Weekly Whistle: Simple Southern Style

IMG_2500

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.
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.

IMG_2487 IMG_2491 IMG_2492 IMG_2489 IMG_2498 IMG_2504 IMG_2505 IMG_2506 IMG_2503 IMG_2507 IMG_2494

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

Shorts: Gus Mayer (Birmingham, AL)

Heels: VIP DIY

Earrings: Beadsoul 

Necklace: BluKatDesign

Bracelets: vintage

IMG_2515

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Advertisement

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

IMG_9269

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 :)

IMG_9271 IMG_9273 IMG_9274 IMG_9278 IMG_9272 IMG_9290 IMG_9289 IMG_9292 IMG_9291 IMG_9275 IMG_9283

Kimono: (vintage from) EBV

Necklace: BluKatDesign 

Bracelets: Beadsoul

Dangly Earrings: Minabae 

Wedges: Jessica Simpson

IMG_9279

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

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

IMG_9921

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*

IMG_9934

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*

IMG_9870 IMG_9882 IMG_9867 IMG_9888 IMG_9889

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* 

IMG_9911 IMG_9914 IMG_9922 IMG_9918 IMG_9939 IMG_9929 IMG_9906

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

IMG_9892

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

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

IMG_9178

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:

IMG_9144

IMG_9141

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

WAY TWO:

IMG_9170 IMG_9174

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

WAY THREE:

Way Three: Puffy Vest 3 ways to wear

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

BONUS:

IMG_9155 IMG_9160

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

IMG_9158

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Weekly Whistle: When William Blake Met Handmade

IMG_8903

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.”

img_02621

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
IMG_8830

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn