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.

COLLABO! Emily’s One Man Band

a lovely little lady named Emily asked me to work it in front of the camera for her rather wildy successful etsy shop. obviously, I obliged. We had a great afternoon full of fringe, sequins, denim and flying through the air with the greatest of ease.
Some of her stuff is recycled and some is upcycled. The amazing leather fringe necklace and fabulous bustiers are Emily’s handiwork.
For more

1379825_10200759955137524_1717705729_n 1378199_10200759951017421_98790734_n 1381315_10200759937257077_18482410_n 1381423_10200759939017121_1239502484_n

1271097_10200759647249827_465758495_o 859156_10200759577728089_1143249454_o (1) 1239282_10200759580808166_145311327_o 1264834_10200759586288303_739664438_o

Restless Peace

IMG_1500 IMG_1502

I love a good collaboration. When Ms. Darcy from Hello Luvvy asked if I would join her in the cemetery wearing florals, I didn’t hesitate to say “yes”! {Thanks Darcy & Luvvys!} When we met, the first thing we noticed was that we had both styled our vintage florals with a brooch at the collar.
It was a lovely, warm day. The cemetary was nothing resembling creepy and the geese followed us around expecting crumbs.
On Darcy: dress – cheap thrills / boots – savoir faire
On me: dress/sunnies – grey dog / boots – plato’s closet / brooch – cheap thrills / snake earrings – a gift
Concept by Darcy Munoz | Photoshoot by Hello Luvvy {see the post} | collaboratively styled

The Window Shopper: Behind The Scenes

dreamteambts

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.

The Window Shopper Debuts a VERY Dynamic Duo: Mertin’s Eye + Lola Boutique

[CLICKABLES: see the original post + ALL the photos ]

THE WINDOW SHOPPER DEBUTS DYNAMIC DUO…. LOLA BOUTIQUE + MERTIN’S EYE 

LOCATION: VETRO 1925 | AN ABANDONED BUILDING | ARSAGA’S DOWNTOWN | CAFÉ RUE ORLEANS ROOFTOP

CLOTHING -> LOLA BOUTIQUE | web | insta | fb |email | EYEWEAR -> MERTINS | web | insta | fb |email | blog | HATS -> CHEAP THRILLS ACCESSORIES -> THE WINDOW SHOPPER

Daylight savings happened early this morning, which means MORE SUN. Fashion Week commences TOMORROW (with Shop Local NightLBD Party @ Vetro & 3W/L’Oreal are putting on a swanky affair at Ruth’s Chris in Rogers).  Mallory, who so gracefully shot these photos will be capturing “street style” Thursday-Saturday so, you know, bring you’re A-GAME.

When I started planning for Lola + Mertins, I i knew I wanted to do something different from what I had done so far. This was the last window shop we shot (although not the last post!) and so I recruited my favorite team and a new face. My friend Vanessa.

I wanted to change it up a bit this time so I asked Vanessa to ‘help me’. We’ve been posing together since church camp in 1998 (there are photos but they’re classified). Vanessa was amazing and we had a ton of fun at Vetro 1925 {will I see you there on Monday?},  Arsagas Downtown {we got a few stares + I’ll be there Monday, later} and overlooking the city on the roof of the delectable Café Rue Orleans {don’t try it at home}.

Mallory {MGB PHOTO} worked it out as always, she has mad skills with the camera. But she’s 5’nothing so she’s gotta bring her ladder {so cute}. Guillotine has literally been open two months. They have happy hour hair every Tuesday…They are freaking sick at what they do. Taylor and Lindsey tag teamed us – they gave me a faux bob which I’m going to try to get them to recreate for one of the nights I’m hostingKory could literally do makeup with his eyes closed.  *super secret tip from him – liquid brown liner on your brows I’m going to post more on my buddies who helped me next week.

My friend, Jade Terminella is both the proprietor of Lola BoutiqueAND the co-founder/fearless leader of NWAFW. Jade has always loved animals (she has three dog babies at home). Jade joined the board of Spay Arkansas in 2007 as Fundraising Chair and her first instinct was to bring awareness for their cause through fashion. The girl moves fast and 2007 was the inaugural year of Strut for a Mutt.

Although Strut was a consistent success, Jade had her eye on
the bigger picture. She and Danielle Vaughan conspired to combine all the local fashion for philanthropy events and create an all encompassing “fashion week” in NWA. She recognized that our
community has a heart for helping others and looking fabulous while doing it.

