Author: Sophorn Kuoy

Shopping for vintage pieces that fit in a modern wardrobe is definitely not my strong suit. So when I saw Claire at Hoot and Louise, I had an instant lesson in how to pull off a very classic look, without looking like a walking anachronism. I commented on her spectacular shirt with detailed beadwork, and when she admitted she found it at a thrift store in Chicago, I was instantly envious of her great find — even more envious because I knew I couldn’t just find the store and buy the same top. Of course, that’s the great part of shopping vintage: No one else will be wearing the exact same thing.

Claire’s overall look hit on several modern trends I’ve been wanting to try. Her sheer top isn’t just for the beach; the beading elevates the style and contrasts well with the dark floral print underneath. The blue skirt, which is also vintage, is the perfect pop of color. She completes the ensemble with her classically styled hair and make-up, adding a modern touch by taking her lip color from an expected deep red to a brighter and pinker tone.

Claire works at Hoot and Louise as she studies photography and non-profit work. Here favorite places to shop are Crazy Beautiful and Urban Outfitters.

Hoot + Louise, one of South Main’s coolest boutiques and a personal favorite of mine, has created a series of pop-up shops featuring local artists and vendors. Owner Anna Avant seeks out some of her favorite local wares and wearables, and this Thursday she will host the incredible work of emerging artist/ceramicist Brit McDaniel of Paper & Clay.

McDaniel’s modern yet rustic style draws inspiration from classic American and Scandinavian mid-century design. You can take a peek at her latest collection on Etsy, but make sure to also come out to the event this Thursday, August 1st to see her collection in person and support Memphis’ local talent. See you there!

A Hip Little Pop-Up Shop with Paper & Clay
Presented by Hoot + Louise
August 1, 2013
Noon- 8 p.m.
Hoot + Louise, 109 GE Patterson, South Main Arts District
Good music and refreshments (Ghost River beer, y’all!)

You can RSVP through the event link: here.

Paper & Clay: Etsy, Twitter , Facebook

Avocado, hazelnut, sweet almond, black currant seed, cranberry seed… mmm, reading the ingredients on the I Love Mi-Me product labels makes me hungry. Natural ingredients like these are carefully selected by the Mi-Me crew to capture nature’s health benefits for the skin and hair.

I sat down to chat with Gil and Liz, founders of I Love Mi-Me (pronounced “mee-mee”) , to talk about their beauty tips for summer and specifically about my own beauty issues. Even during the summer, my skin gets very dry in spots but stays oily in others. It’s called combination skin, and it’s a common problem, for which Gil and Liz suggested both an exfoliating scrub and a non-greasy moisturizer like their avocado butter. My hair also has a serious frizz issue and Memphis humidity does not help matters. I confess I spend more money on beauty products than clothes in my search for a product that will tame my mane. Every anti-frizz product I’ve tried makes my hair look greasy. Gil and Liz were already familiar with that complaint and introduced me their hair serum formulated with natural argan oil. And when I mentioned to them that some of the products they recommended were already sold out the day I stopped by Allie Cat Arts to buy them, Liz and Gil generously sent me some samples.

I absolutely loved the sweet aroma of the hazelnut and black currant seed oils in their Beautifying Hair Serum, but the more important test would be solving my frizz problem. And it did! Better than any other product I’ve tried. For exfoliating my skin, I tried the Mi-Me Tahitian Vanilla Salt Scrub containing epsom salt, kosher salt, sea salt, almond, castor, safflower, sunflower oils, and honey. The salt was, of course, the exfoliating ingredient, but I’m not sure which of the other ingredients left my skin so supple. After that good moisturizing cleanse, I applied the avocado butter just on on the dry spots. It soaked into my skin quickly without leaving it looking oily. As a final touch, I dabbed on some of the silky tangerine hydrating lip butter and felt totally refreshed.

With their I Love Mi-Me line, Gil and Liz are focused on affordable luxury and great customer service. If you need a special formula, they are all ears. And just like the personal beauty advice they gave me, they have an open invitation to anyone to ask them questions on Facebook or Twitter.

You can purchase I Love Mi-Me products at Miss Cordelia’s, Allie Cat Arts, and K’Presha Boutique. For more information, visit ilovemime.com.

