Music Mondays

I've had this song stuck in my head for about a week now, and I thought it would be especially appropriate to share with you here.

Express Yourself by Charles Wright also reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Oscar Wilde:



In fashion- and in life- never be afraid of what anyone thinks. As long as you are being yourself ("Ima do me"), you are the best trend.

Have a great week!

xx-
Kyah

Quote for the Day

Chanel is composed of only a few elements: white camellias, quilted bags, Austrian doorman's jackets, pearls, chains, shoes with black toes. I use these elements like music notes to play with.

-Karl Lagerfeld



All your wardrobe needs are a few key notes, and you can play with them however you like to make beautiful music. Here's to a fabulous week!

xx-
Kyah

Take this into your Friday...

Robyn - Hang With Me official video from Robyn on Vimeo.

Have a fun weekend,
xo
Kyah

Marc Broussard

Reid (of the one and only Reid Rolls photography) called me up about 6 weeks ago to let me know that he was working on doing a job for Atlantic Records with an artist named Marc Broussard. When he asked me to be on the team to style to shoot, I was of course down for it. The shoot was scheduled in a few days after the launch party for SLEEVELESS so it was in the wake of craziness. Lucky for me, I seem to thrive on crazy, intense schedules. (Well, to a point.)

I knew that I must be a little out of pop culture when I was pulling clothes for the shoot and all the sales people were stoked that I was doing a shoot with Marc. I don't like to listen to an artist before I work with them because what if I don't like their music? Or what if I love their music but they are narcissistic and then I feel like I'm feeding the ego by complimenting them. So, I usually just let it be a mystery.

Despite the day starting early and working on little sleep, we had so much fun. Probably one of the most fun groups of people that I've been able to work with. Besides Reid and Lo (hair/makeup) we also had Laura Dart, Marc's manager, brother, and Atlantic's creative director all hanging out. We listened to Marc's new album and he sang along. Great voice, crazy talented, and beautiful lyrics. When this album drops, you have to go out and get it immediately!

So, I fancy myself a cell phone photog pro so here are a few shots from the day...
Rocking a John Varvatos jacket and an American Flag.

Wrapping the shoot in the white space...
I had to post this...because who doesn't like a floating head picture?

We shot the first half the day indoors on a seamless white and the last half of the day we went to a cozy Scot-themed studio where Marc does a lot of his writing. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product and curious to find out which look they choose for his cover.

xo,
Kyah

Oh, and P.S. zero narcissism on his part! But an extreme attachment to this bird hat that HE MADE for the shoot!

What I wore: Imogene and Willie 1 Year Anniversary!

Imogene and Willie knows how to throw a great party! For those of you who don't know about I+W, let me school you. The owners, husband and wife team, Matt and Carrie, come from extensive backgrounds working with premium denim brands like Double RL (RRL), JBrand, etc, before launching their own raw denim line in 2009. A year ago today, to be precise.

A quick google search of the store will tell you about their "impeccable selection of salvaged vintage clothes" or the fact that they have "blurred the lines between shop, hang out spot and restaurant". (Design Sponge) But in my words, they simply have a pulse on culture and an effortless way of creating and defining "cool". Just ask the hundreds of musicians, Nashvillians, friends and supporters who came last night to their one year anniversary party. Local artists sang in the fenced in backyard, the local taco truck came and provided fresh, spicy Mexican fare and sangria kept the whole party hydrated.

While I didn't have my own I+W denim on (I do love them though!) I thought I'd post a few pics (taken with my friends new 4G Iphone) of myself and friends while we talked the night away. I think we were the last to leave at 12:30 am...the party was that good!

I wore a little cotton, one-shoulder, mini dress with vintage jaguar belt, and my Nilah cuff from SLEEVELESS 2011 collection.

Thanks Matt and Carrie for bringing your vision of I+W to life here in Nashville. Just one more reason I love it here!

LOVE POTION #9

I titled this post, Love Potion #9 because this is my 9th love-fest of the year. Yep, wedding number 9! For not being a "wedding blog" per say, I have been doing a lot of wedding blogging.

This wedding was special because it was my good friend Lindsay's day to be a Bride and she married her sweet man, Trevor. I must say, Lindsay made a beautiful bride! You may remember her face from my previous post HERE where we did her promotional images for her music career.

Lindsay wore a wedding dress from Sarah Seven and vintage inspired shoes from Seychelles. Her "something old" was her bracelet which was made from a piece of lace from her mother's veil. Jessica Maros of SLEEVELESS made her a custom veil and necklace just for the occasion. I'm blown away by that veil!


Here are some of my favorite bridal photos (snapped by my Droid cell phone camera)...SO STUNNING!



I was a bridesmaid in this wedding, and I'll have to wait to get photos from the professional photog, Blu, to post pics of all of us girls together but here are some of my pics, in the meantime. All the girls wore Anthropologie dresses in different patterns and a navy/black/grey-green pallet with coral-colored pumps from Urban Outfitters.
Here I am with the Bride!
And here I am with fellow bridesmaid, sweet Natalie!
This is the only photo where I caught the Bride and Groom together!
They said their vows under old wooden arch decorated simply with flowers in old mason jars and milk jugs. The rings were in an old filigree box.

