Author: Sophorn Kuoy

Style Week with Vera Stanfield – Look 4 with husband Christian

Post author By Sophorn Kuoy
Post date April 30, 2015

Today, we finally meet Christian, get a look inside their home, and find out how many Trashy Diva outfits Vera actually owns. The butterfly dress worn in today’s series was originally owned by her friend Wendi Hardage, who worked at CrazyBeautiful. Vera explained that the older Trashy Diva dresses are very collectible and, as evidence of her obsession, has joined a Facebook community called Desperately Seeking Trashy Diva. Today’s dress is Trashy Diva, of course. The butterfly print is highly sought after.

“I love bold, happy prints — the busier, the better. And the bangles were given to me by Christian for Christmas. He gives seriously amazing gifts!” says Vera about her husband and bandmate.

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He would jokingly recommend we skip past the number of Trashy Diva outfits are in Vera’s personal collection (answer: over 60) and talk about music instead. In this case, let’s talk about music and dance as Vera describes how he won her heart.

“Christian was born and raised here in Memphis, but we actually met in my hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, at a Contra Dance Festival. Contra dance is very similar to square dancing with a caller doing the calls like “Swing Your Partner” and “Do Si Do,” but it’s done in long lines rather than square sets. And it’s always done to live music — usually an old time string band featuring fiddle, banjo, guitar, and bass. That’s really how I first got exposed to old-timey style music — through dance. Christian literally swept me off my feet with his fancy dance moves!”

Their love story is surrounded by many mutual loves — dance, music, and all things vintage. Their home covered with vintage music posters and an array of instruments. Though Vera describes it as a rare treat, they do love sitting in their living room or front porch playing fiddle and banjo tunes together.

“We also find it really relaxing to sit at home in our living room and to listen to audio books together. As opposed to watching TV together (we don’t have one), it seems more like quality time. We started out listening to audio books when we were traveling to play shows, and then we enjoyed it so much that we started just listening to them at home. I’ll crack open a beer, and Christian will have a root beer, and it’s the most relaxing thing ever.”

Outfit Details
Butterfly Dress by Trashy Diva
Peep Toe Clogs by Lotta of Stockholm
Vintage Wooden Bangle – gifted from Christian
Trashy Diva is a line carried at Red Velvet Vintage.

Stay tuned for the final post in Vera’s style session tomorrow as we find out more about the band and see them on stage.

Tags Christian Stanfield, Trashy Diva, Vera Stanfield

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Style Week with Vera Stanfield – Look 3 at Home – The Romper

Post author By Sophorn Kuoy
Post date April 29, 2015

Today, Vera welcomes us to her home, explains what led her to Memphis, and how her collection of vintage clothes began. She has had a longtime love for classics and history, starting with her obsession with Egyptian culture as a little girl Huntsville, Alabama. In fact, she received her degree in Classics from the University of Alabama. She moved to Memphis the day she graduated in December of 2008, quickly decided after meeting her now husband and Memphian Christian Stanfield. “Love at first sight,” she confesses. (More about that story later.)

“I loved Memphis from the moment I got here. The city’s musical history was a draw, but also Memphis is so alive today with all the revitalization projects and Choose 901 movement. There is so much culture here — culinary, music, art. I feel like there is so much to do here all the time that I can’t possibly take advantage of all that this city has to offer.”

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Vera did grow up with musical training, taking piano lessons as a child and teenager, then taking up the trumpet in middle and high school. She met Christian during her gap of not playing any instrument at all.

“He was playing in an old time string band, and I wanted to join in on the fun. So I started playing banjo uke during his band practices and at jam sessions. Christian builds banjos and banjoleles, so I eventually branched out to 5-string banjo so that I could start playing melody at jams too,” says Vera.

They formed their band the Side Street Steppers in June of 2008. This also leads into how she stepped into the world of vintage fashion.

