Brian with the Porkpie Hat

 

One of my favorite songs is "Rudie Can't Fail" by the Clash. This could be the reason I have such a fondness for hats, particularly pork pie hats. 

"You think you're pretty hot
In your pork pie hat
But...Rudie can't fail"

This is Brian, an actor and dancer from New Orleans. Look at how his green watch pops against his neutral outfit, which is mainly browns, jeans and whites. The hat, vest, watch and bag really make the outfit what it is, which is super interesting. With men's fashion, it's all about the cut of the clothing and the accessories you wear.

Street Style-Anthropologie, New Orleans

This look exemplifies the perfect Anthropologie outfit but is also the perfect example of what an artistic and fashion inclined girl that lives in New Orleans would wear. Anthropologie style is rooted in a pretty and vintage aesthetic. It's for people that are incredibly artistic or visual and love treasure hunt when it comes to their furniture or clothing as opposed to shopping in just a department store or mall. Anthropologie takes these ideas and manufactures a whole lifestyle out of it to sell people, which is brilliant. It's the perfect store if you love the idea of combing over thrift stores, ebay and estate sales, but lack the time. Anthropologie will just do it for you; it's one stop shopping. 

In New Orleans, there are vintage and antique stores that are almost equal number to boutiques, and that is reflected in people's clothing. I see the mixing of vintage and modern, just like the woman above. Which is one of the reasons Anthropologie is so popular there. I love how she mixed an Anthropologie pin and heavy boots with a summery chiffon dress. The mix of the hard, the boots, and the light, the dress, work really well together.

Leila, French Quarter

 

Leila, photographed outside the New Orleans Anthropologie, wearing mostly Anthropologie. What I love about Leila's style is how it is super fashionable and super functional. She rode over to the French Quarter on her bicycle, which was about a twenty  minute ride. Her style reminds me of Katherine Hepburn with equal doses of Rachel Comey and colorful whimsy.

 

Vintage Polka Dots and Red Hair, Houston

I love how the vintage yellow shirt and the navy polka dot skirt look so cute but almost basic and then you throw in her dyed burgundy hair, it just goes into a whimsical place. Maybe I just have a thing for super cute girls in super cute outfits that also get the biggest smile on their faces when I ask to photograph them? This was photographed in Montrose and her style is somewhat the de rigeur of the area. Great hair, vintage sunglasses, cute wedges, and a vintage or vintage inspired outfit.

Jess, Houston

Spotted in Montrose, wearing some vintage, looking super cute and heading to Australia soon.

Leap, Houston

 

     Leap is one of those rare, stylish boutiques that happens to have every single label that I love but has the most engaging, friendly and non-intimidating staff I've ever met. While I was layering all sorts of crazy prints one on top of the other, we talked about fashion blogs, our favorite lines and the Marfa art scene all while I was milling around barefoot. It was absolutely delightful. And they offered to re-order some Rachel Comey shoes in a size 11, which is always a check plus gold star in my book.

     Owned by Susan (sitting) and managed by Kate (standing), they stock this charming Houston based boutique with Rachel Comey, Etoile Isabel Marant, Zero Maria Cornejo, Tucker and Suno. It's this place where I imagine the eccentric and well dressed gallery owners with dyed bright hair red as Ariel from the Disney's Little Mermaid clad in vintage Yohji Yamamoto and other artistic women of Texas shop. 

     Nestled next to the clothing in an antique wooden and glass armor are marble candy colored bangles, hug cuffs dripping with raw amethyst and big iron beaded necklaces. Leather sandals and brogues rest upon paint chipped metal tables in various parts of the store. It's one stop shopping for shoes, jewerly, and clothing that all aesthetically goes together. It reminds me of Bird in Brooklyn but with a tighter edit and a more varied demographic appeal. While Bird feels youthful with the amount of color and prints it buys, and truth be told, it's one of my favorite stores, Leap definitely seems to buy an older clientele in mind. I could see my grandmother and myself both walking away with full shopping bags, albeit lighter bank accounts, from Leap. I bought a Suno skirt from S/S 2011 that I had been eyeing for an age for a fraction of the price. 

 Kate, against Leap's blue wall. And more on Leap here.

Shut the Front Door

A/W 2011 Gold Glitter Miu Miu Shoes