light and leather

We're so, so excited this week to be getting ready for a photo shoot with 15 year old, Dallas based photographer Ann He. Her age is surprising but obviously unimportant because her photgraphy shows a maturity and understanding of light (especially) that is so impressive...

website for Ann He

The most challenging thing about working on a photo shoot/lookbook (for myself) is remaining true to your own aesthetic and style. There is so much style, photography, and fashion inspiration coming at us now on the millions of blogs, flickr, street style sites, etc that it can be hard to remain honest. And so much of what inspires me is right here in my town, on the streets, exploding out of my close friends... sometimes your vision gets cloudy and you forget yourself, confuse your brand... It is possible to lose yourself to what you believe is "happening." I am completely committed to making choices that are authentic to what I love about vintage and style in my heart! It's inspiration not imitation, k? I am lucky to be surrounded always by people pushing me in the direction of myself, my own voice, my eye, my choices, and that is amazing. I can only hope to be as positive an influence and challenge my friends the way they do for me!

Anyhow, wish us luck on our next creative venture and please go check out more of Ann's work on her web site. I am really glad to be working with such a talent at such a young age. The possibilities for this girl are obviously endless and something tells me I will be following her work and admiring it for a long time to come...

xo

do right and kill everything.

***Prepare for unnecessary bragging***
***Prepare for painful facial expressions***


(see what I mean about the facial expressions? sheeesh)

Do you want to know something awesome? Guess how much this outfit cost? I dare you to guess. You know me, you know my game. I am a professional spendthrift, so to speak, so you're going to try to low ball on your answer but I still think you'll be amazed...

$3.75

Duh duh duuuuuhhhhh!!!


100% silk "pea pod" dress $1.25
printed blazer $1.25


southwestern rainbow conch belt $1.25


boots FREE (K, I traded for em but still, no cash traded hands)

oh AND

Anyhoo, just because I have been an absent blogger doesn't mean I have lost the knack. Noooo siiirreee. As a matter of fact I am ready to start blogging again for a couple of reasons. One large one being the support and kick in the pants from my brand-spanking new BIZNIZ partner, Mama Teal!!

In a stroke of genius I decided to end the constant fret-fest and waaaah party I was having about being a 100% solitary operation here at MFV and so I asked the one woman I spend all my time with anyway to join forces with me. Not only did she already know everything I was struggling with business-wise (because of all the waaaahhh I mentioned earlier) but she is gifted in all the ways I am not. All that organizational, financial, common sensical talent I lack, she actually possesses to spare so we make a pretty sweet team. She already has things under control. Things like receipts for tax time, budgets, timely communication with interested parties, and making sure there are tasty adult beverage at bizniz* meetings. Do you want to know the best thing about Teal-y? She is a convert. When we met she told me she didn't own a single item of vintage clothing and thrifting creeped her out. I know, you're shocked we're even friends. Luckily I can smell the gift inside people before they even know it's there. Take the girl to a couple treasure spots on the road and BAM! Now she's texting me photos of goods she finds out in the backwoods of Texas, wearing all the vintage ish we can supply, and spending her weekends with me slinging the finds on South Congress. WOOT. Did I mention she has DOS adorable six year old girls who happen to be all BFF with my adorable six year old girl?!

come ooooooooon! If you're not impressed by how set we are to take over the world with THAT little trio up there, you're meds are workin too well for your own good mang. Be afraid.

Another good reason to start blogging is just the fact that the bizniz and the web site are up and running nicely, thank you. You can find the sweet vintage we are slinging online obviously, at the web site AND on the street. We'll be selling on South Congress here in Austin as regularly as we possibly can, in the lot between Vespaio and Austin Art Glass. If you're skeptical let me assure you we always bring the good stuff and so do the other vendors in the lot. Honestly, the fact that I make it out with any of the cash left is a miracle. Christmas is right around the corner and of course you'll be on SoCo Christmas shopping (or pointing out things you want for Christmas to loved ones) anyway, so come say hi!! Really, we are suckers for some love so flash us a smile and a compliment, you'll probably walk away with a steeeeaaaal ;) We will absolutely be there this coming Saturday, November 20th and for First Thursday, December 2nd.

