jaimes

It’s very hot these days, and that’s a problem for me for two reasons.

1. As my friend Patti said, Atlanta summers always make her feel half-dead. Well put. I totally agree. I am barely alive as I write this.

2. It’s hard to look good in this intense heat. Unless, you’re a fan of sweaty faces, frizzy hair, and shorts. I personally have a problem with all three.

Being a natural problem solver and self-appointed expert on everything, I’ve decided to offer up some summer fashion tips. Here are four looks I’ll be alternating this hellish summer.

The Atlanta Uniform
This is me wearing the Atlanta uniform, otherwise known as a cute mini-dress and cowboy boots. I don’t have an issue with moms and mini-skirts or whatever. Just don’t wear tight dresses. They make me think of old school Mariah Carey, something we’re all trying to forget. My dress is from Target, and the boots are from Urban Outfitters in San Francisco. The photo was taken by my son, who took one look at the photo and said, “I think this one is perfect.”

photo by Holden, age 4

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photo by Horst 1940

I was a Chic jeans girl back in the day, you know the skinny jeans with the little slits by the ankles? Rad. But I remember my step-mom being all about Gloria Vanderbilt. Those curvaceous dark blue jeans with the swan logo. Yes, Vanderbilt is the woman we all have to thank for mom jeans. (more…)

Ever feel like you were born in the wrong decade? As soon as I was old enough to attempt my own “style” (somewhere after Chic jeans and before senior portraits), I looked to the past for inspiration. Louise Brooks, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Katherine Hepburn, these were my style icons. No I was not popular in school. I grew up in Virginia Beach, where Roxy rules the day, dude. No offense to my surfer friends, Roxy has some seriously cute dresses, and surf shops will forever remind me of home. But I was not a surfer girl. Probably has something to do with not liking the water, swimming, or tanning.

Of course, my fashion lens to the past may have something to do with the decades I grew up in: the mid 70s to the 90s, probably the worst style decades, ever. We went from bell bottoms to shoulder pads to oversized t-shirts that said, “Can’t Touch This” in neon letters. By contrast, the styles of the 1920s up through the 60s and a bit of the 70s pretty much kick ass. By the way, 80s fashion is considered “vintage” now, so those of us who grew up watching Punky Brewster can feel really old right now. (more…)

model. cabaret singer. guitarist. vintage boutique owner. mother of scarlett and henry.

Karen Elson is one of those artists who likes to dabble in lots of creative outlets. She was modeling and performing with The Citizens Band, a political cabaret group, when she met her hubby Jack White. White produced her album The Ghost Who Walks due out this summer and also directed her debut video (source: Pitchfork). The mama of two also owns a vintage boutique shop in Nashville called Venus and Mars Vintage.

Here’s the Karen Elson video “The Ghost Who Walks”

I am not the craftiest of mamas. I have some very crafty friends who have Etsy shops and handmade window treatments in their faux-finished living rooms, and I SO admire their skills. I’m just very lazy in the crafts department. But this morning when I looked at the growing by the second hole in my favorite pair of jeans, I decided to do something about it. I busted out the old sewing box my mom gave me years ago and fished around for a solution. And what did I find? A Led Zeppelin patch I got from the record store I worked in 15 YEARS AGO. Here’s what went through my head at this discovery…

Holy crap, I’m one of those old people with band patches from decades ago!

Would I look totally ridiculous if I sewed this patch on my jeans?

I don’t freaking care if I do look ridiculous. I have to act fast or my favorite jeans will be no more.

And then I looked at that nasty hole in my jeans and said, “I’m about to get crafty on your ass.”

And so I did. It’s not perfect, and if you look at the sewing from inside the jeans, it’s a hot mess. But, I’m proud of myself for being somewhat domestic. I even took a picture of myself with the end result. Notice the urban graffiti background to enhance the rock-n-roll jeans experience. This was taken near the infamous Krog Street tunnel in Atlanta.

actor. model. mother of  free, who later changed his name to tom…