Recreations

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When Life Gets That Way, There's Always Style (Follow Your Arrow Wherever It Points)

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Watch Kacey Musgraves tell it... 

If you save yourself for marriage you're a bore. If you don't save yourself for marriage you're a whore-able person.  If you won't have a drink then you're a prude but they'll call you a drunk as soon as you down the first one.  If you can't lose the weight then you're just fat.  But if you lose too much then you're on crack.  You're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't.  So you might as well just do whatever you want.  So, make lots of noise, kiss lots of boys, or kiss lots of girls if that's something you're into.  When the straight and narrow gets a little too straight roll up a joint, or don't (I'm from Asheville, there's no secret what we'd do). Just follow your arrow wherever it points. Yeah, follow your arrow wherever it points.

If you don't go to church, you'll go to hell. If you're the first one on the front row, you're a self righteous son of a-can't win for losing, you'll just disappoint 'em. Just 'cause you can't beat 'em, don't mean you should join 'em....

Photography by Brennan Booker, Dress: Marchesa Notte gifted by a client, Sunglasses: Illesteva from  (also LOVE these), Addison Weeks Bendall Cuff, eb jewelry studio Cleo Cuff, Headboard: One Kings Lane, Pira Lumbar Pillow: Anthropologie, Moroccan Wedding Blanket: Anthropologie, Plaited Metallics Pillow: Anthropologie, Threshhold Curtains: Target, Lamps and Lampshades: World Market, Jewelry Box: Pottery Barn,  Desert Plate: Anthropologie, Jonathan Adler Dolls Canister, My Daily Devotional: Jesus Calling, Meanwhile There Are Letters, 

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Sparkle And Slim

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Poolside Gossip print by Slim Aarons or Poolside Party and Desert House Party
Photography by: Brennan Booker. Sequin Romper: French Connection (old) similar, and this one or this one, Cut Out Shoulder Sweater: Yigel Azrouel, Glitter Corset Belt: Raina Belts from KK Bloom, Boots: J.Crew, Flower cuff: Blydesign, Cleo Cuff in Rutilated Quartz: Thanks to eb jewelry studio, Pearl and Brass Necklace: Thanks to Kristin Hayes Jewelry, Earrings: Lauren Kingsley's Stella & Dot. Hair: Aurora Casteen at Borealis

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SouthPark Mag: How It Went Down & Get It

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Model: Chelsea Lewis, Photographer: Zach Alston, Hair and Makeup: Chelsea Kimrey.
Adrienne Landau Fur from Denim House, MinkPink Crop Top from KK Bloom, Alice + Olivia Loran floral jacquard skirt from Neiman Marcus, Eugenia Kim hat, Joie taupe suede boots and Nima jeweled clutch from Sloan, Twine & Twig Cowrie Collar, Chakoor silver bracelet from ChezElle.

I shared this photo last week at the bottom of a previous post.  This project is one of my favorites to date, if not my favorite.  A big thank you to SouthPark Magazine for putting their trust in me and giving me so much creative freedom for this shoot.  When I met with the Editor to discuss ideas for their Fall Fashion editorial, she asked me for my ideas.  My first question was "Do you have any parameters?"  Her answer?  "Fall Fashion".  Okay. Well, let's play ball!  I had not given it any forethought, because I was just so excited for a second opportunity to express my love of fashion on the pages of this great magazine.  But goodness, the proverbial flood gates were wide open.  No trends. No boring catalog sales pictures. Just straight up art, created with an amazing team and the intent to showcase the fall fashions available at some of Charlotte's hottest boutiques.  

The cover shot, taken in Dilworth, is one of my favorites. Just about every single items the model, Chelsea, is wearing, comes from a different store.  If you are interested in how the outfits came together, the crew came to my house; my basement transformed into a studio.  I mixed up some Buffalo Trace and Coke, along with fresh muddled cherries. We turned up the music, and suddenly I was that little girl at my Grandmother's house. Mixing and matching her clothes with my Great-Grandmother's.  This skirt, that hat, these shoes, that shirt, no this one, these earrings, this necklace, another necklace, oh wait one more.  Oh hell, just put 'em all on.  And so the outfits were born.  Not too much time, not a great deal of thought, but certainly a fair amount of discretion. If you live in the Queen City, be sure to visit these stores, or you may shop the post straight from this page, below the above image. 

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Airport Style: Audrey Hepburn

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I'm back with another Airport Style feature for my friends over at Peachy the Magazine.  This time I decided to take a look back to some great style setters of the 60's and 70's.  This first of three examples of great airport style is inspired by the quintessential lady-like lady, Audrey Hepburn.  Just click on the + to shop the look!

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Airport Style

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Did you catch my Taste Maker piece over at Peachy?  Two words.  Airport Style.  This day in age, it's T totally under-rated and under- appreciated.  Airport travel has gotten less pleasurable with each flight, and we want to be comfortable as the aisles and seats continue to shrink.  This doesn't mean we can't continue to put our best foot forward.  Jennifer, Black and Kate are three ladies who encompass fashionable airport style.  They are dressed relatively casual, but they key is that they are put together. 

My ever style-setting grandmother, Martha Whitley, was and is my forever style icon. From a very early age, she instilled the importance of putting your best forward forward at all times. Putting the time into your personal appearance sends a message not only reflective of the confidence you have in yourself but also the respect you have for others. I saw Nana display this penchant for confident style later in life when the mailman was perhaps the only person she would see that day and earlier in her life when she would travel. She made it seem this was perhaps THE most imperative time to make a best impression with your appearance. The airport may be the first, last and only time you saw a fellow passenger or new friend, but your finest impression would be lasting.

