The other day I went over to Atlanta’s central library to find some photo books for research for an upcoming shoot, and even though I thought I’d come out with a big stack of them I ended up getting only one. Southwest USA . . . It’s a book of travel type photos taken during the ’70s (I think) and ’80s by photographer Gerd Kittel, and because I’m still inspired by the desert and wish I lived close to one for photoshoot purposes I had to get it. Things I love about it: abandoned southwest ghost towns, funny roadside attractions, that sort of treeless, wide open horizon that I’ve only seen in the good old midwest. I’m especially inspired by pale, pastel buildings in desert landscapes. Also, I like the teepees.
And yet another label out of New Zealand making winter collections I want to wear right now . . . Sunday is a new-ish label (this is only their second collection) but they’ve already got the perfectly wearable, casual but pretty New Zealand thing down pat. When we were in North Carolina Drew and I planned a pretend trip to New Zealand to the town where his dad lived when he was a kid; supposedly he has some family there still who raise sheep, and so I especially love the farm backdrops of this lookbook. Do you think you can get away with wearing little silk blouses and perfect velvet skirts on a sheep farm? And in the wintertime? Because I think I want to go.
Cave City, Kentucky. I never heard about this place until Jamie told me about it, but now we’re determined to go, especially since it’s only a few hours from where my parents live. According to the website Mammoth Cave National Park is the second oldest tourist attraction in the States, and if that’s not enough to draw you in there’s always Dinosaur World nearby.
1. Sunpocket Matte Vanilla Sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Steven Alan Fairchild Dress . . . . . . . . . . 3. F-Troupe Clog Sandals.
Dollywood. When my family and I went to Pigeon Forge a few years ago we kept joking about going to Dollywood, but it was on the expensive side and none of us really wanted to go that badly. But now I sort of do. I’m not the kind of person who likes rides or theme parks usually (most rides make me sick and theme parks make me depressed) but if it’s super southern and Dolly Parton-themed how can this one be bad? Also I’d like any excuse I can get to go back to Pigeon Forge, which is a tourist trap town in a beautiful place, surrounded by some of the best antique malls in the south.
1. Topshop Scallop Hem Top . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Topshop A-line Denim Skirt . . . . . . . . . . 3. Hansel from Basel Silk Crew Socks . . . . . . . . . 4. No. 6 T-Strap Clog.
Rock City. I’ve been there a lot of times, and I love it so much that I joke that I want to get married there, which is a good way to scare my mom and Drew. Rock City is definitely a tourist trap, but it’s a 1930s tourist trap, which makes it the best kind. Also I genuinely do think the place is pretty and interesting, and maybe it would make for a good casual wedding?
1. Babajaan Sofia Cotton Maxi Dress . . . . . . . . . 2. Madewell Bike Bag . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Vena Cava Tenoversix Platforms.
Heritage USA is/was a South Carolina Christian theme park started in the ’70s by Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. In its heyday there was a Disneyland-style castle, replica of Billy Graham’s birthplace, and a water slide that Jerry Falwell slid down. These days it’s partially abandoned, but supposedly you can still go see some of the buildings and I really want to because it sounds amazing (and possibly even creepier than South of the Border/ aka S.O.B.).
1. A.P.C. T-Shirt Dress . . . . . . . . . 2. Madewell Wishbone Necklace . . . . . . . . . . 3. Madewell Silverlake Sandals. (Collages by Drew)
Photos by Drew
Dress: Lover (bought at the Outnet during the recession sales of ’09)
Bag: thrift store
Sunglasses: Karen Walker
Shoes: Wendybird loafers, gift from Rachel Antonoff for Bass
I’ve done at least one post on this magical (horrible) place before but I don’t think we’ve ever managed to do South of the Border justice. The first time I ever went there was three years ago when we were on our way home from Drew’s parents’ house in North Carolina; I was sleeping in the car and all of a sudden we were in a technicolor tourist trap wonderland, with giant sombreros and fiberglass animals looming overhead. We’ve gone a lot of times since and it never fails to impress. One time Drew took a bunch of footage of Rufus wearing a little South of the Border mini sombrero, but Rufus gets extra nervous every time we go to the place and hasn’t wanted to be photographed there since. I don’t blame him.
We went there on Friday when we were on our way to North Carolina and decided to take photos there since it was going to be the last sunny day for a while. We were tired and hungry, and when we first got there South of the Border seemed more depressing than wonderful (can you tell by my fake smiles?), but eventually the place won me over. Our road trip tiredness wasn’t anything that a gas station Frappucino couldn’t cure. Eh . . .
South of the Border definitely wasn’t the highlight of our weekend, though. It was too rainy to get outside photos, but we had a great time seeing Drew’s parents and his aunt, and cousin and her adorable little girl. We spent lots of time relaxing, and then drove into the pretty little town of Southport to see Drew’s grandma. She is from New Zealand and still has the accent and the wonderful phrases, and we always end up wanting to steal all her sayings. Then we went out for dinner (I had crabcakes, which in a coastal town are pretty much heaven) and drove around a bit and looked at the boats and 19th century beach bungalows.
Photos by Drew
On our way out of Charleston on Saturday morning we made a stop at Magnolia Cemetery. We were pretty tired and ready to head home, but I’d seen some photos of the place and wanted to take a quick look for myself; and, besides, the day was so pretty . . . So we gathered up Rufus and went for a quick walk. And of course the place was beautiful. It reminded me a little bit of Bonaventure in Savannah with all its spanish moss and its elaborately carved, Civil War era headstones with little wrought iron fences protecting them. It was peaceful and quiet ,and the only things you could hear around were mosquitos, of which there were plenty, just swarming around the swampy river that cuts through the cemetery. It was a beautiful river, but not so great if you don’t like mosquitos and they happen to love you.
When I got home I did some online reading on Magnolia and found that it had originally been a rice plantation. The 1790s plantation house is still there, along with some little churches and huge old live oak trees that were I don’t know how many years old. We actually only walked through a small part, so there must be a ton I’m leaving out (including the Confederate graveyard section and the graves of the crews of the Hunley–next time!). In the end we got chased out by mosquitos, and I don’t think Rufus liked the place all that much. He got bored pretty quickly.