What sets Elly Deyhle’s handbags apart from any other I’ve seen is that not only are her patterns beautiful, they’re a lesson in 20th century design as well. Deyhle, a transplant from Dallas, uses these fabrics to mix her love for fashion with the world of architecture and interior design — a world her mother first shared with her.

Elly’s mom, Myra Deyhle, is a local interior designer. Together, this mother-daughter duo saw the potential to use interior upholstery textiles in crafting luxury handbags. The patterns you find in Elly Deyhle’s current collection were designed by prominent 20th century architects such as Dagobert Peche, Verner Panton and Alexander Girard. These names might not be recognizable to most, but perhaps this exquisite line of handbags will fix all that: Each architect’s legacy is being honored in a whole new way through the production of this tote-able art.

You can now find Elly’s clutches at Hoot & Louise in the South Main district.

Elly Deyhle, www.ellydeyhle.com

It’s no secret the South Main Trolley Tour provides the perfect opportunity to scout great style. On the last Friday of every month, Trolley Tour is a great excuse to go out in your favorite outfit and make that extra effort to style your hair and apply a touch of make-up. In just the brief half hour I had to tour the crowd, I found two captivating ladies with perfect style.

Julie was wearing a dress from a shop in Portland called 3 Monkeys, but had accessorized with a locally made necklace from Brave Design.

She was thrilled to show off this turquoise statement piece she had just purchased, and as I looked more closely, I noticed her earrings were a beautiful slice of mineral rock — also by Brave Design — which fit her sophisticated hippie style perfectly. Her favorite Memphis boutiques are Indigo and Crazy Beautiful.

Kayla was wearing a maxi dress with such a colorful pattern, she wisely chose to keep the rest of her ensemble simple, without any accessories competing for attention. (Side note: Though I don’t have her height to maximize the maxi, it’s still on my list of must-haves.) Kayla’s not from Memphis, but she did say the dress is from Langford Market, which we featured on this blog last month, when they opened a location in Cooper-Young. Her self-defined style is fun and edgy, and her look for this particular summer night out was the height of put-together perfection.

See you at the next trolley tour!

I wasn’t the only one checking out Latosha as she stylishly milled about on Main Street. She was turning heads left and right, and I when I asked to photograph her look, it was probably fairly overwhelming for her. She was a good sport, though, and posed for a couple of shots, but had to rush on before I was able to ask all my questions.

She had my favorite trends compiled in one great outfit: Coral peplum top, skinny belt, skinny jeans, and funky retro glasses that she got from Jazzy’s in Memphis. It’s rare, but Latosha had the daring personality to pull off those glasses.

And just like that, she was off to grace other sidewalks of Memphis with her impeccable style.

Jazzy Boutique, 72 Union, 579-2263, @JazzyBoutique

If you pick up the latest issue of the Memphis Flyer, you’ll see some of my favorite summer trends. Here’s a longer list of what I’m loving this season.

Coral: The perfect summer color.
This large tote, by Shiraleah of Chicago, is from Spruce. I have held out for a long time to find a bag like this to carry around my laptop. It’s made of vegan leather and has a velvety bright blue interior. My friend, Allison, was the perfect model, and we also snagged her friend’s dog, Cocoa, for the photo.

Chevron patterns and peplum tops.
This particular gem is by Olive & Oak from Indigo.

Cultural prints and patterns.
The dress is by Gentlefawn and both it and the shoes are from Indigo. The earrings are by Entourage. My favorite trend ties into the mood of summer travel, and there is a ton of inspiration around the globe, as the article here explains.

Nude wedges.
Nude seems to be another go-to color this season because it works with every other color. Though nude pumps are the basics of any wardrobe, nude wedges with a peep toe can make it more comfortable to dress up. This pair is modeled by one of the ladies at Indigo, who happens to own a pair herself.

Dressy flats.
There are many flats out there, but this particular one just seems so special. I’m not sure if I like it most for the ankle straps or the black velvet against the brown leather or the pointed toe, but it’s probably a combination of all three, and also because all these elements are so well-crafted.