“I really started getting into vintage when we formed the Side Street Steppers in June of 2008. We were playing vintage music, so it seemed natural to me to get dressed up in
vintage clothing for performing. That’s still half the fun of performing for me!”

Shopping Vintage
“If you love it, buy it, then and there. Nothing haunts us like the vintage we didn’t buy. Those pieces are so unique and one-of-a-kind. You’ve got to accept that true vintage is never going to be perfect. Those pieces have had a life of their own before you find them, and that’s part of the beauty of vintage,” she says. “Of course, I love shopping at Red Velvet! If I’m not shopping there, you can probably find me shopping around the corner at Hoot + Louise, perusing Anna’s fun collection of new and vintage.”

The Romper
“This little playsuit has introduced me to the fun world of rompers! I want more now – they are so great for performing. No worrying about your skirt flying up while you’re singing,” she smiles.

Outfit Details
Polka Dot Playsuit by Trashy Diva (Coming soon to Red Velvet)
Peep Toe Clogs by Lotta Of Stockholm
Boater Hat by Goorin Bros
Deco Wing Earrings by Rosita Bonita from Red Velvet
Banjo and Banjolele built by her husband Christian at George Banjos

Tags Christian Stanfiled, George Banjos, Vera Stanfield

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Style Week with Vera Stanfield – Look 2 – Denim Overalls and Flannel

Post author By Sophorn Kuoy
Post date April 28, 2015

“This look is sort of inspired by the Rosie the Riveter look of the 1940s working gal, what with the head scarf and sneakers and all.” -Vera

How wonderful that Vera describes this as her “dressed down” look. Even with denim overalls and flannel, she effortlessly keeps up a high level of style and creates a beautiful interpretation of Rosie the Riveter with the addition of the bomber jacket and bottle cap earrings.

Right across South Main from Red Velvet Vintage is Love Pop soda shop where Vera was grabbing a six-pack of assorted sodas to take to her family in Huntsville, Alabama, her hometown.

“We did the same thing for them at Christmas, and it’s becoming something of a tradition now whenever we visit.”

And according to Vera, it was just a “happy coincidence” that she wore the bottle cap earrings to an old-fashioned soda pop shop.

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As for Vera’s red lips, the color is a variation of the many reds that she wears. This one is Red Hot Red by Besame which is a line carried at Red Velvet Vintage.

Outfit Details
Overalls by Freddies Of Pinewood
Bomber Jacket by Obey from Crazy Beautiful years ago
Flannel Shirt by Obey
Shoes – good old Converse Chuck Taylors
Scarf – vintage Vera Neumann (She collects Vera scarves) from Red Velvet
Bottle Cap Earrings by Attic Dwellers from the Cooper-Young Festival

Tags Love Pop Soda Shop, Style Week, Vera Stanfield

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Style Week with Vera Stanfield – Look 1

Post author By Sophorn Kuoy
Post date April 27, 2015

Today, we’re going to go back in time, literally and figuratively, to properly introduce you to Vera Stanfield, boutique manager of Red Velvet Vintage. Back in February, we featured a peek into Red Velvet and some of the vintage and vintage-inspired items they carry. Certainly a signature fixture of the boutique is Vera herself, dressed in vintage attire and completed with the perfect red lips. That day, she stood as the living example of the 1920s to 1950s era the boutique sought to honor. Saying that Vera dressed the part would be inaccurate.

“I get asked a lot if I really wear these clothes. If this is really me,” Vera laughs. “It really is who I am.”

As mentioned before, she naturally became the boutique manager partly because she was one of Red Velvet owner Eryka Smith’s best vintage clothing customers at CrazyBeautiful.

“My personal style philosophy is never to be afraid to mix retro and modern. I’m not a purist about vintage fashion. This outfit, for example, has the metallic silver and gold penny loafers – a great modern take on a classic style. I love true vintage pieces as well as vintage inspired new styles.”

