When I started photographing festival goers Friday evening, my mentality was big picture: I was going to take pictures of cool outfits. What ended up interesting me the most, however, were the artful subtleties in the looks I captured.
I attend my fair share of events around the city, and for the most part they serve their purpose for networking and discovering new businesses, but I’ve yet to leave any of them so fully inspired as I did after Landor’s Rock N’ Roll bash. The shindig (thrown by the amazing team at Peanut Butter & Jelly Co) was a homecoming celebration of sorts for the Landor team that journeyed to SXSW with Ohio Knife, a local rock band. Between viewing their dynamic art installations, noshing on caprese salad and discussing Cincinnati’s creative vitality, I couldn’t recall another time when intellectual sparks just seemed to fly across the room, and all because a group of guys decided to take a risk and roadtrip to Austin, TX.
But the inspiration didn’t stop there. Upon arriving home, I opened the media kit to find a brand new moleskine journal and other goodies, incentive at my fingertips to continually seek inspiration, and hopefully to inspire.
//b
An obligatory style mention: Marsha (from Style Edit) in H&M and myself in a Cooperative top (via Urban) and F21 shorts.
The inception of the city’s newest for-women magazine, Her Cincinnati, coincided with the discovery of a most covetable design haven. The launch party went off without a hitch, thanks in large part to the event coordinating genius known as Kenneth Wright and the sickeningly chic background of High Street. The store itself was inspiring, a one-of-a-kind home interior mecca curated by two of Cincinnati’s own home interior designers. What’s more, its external walls are home to one of the handful of Shepard Fairey murals about town, providing a perfect compliment to Her’s big pages and bold graphics.
//b
Top(s): via Nordstrom Rack. Jeans: BDG. Shoes: Kimchi Blue via Urban Outfitters. Earrings: F21. Bag: Asos. Rings: Francesca’s & vintage. Bracelets: J. Crew, Madewell & Althea Harper via Sloane Boutique. Lipstick: Maybelline “Fifth Ave. Fuschia.”
After amassing most of our home furnishings in what can only be described as six beautiful weeks of being in the right place at the right time (read: thank you, Craigslist), B & I were finally ready to invite our friends and family over for a housewarming party of sorts. With a few hors d’oeuvres and a special drink (bourbon slush), we ushered in our loved ones Saturday evening for what amounted to a whirlwind of a spectacular night. I can’t tell you how awesome it was to have family members meet and friends mingle, enjoying the space and each other’s company with minimal effort on our part. The night went by so fast and I barely saw my partner-in-crime, so after everyone cleared out we finally took a moment to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on how wonderful the celebration was.
We love our place and the things in it, but I don’t think it truly became a home until all that love was packed into it. Thank you family (friends included in that term), you are everything!
//b
P.S. For those who couldn’t make it—we missed you dearly!
This. Picture.
This is a picture of my paternal grandparents on their wedding day in the late 1940s: my grandmother Dorothy, ever the radiant and beautiful bride, and my grandpa Bud, the proud and handsome groom. In retrospect, this picture holds deep intrinsic value to myself and so many of my family members. My grandpa’s long and blessed life came to a close just this past January, yet the love between he and my grandma truly stood as a testament for all of us, even through those last days.
I was lucky to catch them in this quiet, tender moment last summer—an image that has served as a sweet reminder of their love’s beautiful legacy.
//betsy
My goal with F&F is to provide a platform that brings people together on different levels. I’ve been brainstorming ideas to help engage my readers, and I thought this could be the perfect vehicle. Send me an old picture of a loved one, special memory from your childhood, or just a cool old photo you came across that resonates with you. Attach a hi-res version to an email, do a brief write-up as to what makes it special to you, and email it to folkandfeather@gmail.com. For each one I receive, I’ll post the picture and your anecdote on the blog. :)
