Weekly Whistle: Simple Southern Style

For those of you who have been following VIP since the beginning, y’all know that I started the blog when I was living in the middle of nowhere in Mississippi struggling with Hughes Net *wink* While a lot has changed in four years, and I have since moved to Birmingham, Alabama and now Johnson City, Tennessee, I still hold true to my classy Southern roots.

*Photo taken in my hometown in Mississippi, 2012.*

Being reared in a Southern home, I witnessed some of the most fabulous fashions from my momma, grandmothers, and great Aunt Jo and Judy. There’s no denying their Southern Belle lifestyle rubbed off on me–I always say yes ma’am and no ma’am, I have too many pearl necklaces, and I am a sucker for a tall glass of sweet tea *wink*

So, for this week’s Weekly Whistle ensemble, I am embracing simple Southern style with a steal-of-a-deal Simply Southern tunic blouse I picked up on my mini road trip to Asheville. Check out the outfit details + awesome photos below taken in downtown Johnson City, Tennessee.

Blouse: Simply Southern, Dazzle Up (Asheville, NC)

Shorts: Gus Mayer (Birmingham, AL)

Heels: VIP DIY

Earrings: Beadsoul

Necklace: BluKatDesign

Bracelets: vintage

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Weekly Whistle: Bright-Red, Vintage, Hawaiian, Caftan Kimono

Hello, fabulouses, and welcome back to the blog!

This week’s Weekly Whistle is SUPER special because I am revealing my SUPER amazing, vintage Kimono that I got from EBV on Etsy. AH! I mean…how darn fabulous is this dress, y’all?! *jaw drop*

Rather than me babbling on and on about how much I ADORE this dress, I am going to let the Kimono + photos speak for themselves *wink* Take a look at this week’s Weekly Whistle outfit photo shoot + ensemble details below :)

Kimono: (vintage from) EBV

Necklace: BluKatDesign

Bracelets: Beadsoul

Dangly Earrings: Minabae

Wedges: Jessica Simpson

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Weekly Whistle: My Things For Spring 2015, Fun Flamingos & Fabulous Floral

Hello, fabulouses, and welcome back to the blog!

Yuck. The weather here today has been simply dreary….As a result of the dreary weather, I am currently cooking bacon, mac n’ cheese, and tater tots while typing this blog. Nothing like some good ol’ comfort food to make the rainy-day blues go away *wink*

Speaking of cures for the rainy-day blues…bright colors and mixing patterns is a zero-calorie cure that saves me from having to run extra on the treadmill–everybody needs a cheat day, though! *wink*

For this week’s Weekly Whistle, I am going to show y’all some of ” My Things for Spring” with my favorite outfit of the week! As y’all take a look at the fabulous outfit pictures + details, put on your dancing blues shoes and listen to some Bessie Smith! Ah…Bessie’s voice just makes me want to dance all the way down to New Orleans for a day-cation!

All of the photos on this blog were taken in the historical town of Jonesborough, Tennessee.

Dress It Up:

This look features two of my things for spring–flamingos and florals. Why not pair them together with neon stilettos? Why not! *wink*

Top: Express | Skirt: J.Crew | Belt: Target | Stilettos: Jessica Simpson, Belk | Necklace: Sparkle Cat Studio | Bracelets: La Joli Bijou | Rings: Beadsoul

Dress It Down:

This look features one more of “my things for spring”–pink Converse! I had a pair of high-top, pink converse when I was little, and I wore them with EVERYTHING! Will I do that this spring? Maybe…just maybe…*wink*

Sneakers: Converse, ROSS | Red Leather Bracelet: Luke & Lyla Designs | Other Bracelets + Rings: Beadsoul

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Three Ways to Wear Thursday: Puffy Vest Made Cute & Comfy with Ease

Hello, fabulouses, and welcome back to the blog!

With the weather still wild and wintry outside, I broke down and purchased a puffy vest from Dick’s Sporting Goods at the Johnson City Mall. When I first tried on this fabulous North Face vest, I assumed that it would simply become a casual, warm piece; however, when I got home I challenged myself to see just how cute I could dress it up. AH! Who knew a bulky vest could be so cute?!

VIP Tip: When styling YOUR puffy vest, keep in mind the weather in your area. For bitter cold, I recommend pairing your puffy vest with a thicker sweater or pullover. For warmer cold (is that even a thing? *wink*), I recommend pairing your puffy vest with a lightweight turtleneck or even a thick chambray button up. For bottoms– dark jeans, corduroys, or skirts with ribbed leggings are great options to consider when styling a puffy jacket to the next level *wink*

WAY ONE:

Get the details to this outfit on our sister blog here.

WAY TWO:

Turtleneck: GAP | Vest: Dick’s Sporting Goods | Jeans: Chip & Pepper, Belk | Scarf: Forgotten Cotton | Boots: UGG, Belk

WAY THREE:

Superdry crew neck sweater
$68 – houseoffraser.co.uk

The North Face vest
backcountry.com

Tommy Hilfiger skirt
usa.tommy.com

Wolford legging
neimanmarcus.com

Kork-Ease leather boots
nordstromrack.com

BCBGMAXAZRIA scarve
zappos.com

BONUS:

This is an example of how when the weather warms up, you can simply toss off the vest and still have a fabulous ensemble. But when the weather chills back down, you can slip your puffy vest back on without the worry of “does this match?!”…”does this work?!”

Turtleneck: GAP | Jeans: Chip & Pepper, Belk | Necklaces: BluKatDesign | Red Leather Bracelet: Luke & Lyla Designs | Brown Leather/Copper bracelet: Beadsoul | Hat: World Market | Boots: UGG, Belk

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Weekly Whistle: When William Blake Met Handmade

Hello, fabulouses, and welcome back to the blog!

This week on Weekly Whistle, I want to talk about two of my favorite things–William Blake and handmade…and what happens when the two collide! Oh, beautiful things happen…beautiful things! *wink*

Recently, I had my friend Lisa Hamilton of Beadsoul create me a one-of-a-kind leather + copper cuff with my favorite William Blake quote hand-stamped on it.

“No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings”

The above quote is so simple yet so encouraging that I cannot begin to explain how prominent it is in my life. So often, people tell me I am “flying” too high, but my question is…what is flying too high? Is there such a thing? Well, again in the famous words of William Blake, “no bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.”

So the next time you feel like you are Entangled By the Norm, just think…I am a bird, and these are my wings! I can fly as long and high as my heart desires!

To keep the inspiration and positivity flowing, here are a few more inspiring William Blake quotes.

Fun and random fact: William Blake and I share a birthday…and if that’s not cool, I don’t know what is *wink*

Great things are done when men and mountains meet. –William Blake

What is now proved was once only imagined. –-William Blake

He who binds to himself a joy Does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in eternity’s sun rise. —William Blake

He whose face gives no light, shall never become a star. —William Blake

I must create a system or be enslaved by another man’s; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create. —William Blake