Did I mention we'll be bringing these bad boys?!


clearance y'all. dig for it.

Oh! And! Would you like to come shop some vintage while simultaneously meeting all of your favorite Austin bloggers, ice skating, drinking, and eating tasty delights from local vendors?! If the answer is no, please go away cause what is wrong with you?! If the answer is YES, come see us at this year's winter-time BLEET-UP! The effervescent Tolley of Austin Eavesdropper, Austin's favorite girl on the town, on the blog, on the job, is hosting this bad boy again, this time ON TOP OF WHOLE FOODS! December 3rd you can come see us at one of the seasons very best parties. Honestly, I cannot wait. Check the link for the details, hook up with the event on their Facebook page, get your skates shined, save your pocket money, and make a wishlist. We sincerely hope to see you there!!

There is no "official" poster yet so here is a picture of a puppy someone brought to the last Bleet-Up to tide you over...

:)

Hmmm...other things you should know?

1. I finally had my hair did after a painfully long hiatus from maintenance.

before



after


still thrifting, still totally conceited about my hair... all is right with the world.

2. We just updated the web site! My favorite items in the shop right now?

vintage Harley Davidson tee


vintage 90's floral babydoll dress


insane! vintage jeweled mini-dress


purple guatemalan poncho

3. Our good friends over at Laced With Romance Vintage are not only just about ready to launch their promises-to-be-mindblowing web site but they now have a storefront at 1601 S. 1st St!!

the mistress of the shop herself

These people are gems in their own right but the STORE! My God the STORE! So much amazing treasure to be hunted here. Pleasestop by if you have not already. But DO NOT under any circumstances buy the studded, fringed, black suede vest... That's mine. Seriously, hands off.

Seacrest OUT
xo

native, son. (this is not a tumblr)

So before I say anything else on this here blog, I feel compelled to let you know, if'n you don't already, that you can now get your shop on over at

http://www.magnoliafamilyvintage.com!!

Exciting right? Go ahead and bookmark that for future reference would you? I promise lots of good vintage, reasonable prices, and weekly updates. A promise is a promise. My word is my bond.

If you take a look at the sight I would loooove to hear what you think about it. I am happy to accept suggestions as well as compliments. We are starting small and simple on our first web boutique but we put a lot of passion, love, and hard work into getting this started. I absolutely couldn't have done any of it without the entire "Magnolia Family" and they know who they are. What a gift it is to see how much love you have in your life as they come out of the woodwork to offer support, help, a listening ear... I hope all of you who helped make this goal happen know how much I adore you, and that I won't forget it in the future whenever I can be of service.

And for now, I want to offer anyone who is reading this a %15 discount on MFV goods for the month of August! That's right, your discount code is THRIFTY. So get your measuring tape out and get some vintage! ♥

Oh! Oh! And! There are some new hand-selected by moi, vintage goodies over at BUYDEFINITION.com right now! Not only did we choose some stellar pieces for them but you might see a familiar magnolia over there! Yes, MFV's very own model Kathleen is wearing all them righteous finds which (in my opinion) makes it that much better. My favorite finds are pretty easy to spot if you know me...

click to shop it.


click to shop


click to shop

So obviously there is a Native American theme going on in my picks, in fashion right now, in irony, in life. It dawned on me recently that the last one hundred pictures or so in my weheartit.com account are tribal or native or western in essence. Also, there are quite a few such finds on magnoliafamilyvintage.com right now, like THIS, THIS, or perhaps THIS?? Maybe it's because my mother studied Native American History while I grew up (frequently dragging me to powwows, cave dwellings, and tiny desert museums of which there are many out west), maybe it's because I just spent the better part of three weeks in Montana/Wyoming where they haven't exactly let go of their wild west past (or the legends, or the outfits for that matter), or maybe I am just highly susceptible to trends like a sartorial weakling (doubt it, ha!) but I have happily indulged in the fringe/feathers/bones motif of the moment. Even so much as to be considering a dreamcatcher tattoo for my next permanent marking! I am in love with the coolors and femininity of this design I found online,

whaddya think friends?

xo

the day's not over yet

happy summer solstice inspiration...











jacquelyn jablonski for vogue germany

let's get laced.

