There are a couple of items on our website right now that we’re all going crazy for! Check out some of our lovely store girls rocking the scalloped hem lace shorts and the printed kimono (which i actually have and love very much)!
i love how the lace shorts look with the polka dot shirt!
the printed kimono looks good with everything…
…especially with the scalloped lace shorts! love this look :)
Our catalog team just left for a shoot in NYC! Here’s a little peek at what they’re up to…
While down in Austin for our July Catalog shoot we had the opportunity to visit the beautiful bohemian home of photographer Alexandra Valenti. Her home is amazing and full of positive energy – you can tell a very creative and spiritual person lives there. Read More
Indie fashion was at the forefront when it came to style at the Pitchfork Music Festival and this weekend, girls with an eccentric sense of fashion awareness paraded around in the sweltering heat. Read More
every once in a while i hit a creative block and need to do something to snap myself out of it, and get inspired. this helped last week.
ways to stay creative via; part of my new desk moodboard.
what do you do to spark your creativity?
Calling all “sandy” girls! We have an exquisite collection of pieces by Jen’s Pirate Booty on our website right now that scream summer and beach! The timing is perfect as we just launched our Endless Summer shop and these pieces are the epitome of summer styles that can be worn and loved all year long. In addition to being the perfect beach cover-ups, they can be styled in different ways to wear as casual weekend attire or even dressed up to wear out on the town.
Our buyer told me that she fell in love with the brand because of the soft, flowy fabrics and amazing silhouettes that are bohemian but in a modern way. The pieces are undeniably summery, right down to the fabric they are made in – light and gauzy, or peek-a-boo patterns with sun-like shapes. Most pieces come in one or two sizes, with the idea that they will look different on each girl that wears them.
On that note- here are some of our home office ladies wearing Jen’s Pirate Booty in ways that could totally work beyond just the beach!
The perfect outfit for a casual summer day. Denim cutoffs and the janis crop top – the color of this one is amazing!
The warrior robe looks awesome worn over top of a dress and would look just as cute over a bathing suit on the beach when you need to cover up!
Our buyer loves the eclipse babydoll tunic because the silhouette is unexpected in this type of fabric. It looks adorable styled with cowboy boots and a floppy hat!
The poetic kaftan is my favorite – I love the dusty rose color and the fabric is so light and soft! It looks really cute with one of our floral bralettes peeking out from underneath.
The treasure tank is super cool – it has two very long tails on either side that you can leave hanging or knot together to create different shapes.
shop all jen’s pirate booty.
which of these pieces is your favorite?
I looked into all of your suggestions for the book club and decided to pick Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins! I’ve mentioned my love for this author before on the blog, and have always considered doing one of his books, but I actually just happened to re-read jitterbug perfume and felt like the time was right.
Tom Robbins has a way with twisting and spinning words to create vivid scenes that awaken all of your senses. The way that he tells stories is magical, and even the most impossible scenarios seem very real, and very possible. In Skinny Legs and All he convinces you that a can of beans, a spoon and a sock have feelings and can move on their own. And in Jitterbug Perfume he imagines that you can live forever, if you set your mind to it.
The book is quite a ride – I hope you’ll come along with me.
Stay tuned for inspiring quotes and imagery in the coming weeks :)
p.s. for those of you who are new to the book club, click on the library category and you can go back and see posts from previous books like on the road and the perks of being a wallflower.
another guest post from one of our austin friends, tolly of the blog austin eavesdropper! tolly is awesome and i wish we had more time to hang out with her in austin, she’s so much fun :)
The 5 Things I Love About Austin, Texas
By Tolly Moseley
Free spirits. Hippie maidens. Band groupies and mustache-wearing gents. These are our kin here in Austin, Texas, where Free People came to play recently.
When I found out that Austin band The Happen-Ins would be the stars of Free People’s July 2011 catalogue, and that they’d be shooting at some of our favorite clubs in town, I squealed in delight. Where better to celebrate the delicious lazy days of summer than in Austin, a city where even the suited CEO’s loosen their ties for a rock concert? Where you can take your lunch break at a swimming hole, or bust out vintage cowboy boots regardless of seasonality or dress code?
I had an awesome time meeting the Free People girls when they came to town for The Happen-Ins show, and wanted to show them everything there was to see here in Austin. I also want to show you. Here are my 5 favorite things about my beloved city, a place I hope you get to visit sometime:
1. Even when we’re fancy, we’re a little hippie.
It’s true. We can’t resist vintage. The entire zip code of 78704 in South Austin has been officially zoned for the selling of hip, recycled clothing. I’m kidding. But the great thing about Austin is that we never see an occasion NOT to rock a gently used frock, be it SXSW or a gala. So if you’re ever here and have a hankering for vintage, check out some of my faves: Feathers Boutique (for boots), Laced with Romance (for dresses), or tweet my girls Homebody Vintage for accessories/home stuff.
2. We like to play dress up.
Austinites love a good dress-up party. That’s me above, dressed as David Bowie. Isn’t the resemblance striking?
