Shopping – tide & bloom

sinclair’s mercantile

The longer I go on blogging, the more I want to get into vlogging. Why? For one, pictures say a thousand words but then videos say 10,000. Secondly I think my genuine reaction in real-time would be so much more entertaining than coming here and trying to rehash the experience. Do you watch food network? I basically want to be Guy Fieri but also touring shops, testing products, and interviewing artists, et cetera. How do I become a famous personality so that people become interested in my opinion?… I guess I’ll just keep working on it. If you know anyone looking to make a TV show featuring me, let me know.

For this blog post/episode, I’m pleased to introduce you to Sinclair’s Mercantile, a newly opened lifestyle boutique down in the heart of McDonough. Where’s that, you ask? It’s about a 45 minute drive South of Atlanta. So not TOO far, but far enough (for me) where this really has to be a purposeful visit. Which is really just fine seeing as how Lanie Beth and her husband Brad have made it their mission to create a beautiful open space with just about anything you’d need to enhance your wardrobe. If half my bank account wasn’t already committed to Anthropologie, then I’d be spending a whole lot of it here.

The duo has paid careful attention to what comes into their shop, in regards to both assortment and origin. It’s truly a shop for the whole family and includes thoughtful accessories for life and home as well. Being that they are in the heart of a small town, they knew it was going to be quite a big risk to bring in premium denim and designer names. Somehow though they’ve managed to create a balance – I can tell it was an intentional focus – between accessibility and aspiration. I couldn’t really resist and I bought a ring for $14 and bangin’ Matisse shoes for less than $100.

I’m a shop girl at heart so I love things.

ladycrush: alice

Name: Alice
Day Job: Department Manager at Anthropologie
Dream Job: Textile Designer

How would you describe your style? My style really depends on my mood. That sounds cliche, I know, but it’s true. I usually like to mix vintage with new trends. In the winter I’m always in a scarf, in the summer I’m always in a high-waisted skirt. Being so petite, you hardly ever catch me wearing flats so I’ve invested a lot of time into my shoe collection! If I was stranded on a deserted island, I would chose to be alone with a trunk of all my shoes. Is that weird? Probably.

Where are your favorite places to shop for clothes? If it’s not from Anthro or an URBN shop, it’s from a local thrift store. I also have my own Etsy shop where I sell vintage clothing that I’ve found over the years. Check it out! Hanger Threads

henry & june

Coffee and clothing. Espresso and style. Caffeine and design. They are simple things that permeate my daily life and they nourish my soul as much as they are just my everyday fuel. I might sound like a narcissistic hipster when I say these kinds of things, but it’s really the truth. Sipping a smooth latte is like zipping up a well-tailored dress; you stand a little straighter, you hold your chin up, and you are ready to face the day. Jim Chambers and Camryn Park (with the support of veteran barista Daniel Mueller) have tapped into this poetic alignment and presented this pairing at Henry & June, their brand-spanking-new coffee and clothing gallery in the Virginia Highland neighborhood.

I’ve been on the edge of my seat for months waiting for this dreamy duo to bring their cafe boutique hybrid to life, and I must say that they definitely did not disappoint. When you step into the space, it’s evident that you’re stepping into something special. Their collection of curated goods is an obvious representation of their personal style; modern, playful, at times retro, and always with a strong and elegant sense of self.

Combing through their products becomes a series of finding one treasure right after the other. There are no filler tees and tanks here, no random tchotchkes to divert your attention. With a well-brewed Crema drink in hand (for those hot summer days, be sure to try the new arabica palmer!), it’s really quite easy to stay a while.

austin: take heart shop

I stumbled into Take Heart with no idea or expectation of what would be inside. The sign outside said “modern, handmade, vintage” which are obviously three of the buzziest buzz words for crafty hipsters like me. Well, it turned out to be one of the cutest little shops I’ve ever been in Austin, or anywhere really.

You can find an assortment of lovely items in this shop, from beauty products to decor, stationary, art and more… the creative energy in this place is like a magnet for lovers of beautifully crafted objects (like me). The space was open and airy, with tons of sunlight flooding in.

stlou: cool stuff really cheep

I forgot to share this one last piece of St. Louis! Cool Stuff Really Cheep is a lovely little boutique full of curated vintage finds and antiques. Around every nook and cranny, there was another treasure to behold.

I was so intrigued by the mosaic piece above; I’ve never really seen anything like it. Timeless and well-crafted, I’m kind of sad I didn’t snag it. Also was obsessed with the bar cart below. I tend to swoon over almost any bar cart I come across, but I found this particular configuration of shapes and lines so uniquely elegant and sleek.

And here is where I received my stunning statement necklace and bracelet set. Absolutely in love! If you’re ever in the 314, be sure to make a pit stop at this place. I’m pretty sure you will find something you can’t live without!

salvage atl 2014

Salvage, put on by the same geniuses who created Indie Craft Experience, is one of the many Atlanta events I look forward to. Here, vendors can sell all their vintage finds and vintage-inspired creations to people like me who like to fancy themselves connoisseurs of pretty things. Not only that, it also gives me an excuse to purchase delicious treats from The Little Tart, King of Pops, and Atomic Ice Cream Sandwiches (there goes my wallet and my diet).

My two purchases of the day were the Missouri plate you see above (for the STL beau) and a sweet little Etienne Aigner wicker shoulder bag from Red Tag Affair (you can see it in her picture way up above)!

wrap it up

ponce living pop-up

If I had more money, it would be spent SO well. While I know it’s super tempting (and also a necessary evil) to be a part of the hordes rushing to the big box stores for the holidays, it can often feel so clinical and nerve-wracking to say the least. To get a gift that’s really special, I suggest you visit some smaller businesses to find that special something. One such shop here in the A would be Ponce Living by Tracery Interiors.

I stopped into this little holiday pop-up since it was so conveniently located next to one of my favorite coffee roasters and found a little treasure trove of delights.

so long summer

Say hello to a joint style post! Hopefully I can do more of these in the near future, particularly because I have such adorable friends.

pin addiction: jumpsuits

Lately I’ve been shopping with my eyes instead of my wallet, which sounds good in terms of practicality and money-saving, but is a little bit unbearable for my incurable fashion addiction. I’m completely guilty of the “I have nothing to wear” syndrome… anyone know a good support group? For now, all I have is Pinterest. My latest addiction is jumpsuits and it’s probably due how infrequently I actually see them in stores. It’s terribly difficult for me to find good fits when it comes to these silhouettes so I can’t bring myself to buy one online either. Here are some jumpsuits I’m currently addicted to looking at:

for work

1 / 2 / 3

for play

1 / 2 / 3

Visit the Tide & Bloom on Pinterest to see more of my materialistic addictions (and some inspirational stuff too)!