Back Down South

Football Friday…is Back!

This blog turned ONE a few days ago, and as I thought of ideas for more good looks, I knew one thing was destined to be repeated: Football Fridays. If you missed it last Fall, I ran a series celebrating great Gameday looks (catch up here). I set out to cover looks from schools spanning the South (and not limited to the SEC), and this season I’ll do the same. The photo above was photographed for SouthernLeague Magazine (bow ties by High Cotton Ties, Volunteer Traditions, and Brier & Moss). Order your copy if you haven’t yet – it’s full of solid Gameday fashion.

We made it, y’all. It’s here, and it’s time to celebrate. As I did last season, I’ll attempt to do my best to be unbiased and give some love to all your alma maters, so long as you know that every Saturday I’m thinking Geaux Tigers and Hook ‘Em Horns. In the case of this Saturday, I’ll watch my Mean Green alma mater get smothered in what will surely be an entertaining game.

‘Tis the season!

7 in 7 | Christie Leigh

Photographed in Austin, TX 

Raised in:
Louisville, Kentucky

Lives in:
Austin, Texas

Favorite thing about Austin:
I love to “off-season” in Austin, the mecca for outlandish ideas and dreams being dreamt. I love standing in the airport security line and seeing only boots.  I love all of the square pegs that live here and none of them trying to fit in a round hole. I love the entrepreneurial spirit and the endless support of trying new ventures. I love the constant effort of Austinites trying to make the world a better place one gluten-free, vegan only, recycle-bin, at a time. And the gas guzzling SUVs that come with it!  I love Austin because this is where I come alive.

Now would ya look at that:
Pre dinner at Vivo with Christie Leigh, the woman behind SouthernLeague Magazine and Gridiron Belles.

  • Gucci sunglasses.
  • Strand of pearls from 16th birthday present; antique clasp with Mama’s stones.
  • Sherman Pickey shirt.
  • GAP jeans.

7 in 7 | Ben

Photographed in Nashville, TN by Jamie Clayton

Raised in:
Memphis, Tennessee for my first twelve years and then Tupelo, Mississippi for the rest of my youth.

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Why are you excited that Mizzou is now in the SEC:
Access to closer football road games and seeing Mizzou compete on the big stage with the best college football teams in the country.

Now would ya look at that:
Former Mizzou mascot, y’all. “Truman the Tiger, named after President Harry S. Truman, was once known as one of the raunchiest, most vulgar mascots in the country before adopting a more family-friendly persona in the mid-1980’s.”

7 in 7 | Jamie

Photographed in Nashville, TN

Raised in:
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Best concert you’ve been to in Nashville:
The Faint in 2004. My first experience with hot hipsters and best dance party I’ve ever been to. I fell in love with this blonde girl wearing 80’s aerobic clothes and two years later, she ended up being one of my bosses at a shoe store.

Now would ya look at that:
Jamie, who has perhaps made the most appearances on the blog, is now also a contributing photographer making us an unstoppable force.

7 in 7 | Kirk, Part II

Photographed in Atlanta, GA

Raised in:
Habersham County, Georgia

Lives in:
Atlanta, Georgia

Favorite Happy Hour spot in Atlanta:
The St. Regis in Buckhead. Great patio and every day at 6:00 pm sharp, the hotel will behead a bottle of champagne with an Aladdin-esqe saber, at which point you’re handed a free glass of bubbly. If it has rained during the day however, I will undoubtedly be at Park Tavern, drinking dollar beers made in house.

Now would ya look at that:
Kirk of Mast-McBride, who you first met in the last 7 in 7 series.

  • Jacket – “I’m not ashamed to say it was an amazing find at Belk. After sizing down 3 times, I found one that fit (literally as if it were made for me) for $22…department store dancing then ensued.”
  • Mast-McBride tie.
  • Recycled bandana for pocket square.
  • J.Crew shirt and belt.
  • David Yurman ring.
  • Vintage 1950 IWC watch.
  • Levi’s 501 jeans.
  • Cole Haan loafers.

7 in 7 | Camille

Photographed in Jasper, GA

Raised in:
Louisville, Kentucky

Lives in:
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Favorite date spot in Chattanooga:
Tony’s in the art district.

Now would ya look at that:
Target top and seersucker pants, BCBG sandals, mom to Collette.

7 in 7 | Collette

Photographed in Jasper, GA

Born in:
Chattanooga, TN

Lives in:
Chattanooga, TN

Favorite thing about being raised in Tennessee:
Dadadadadadada

Now would ya look at that:
Daughter of these folks, learned to wear seersucker before learning how to walk.

7 in 7 | Seersucker

A year ago today, this blog was launched. Seems a perfect time to launch the third 7 in 7 series. Take it away, Ashlyn!

