The Purple Dress Project

April 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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Photograph by Lollipop Photography

 

{My story with Crohn’s Disease}
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in January of 2010, just a little over a year ago. I had been experiencing abdominal pain for years prior to my diagnoses but I ignored the signs for as long as I could. After a very rough battle with Crohn’s Disease for 6 months (including partial blockages, abscesses, draining procedures, colonoscopies, CT scans, barium tests, and more) I finally had surgery and had part of my colon removed. It took several months to regain energy and get my life back on track, but once I did I knew right away I had to make the most of this awful situation. Soon after, The Purple Dress Project was born.

{The Purple Dress Project}
I started the Purple Dress Project after hearing about Amy Seiffert’s Gray Dress Project raising awareness about human trafficking. I had finally found a way to combine my two passions, fashion and blogging, to support this dreadful and unglamorous disease that had become a part of my life a little over a year ago. I had a good friend and a graduate of Stephens College Fashion Design Program, Janna Merciel, design a custom purple dress for the project. I wore the dress every day for the month of April posting pictures of how I accessorize and change the look each day along with information about Crohn’s Disease. This is my way of raising awareness about Crohn’s Disease and money for much need research to hopefully find a cure soon!

{Community Support}
I was overwhelmed by the support of the community with this project. The Purple Dress Project was featured on KOMU, KMIZ, and KRCG. It was written about on blogs at the Columbia Tribune and HER Magazine in Jefferson City. Mizzou magazine wrote a feature about the project in their online magazine and posted about it Facebook. Countless community members donated money in support of research for Crohn’s Disease and others donated items for giveaways to help encourage spreading the word about this disease and encourage donations to CCFA.

For more information about The Purple Dress Project, visit us on…

Facebook

Our Blog

Or…Donate to CCFA and help us find a cure for Crohn’s Disease!

Filed Under: CoMo Fashion, Misc CoMo, What's Going On in CoMo Tagged With:

Shopping Columbia @ C. Jane Create

April 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I met Christa through her blog, C. Jane Create, and later discovered we both lived in Columbia! We shortly realized we both worked in the same building on the University of Missouri campus. It is a small world. Christa is a graphic designer, crafter, and artist. Not necessarily in that order. Her shop is filled with whimsically designed coasters, hair pins, note cards, and journals. Being into textile and apparel, I was first attracted to her unique fabric hair pins.

IMG_8877I have a set myself in purple and gray, a custom order I requested. Christa is great about making hair pins in the size and color that you prefer. You can completely customize a set that will match perfectly to a particular outfit. Her hair pins are ideal for everyday use or special occasions. I wear mine with dresses and jeans. They are truly versatile.

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Her moleskin journals seem to be what she is known for in the world of blogging and Etsy. Christa suggests using the journals for keeping to-do, shopping, and project lists. Wouldn’t these journals be the prettiest way to keep lists? Who wouldn’t love shopping with this sweet journal keeping them company? She also makes these journals in a variety of sizes: a smaller size perfect for on-the-go needs and ideal for keeping in your purse and a larger size for long lists or detailed notes to keep on your desk.

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I’m a big proponent of sending hand-written notes. There is something so charming about receiving a stamped note in the mail. It doesn’t take too much time to write a heart-felt note and slip it in the mail but the impact is tremendously more genuine than firing off an email. Sure I love technology as much as the next person (I blog, I tweet, I facebook) but I also love coming home and unplugging for a while and finding a personal note in the mail. Christa has some of the sweetest notecards around. Finding one of her notecards in the mail would surely make someone’s day!

For more information about C. Jane Create:
Visit her blog
Visit her Etsy shop

Filed Under: CoMo Fashion, shopping Tagged With:

Shopping Columbia @ Blackberry Exchange

April 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I am facing my fears of vintage stores once again with my shopping trip to Blackberry Exchange. Although, to be fair, Blackberry Exchange is so much more than just vintage clothing. They feature “reclaimed” items specially designed and reworked by locals to fit into your modern wardrobe. They take vintage clothing and design them for 2011. If you’re just testing the waters of vintage clothing like I am, then this should be your first stop! You can stick to their reclaimed section or venture into the vintage clothing. Either way, you’re sure to find a treasure to be the next perfect addition to your wardrobe!

