Munoz for Hello Luvvy; 5. Grey Dog  by MGB Photo; 6. Mayapple by MGB Photo for NWAFW; 7. Black Cherry Vintage by Leea Lee; 8. Savoir Faire by MGB Photo for NWAFW
All personally styled by The Window Shopper. In 1,3,5-6,8: MU Kory Tyler Simpson / Hair Guillotine Hair Lounge. In 2, MU/Hair by Mayapple Salon.

The Fuzz

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I love fur (preferably faux). It is just about the sexiest thing you can wear when it’s freezing and you’re showing a miniscule amount of skin. images via pinterest
Next up for me, a muff. Remember those? After our epic snowstorm, I have a feeling I’m going to need it.
If you’re in need of a (faux) fur, look no further than these great local spots: grey dog | lola Or online: asos | etsy

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