Lady Lunching

IMG_3214IMG_3215I happened to have a lunch meeting at the country club. The occasion created the perfect excuse to dress like a lady who lunches. I think Dorothy would approve.

heels – shoe republic via shop lola
blazer – thrifted dana buchman
dress – thrifted banana republic
leo necklace – game girl
lipcolor – nyx
earrings – kenneth jay lane via charm & chain
purse – vintage
sunnies – asos

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 in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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photo credit: Helaine Williams, AR Dem Gazette

Hey friends! I’ve been working on a NWAFW recap but wanted to share this lovely article written by the AR Democrat Gazette’s Helaine Williams.
Helaine was sitting close to me at the show on Thursday night and we struck up a conversation. She was sent up by the Little Rock paper to cover the event. We exchanged contact info an she called me last week to chat about the shows. She was kind enough to share the above photo she took that “didn’t make the final version” in the paper. She had some very kind things to say about my Thursday look on the second page of the article and there are a few quotes from me as well.
Outfit: hat/jacket – vintage via cheap thrills | transitions/earrings – vintage via grey dog | solar system dress – thrifted

Excerpts from today’s Style Section article:

Also – below is an amazing video of Thursday night from Truebadours!

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: The Perfect Pencil (Skirt)?

NA Martin @ NWA Fashion Week

The #NAMPENCIL c/o NA Martin

The #NAMPENCIL c/o NA Martin

Make-up: Kory Tyler Simpson | MAC * Photos: Mallory Berry | MGB Photo * Styling/Concept: Payton Bridewell | The Window Shopper

Nancy Martin has created something wonderful. That something is a slim-fitting pencil skirt for the gal on the go. The skirt can be wadded up, tossed about, even stuffed in a plastic bag then pulled out and worn again…Can it be true?

Nancy Martin is an attorney as well as one of a handful of fashion designers living in Northwest Arkansas. She conceptualized her skirt operation (aka NA Martin) in January of 2012 and took the line to production in June of the same year. Amazing turnaround, right? Nancy is a lovely lady with a timeless look. I don’t know her well enough to say whether it’s her enormously chic eyewear or her gorgeous hair. Nancy is svelte, poised and polished. She describes her personal aesthetic as “the classic prep look with a twist of counter-culture.” She craves contrast in her wardrobe, putting outfits together that are “simple yet elegant; a mix of the extravagant with the down to earth.” That philosophy extends beyond her attire. She prefers the juxtaposition of high end with low or rough around the edges in all things. Nancy references “a velvet chair with unfinished wood, “ as an example. But, there’s nothing rough about her or her line of pencil skirts.

Nancy Martin models her creation c/o NA Martin

Nancy Martin models her creation c/o NA Martin

She created her functional/fashionable pencil skirt to give the fashion conscious lady a “perfect basic” that could take her from the boardroom to the dining room to the bar and beyond.  Nancy explains, “this skirt is designed for women of all ages who have active lives. Women who may work or volunteer during the day but need to attend a dinner or meeting at night.  Women who want to be able to always count on this basic in their closet. The style is timeless and ageless because of the fit and length. “ She loves the versatility of her creation. She suggests pairing the pencil with “a mesh top with pumps, a white t-shirt with espadrilles or a starched oxford, belt and ballet flats for work.”  I concur. It was with that sense of versatility and contrast that I set out to style her skirt in two ways.

Look #1: skirt  > NAM Pencil in Black hat  > Vintage lace top > Plato’s Closet necklace > Beehive heels > MACA Clothe

Look #2 skirt > NAM Pencil in Black fanny pack > Thrifted heels > Vince Camuto headband > Forever21

Nancy goes to NYC to pick out her fabrics/materials/patterns each season and the skirts are made in the USA! This Spring/Summer look for white, cream and pink pencils with an emphasis on texture. Looking forward to Fall ’14, the pencils will be dark gray, ottoman and olive with a quilted texture.

Find the NAM Pencil online, by appointment or at the following retailers as of Feb 2014:

Klothe Bentonville, AR

Town & Country Fayetteville, AR

Grand on Oak Conway, AR

Women’s Exchange St. Louis, MO

Nancy Martin c/o NA Martin

NA Martin Designer, Nancy Martin

Nancy on her inspirations: I have always loved fashion and art.  I grew up with lots of art in our home and with an appreciation of art and music.  I love to look at the photos in fashion magazines and create my look from them.  I love to travel and do so whenever I can.  I think there is no better way to be inspired.  Every time I come back from a vacation, I see the world differently and with new enthusiasm.  One of my favorite models is Kate Moss.  For me she has the look, versatility and body in which to wear anything.

