now that jemma and i have both been here for about a year we felt it was time to update the “about us” section of the blog :) we each gathered some photos to give you all a little glimpse into our lives and i wanted to share them so you know they’re there!
writing on the wall
our senior stylist recently moved into a new home and painted one of the walls with chalkboard paint – such a fun idea! friends can leave little drawings and notes when they stop by, and it would come in handy for bursts of inspiration! i love how elegant her’s looks with the mantel and mirrors – and don’t you love the fire someone drew :)
there are so many cool things you can do with chalkboard paint…here’s some more inspiration from around the web.
new year, new book!
i am very excited to announce our next book club read – just kids by patti smith! a couple of you recommended this book but it was literally yesterday during a conversation with our videographer that we chose it. here is what she had to say about it…
i’d heard friends talking about patti’s book and how powerful/inspiring/mesmerizing it was…
coincidentally i got tickets to see her play in new york for the new year.
i’m not much of a reader anymore, but…
i started the book on sunday – after seeing her perform which was downright amazing – and stayed up til 1am tuesday to finish it.
i don’t even feel like i can conjure up words to say what she’s already said – though when i read the last page, i texted my good friend,
feeling compelled to say “good lord, there’s good work to be done.”
i haven’t been so moved by a book in maybe…ever.
you’ll want to throw away all of your fears and reservations and excuses and go for it –
it being whatever the heck you want your life to be.
ok sign me up! i can’t wait to start reading it. i’ll give you all a week or so to get started and then i’ll start posting about it. in the meantime, here are some images of the impossibly cool patti smith.
a look back
at all the amazing things that happened this year…
we moved into our sweet new digs!
our catalog team traveled to some amazing locations.
us bloggers did some traveling too :)
we introduced you all to the five fp girls!
and to our new lines, vintage loves and wee people.
we went crazy for hair trends! the fishtail braid, rainbow extensions, feather extensions, dip dying, we tried it all!
and fell in love with fashion trends like clogs, bodycons, mixed prints, 70s groupie, underwear as outerwear, old west and crochet.
we got to meet and work with some awesome bloggers – much love to rumi, natalie, georgia, dylana, chantal and gemma!
we opened some new stores…
and our display team made them all look amazing.
and we made some new furry friends!
…can’t wait to see what 2011 will bring!
dreaming of…
getting to know you
one of the coolest things about my job as free people blogger is that i get to interact with so many of our customers and fans. whether it’s through the emails i get every day from blog readers, the comments people leave on blog posts, or photos and artwork people upload to facebook, i am constantly inspired by our fans.
but i want to get to know you even better, and share your stories on the blog so everyone can see them. tell me your story about free people – how you first discovered us, why you love free people, where you like to wear your free people, artwork and photography inspired by free people – you name it, i want to see it and hear it.
you can send your stories, photos, drawings, paintings, DIY projects, and more to blog@freepeople.com
i want to compile as many as possible for a little project we’d like to do as an ongoing tribute to you, our readers and fans.
can’t wait to hear from you! xoxo
terrain
i went to our sister store terrain for the first time this weekend, and i must say… it really lived up to my expectations. i’ve heard so much about it, especially how lovely it is this time of year – with christmas trees, lights, a bonfire and more. but what really got me was the smell. after browsing the outdoor stuff, we walked through a velvet curtain to check out the inside and were greeted with the aroma of what i can only describe as christmas. fresh pine, logs burning on a fireplace, hints of cinnamon and spice…i want to bottle up that smell and keep it.
check out the website here.
free people out west
when our team returned from shooting our december catalog with photos of the incredible western landscape, memories of my own road trip out west came flooding back. utah, colorado, arizona and new mexico are home to some of the most beautiful land i’ve ever seen – national parks, forests, monuments, campgrounds, rivers, mountains and more. i put together a little map of the four corners region and some of the amazing places you’ll find there.
this trip would be meadow’s holiday getaway of choice- taking off on a road trip with friends to explore the western landscape. camping at zion, swimming in lake powell and picking up turquoise jewelry and dream catchers at old road stops along the way.
click on each image to see a larger version in flickr, where you can download the entire map!
stay tuned for our next journey… across the atlantic in beautiful paris!
free people guide to nyc: part three
the third and final part of our new york guide, featuring where to shop and places to visit!
(click on images to see larger size and download in flickr)
i hope you enjoyed our guide to NYC and stay tuned because we are doing a guide to go along with our january catalog which was shot in…
… PARIS! one of my favorite cities in the world. i’m so excited!
free people guide to nyc: part two
here is part 2 of our guide to new york city, featuring where to hang out and where to go to a concert!
(click on images to see larger version in flickr)
don’t forget, you can download the entire guide from our flickr page, here!
free people guide to NYC: part one
i am so excited to finally bring you the free people guide to new york city! you may remember a few weeks back, jemma and i went to new york to check out some spots we love and take pictures, and we’ve put together a guide of all of our favorite hotels, restaurants, hang-outs, shops and more. as you look through the guide, keep an eye out for the little red snowflake sticker, which indicates a place that’s great to go to during the holiday season!
there’s definitely a magical air in new york city around the holidays, and it would be the destination of choice for our candy girl who loves tradition and everything about the holidays – the decorations, the music, the smells and of course, the snow.
i will post the guide in three sections over the next few days but starting today you can find the entire thing on flickr – right here – where you can download the large size and print out your own copy of the fp guide to nyc!
first up, where to stay and where to eat!
(click on each image to see larger version in flickr)
stay tuned for part two, where to hang out and go to concerts!
holiday getaways – lou
lou would be in her element at a ski resort where she can snowboard to her heart’s content, and one of the best places for winter activities is lake tahoe. we love squaw valley – which is also where the wanderlust yoga and music festival takes place. lou could stay at the squaw valley lodge where she can ski right out onto the mountain. when she gets tired, she can relax in the outdoor hot tub and then cozy up by the fire in an armchair with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book… even lou needs to indulge herself every once in a while, and for that there’s a fireside indoor spa!
other activities that lou will love can be found at high camp. a scenic ride up the mountain in the squaw valley cable car and she can enjoy ice skating, snow tubing and moonlit snowshoe tours, all with panoramic views of lake tahoe and the high sierra.
for more info on squaw valley click here. the website is referring to this past month as “snowvember” because they’ve already gotten eleven feet of snow – and counting!