So the thing is I know a lot of really, painfully stylish ladies. And not ladies who lunch... I mean thrift store hoarding, vintage obsessed, get it on the real and on the cheap ladies like myself. I consider myself supah DUPAH lucky in this regard because not only do I always feel supported (and un-embarassed if I happen to smell of mothballs occasionally, ahem) but constantly inspired! It's great to be inspired by blogs, magazines, celebrities and the like... but nothing is better than being inspired to your face, at the bar, in the street. It's helpful that you know it didn't require a glamsquad... well, it's helpful to me. I live in a happy-fun times dream world* where beauty and style can come from the creative soul and not from a titanic bank account!

That brings me to the new (hopefully) weekly blog feature I am going to call "Real Girl. Real Vintage. Real Style." Catchy, eh?

I think interviewing these kind of inspiring ladies is going to be a great addition to the blog! I am going to try and keep it diverse, but, at least to begin with, I'll be talking to my friends and there is just nothing you can do about it!! This is mostly for my benefit anyway. I spend a lot of time thinking "ohmygod how do you always look that awesome?" and this is a pseudo-legitimate and less awkward way of asking that question? Without further ado,

Real Girl. Real Vintage. Real Style.

So to kick this series off, I chose Austin's own Stephanie Fellebaum the proprietress of one of my favorite vintage shops EVER,

Laced With Romance.

herself ♥

photo credit Briana Purser

In the unlikely event you haven't already, please click on that above link and get ready to inhale sharply. Pure vintage style love! Stephanie's aesthetic take on vintage always calls to mind a dreamy fairytale, embedded in the dark and light of nature. Take a look at Laced with Romance styling...

photo credit Briana Purser for bleachonline.com


photo credit Briana Purser for Bleachonline.com



Ooooooh, in store now! My birthday is coming up you know... in January.

xo.

Stephanie always has an amazing selection of gorgeous, on-trend, vintage, handmade, and hand-dyed pieces. She is always, herself, impeccably styled, and she just got hitched!! We were lucky enough to drive out to Marathon, TX, 6 hours west of Austin, and attend the intimate, spiritual, and touching wedding ceremony for Stephanie and her man. Stephanie's individuality and sparkling personality were all over the wedding weekend. A real sense of self AND community went in to their big day and it was magic!

the setting.

photo credit Felicia Graham

the bride.



photo credit Briana Purser

the love.


photo credit Felicia Graham

A few days after the wedding weekend had ended, and my west Texas high wore off a bit, I asked Stephanie to answer some questions about her style and her wedding. Peek behind the veil, so to speak...

1. You are a bargain-loving, vintage-hunting, thrift-store lover like myself! How often do you shop for yourself and what's your best "finding treasure" tip for beginners?
---I am always shopping, sometimes for myself and sometimes for the store, but primary both at the same time. Most people are surprised to find out that i really only keep less then 1% of what i find shopping. One of the reasons i first started Laced With Romance was to support my junkie-like thrift store shopping habits. Not kidding! I love the thrill of the hunt more then anything!!! I suggest if you are starting and don't want to spend alot of dough for your goods. Find your local thrift stores, pay attention to when they are putting out the fresh goods and go two or three times a week. Most thrift stores don't put fresh clothing out on the weekends, so its not the best time to find vintage tresures. Garage sales are prefect for finding vintage on the weekends. You can find amazing treasures for next to nothing. It's really fun and i have met some truly interesting folks going to GS. Golden Rule: Only buy what you can use at the moment. Meaning, if you come across that cool 70's polyester shirt and it's July and 110 degrees you probably don't need it and it will just end up taking up good space for something better that you can actually use.

2. What is your all-time, favorite, mind-blowing thrift store find?
My 1970s champagne silk chiffon, embroidered, mirrored floor length robe from India for $6.99 or my 1970s Ossie Clark gown from the Austin City Wide Garage Sale for $8.00.