Outfit 1
Ideal for a Mizzou baseball game
or even lounging around campus between summer classes

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Mizzou Dress by Blackberry Exchnage $52
For more information about custom apparel, click here.

 

Outfit 2
Ideal for attending the many upcoming performances at Stephens

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Reclaimed Vintage (vamped-up designs) $44
For more information about Reclaimed clothing, click here.
Vintage hat $6.95
Hollister Belt $ 16.95
Monterey Bay shoes $7.50
Wrangler Jacket $13.95

 

Outfit 3
Ideal for Artrageous Fridays

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Custom one-of-a-kind Mullet Dress $44
For more information about reclaimed fashions, click here.
BCBG Shoes $10.95
Straw Bag $13.95
Headband $10.95

For more information on Blackberry Exchange, visit their website here.

If you would like your local shop featured on Shopping Columbia, email Ashley at ashley.hasty@gmail.com.

Filed Under: CoMo Fashion, Misc CoMo, shopping Tagged With: , ,

Shopping Columbia @ Along for the Ride

April 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Local Columbia resident, Laura, founded her Etsy shop, Along for the Ride, almost a year ago. Since then, the colorful and delicate look of her necklaces, hairpins, and earrings have won over many happy customers. Myself included. Her handmade items even found a home in Maude Vintage where their success is almost too much for Laura to keep up. Almost. Laura is dedicated to providing her customers with quality products “made with love and care.”

Recently, Laura added a new product to her shop: The Limited Edition- Pink and Pearl Double Rosette Hair Pin/Brooch. 100% of the proceeds of this item will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Laura’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer this year and this is Laura’s heartfelt way of supporting the cause.

According to the Susan G. Komen website, “As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, [Susan G. Komen for the Cure is] working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.”

The limited edition pink and pearl double rosette hair pin/brooch features two delicate carnation pink rosettes attached to both a hair clip and a pin back. Rosettes are backed with felt for comfort and durability. Three pearls are hand sewn between the two rosettes.

I placed my order for this hairpin last week.

On Laura’s etsy site she says, “My motto is ‘keep it simple.’ That’s how I approach my work as well. I create jewelry and accessories that are simply delicate, whimsical, and beautiful.” Perhaps that is why I’m such a big fan of her bias tape earrings. They really do embody her motto and how she describes her products. The earrings are truly simply, delicate, whimsical, and beautiful. I try not to wear my pair every day, it is good to change things up a little. But these earrings are so comfortable and versatile, that they have quickly become my go-to accessory!

For more information about Laura and Along for the Ride:
Visit her Etsy shop here.
Visit her Facebook page here.

If you would like your local shop featured on Shopping Columbia, email Ashley at ashley.hasty@gmail.com.

Filed Under: CoMo Fashion, shopping Tagged With: , , ,

Shopping Columbia @ MU Bookstore

March 31, 2011 By 1 Comment

I bet you didn’t realize the University of Missouri Bookstore has some great clothing, and it isn’t all black and gold! Of course they have the perfect clothing for Mizzou fans but they also have really trendy accessories at great deals! They have the perfect clothing for dealing with April showers, perusing the farmer’s market, and cheering on Mizzou sports teams! So the next time you’re on campus or looking for a new casual look, be sure to check out the MU Bookstore!

Outfit 1
Ideal for April showers in Columbia, MO!

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Tiger paw sequin headband- $15.99
Black tiered Mizzou skirt- $24.99
Gold bangle set- $6.99
Textured gold cuff- $6.99
Mizzou printed rain boots- $50.00

Outfit2
Ideal for shopping the Columbia Farmers Market Saturday mornings
(P.S. the Columbia Farmers Market opened March 26th!)

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Zebra print reefs- $28.00
Sequined bow headband- $13.99
Purple zebra print scarf- $9.99
Faded mizzou tank- $42.99

Outfit 3
Ideal for cheering on the MU Baseball team!