After learning this, it was hard to only feature Vera once in just one outfit. For the past two months, I’ve been photographing her around town, on stage with her band the Side Street Steppers, and at home with her bandmate/husband Christian. I have gotten to see that this is indeed the true Vera. So stay tuned this week as each day features another great outfit and a deeper look into her everyday life.

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Outfit Details
Audrey Mini Dress by Trashy Diva (one of the lines stocked at Red Velvet)
Gold Beret by Goorin Bros.
Shoes are Metallic Weejuns by G.H. Bass
Luna Moon Necklace by Tatty Devine out of the UK.
Tights, gifted. Cardigan from Old Navy.

Vera’s Picks
Favorite pieces currently at Red Velvet

Rose Marie Dress
Such a great piece for boppin’ around town all spring & summer

Darcy Peep Toe Wedge in Cream
A great little wedge that’s both cute & comfy

Coraline Necklace
A funky vintage piece that makes me think of seaside holidays

Picnic Basket Handbag
I’d love to carry this vintage carryall to a show at the Levitt Shell this season!

Images of Vera’s Picks courtesy of Red Velvet Vintage.

Tags Red Velvet Vintage, Side Street Steppers, Vera Stanfield

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Everbloom Designs – Flower Crown DIY

Post author By Sophorn Kuoy
Post date April 17, 2015

Kristin Wolter-Canfield, owner and creative director of Everbloom Designs and also one of the key vendors at the Wedding Dress Ball, takes her passion for art and design into the artful composition of flowers (or any object, for that matter) when called to use her intuitive eye in photo and set styling. She has filled many tabletops with her signature floral arrangements, but today, she shows us how to make a floral arrangement you can wear.

Here, Kristin is wearing the gorgeous crown of flowers she created in the step-by-step tutorial below, just in time for wedding season and for those attending the Wedding Dress Ball taking place this Saturday.

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Materials Needed

Sharp scissors or floral snips
Floral tape
2 Floral wires (22 gauge or similar)
Flowers: Used in this DIY: local Daffodils and Ranunculus, Wax flower, Garden roses, Spray roses, and foraged greenery.

Directions

Choose the flowers you want to use and snip them leaving a 2-3 inch stem and removing all greenery from the stem. Be sure and wire and tape any heavier bloom like roses.

Gather small bouquets and tape them together with the floral tape, snipping the ends to make them even.

You will end up with several clusters.

Join your two wires together with floral tape and continue to tape the length of the whole wire to create one long wire to fit around your head.

Measure your head by bending it to the shape of your head and loop one end of the wire.

Now lay out the clusters along the wire the way you would like them to look.

Start attaching the clusters with the floral tape starting slightly above the loop in the wire. (This can be tricky but you get the hang of it 🙂 ) All clusters going the same direction.

Once all the clusters are attached add a few stems of greenery to the end going int he opposite direction to finish it off. Make any adjustments that need to be made.

Place the crown on your head again and join the wire and loop together. Voila!

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I also went through the steps with Kristin for my own flower crown in a purple theme. Now I feel inspired to create one for any outdoor party this spring and summer.

Thanks Kristin!

See more of her work on her website or at the Wedding Dress Ball as she will providing the floral displays for the event. Kristin will also be offering classes soon at City & State on Broad Avenue.

Tags DIY, Everbloom Designs, Floral Design, Kristin Wolter-Canfield, Wedding Dress Ball

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Stock&Belle and Salon 387 – Boutique Peek

Post author By Sophorn Kuoy
Post date April 10, 2015

Now open on South Main is the newest store concept by CrazyBeautiful owner Eryka Smith and Chad West reflective of their partnership and love for style beyond clothing.

“His. Hers. Home. Hair.” – Chad’s latest idea for the Stock&Belle tagline. The two-story building at 387 South Main houses men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories; furniture, lighting, and home goods; and a salon and barber.