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I’m sitting here next to a batch of French-pressed coffee writing about seersucker near the demise of it’s 2012 stint. I crunched a few leaves during my run yesterday, and I’m fully cognizant that a month’s time invites the sweet, precious sounds of College GameDay …

But back to my coffee.

A little milk, a little sugar. True, for me that translates soy milk and stevia. But yes – a little milk, a little sugar.

That same notion of silk juxtaposed with granulated texture is precisely how our Southern staple of seersucker claimed it’s moniker: like madras, seersucker finds its pedigree in India, née “shir o shakkar.

That slack-tension weave is just the kind of thing we’re hangin’ onto down here during the last leg of the summer heat. Seersucker is more than just dapper, dual-toned  Sunday best to a lot of us in the deep south. We’re too hot to think twice: if generations before said it’s summer’s coolest fabric, then by golly, it’s our only hope.

Since it’s Easter debut and Derby hey-day, you’ve got a few more weeks until seersucker goes up with your summer whites. Better nab some of that milk and sugar before it runs out …

RWSS

Photographed in Charleston, SC by Jamie Clayton

Raised in:
Beaufort, South Carolina

Lives in:
Charleston, South Carolina

Favorite beach in South Carolina:
Isle of Palms, it breaks deeper than most spots and rarely ever gets crowded.

Inspiration behind starting Rogue Wave Surf Shop:
Growing up my best friend’s family owned a huge plantation, and showed me first hand what the sporting life was all about. As I grew older and developed my own personal style, I sought to fuse the sporting life with the punk rock surf and skate cultures that I knew and loved. The past decade of my life was dedicated to surf exploration, travel, and studying surf history. I love paradox and contrast, and during this time the two seemingly contradictory worlds of Southern Aristocracy and the California Cool Surf Culture merged in my mind to form the vision that is now Rogue Wave. Returning home, I felt that the main stream surf industry was way off track from the origins of it’s rich history as the Sport of Kings. This led us to start an underground movement seeking to bring back some class to the surf world. The image of “Hemingway goes Surfing” has been in my mind for a long time and pretty much sums it up.

Now would ya look at that:
As you read above, Rhett owns Rogue Wave Surf Shop on Spring St, where you should visit because Bill Murray says so. Sort of. “Bill frequents the bakery and spa that are next door so I’ve seen his car parked around our street. I walked out a couple weeks ago to get coffee and saw his car so I went back in an wrote a note on one of our postcards and put it on his windshield inviting him to come in. An hour later he walked in and introduced himself and proceeded to pay my rent with his purchases!”

  • Rogue Pocket T from signature series of garments. “We’re making these in small batches some from vintage Ts and some on our buttery soft blanks. We like to keep it simple and timeless. The idea for our Pocket T is to give the Late Sixties/Steve McQueen/California cool vibe a minimalist surf tweak.”
  • Imogene + Willie Barton jeans with 9 months wear. “Matt and Carrie are dear friends and have been a huge inspiration and we are thankful to offer their amazing denim in our store.”
  • Swatch watch.
  • Favorite surfboard. Late 60’s Transitional Mid-length Planing Hull by Doug Haut (Iconic Santa Cruz Shaper).

SouthernLeague Magazine

Photographed in Athens, GA

Last Fall, Christie Leigh Mueller and I got girl crushes on each other over cocktails in Roswell, Georgia. At the time, I was fascinated by her book Gridiron Belles, and she was currently touring the South to promote it. Fast forward to Spring, when I received a phone call from her describing her vision for a magazine she was putting together. Would I want to be a part of making it happen? I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough. May came quickly, and my camera and I headed to Athens for a wonderful two days of making the images for this magazine come to life. And now, it’s here. The website is launched and the ordering has begun, and I’m so excited for everyone to see it! I can confidently say that I made some of my all time favorite images during our two days of shooting, worked with some solid companies and new friends, and now crush harder on Christie Leigh. She answered a few questions for y’all to get an introduction to SouthernLeague. Enjoy it, and then go order your copy!

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What inspired Southern League:
You could say I had too much fun in college. What I missed out on in school I had to work twice as hard to figure out in the real world. I created SouthernLeague to be that gentle reminder that there is a time and a place for keg stands and skipping class – but the real world, which comes faster than anticipated, isn’t that place. It’s a much bigger place than our beloved campuses and college towns, and I want SouthernLeague to encourage people to realize that the most fun they’ll ever have is reveling in the hard work that makes them successful.

In 5 words or less, describe the magazine:
Play hard. Work harder.

Who should read Southern League:
Everyone who appreciates style with substance. Everyone who inhabits the New South.

Gridiron Belles is amazing…what are your dreams for the magazine:
To build the SouthernLeague brand to be synonymous with classic Southern style, witty intelligence, and ambition. And of course, I’d love to sell out of the 25,000 copies printed so we can make another one next year!

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