Lindsay walked down the aisle to Brandi Carlile's "The Story" and the wedding party walked in to "The Offer" by Katie Herzig. Here are some more snaps of all the little details that made this a great wedding...from the homemade ice cream and cobblers to the candles hanging from the trees and the precious childhood pics of Lindsay (coke bottle glasses) and Trevor (long hair, leather jacket and combat boots).

And I had to post this, because we really look like sisters straight out of someone's "Big Fat Greek Wedding!" Don't we look related?!

All in all, it was a great wedding weekend and I got to meet both of their wonderful families. I wish for them everything good that life has to offer...
xo
Kyah

A Kearney Wedding: MAT and ANNIE!

In case you missed this on OnceWed, I wanted to make sure I posted about yet another gorgeous wedding I attended this summer. None other than Annie's of this very Ivory Feather blog! If it seems like I've been on a wedding kick, it may have to do with the fact that we are going to 13 weddings this year! Yep, you heard right, THIRTEEN weddings! Come to think about it, I may not have any single friends after this year...crazy to think about!



Their wedding was so beautiful and the after party was so fun. A great testimony to the good friends and family that they have in their lives.

Go to this site to see all the pics from the Kearney nuptials!
http://www.oncewed.com/31123/real-weddings/elegant/purple/mat-annie/

Her wedding dress: Rivini
Her reception dress: Nicole Miller
His suit: Christian Dior
Highlights: Brazil Billy band, the bridesmaids retro dresses, Mat's face when Annie came down the aisle!
Photog: Tec Petaja

YES! We have LIVE footage!!!

Love in Ohio from chriswylde on Vimeo.

House Warming

I titled this blog "house warming" because even though we have been in our new house for almost a year now, I'm still working on the "lived in" and layered look that gives it the worn, loved feel.

For example, I have a console table behind my sofa that is the first thing that guests see when the walk in the house. I've put some different chotchkies on table but it still feels staged in a bad way. I found this image that gave me some great ideas. I particularly like the hat perched on the mirror. My mom and dad made me some really cool distressed plant stands out of an old turned table leg. I propped my hat on the top instead of a plant and I love the effect. I'll post pics as soon as I get back home. (I'm in Atlanta shopping SLEEVELESS to boutiques here)

image from Coco Kelley










And here are pics of my entry way/console table after a little tinkering:
And here are some detail pics:

The shells are from one of the 13 weddings that we attended this summer. I got the bookends from a flea market last year and the tusk from a salvage place. A tree in my front yard has a few less leaves thanks to my little impromptu arrangement...and you can see, I propped my fedora on the plant stand that my parents made for us!

Here are some other amazing photos that I pulled from the world wide web that fit the aesthetic of our home and lend themselves very well to the mood that I want people to feel when they come over. Light and white doesn't mean sterile, as you can see in these images! I found this image on www.pintrest.com and of course, what's not to love. Obviously, this table (and take a close look at the old window panes) is what adds the warmth to this space.













I have an old farm table and I had the table top wrapped in stainless steel. While it looks cool, it's also a little cold, so I added a centerpiece of a rough wooden half of a log that holds tea lights. It's helping, but maybe I could add rattan runners that run the width (rather than length) of the table to act as permanent place mats? Runners are tricky business. Only the neat and clean person can maintain place mats of any sort, let alone table runners! Thoughts?

I scavenged my house for something else to add to this beautiful tea light holder that my friend (and talented craftsman) Tim made, but I need the right items with the right scale and texture. Here's before: And after:



image from Coco Kelley
This mirror is insane...and it's the kind of gem that you really have to just search for...it's hard to fake this weathered look...Our fireplace is filled to the brim with round logs, as it doesn't work but I'm in search of a moroccan blanket to throw over a chair. I would do a rug, if only I could get my dog to NOT PEE on it. Embarrassing behavior, but the truth.

image from made by girl
Finally, this image, because it echos my sentiments exactly...and while I have no use for an old typewriter, I would like to hang this poster over my desk. Is it for sale?

I love feedback, so if you have an ideas for my table...please POST!

This just in! More Red, White and "Something Blue" Wedding

I just scoped out some "preview" pics from Alex Marvar who was one of the 3 pro photogs who documented the weekend. She's a singer, writer and freelancer for Vanity Fair and she does justice to some of my favorite moments of the whole weekend!

The night before their wedding, all of the wedding guests and the Bride and Groom went out to the Main Street in town and square danced the night away! Here they are in their square dancing duds at the Buxton Inn bar:

Love in the Heart of Ohio....signs led us to Summer Haven...

Back down the aisle as Husband and Wife! Colored glass...
First eve as Mr. and Mrs.
"Save your fork" was a touching memory of one of her Dad's favorite phrases. It signified his way of saying that "the best is yet to come". It was a significant part of the message during the ceremony and these signs were placed on the table. A perfect remembrance to a man who was a cornerstone for such a great family! Gotta love the Ford family!

Ok, I can't get enough of this wedding! What do you think? I'd love to hear from you!