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Three

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It's been three years since I launched this little place in internet space.  I can't believe it's been three years!  It's been so fun growing, learning, all the challenges, all of the fun, the amazing, awesome people I meet. The creative opportunities, my BUSINESS which has grown out of this little place in internet space.  Never did I think a private hobby would grow to be my dreams coming true.  Literally!  This whole fashion/style obsession started for me as a teeny thing, and now I have finally found a way to make my passion into something REAL!  I don't think I will ever be able to fully convey the joy I have felt, as a result.  Every. Step. Of. The. Way.  And new even more exciting things are yet to come.  Thank you to everyone who has commented here, not commented but enjoyed reading, reached across the produce aisle to introduce do themselves to me or flung themselves into a late night introductory embrace at Selwyn Pub. Meeting readers is the coolest thing... until that person says "Whoa Crazy Nelly. We just met. You can stop hugging me now!"  That's really the only way I know how to be though.  Grateful. Happy. Overjoyed. Thanks for being here.  Whether you've been following along the journey for the last three years, or you stumbled upon the Queen City Style yesterday, thanks for being here.  A few favorites from over the years...

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Head To Toe, Hold The Middle

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My mother-in-law wore this outfit for her first date with my father-in-law at a pool party in August of 1971.  As you can image, with her long legs, barely there midi and the cutest smile under the sun, for my father-in-law, the rest was history!  Knowing my obsession with one of a kind fashion, Mary pulled this precious two piece out for me several years ago.  I've worn it a couple of times, and it really does make the most fun pool party outfit I could imagine wearing.  In all honesty, it is this photo shoot that lit the fire under me to get cranking on the abs.  Breeze is da bomb! More to come there. In the meantime, I've pulled a few matching crop top and bottoms for your next pool party.  Ladies, trust me on this one...

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Poolside Gossip

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Caftan: My Grandmother's, here's one. Shoes: Cole Haan (on super sale) from Step. Sunglasses: Blinde, similar. Earrings: From KK Bloom. Necklace: old. Bracelets: Bakelite from summerbird. Rings: Custom from Diamonds Direct, Tiffany, my Grandmothers, and thanks to Tasha Hussey Designs. 

A Slim Aarons Poolside Gossip recreation seemed the perfect opportunity for me to style my Grandmother's caftan. I say this all the time, but this might be my favorite piece of hers in my collection.  My Aunt Lee had it first.  I think she needs to have it back borrow it next spring for a little poolside gossip over her own.  I'll bring the shaker.  Thank you, Donna, for the amazing photos!

I love that you are here!  Whitley

PS-I'd really just love to walk around my house all the time wearing this and this.

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Recreating Timelessness

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My Grandmother, Martha Whitley, and my Great-Grandmother, Willa Lynch at Meteor Crater in Arizona, 1943 Happy Rainy Thursday from the Queen City!  Above is the picture that was the inspiration for my little photo shoot reincarnation.  It is of my Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, who I called Nana and Willa, respectively.  Growing up, the Nana I knew typically adorned herself in fashions that created a little more of a dramatic look.  She was big on glitz, sequins, scarves, shiny belts and jewels, large accessories... items that created more of a glamorous look in my mind. The always-fabulously styled Rachel Zoe reminds me a lot of Nana's look which had me totally mesmerized.

However, as stated in the Lucky article, I think she personifies a look more similar to that of Katharine Hepburn in the above photo.  I mean look at her.  Totally unintentionally cool.  I feel like she is wearing Culottes in this picture. I wonder when we will see culottes again in current fashion.  I have a pair of hers in my closet now.  I didn't wear them this summer, since I just had a baby, and they did not fit, but I have worn them summer after summer in years past.  I don't recall ever looking this cool in them.  But anyway, there's a reason they are called Culottes.  They could be called Coolottes, they are so totally relaxed-hip. I love the collared blouse and buttoned crew neck sweater.  I don't know what shoes she is wearing, but I would imagine a comfortable flat or perhaps a saddle shoe like the one in the Lucky story.  For my photo shoot reincarnation, I headed over to J. Crew at South Park Mall for some equally snazzy duds.  I love J. Crew for many reasons, but I have always relied on them for their timeless classics and staple pieces. I worked with a super cute and totally on-trend personal shopper at the store to pull together a couple of ensembles using mix and match pieces.  We threw in a fabulous necklace for a hint of bling, just for fun, which I think sort of modernizes Nana's outfit.  Check out the pieces.  The necklace is so new, that the store is not yet displaying it.  I think I kinda got the "in" on this!

J.Crew Honeycomb Cable Sweater in Pine Bough

J.Crew Flair Skirt in Heather Acorn

J.Crew Blythe Blouse in Alabaster

J.Crew Wool Cafe Capri in Camel

J.Crew School Boy Blazer in Prince of Wales wool

J.Crew Cece Stud Ballet Flat in Cognac

For this little photo shoot, I tried my best to pose just like Nana.  This was not easy.  I was laughing at myself the entire way through.  Could I possibly look any more dorky??  Nope.  But, I just kept on posin'. I was totally into the moment.  Then I realized, she wasn't posing at all.  She was just naturally this unassumingly cool.  So then I tried posing like I wasn't posing.  That really didn't work either.  But anyway, I totally love the outcome of the look created. What do you think?...

And, since this IS a photo shoot, below are a few extra shots just for fun...

Trying to be serious and poised, next to impossible!

In my breathiest Madonna voice, "What are you lookin at?" Could you not DIE for this necklace?

Great hardware and cuff detail on this super cool blazer.

For a normally heels-only girl, I think the little gold studs add the perfect amount of pop!

There's always room for a little Jazz Hands!

Thank you for reading!  And for the love of great style, here's to a totally stylin' weekend ahead!  Whitley