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floral scarf- $18.99
Nude snakeskin reefs- $28.00
White rubber watch w/crystals- $22.99
Neon yellow v-neck – $19.99

For more information about the MU Bookstore, visit their website here.

If you would like your local shop featured on Shopping Columbia, email Ashley at ashley.hasty@gmail.com.

Filed Under: CoMo Fashion Tagged With: ,

Shopping Columbia @ Maude Vintage

March 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I have to admit, when it comes to shopping in vintage stores I get really overwhelmed and often shy away. So when I agreed to shop Maude Vintage for this post I had a little anxiety. I arrived at the store early and began browsing around. I quickly found 4 or 5 pieces that I just loved and I thought would fit into my wardrobe perfectly (with a few minor adjustments to make them more modern.)

But then Sabrina began pulling outfits for me to wear for this post and I was blown away. Here she was choosing pieces that I had overlooked, pieces I hadn’t even given a second glance and she was making very modern and ultra cool outfits out of them! Suddenly the world of vintage clothing was open to a million possibilities!

And don’t for a second believe that I got special treatment for writing this post, oh no. Sabrina and her staff were helping several of their customers at the same time putting together fabulous outfits for them as well. It was a Sunday afternoon and her store was swarming with customers. Clearly I had been missing out on this Columbia treasure for far too long!

So for all of you who are a little vintage shy like I was, a great starting point is Maude Vintage. They’ll help you ease into the world of vintage clothing and you’ll be a pro in no time!

Maude1Outfit 1
Ideal for a movie night at Ragtag

1980s Cougar Cuff Bracelet, $7.00
1960s Fiber Optic Bead Necklace, $7.00
Vintage Golden Coro Cuff Bracelet, $8.00
Resin Flower Pendant, $9.00
Loo Whoos Vintage Button Hair Pin (local artist) $3.00
Black and Gold Dress by Pac Rat (local artist) $30.00
Circa 1969 Sude Go-Go Boots, $35.00

Maude2Outfit 2
Ideal for the Stephens College Fashion Show

1980s White Pencil Skirt, $12.50
1970s Red Mesh Tank, $8.00
Circa 1988 Red Leather Ankle Pumps, $21.00
Red Sunglasses, $10.00
Wood and Shell Necklace, $9.00
Resin Red Ring, $7.00
1960s Red and White Belt, $4.00

Maude3Outfit 3
Ideal for perusing local art galleries

1960s Wool Floppy Hat, $21.00
Heather Oxford Shoes, $12.00
1970s Copper Necklace, $12.00
1990s Cheetah Vest, $5.50
1960s White Tank Top, $4.00
1980s Gaucho Slacks, $8.00s

For more information about Maude Vintage, visit their website here.

If you would like your local shop featured on Shopping Columbia, email Ashley at ashley.hasty@gmail.com.

Filed Under: CoMo Fashion, shopping Tagged With: ,

Shopping Columbia @ The Mustard Seed

March 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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As the weather gets warmer and you’re spending more time strolling downtown, planning picnics in the park with friends, and playing catch with your dog, you’ll be looking for some cute dresses and top/jacket ensembles to compliment the season. I often forget about the Mustard Seed when I’m shopping for clothing, but they offer some of the cutest additions to my wardrobe! And the fact that all of their clothing is fairly traded is icing on the cake!

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Outfit 1
Ideal for a picnic in the park

Dress: Mata Traders, Pink Ruffle Dress, $52.00
Bracelet: Ten Thousand Villages, Emerald and Tangerine Bracelets, $6.00/each
Bracelet: Blue Moon, Venus Bracelet, $10.00
Shoes: Sseko Sandals, shoes $33.00, patterned straps $9.00

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Outfit 2
Ideal for transitioning between work and play

Shirt: Mata Traders, Low Neck Purple Top, $34.00
Jacket: Mata Traders, Ikat Jacket Grey, $49.00
Skirt: My own
Earrings: Unique Batik, Disk Earrings, $22.00
Shoes: Sseko Sandals, shoes $33.00, solid straps $7.00

The story behind Sseko Sandals: You buy the shoe and straps separately. There are endless ways to tie the strap using loops in the shoe and various twisting and braiding methods. Women who graduated from the Cornerstone Leadership Academy make these shoes in Uganda. Sseko Designs employs these women during a 9-month gap between secondary school and college, a time period meant to give women time to save for their education. But it is difficult to find work in an impoverished and male-dominated society. These women will not make shoes forever. They will go on to become doctors, lawyers, and teachers.

