The Technicolor Dream Clutch: Sarah Sharp

It's high time you learn about Sarah Sharp Leatherwood and her magical, multicolored, mexi-inspired clutches. Just like all the things they bring to mind (rainbows, your last trip to psychedelic city, your Latino unicorn Twinkle Tamarindo), these accessories also carry a bit of superpowers. Sarah partners with artisans around the world to source all the materials and a percentage of the proceeds from each purchase supports local and global non-profit organizations (don't blame the girl for being an overachiever - she's a fellow TFA alum so she can't help it). In fact, Sarah Sharp was conceived out of a desire to mix the designer's undergrad fashion studies with her passion for educational and employment equality - and I think we can all agree the world is a better and brighter place because of her brainchild. 

It goes without saying (but I'mma let me finish) that companies that effectively integrate a charitable dimension to their retail modus operandi are my favorites, since they circumvent the buy-what-you-need-not-what-you-want game I make feeble attempts to play. When a purchase not only gives you what you want, but also gives others what they need, it's justified (period. end of story. throw away the receipt).  But what makes Sarah Sharp a cut above the rest is that the clutches are really cute, made well and by hand, and exactly what you've been missing your whole life but didn't know until this moment. 

I paid a visit to the Sarah Sharp headquarters (which, b-t-dubs, has all the over-the-rainbow vibes you'd think it would) a couple weeks ago and got way overwhelmed with all the options. So Sarah tugged on my little-bitty heartstrings when she suggested I consider making a custom clutch out of a fabric of my choosing. From the enchanted wall of Peruvian blankets (stacks on deck, y'all) I selected my fabric after what seemed like a 15 min. monologue of asking myself what my favorite color is (at age 27 one easily forgets such things) and then picked the fixin's (zipper color, liner color, leather color, etc.).

Ta-da! Here's my baby - ain't she pretty? Oh the adventures we will go on together. Next on the to-do list is to order some custom Sarah Sharp pillows for my couch (what's my favorite color again?).   

Rock the Sabah, Rock the Sabah

It's the weekend and it's going to be a real good one so I'm keeping it simple n' sweet. I attended a Sabah trunkshow at FOUND yesterday where I met the Sabah Dealer, who convinced me to jump on the Turkish slipper bandwagon. Jump I did, and I haven't looked back since - I suggest you do the same. Stitched by the hands of Gaziantep craftsmen, each pair has the style, durability and comfort to become your everyday-for-ma-whole-life shoe. I know the rose colored ones I treated myself to will be just that - go getcha' some (deets below). 

Shoes - Sabah// Pants - J. Crew// Top - Mango// Sunglasses - Celine// Bag - Shuviluna

S/S '17 Collection trunkshow goes on at FOUND (3433 W Alabama St.) today (3/24) & tomorrow (3/25) from 11-5. 

Houston's Hidden Gem: Annu's

As promised, today's post presents the inside scoop on Annu's, a family owned business located just off the Katy Freeway that sells some of the most unique, authentic, and well-priced statement jewelry from India and South Asia. This is the exact type of place that gets me doing a happy dance jiggity jig on the inside (think "hello my baby, hello my honey" moves a la WB Frog), while trying to remain composed on the outside (so as to not give off the impression I'm about to rob the place). 

And because I'm feeling particularly bossay today, here are the dos and don'ts of visiting this hole-in-the-wall Indian treasure trove:

  • Do make a pit stop on your way to/from San Antonio or Austin or whatever wild wild Western town you're headed to/from - it's about 10 mins past the Ikea
  • Don't think you're in the wrong place when you hit a strip mall in the middle of no-man's land dubbed "Market Place Antiques" that is essentially a bunch of pop-up vintage shops under one roof (where my jewels at?!)
  • Do allow your eyes to widen when you look at the prices of most of the pieces (most less and some just a little over a hundo)
  • Don't be like their other loyal customers who have refused to tell their friends about the store (that's been around for 6+ years) out of fear their "oh this old thing?" secrets will be exposed (ra-huude)
  • Do marvel at the store owner's ability to give you the background info on each bead on every piece - from where they originated to how they were dyed to how uh-mazin' they look on you
  • Don't stress about not being able to leave work early to go see this to-good-to-be-true-exotic-emporium (they're only open Fri-Sun, my dears)
  • Do permit yourself to have a moment when you learn that everything they carry is inspired by Iris Apfel: she is the store owner's muse and a living testament to the fact you'll be wearing anything you buy for longer than you think
  • Don't delay - Annu's is currently having a Rodeo sale and everything is 30% off (say what?!)
  • Do invest in some statement pieces that could easily transform a black-on-black or white-on-white outfit into a show-stopping ensemble - funk. it. UP!

