We just arrived in Sa Pa! Sa Pa is located in northwest vietnam, a quiet mountain town known for its dramatic rice fields. It feels like Christmas here, foggy and cold. Going to a be challenge to shoot outside in this weather:)
xo
Here’s a gift guide for the tomboy, rock ‘n’ roll girl in your life, Lou!
1. Mini Satchel Crossbody
2. Sweater Knit Pants
3. Suwannee Ring
4. Neve Ear Flap Beanie
5. Imagine Me Graphic Tee
6. Cut-Out Grecian Leather Cuff
7. Aged Leather Camera Strap
8. Gola Retro Sneaker
9. Tattered Flag Scarf
10. Ski Bunny Tall Sock
11. Washed Floral Baby Tee
12. O-Town Muscle Tank & Smokin’ Betty Flares
Last night we spent the evening on a junk boat in Halong Bay, a land of floating villages and magic landscapes – one of the most indescrible experiences we’ve ever shared. Can’t wait to share photos with all of you. Another 5 hour drive ahead, and then we’re off on an 8 hour night train to Sa Pa. See you soon!
Xo
Giving someone a gift that they really love is one of the best things about the holidays – it’s such a great feeling to see a smile light up their face as they open it. When it comes to holiday shopping though, I’m terrible at it – I get overwhelmed by the holiday crowds and never seem to find that special something that I’m looking for. With that in mind, I thought I’d put together these holiday gift guides with the hope that they can help you too – I must say, even if you don’t know if the girl you’re shopping for is a Candy, Meadow, Lou or Ginger, you really can’t go wrong with any of these items!
Up first, gifts for Candy:
1. Micro Tap Short
2. Vintage Jewelry Box
3. Booty Short Neutral Pack
4. Sequin Cami
5. Ranger Washed Bucket Bag
6. Montmartre Statement Ring
7. Mesh Dot Ankle Sock
8. Printed Thermal Legging
9. Winter Wishes Holiday Postcards
10. Mulberry Rose Crown
11. Crafty Cuff Thermal
Visit the Gift Shop.
This weekend was my favorite kind of weekend. Sleep in Saturday morning, wake up bleary eyed and warm under my blankets, throw on some clothes and head to my nearby bar for a leisurely brunch. The fire is crackling and the burning wood is a welcome scent in the morning. Then we’re off on a mission to find a vintage camera strap for my new camera. I tried some of the local Old City boutiques but no luck at any of those (although I did walk out of one with a cozy new sweater with suede elbow patches). We stopped at a couple thrift and antique stores in the South Street/Bella Vista area before making our way back to Old City for the night – the photos below are from Anastacia’s Antiques, a pretty cool spot on Bainbridge between 6th and 7th, and we also stopped at Retrospect on South Street, which usually has some great vintage finds. The holidays have really taken over the city and I find myself craving a heavy snow fall… I love it when the streets are blanketed in white drifts of silence.
If any of you have any tips on where to find that elusive vintage camera strap… holler!
This week’s style file is an FP girl through and through. She’s been working for the brand almost five years now, and she has the styling down pat. It goes something like: layer, layer, layer, awesome ankle-cut shoes, necklace, necklace, necklace, and then a fist full of rings. In writing it sounds like it’d be too much, but in person and in the photos you can see that it goes together amazingly. What do I want to rip off her most though? The jewelry. This girl has a collection that I think any girl would lust after. It’s full of rough stones, hammered metals, and ethnic engravings. She has a lot of artisan pieces that are funky and one of a kind.
Nothing like a great bulldog face…
Her friend gave her the binocular necklace when she moved away so that she could always see home (Chicago) from Philly. What a cute friend!
She may have moved to Pennsylvania, but her new plates are still Illinois.
The Hooded Vegan Leather Jacket and High Waisted Textured Shorts
How cool do the Buckle Back Ankle Boots look with red fishnets??
We arrived late last night in a fog of a quietly empty Hanoi.
This morning we saw the chaos of the city alive, scooters racing like bugs below and excitement filled the crew.
And we’re off! The FP team met with our local producer Thoa, at 6am this morning to start our adventure to Halong Bay.
Xo
We’re 24 hours into our journey, having fun during our layover in Seoul, Korea. 5 more hours to go and we’ll be in Hanoi! At 6 am we hit the road for a 5 hr trek to Halong Bay, where we’ll be shooting on the beautiful junk boats. Stay tuned!