I truly enjoyed styling the #nampencil skirt and working with Nancy. There’s something incredible about borrowing an item from the actual designer. I think the future looks bright for this jack-of-all-skirts; NA Martin has set the bar high & tight.  – The Window Shopper

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.

TWS SSY 2 Jan 26, 2014, 4-46 PM 2848x4272

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 Window Shopper: Behind The Scenes

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See the original post on NWAFashionWeek.com and {click} for all the photos.

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  | web | insta | email

Stylist: Payton Bridewell | web | fb | insta | email

I was incredibly lucky to find a few really talented people that all got along and liked working together. We were united by love for fashion and community. These wonderful people helped me on many of the shoots.

Mallory & Kory actually worked with me on my wedding day. I was pretty thrilled anyone that dealt with me as a bride wanted to work with me again. I literally cannot say enough about these amazing people. And yet, I don’t have the words. So very thankful.

Guillotine (Taylor + Lindsey)
Guillotine Hair Lounge had literally opened their doors a couple of weeks before we began (January 2013). The first time we worked together, Taylor said to me, “I don’t know you yet but I will love you” and the feeling was mutual. Guillotine is downtown, right by the Striped Pig. It’s easy-going and the fridge is stocked. We drank champagne and sat on the porch. I’m hooked because they fun as hell to hang out with and are also freaking good at doing hair. Lindsey was actually Taylor’s student and T handpicked her when she opened the salon.
Taylor has been doing hair for 13 years, nine of which were spent educating. She was the artistic director for wella usa as well as education leader for the Paul Mitchell school in little rock for the past five. She loved her position teaching, but desperately wanted to get back to nwa and is about to celebrate the year anniversary of being back one year.
Lindsey moved to Fayetteville less than four months ago. She recently finished her classes with imagine: a Paul Mitchell partner school in LR. She then worked at an educational focus salon in Russellville. Both Taylor and Lindsey told me how focused they are on learning, improving and education in general. And they practice that. They’re always describing the steps of what they’re doing.
Taylor told me she’d always wanted to open her own space, “I wanted it to be different from other salons. I wanted natural products but with creative license.” Guillotine carries evo care and pravana color. She wanted the salon to be as much a place to chill out, chat and have a cocktail or read a book. I can tell you that vibe is already prevalent. I’ve turned the place into my dressing room and they didn’t bat an eye. Taylor said, “I want it to be a team atmosphere. I want our clients to feel comfortable going back and forth between everybody that works there. Which is also very different from conventional salons. What this does is it allows us to focus on the client, instead of focusing on our individual paychecks. What’s not to love about that? We love doing any kind of session styling! We also do trainings on everything from extensions, to color formulations and placement, to curly girl cutting and precision cutting. We also do lots of webinars! Our passion is education, first and foremost. We are lucky to be in an industry that promotes learning and growth, why not capitalize on that?”
Kory Tyler
Kory told me his love affair with cosmetics started seven years ago. He picked up an eye shadow brush and hasn’t put it down. There is an absolute art form and an incredible amount of talent involved. The face is the makeup artists’ canvas. Kory works Mac but has been gaining momentum (and a reputation for excellence) enough to outsource / freelance. While k loves sharing a client’s vision for their look on a special occasion, he ultimately wants to create his own cosmetics line.
Interview with MGB
The Window Shopper: Tell me a lil’ about you?
Mallory: I’ve always been heavily involved in the visual arts, inspired by beauty, aesthetic, simplicity and nuance. From playing with my parents’ film cameras and polaroids when I was younger to making friends pose for me during high school, I’ve always been fascinated by the ability to preserve an instant, an expression, even a feeling. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to study beneath two major photographers, Steve Newby from Dallas and Steve Nozicka in Chicago; following this I began my business, seven years ago, primarily in portraits. I try to keep my images organic and airy and I am influenced by the raw qualities of film photography. I approve neither of under-editing nor over-editing, so I strive to present images that contain a hint of ideal while maintaining their core purity and nature. But I’m also no stranger to edgier imagery with artificial lighting if I feel it’s best for the subject or message.
TWS: Why fashion week?
Mallory: In addition to a desire to support local shops and designers, I am enamored with conceptual shoots, stylized sessions, and editorial photography; I knew any involvement in fashion week would be rewarding. Northwest Arkansas has so many incredible and talented individuals, and I was excited to collaborate with some of the best! Plus I love my lil Payton doll.
Mallory, Taylor, Lindsey and Kory have worked their asses off for me and the window shop with a goal of helping people in need in our community and promoting collaboration among local businesses. There is such a wealth of talent in our area.