Style Inspiration: Classic Americana

With the 4th of July quickly approaching- my newest style inspiration is everything America, specifically items with a western flair. Here are a couple images of what has been inspiring me recently:

You can see just about every sort of style in the Loop, but it is clear that the popular plaid/ flannel shirts from the fall have transferred into lighter versions for summer. I was lucky enough to find an amazing version for myself at J. Crew yesterday (on sale!) , and I cannot wait to wear it. I am also feeling the urge to invest in a pair of short cowboy boots like these: http://www.freepeople.com/shoes-boots/coachella-boot/, but I might have to hold off because I already own what is probably to many pairs of boots.

Another thing that screams America in classic red, white, and navy. I love the idea of mixing tomboyish pieces- boxing tops, rugby strips, or baggy jeans with girly touches of lace, shimmer, or layers of necklaces within this color palette. If done correctly, it can create some of the most beautiful and interesting ensembles.

One thing that that i am definitely going to have to do soon is create a version of these shorts for myself.

I'm hoping to find an inexpensive vintage pair of cutoffs and paint the stars and strips on using fabric paint pens. It should be fairly simply, but I think it will make a bold statement. Maybe I will have time to get this done so I can sport them on the 4th!

It's Beginning to Feel Like Summer

I can now say that I am truly in summer mode after attending a Kim Massie show the other night at Beale on Broadway. Nothing is better than relaxing outside on a hot night with a cold beer at a picnic table- that is until you do all of the above with Kim Massie as entertainment. Although I have seen her on several occasions; she never disappoints. My friends and I are always up for a night filled with dancing to her great soulful covers. Being from Memphis, the music definitely feels like home to me. If you haven't checked out a show yet, I highly recommend you head down to Beale on Broadway for a great evening. If you miss seeing Kim; don't worry because there is live music every night at Beale. I think that I might end up becoming a regular this summer...

Party at Mandarin Lounge

the indoor bar

outside with friends

outdoor bar

This past Saturday, Jeremy Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles hosted a party at Mandarin Lounge in the Central West End. The party was put on by Synergy and it was a really fun summer night. Mandarin is a rooftop lounge, and it was great to be outside and enjoy the hot, sticky summer weather. It is decorated with a very sleek Asian theme, which was perfect for this fun event. I love that the bar is covered in warm red and orange tones, that are fun but chic at the same time.

The highlight of my night was getting to meet Jeremy Maclin himself. Although it was only for a brief moment, it was awesome to get to meet the man of the hour. Even though the party was packed, it was actually a pretty relaxed night. A large group of my friends were in attendance, so I was never concerned about having a good time. As always, I was probably having a bit too much fun, but who could blame me?

outside with Jeremy Maclin

Cyrus at the Tivoli

Thursday afternoon I attended a screening of the Jay and Mike Duplass movie, Cyrus. This movie stars John C. Reilly and Marisa Tomei as a blossoming couple. Cyrus, played by Jonah Hill, is Tomei's 20 something son in the movie, who has an unhealthy obsession with his mother. The movie explores the troubled relationship of a mother and son while looping it around a romance between two very needy people. It is both romantic and funny at times, but also extremely uncomfortable to watch at many points. Overall, I found it entertaining, but I left the theatre not really knowing how I felt about it. This is definitely not your typical romantic comedy- so if your into movies that are a bit different, you might want to check this out. Here is a link for the trailer if you want to see more: http://www.breakingentertainmentnews.com/watch-cyrus-online-trailer/8883463

What I enjoyed most about this movie was Tomei's characters 70's inspired wardrobe. I loved that she was wearing what appeared to be vintage slips in several scenes, and now I am on the hunt for a few for myself. It is such effortlessly chic style that can be interpreted to your personal taste. I love the idea of layering a few styles in order to create your own look. I am hoping to have time to check out Tag (http://www.tag-stl.com/) this weekend, a vintage store in the the Loop, to find a few for myself. The best things about shopping vintage is that each item is unique and eco-friendly!

A Night at Blueberry Hill

My Tuesday night began with a lovely dinner at Pi for a work meeting. If you haven't tried it yet, you need to go. It is some of the best pizza I have ever had and you couldn't ask for better atmosphere. I love the outdoor seating area; it's perfect for people watching (and there is never a shortage of interesting people in the Loop). Having been to both Pi locations, the one in the Loop and the one in the Central West End, I will say that the CWE location definitely has a more intimate feeling and is better for a romantic date night while the Loop location offers a more laid back vibe- perfect for a night our with friends.

After dinner, we weren't ready to call it a night, so me and a few friends decided to head over to Blueberry Hill. I had actually gotten us passes for the concert in the Duck Room that night- One eskimO, an indie rock group from London. The lead singer Kristian Leontiou had a pretty amazing voice and I was upset that we missed most of the show due to our delayed arrival. Even though it wasn't the genre of music I an typically interested in; I am happy I got a taste of their music. It ended up being a very fun evening with just enough cocktails to not hate myself in the morning.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at the Pageant

  This was definitely one of the better concerts I have been to in recent years. This ensemble band plays a folky jam band style music that is really hard to place in one distinct category. The lead singer, Alex Ebert, formed the group based around the story of a messianic figure- Edward Sharpe. According to Ebert, Sharpe "was sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind, but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love." What I enjoyed most about the concert was Ebert's explanation of the meaning of the songs before he began singing them. It was great that he wanted to share with everyone what he was thinking when creating the song. The show ended with Ebert coming into the crowd and having everyone sit around him for the last song. It was a very intimate ending and the Pangeant proved to be the perfect venue for such a performance. Definitely check out some of their songs from their first album: Up from Below. Here is a link to their youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMagneticZeros.

Ram's Party at Pepper Lounge

This past Sunday, Synergy, a promotion company in St. Louis, put on an event at Pepper Lounge hosted by the Ram's football players. One of my good friends, Grace, interns with the company and was able to get us in to this private event. The event was celebrating the end of spring training, and we had no idea what to expect upon arriving. To our surprise, it was actually a really great mix of people and the night turned into a very fun and very late one (only further encouraged by the open bar). We were lucky enough to get into the VIP section and mingle with some of the football players. I was able to capture our view overlooking the bar. Overall, it was probably one of the most exciting Sunday nights I have had- it just goes to show you that there is always something going on in St. Louis.

welcome!

Hello!
My name is Maggie and I started this blog to cover the events of my life in St. Louis. I plan on posting about local events, music, and fashion- with a focus on those that happen in the Loop (for those of you who are unfamiliar: a hip part of town full of shops, bars, live music, and very interesting people). Also, I plan a putting an environmental ("green") twist on things when possible. My friends and I are pretty adventurous people with a lot planned for this summer, so I am hoping to have some good stories to share!

what to look forward to:
- post on a Ram's end of spring training party
- post on concerts at the Pageant and Blueberry Hill
- summer style for those unbearably hot days