3. We make things.
DIY is huge here. That applies to crafts, food, and even businesses. I wish I could tell you I knit-tagged that whole car above … but I didn’t, it’s the handiwork of Knitta Please, one of our local craft artists. You’ll find her knit-tagged objects scattered about all over Austin, from parking meters to statues, and they reflect how much we adore handmade – not to mention the creative spirits behind it.
4. We can’t get enough live music – ever.
In terms of survival, music is second only to air. For Austinites, I mean. We’re the city who invented Austin City Limits (the show and the music festival), Spoon, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and of course The Happen-Ins! Stroll down Red River at night, by The Mohawk, Club DeVille, Stubb’s, Emo’s … and your ears will fill with honest-to-goodness rock n’ roll, screaming guitars and pounding drums. This city is a music-lover’s dream, and if you’re ever here, chances are a friend of a friend of a friend is playing the same nights you’re in town. If we’re not a musician ourselves, we’re probably dating one.
5. We welcome visitors and vagabonds with open arms.
I have a personal belief that Austin chooses people, and if you’re reading this post, chances are she’s chosen you, too. You can find me here, and if you ever venture down to Texas for a visit, I’d love to show you around. We’ll bask at Barton Springs Pool, eat tofu and/or bacon (we are equally enthusiastic about both), and find multiple excuses to play dress up.
All photos by Tolly except for last one (Austin Motel sign) which is courtesy of Ellen Jo Roberts.
who wants summer to end? I most definitely don’t. i love the easy breezy beach lifestyle too much.
so, when we decided to launch an endless summer shop i was very happy indeed. our new concept introduces a wardrobe that is season-less, relating to the beach lifestyle – easy items that can be layered and carried through from summer to early fall.
our new concept shop, “endless summer”, will carry swim, long sleeve textured shirts, cotton pullover sweaters and cardigans, denim jackets and shorts, knitted maxi dresses and lose, cozy items, which can be worn to the beach as a cover up, or can be worn all year long.
beach is a lifestyle the fp girls love, so we wanted to make it last, because if you’re like me, I also enjoy strolls on the beach when it’s a little chilly outside.
here’s a little ‘endless summer’ inspiration quote from our beach designer about season-less dressing ~
“When I first moved to Philadelphia in the fall, all I had for winter was my denim jacket, a hoodie and my chucks, because in San Francisco that’s all I needed to take me through the winter. I soon found out I needed a little bit more than that. I just recently learned the concept of seasonal dress, put away coats, and take out shorts.
These, I find are staple items, that can easily be layered up or pared down, I never have to put them away. The season-less items in my wardrobe include: my vintage crochet sweater, my 501 cut offs, my Cheap Monday white V-neck Tee, and my white cotton button up.
The design concept for Endless Summer would be clothes at its loveliest most basic level, nice feel, flattering going out or staying in, layered up or layered down.
Or simply
Clothes you never want to put away.”
We love endless summer! do you want summer to end?
Go visit the store here Endless Summer Shop
I picked up this vintage postcard at Uncommon Objects in Austin. I loved it because it made me think – so for today’s Monday quote, I want you all to write your own quote by completing the phrase:
“I never did, but always thought I would like to _____”
(top image source)
There’s not much that can beat the flavor of creamy ricotta cheese slathered over a slice of fresh baguette – except maybe the flavor of homemade ricotta slathered over a slice of fresh baguette. Make your own cheese? That sounds way too hard. But that’s the wonderful thing about ricotta. It is the easiest cheese to make, and doesn’t take forever. Once you’ve whipped up a batch, you can use it for just about anything. For today, I like the idea of serving it on fresh French or Italian bread as an hors d’oeuvre for guests. Sprinkle it with balsamic, figs, and walnuts for an extra tempting snack ;)
To make about 2 cups, you’ll need:
Instructions:
1. Set a large sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 layers of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with the cheesecloth. Then, pour the milk and cream into a pot to boil. Stir occasionally as it heats up, adding in salt as you go. Once it has reached a boil, turn off the flame and stir in the vinegar.
2. Allow the mixture to stand and curdle for about 1 min. Then, pour the mixture into a cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl for 20 to 25 minutes. You may have to occasionally pour out the liquid that collects in the bowl.
3. When cheese is almost finished straining, chop up all of your fresh herb ingredients. Transfer strained cheese to a new bowl, and stir in.
Refrigerate or eat immediately.
Enjoy!
All images via Smitten Kitchen
When we were in Austin in April shooting our July Catalog, we were fortunate to be there during the month when an exhibit by artist Luke Jerram was installed throughout the city. The live art installation is called “Play Me, I’m Yours,” and consists of several pianos that are placed throughout a given city, in public locations, for people to draw on, paint on, and most importantly, play music on.
This idea is so brilliant… not only do the brightly colored, somewhat oddly placed pianos attract a lot of attention, they invite you to be a part of the exhibit by playing music – and there is a website where you can upload photos and videos you take with the piano.
The exhibit started in 2008 and has been spreading joy and music all over the world ever since. Here are some photos from Austin (each city has its own website with a map displaying the location of each piano):
Recognize this red one from our July Catalog? It’s in a BMX park!
I love this photo of our creative director taken by Alexandra Valenti:
For more info on the installation check out the website.