Xo
We’re all at JFK- 10 of us are on the same flight to Seoul, Korea! 15 suitcases, 2 photographers, hair and make-up, our models Michele and Martha, and the FP team. See you in 24 hours!!!
xo
On a small island in the Aegean Sea, sits a paradise of whitewashed buildings and bright blue roofs, so blue they blend in with the sky. The island, officially called Thira, is Santorini – essentially the remains of a volcanic explosion that destroyed the earliest settlements that were once one large single island. The volcano left behind a caldera – a massive lagoon with steep cliffs surrounding it. It was one of the largest eruptions in history, and some believe it may have contributed to the legend of the lost city of Atlantis. An air of mythology settles over the buildings and cliffs, and I can imagine wandering through winding, narrow cobblestone walkways and imagining the stories they hold. Today the island’s economy relies largely on tourism, and it’s easy to see why. The sloping cliffs allow for stunning views at almost any point on the island and the stark white of the architecture creates a clean, cool setting that would be hard not to find relaxing. Just looking at photos of Santorini can make you feel refreshed – it has quickly moved up to the top of my list of places I want to go.
Photos by Thomas Northcut.
Stay tuned for more info on where our catalog team stayed while shooting our December book, and some of their favorite places in Santorini!
Let’s meet the lucky lady who won this year’s win your wishlist contest! Get to know a bit about her and why she picked the items that she won :)
Jessica, Sandy Hook Connecticut
What do you love most about the holiday season?
I love to give presents! I always know it’s a great present for a girlfriend if I want it too : ). I also can’t forget about all of the magical decorations and lights!
What are your favorite activities this time of year?
I like to listen to Christmas music and bake festive treats! Cuddling by the fireplace is a favorite also.
How would you describe your style? And, what Free People girl are you?
My style tends to fluctuate with how I feel that day, week or month! I’m probably a mix of boho gypsy and rocker hippie child at the moment haha. I love statement accessories and anything that looks unique. I’m definitely a Meadow girl.
What is your favorite fashion trend this season?
I LOVE feathers, I’m also loving how 60s and 70s style is back!
What is your motto?
It’s hard for me to choose just one! But if I had to wrap them all up into a ball I would say: to seek happiness with whatever you do, always be kind because you never know what someone else is going through, and have a sense of humor because no one gets out alive :)
Her Picks:
1. New Romantics Sequin Button Down – As soon as I saw this in the catalog it went right on my wish list! I love a little sparkle and the copper sequins go so wonderfully with the off-white/ivory color of this shirt.
2. Roaring Bead Collar – This necklace is such a great statement. It will dress up just about anything you put on and I can just imagine it for a night out!
3. Lace Curtain Top – I had to get this because I love lace! This top is much more beautiful in person and hangs on the body so well. I might have to wait for warmer weather to wear this one though!
4. Victorian Romance Fringe Top – Talk about summer of ’69 this top is upscale Woodstock at it’s finest!
5. Sunset Beach Hoodie – I love over-sized clothing almost as much as I love hoods! So this pullover was perfect for me; can’t wait to wear it to the beach.
6. Le Deux Velvet Tunic – The perfect New Years Eve dress. The material and pattern of this dress are to die for. This is truly a unique piece!
7. Fp One Love in Florals Boxer – These are just so adorable. They will have so many uses; Pj’s, summer shorts, I could pair them with a sweater and leggings. Endless options :)!
8. Floral Burnout Henley (Sweet Basil) – I was attracted to the color of this top and layered with the Tupelo Honey Seamless Top underneath it looks fantastic!
9. Marled Yarn Pullover – LOVE this. This sweater is so comfy and can be worn alone or layered. I layer it with the Embellished Long Sleeve Mesh Layering Top in black :)
She’s got great taste, huh?! I love everything she picked! Thanks Jessica :)
Our catalog team is always busy – when they’re not traveling around the world shooting the books you see each month, they’re planning the next ones, months in advance. They are departing soon to shoot our March book and we’ll be posting their journal entries for you here on the blog! Stay tuned…
In two days we’re off on another FP adventure- this month’s journey takes us all the way across the world to photograph breathtaking Vietnam, top to toe- a land of dramatic landscapes, coastlines, colors. We’ve got 32 hours of travel in store- a flight from JFK –> Seoul, Korea, Seoul –> Hanoi, Vietnam. We’re so excited to have the opportunity to share this experience with you – we’ll check in over the next two weeks and keep you abreast of all of our discoveries.
xo