For more information about The Mustard Seed, visit their website here.

If you would like your local shop featured on Shopping Columbia, email Ashley at ashley.hasty@gmail.com.

Filed Under: CoMo Fashion, shopping Tagged With: ,

Shopping Columbia @ Plume4You

March 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you paid attention to New York Fashion Week or if you keep up on your celebrity news, you’ve seen feather hair extensions all over the runway and Hollywood. Local student entrepreneur, Jessica Ridgway, picked up on the trend and brought it to Columbia, MO!

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Plume4You offers one of the largest selections of feathers, over 40 colors to choose from and allows you to create custom feather hair extensions. The best part about these extensions is that they last up to 6 weeks (but can be taken out at any time) and can be washed, blow dried, flat ironed, and curled! You can style them just like you would regular hair extensions. They are also secured using micro links that are silicone lined promising that no damage will be caused to your hair.

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Plume4You offers feather hair extension parties for groups of clients that wish to get feathers put in for them. I had a set of feather hair extensions put in. It took less than five minutes to put all of the feathers in. Jessica has an eye for where the extensions look best. You can also place an online order and use a tutorial video to put the feathers in yourself.

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They are attractive on all types of hair: short and long; straight and curly. There are natural color selections such as brown, straw, and tan as well as bright color selections including pink, green, teal, red and purple. The feather hair extensions sell for $5 a feather which includes the silicone micro-bead that secures the feather to your hair.

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For more information about Plume4You, visit their blog here.

If you would like your local shop featured on Shopping Columbia, please email Ashley at ashley.hasty@gmail.com.

Filed Under: CoMo Fashion, shopping Tagged With: , ,

Shopping Columbia @ Elly’s Couture

February 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The True/False Film Festival is this weekend and Elly’s Couture has the perfect dress to wear to the parties! Didn’t get tickets to the parties? Then wear one of these dresses with a funky hat to the March March parade on Friday. You’ll fit right in.

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You still have a few days left to find the perfect outfit for this weekend’s festivities. When I arrived at Elly’s Couture, Elly’s smiling face greeted me at the door and got right to work helping me put together a super cute outfit. Her sales associates jumped in to offer pieces of advice when we were both stumped and within half an hour we came up with THREE fabulous outfits.

Outfit 1
Ideal for the March March Parade

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Dress: Rubber Ducky, Origami Patchwork Print, $119.99
Earrings: VFish, Teal Sworvaski Crystals, $59.99
Clutch: Pixie Dust, Nude Leather Snake Skin Print, $69.99
Ring: Rings Eclectic, acrylic, handmade by Melanie Lynn, $99.99

Outfit 2
Ideal for a date with your significant other

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Dress: Rubber Ducky, Print Dress, $129.99
Necklace: VFish, San Tropez plated with 24ct gold, $54.99
Bracelet: VFish, pink mosaic, $39.99
Clutch: Pixie Dust, pink with gold chain, $64.99

Outfit 3
Ideal for True/False Film Festival Parties

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Dress: Rubber Ducky, metallic zebra print, $129.99
Necklace: VFish, statement piece plated in 24ct gold, $54.99
Clutch: Betsey Johnson, sequin framed silver clutch, $98.00

The best part about these three outfits is that you can mix and match most of the accessories. The jewelry all coordinates and the clutches can be switched out depending on the occasion. Versatile clothing can’t be beat!

For more information on Elly’s Couture, visit their blog here.

If you would like your local shop featured on Shopping Columbia, email Ashley at ashley.hasty@gmail.com.

Filed Under: CoMo Fashion, Misc CoMo Tagged With: , ,