Tag: Inspiration

Drink Pink

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Payton for pH Alchemy-1870 Who doesn’t love a delicious drink? Whether it’s a cocktail or a refresher or a wake-up, drinking is a huge part of our lives. Enter Pink House Alchemy, creators of sensational botanical based syrups. I had a to-die for lavender lemonade at the farmer’s market last year and had been thinking about it non-stop. When I had the same deliciousness at the Little Craft Show this winter, I quickly decided I had to try this at home. I bought the herb, lavender & rosemary syrups. They were divine the few times I used them before they were relegated to the back of my home bar for two months. I re-found them and began to wonder, should they be refrigerated? I emailed Emily Lawson, the alchemist (or owner) herself. She was incredibly kind and directed me to Ross, PH chef/alchemist, who had recently made the syrups shelf-stable. Ross replaced my syrups with bigger bottles, he also gave me three new ones to try! Wasn’t that just so lovely of them? I decided to utilize my new additions and organized a little happy hour with my gal-pal Mallory Berry of MGB Photo. Payton for pH Alchemy-1890 The PH folks had given me a pineapple rosemary shrub (a “sipping vinegar”) and I saw a lovely little margarita recipe (below) on their facebook. Let me tell you, this is the real deal. It was so incredibly yummy that things got a little out of hand. Go get you some.

Pineapple Rosemary Margarita | Mix the following:
2 oz silver tequila 1 oz Pink House Alchemy Pineapple Rosemary shrub (a shrub is a “sipping” vinegar that takes your cocktail to the next level) 3/4 oz Pink House Alchemy Herb simple syrup Juice from 1/2 a lime
(for our version, we used grapefruit flavored sparkling water)

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Photo Credit: MGB Photo

More about PH, via PINKHOUSEALCHEMY.COM: Pink house alchemy is a company dedicated to taste experiences.  Inspired by complementary patterns in roots, barks, fruits, herbs, and botanicals.  pH works every day to find new and perfect connections between ingredients.  Who knew carrot, rice vinegar; sugar and toasted coriander seeds are a dreamy sweet treat?  Simple syrups, bitters, shrubs and timeless classics such as falernum, are where the alchemists put these discoveries to the test!

Purchase syrups & shrubs from Pink House at Arsagas, ONF or on their website.

More recipe suggestions from Pink House:

Blueberry Thyme Gin Fizz: 2 oz. Hendricks Gin 1 oz. pH Alchemy Blueberry Thyme Simple Syrup 1/2 juiced lemon 1 egg white. Shake with ice. Pour. Top off with sparkling water. Garnish with sprig of thyme. Enjoy.

Rosemary Rhubarb Flip: 1.5 oz. Hendrick’s Gin 1 oz. pH Rosemary Rhubarb simple syrup .75 oz. fresh lime juice 1 egg white Add all ingredients into a shaker and dry shake for 30 seconds. Add ice and continue shaking until frothy. Strain and garnish with a fresh rosemary spring.

Pink House Cooler: 2 oz vodka 1 oz Pink House Alchemy Strawberry Basil simple syrup juice from 1/2 a lime top with sparkling water and garnish with fresh basil

Lavender Hummingbird: In a pint glass: Ice 1 oz pH Alchemy Lavender Simple Syrup 1 squeezed lemon Sparkling water

French Lavender 75: In a shaker: 2 oz gin (the alchemist prefers Hendricks) 1 oz Lavender One half squeezed lemon Shake with ice, pour in martini glass Float champagne on top Garnish with lemon twist

NWAFW 2014 Recap

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wearing a Mayapple jumper to the Wednesday night party
with the lovely Nancy Martin, designer of the NA Martin Pencil Skirt
Tuesday night @ Lola
LBD night
going hard backstage with my favorite cohost, Bo Counts
front row with my gal Mal
pal-ing around with Ms. Candy
Darcy, Mallory & I pose in sunnies from Mertin’s Eye on Friday night
Backstage Pass Friday night
with the lovely Anna
backstage
Friday’s outfit by MGB Photo
the stunning Mary Semon
the lady of the hour, Jade Terminella
galpals!
with Haylee, who did my hair Friday
with the lovely Leslie & Kasie of 3W
my saturday look by Mallory of MGB Photo
with my guy on Saturday
with Farron & Deja of She Said Yes
my seat!
Dapper Dudes: Donny Hubbard of The Independent & my hubby
Mertin’s flipbook with Mal & Ro
Mertin’s Flipbook with Mal & Darcy
Mertin’s Flipbook with Ro
Ro, Bo & DJ EJ

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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DSC_0305

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:

1st excerpt
2nd excerpt
3rd excerpt
page 1
page 2
page 3

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

NWAFW: Elysian Feel

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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

I added this one-of-a-kind bowtie by Emily Smith
The cropped carrot sweater is chic and tongue in cheek
Elysian/NWAFW
These pants are a great transitional item because of the colors
make-up by Kory Tyler Simpson/MAC
Elysian/NWAFW Look #1
Yummy lipcolor: Impassioned creme lipcolor by MAC
I’m pumped palazzos are back in because I’d be wearing them regardless
Elysian/NWAFW

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

this metal belt from 410 Vintage is an instant corset
Wear this kimono with e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g
Elysian/NWAFW
yum
Elysian/NWAFW

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
pay and lisa

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.

lw

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

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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

Vintage bowties secure the bolero
I styled the pant with a vintage bolero
The trousers are comfortably cool

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

The sequin collar of the BB Dakota Blazer adds sophistication to a simple shift
BB Dakota Blazer available at SOHO
Lipstick – MAC {sidenote: I have been obsessed with this lipstick since trying it for this shoot. I promptly purchased it. It goes on like a stain with the feel of a cream}

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.

Best Outfits of 2013

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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.

Rising Hemlines: Part 1

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IMG_9734

I recently took a bunch of dresses to a sweet little seamstress to be shortened. I felt like a floozy asking to take all these hemlines up but it was so worth it. This shirt dress was mid-calf length; awkward with a belt, sack-like without. Shortening was just the trick! More to come.
PS: do you like these winter wedges? They’re pretty amazing if I don’t say so myself.
Dress – Thrifted (& shortened) American Living
Coat/Wedges – Forever 21
Socks – Hue via Grey Dog
Sunnies – Target
Large Gold Necklace – Black Cherry Vintage
Dainty Gold Necklace – Mae’s
Stone Necklace – Handcrafted by moi IMG_9736 IMG_9737IMG_9744 IMG_9748 IMG_9749