Indigo, The Shops of Saddle Creek, 7509 Poplar, 755-6909
Spruce, 5040 Sanderlin, 682-5513, spruceshop.com

Don’t make my mistake. I had heard all the good buzz about Spruce long before I made the effort to visit for the first time. Oh, do I ever regret waiting.

Designer Selena McAdams opened the shop on Sanderlin in 2009 as a retail counterpart to her interior design business. Don’t just categorize Spruce as a home decor shop, though. Of course, the selection of modern home decor piqued my interest, but I was even more delighted to discover a handpicked selection of stunning jewelry, handbags, and even clothes for women and girls. After shopping Spruce for myself, I would describe it as a designer’s personal collection of everything awesome.

In the intimate, 20 by 20 foot space, there’s little chance you’ll feel overwhelmed. The handpicked selection also eases the shopping effort, whether you’re buying for yourself or for someone else. Among the many lines they carry, there are a couple of notable ones: Be Free Revolution, a charitable line of handmade paper beaded jewelry, and Brave Designs, a Memphis based jewelry line of incredible statement pieces.

In the photo below, store manager Meg models her favorite necklace from Brave design showing just how much of a visual statement it can make. I left that day with a pair of lightweight summer pants for my mom and the perfect tote to fashionably haul around my laptop. The oversized tote by Shiraleah is made of eco-friendly vegan leather. Look for more about this tote next week, when I’ll share my list of summer must-haves.

Spruce
5040 Sanderlin Avenue, Suite 103
Memphis, TN 38117
901.682.5513
www.spruceshop.com
Facebook: Spruceshop
Twitter: @spruceshop

Suddenly, there they were: Three new sources of retail therapy at the corner of Cooper and Central. I guess my head was buried too far into work that I never noticed the renovation or the excitement it was creating. After Urban Outfitters pioneered the development of the prominent Cooper-Young corner two years ago, the vacant space next door was finally being filled. Now, that corner feels completely transformed, and quite beautifully so. The revamped building houses three stores internally connected — Langford Market, Addison, and Wish.

At first, I was lured in by all the design elements: A warm wood exterior, unique signage, and cool lighting. Then, I was struck by the bright colors and textures of the clothing and jewelry set in a calm interior. But it was the affordability of the pieces that really won me over — pieces that I wanted in my closet right away. The stores cater to the best kind of retail therapy, describing themselves as “the ultimate destination for a fabulous and guilt-free wardrobe update.”

All three stores are now open, so go prescribe yourself a visit.

Find out more about them including their latest deals through the links below.

Langford Market: Classically feminine clothing including swimsuits, jewelry, handbags, and shoes.

2155 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
Ph: 901.274.4071
Facebook: Langford Market Memphis
Twitter: LMMemphis
Instagram: LMCooperYoung
Pinterest: Langford Market — Memphis

Addison: Upscale clothing, handmade jewelry, handbags, and shoes.

2153 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
Ph: 901.274. 4071
Facebook: Addison Memphis
Twitter: Addison_MP
Instagram: AddisonMP
Pinterest: Addison Memphis

Wish: Whimsical and eclectic clothing for women and men, jewelry, handbags, and shoes.

2157 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
Ph: 901.274.4909
Facebook: Wish Cooper-Young
Twitter: WishTN
Instagram: Wish Memphis
Pinterest: Wish Cooper-Young

Special thanks to store manager Carrie Vreeland.

I spied April at the most recent Memphis Rock ‘n’ Romp event at Rhodes College. April is a hairstylist at Igor Bosin Salon and a pretty hip mom.

The Look: The “active yet stylish mom dressed to survive the heat and the kids” is probably one of the hardest looks to achieve, but April pulls it off effortlessly. Once again the secret is in the details: A classic t-shirt and shorts are a neutral base on which she layers personality through pops of color and accessories. What first caught my attention were the unique handmade leather earrings she bought from a local designer. (She couldn’t remember the designer, but if you know who it is or if you are the designer, let me know so I can snag a pair.)

When asked to define her style, April said succinctly, “Vintage hippie.” She likes to shop “everywhere, but the most recent local shop I visited was the Trolley Stop Market. I bought my daughter a dress there.”