Mertins Eye has been on board since the conception of NWAFW as the official accessory sponsor. Jennifer Esty is the stylist and marketer for the offices and she contacted me about the Window Shop. I  asked her about Mertins’ involvement in NWAFW, she told me that last year they “jumped at the chance to be the official eyewear sponsor. Keeping business local, supporting local charities and doing it through fashion???  Can’t think of a better group to be involved with and cause to contribute our time and eyewear to.”

In 2006, Dr. Allyson Mertins opened Mertins Eye Care & Optical.  She recognized a need in NWA for a combination of well-appointed, unique eyewear & exceptional eye care. The store expanded to a second location in September of 2011 in the Garland Center on the University of Arkansas campus.  Dr. Mertins values impeccable service and has quite a loyal clientele. Her patients constantly compliment her on the eye exam, which is thorough and rather detailed.  She stays up to date on the latest research and findings in the optometric industry.

Mertins offers fashion forward eyewear for every budget, recognizable high-end labels {like Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, Derek Lam, Jason Wu, etc} and exclusive independent lines –
SALT.optics and Mykita, which are handmade. Mertins knows that the sartorially inclined public of our area express their personality through eyewear as much as any other part of their ensemble. Or….perhaps more, after all you don’t change your RX frames daily, so they’re even more important to a look than clothes or jewelry.

Dr. Allyson and the staff of Mertins are thrilled to be
invited back as the official accessory sponsor for NWAFW 2013…this year they will present a runway show!!

Special Guest: Vanessa Ward Cullers | 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 | Styling: Payton Bridewell | web | fb | insta | email

THE
CLOTHES
THE FRAMES
On
Vanessa
LOLA {Elizabeth And James} WHITE ‘PARKER’ LAYERED BLAZER MERTINS Salt “FULCEY” RED TORTOISE
SHELL FRAMES
On Payton LOLA {French Connection} STELLA’ CREPE CLASSIC BLAZER IN CREAM MERTINS 3.1 Phillip Lim “CELIA” EGGSHELL RIMMED
CLUBMASTER (ISH) FRAMES
On Vanessa LOLA {Nicole Miller} LONG SLEEVE TUCKED DRESS BLACK MERTINS Elizabeth And James “RIVER” jackie O black
oversized sunnies with gold accent
On Payton LOLA {Graham And Spencer} 3/4 FITTED MAXI DRESS MERTINS {Elizabeth And James} “KENDALL” white square
sunnies
On Payton LOLA {Graham And Spencer} DRAPE TANK DRESS IN VANILLA MERTINS Mykita “DAISY NO 2″ BLUE
ANGULAR FRAMES
On Payton LOLA {French Connection} ALMOND STRETCH CAP SLEEVE DRESS – BLACK MERTINS Mykita “GOLDA”
black round sunnies
On Vanessa LOLA {Velvet} LEATHER SHOULDER PATCH DRESS BLACK MERTINS {Rayban} CLUBMASTER SUNNIES
On Vanessa LOLA {Alc} HARLAN JUMPSUIT
NAVY
MERTINS Salt “BRIGGS”
SQUARE GRAY FRAMES
On Payton LOLA {Riller And Fount}  RITA’ CREW NECK
MAXI IN GOLD
On Vanessa LOLA {Haute Hippie} GOLD TWIST FRONT
STRAPLESS DRESS

The Window Shopper marvels in Mae’s Emporium

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 Fashion Week Window Shop

So, friends…as the PR chair for NWA fashion week 2013, I’ve been asked to blog in support of the local participating boutiques. We are posting my introduction today. I’ve copied it below but go to the site to keep up!
photo by Jade Howard
Hi to all the sartorially preoccupied of NWA, my name is Payton (Rosenzweig) Bridewell and I am the window shopper.
Since Fashion Week 2013 is right around the corner, it’s time to join me for a peek in the proverbial windows of the participating boutiques/designers/shops. Once a week, I’ll be highlighting the shops with shows. I’ll be perusing their racks, choosing a few pieces to take home and styling them with what I already have in my closet – granted… I am something of a clotheshorse. I’ll show you some of the wonderful things you can find shopping in NWA and how to wear them.
I’ve rounded up a local team of skilled professionals to help me and we can’t wait to share what we’ve done. Find me on instagram @mspayton to stay tuned!
x PRB
photo credit: Jade Howard

What I Wore: Bossy (Print & Nails)

what I wore: bodysuit – dkny (thrifted), skirt – nina piccalino (thrifted), platforms – forever21, nails – pistol polish in bulletproof

I have been very excited to get my September PISTOL polishes in the mail (see August here) and they did not disappoint! I’m obsessed with the shade shown (called bulletproof) because it’s teal-ish navy that only gets darker with the coats applied. I haven’t seen another color like it so props to my girl LT for conceptualizing!