PS. Don't fret if you're not a local and can't see Annu's for yourself - they have an Instagram account and have been selling pieces to any who so inquire. 

 

Double the Fun: Genie Mack & Baanou

While most of my shopping is done from my computer and/or phone (addicted to online shopping? me? nooo), when time permits it's nice to break up the routine, get behind the wheel, hit the open road, and explore the great, big world of Houston retail (adventure awaits!). I had such an escapade last week, when I wandered lonely as a cloud Wordsworth style to two local boutiques: Renovate and Baanou. Fortunately for you, I live to tell the tale (retail therapy never did betray the heart that loved her). 

Each store has good finds that coincidentally work well together, so I'm doubling up today. And we begin with Genie Mack's tassel earrings: colorful, happy, surprisingly light on the earlobes, and oh-so affordable ($50 or less, people). Genie's a native Houstonian who makes fun jewelry and paints pet portraits. While her earrings aren't for sale online yet, they are available at Renovate or you can email her and get some customized to the colors of your liking. 

And if you're the kind of gal who doesn't just want a party on the top, business on the bottom - then Baanou is where I'll direct you. Located at River Oaks District, this boutique has brought some of my favorite Australian labels (Thurley, Alice McCall, C/Meo Collective, Keepsake) to my hood - which helps me save on shipping costs, and helps all of us look more fly. My advice: don't go in if you're "just looking" - we both know that's too dangerous a game to play. 

Add Genie Mack's tassels above to some of Baanou's pieces below and (ladies is pimps, too) dust those exposed shoulders off. 

Shorts - Thurley// Chambray Jumpsuit - Karina Grimaldi (in store or shop online here)// Striped Romper - Lovers & Friends// Red Dress - Alice McCall// Red Off the Shoulder Top - Keepsake// Red Pants - Keepsake

A little Folky, A little Funky: Ukrainian Embroidery

As promised, the second deal-n-steal of the weekend: hand-embroidered Ukrainian pieces that you can actually afford (Google translate says яй! is Ukrainian for yay! - so we're going with that).

These traditional Ukrainian embroidered items entered the scene not so long ago (based on my shop-while-I-stalk tendencies, I remember Anna Dello Russo, Giovanna Battaglia, and Leandra Medine (aka the powers that be) were amongst the first to rock 'em).

From the second I laid my eyes on those colorful balloon sleeves and rich embroidered patterns I was a big (YUGE) fan. The research that ensued enlightened me to some valuable info, summarized as follows:

  1. Embroidery is an integral part of Ukrainian culture (who knew) - the country regards it as more than an art form and traces the practice back to BC times.
  2. There are different patterns and styles identified with the different regions of Ukraine, and each piece carries symbolic significance. For example, the blouse (known as a Vyshyvanka - va va voom), is believed to be a talisman that protects the one who wears it and the actual embroidery is purposely placed over parts of the body that are believed to be susceptible to penetration by evil spirits (neckline, cuff, shoulders). So so weird, but so so good. 
  3. The lines that brought these pieces into the fashion limelight are quite lux - aka quite expensive. These are a few off the tippy-top of my head: Vita Kin, March 11, and Yuliya Magdych. 
  4. Saving the best for last - I found other options that are so affordable, so customizable, and SO authentic (you know its the real deal when the packing slip says Tsekhop Lutsk as place of origin) - read all 'bout my experience below.

I was particularly fond of the skirt - so you can imagine my delight when I found Kate Veremchuk's Etsy store Smerichka (can't help but think she's lol-ing at us Shmericans). Her listing for the skirt advertised that it was totally customizable and only $150. Since I wasn't in the business (yet) of reinventing this color wheel, I sent her my measurements and a photo of a Vita Kin skirt for color choice inspo.

Bada bing, bada boom - about a month later, I can officially sit at the cool girls table with my skirt (pictured below) that cost me li-ter-a-lly 10% of what the lux brand costs, looks exactly the same, and is made by hand. 

Kate's store isn't the only affordable option out there - here are some other Etsy shops that sell similar (and really beautiful) Ukrainian fashion: FashionFromUkraine, FashionbyJulia, UkrNational, and EmbroideredFantasy.

I wore mine to the Rodeo yesterday - and felt like the real dealio. Here I am at the King Ranch Saddle Shop booth with Jerry Mejia, a craftsman whose been perfecting his skills for 13+ years. 

So while we're on the topic of how anything hecho-a-mano is that much more especial, I'll end the post with a shout out to Jerry. He makes saddles, leather sheathes, custom belts, and dabbles with floral and basket weave tooling - and his fingers got the battle wounds to prove it. Go check him out!