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“Most everything you can touch is for sale,” says Chad. This even includes the lounge furniture and stools in Salon 387’s waiting area. Salon 387, owned by Elaine Clayton, occupies the second floor, which is accessed by a spiral staircase.

They also feature art and gfits from local artists such as getarchd and Kyle Taylor. Also self-described as a lifestyle store and urban general store, Stock&Belle has a section for fresh-cut flowers and will stock general grocery items such as fresh produce in the near future.

You may remember this building as the space CrazyBeautiful staged for its holiday pop-up event last year, though the renovation for Stock&Belle has transformed the interiors to have its own distinct character. Through Chad’s design lead and sensibility for material and detail, the interiors feels as crafted as the furniture they carry.

Go visit them today. Here is a look into the new space. Click on the slideshow below to see more images.

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Stock&Belle
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 7pm.
Follow them on Instagram: instagram.com/stockandbelle

Salon 387
For appointments: 901-288-6208
instagram.com/salon387

Tags Boutique Peek, Chad West, Elaine, Eryka Smith, Salon 387, South Main, Stock and Belle, Stock&Belle

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The Women Behind the Wedding Dress Ball Event

Post author By Sophorn Kuoy
Post date March 19, 2015

On April 18th, Memphis will host the first Wedding Dress Ball in the U.S. Known and held overseas in the United Kingdom, the trademarked event is a party where, simply put, women get an excuse to wear their wedding dress again.

“All of the fun, great food, dancing; none of the pressure,” says Brittney Andres-Rossi of Over Easy Events. When describing the origin of the idea before finding anything of its kind, she explained, “I was attending a friend’s wedding admiring her wedding dress with a table of ladies – the details, the buttons. We then talked about our own wedding dresses, continuing on for almost an hour. If we talked that long about them, I thought, ‘Why not wear them again?’”

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With the Wedding Dress Ball, attendees can revive that feeling of grandeur in a dramatic gown, whether it’s the dress from that wedding day, their dream wedding dress, a creatively altered wedding dress, a ball gown, or a bridesmaid’s dress.

When Brittney sought a venue for an event like this, she immediately thought of Propcellar Vintage Rentals and the open warehouse space. “It has that certain modern feel that I wanted, and I couldn’t imagine [the party] anywhere else,” says Brittney. Propcellar owner Karlee Hickman recently renovated the space for storing her vintage props but also designed it to host special events.

Event sponsor Maggie Louise Bridal Boutique will be assisting those in the category of attending with their “dream wedding dress.” Owner Molly Farrell is hosting trunk shows and sample sales leading up to the event. The boutique also carries bridal accessories like jewelry, headpieces, and sashes to help revamp one’s wedding dress look or create a look they didn’t have a chance to wear before.

Overall, the event is a reason to celebrate something – being married, single, or divorced. “Someone recently divorced said they are coming to celebrate their freedom,” says Brittney smiling with admiration. Plus, the event raises money for charity. This year, the event will benefit St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen which serves meals to the poor and homeless in downtown Memphis. It is the oldest continuously operating soup kitchen in the country.

Other vendors and partners include Everbloom Designs and CFY Catering. Kristin Wolter-Canfield of Everbloom Designs will be providing the floral designs. CFY Catering will serve hors d’oeuvres and colorless cocktails to avoid wedding dress stains. Event activities include mad-lib vow renewals, a “wedding party pose” photo booth, and hand-lettered anniversary henna tattoos by Baltic Studios Calligraphy.

Limited tickets are on sale now. Purchase them at www.weddingdressball.org or www.weddingdressball.eventbrite.com.

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Karlee, Brittney, and Molly wear the dresses from their wedding day. Shoot location: Propcellar. All photos by Sophorn Kuoy.

Tags Brittney Andres-Rossi, Karlee Hickman, Maggie Louise Bridal Boutique, Molly Farrell, Over Easy Events, Propcellar, Propcellar Vintage Rentals, Wedding Dress Ball