3. Where do you find inspiration for your style and are there people/places/resources you always look to to find it?
---My inspiration is somewhat difficult to nail down, because it tend to be quite schizophrenic. One moment, i am inspired by the outrageously brave nature of drag queens and the next by the primitive nature of tribes people. Then i will try to figure out how to combine both of these ideas to create one story. My one rule of thumb is to never back myself into a corner. I want to keep myself open to constantly evolve and change. Never holding too tight to one concept or idea of who i am or what i want to create.
Online inspiration:
http://www.bleachblack.com/
http://comespywithme.blogspot.com/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/



4. You can only wear one outfit all summer long because of some apocalyptic, fashion destroying event! What do you have on?
---Its an apocalyptic event, so i want to be comfortable, but still stylish! My favorite throw on and go ensemble: vintage 1980s Harley Davidson slouchy tee(which is on its last leg and very apocalyptic), my thrashes out Levi's cutoffs(also very apocalyptic), and my vintage 1970s brown/black western boots(which was a gift from my kindred spirit and which i will buried in one day)!!!

5. For your wedding, how did you go about putting together your bridal look? Describe for us how you managed to look so elegant, timeless, and romantic all at once?!
---Awwhhh Sarah! You just made me blush. I just let it sort of come together organically. I didn't really start shopping for the dress until 3 months prior to the wedding. I spent most of the time before that thinking about exactly what i wanted and did not want my dress to represent. I knew i wanted something simple, airy, bell sleeves, ethereal, silk, lace, vintage, 20s or older, romantic, and not too much like a costume. I wanted it to reflect a time of innocence and pure spirit...without looking like i was playing a part in a renaissance play. I wanted to feel natural and not forced. I didn't want it to overpower my sweet husband(which i see so often in in wedding dresses). In the end...i had chosen 5 dresses, but the combination of the early 1900s off white empire silk and hand made lace slip dress with 1970s cream bell sleeve floral lace robe won out. When it was all said it done.... i was absolutely thrilled with my choice! The jewelry was a collection of vintage Afghan and Indian pieces. I also borrowed a beautiful tiny cuff from my most cherished friend, that belonged to her since childhood. My flowers we're hand picked the afternoon of the wedding from The Gauge Gardens and arranged by another very special friend. The whole experience was full of pure love, light, blessings, and lots of unbelievable magic!

Like I said, it's a gift to know people who are inspiring you by being themselves. I don't ever want it to go unnoticed. Much love ♥

xo.

* Also, in my happy-fun times dream world there are no overdraft fees, thai food is the healthiest thing you can eat, and no one else in the world has curly hair but me...

the long and winding golden brick road...

Things keep moving right along over here in the Magnolia Family Manse...

You can now check out the amazing vintage and designer goods, all hand-picked by me for BUYDEFINITION.com!

Click Here to Shop

You can't lose when you have Gaultier AND Herve Leger to choose from. I'm serious, you can't... Try. I dare you. ;)

I have had a blast shopping and shooting with that gang and there is much more to come!! Keep your eyes open, as I know they'll be adding more this week.... Oh and in case your wondering, my heart's very favorite piece that I gave up just for BDVintage is this "Brody Denim Bustier."

I can't lie, I want to put it on and sing "Like A Virgin." The Glee version but yeah, it's a Madonna piece if I ever bought (and sold) one. So you know, buy it :)

As for my own pet project, the to be unveiled magnoliafamilyvintage.com, I am slowly but surely progressing... I am in love with the stuff I have to sell though! Switching formats has proven to be a pain in my butt, however one I believe will work out better for us in the end. If I had known this is what I was going to end up doing I would have taken photography and web design as a wee child. Instead I am forced to rely on the help of others and that's not easy when you're a control freak... or so I hear, haha. Take a super sneak peek at pics I did with the lovely Kathleen for the web site....

and many, many more...

Honestly, I am super excited to launch my own little vintage niche in the world. It is going to come with a few surprises... Like a new blog!! Yes, I will be switching over in a few weeks to wordpress and hopefully a whole new level of nonsense blogging.

In the meantime, do us a favor! Roll on over to the Magnolia Family Vintage Facebook page and "like" us with all your heart. Then click the "Suggest to Friends" link on the left hand side of the page and tell someone else about us! I will admit, I have a pretty lofty goal for FB fans before the web site launches. There is a reason! Just the top secret kind...