"Two Characters in Search of a Country Song"

This is a vintage Stetson cowboy hat that belonged to my mom's uncle. He, along with my grandfather, were among 8 boys in the Whitford family. I never knew my mom's dad, because he died way before I was born. From Dover, TN, the boys owned a cattle business. My mother told me that my Grandfather always wore a cowboy hat, polished his cowboy boots and steamed his khaki pants every night,  and had the country music station playing constantly. I find these details fascinating, because, besides the slight Southern drawl, I don't feel country at all.

So, let's sum up what inspired this blog post:

• my mom's stories of my grandfather and the Whitford brothers(above)
• the Stetson hat
• vintage finds for the outfit
• an urge to do crazy makeup
• rediscovered items hidden in my closet
• recent Jack Daniel's intake and the adorable mustache Urban Outfitters flask
• my burgeoning love of classic country music (even though I was born and raised in Nashville, I never liked country music besides Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achey Breaky Heart" and the autographed John Michael Montgomery CD for my 3rd grade b-day. However, over recent years, my heart has grown quite fond of alt-country, country noir and classic country. Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose is in my top 5 records of ALL TIME. And of course, I must mention Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.
• trying to romanticize and embrace "Tennessee-ness" even though I am a full-blown city girl.

 

• hat=Steston vintage
• gold necklace=Southern Thrift find
• cowboy necklace=bought in Paris @ The Dollhouse (not exactly a fashion store, but, nevertheless, here we are)
• bracelets=Mom's old jewelry
• top= leotard (no joke) from Southern Thrift
• skirt=Free People
• belt= Mom's closet 
• boots= Andre from France).

 

I heart this mustache flask from Urban Outfitters:

 

Oh and here are crazy make-up upclose shots.

 

And I conclude with Tennessee still lifes, old pics of my grandfather, and Magnetic Fields song that sums up this blog post.

 

 "Two Characters in Search of a Country Song"

=

The Magnetic Fields

You were just like me
you were one big bruise
In the game of life with your playing too lose
You were Jessy James
I was William Tell
You were Daniel Webster
I was the devil himself

Two characters in search of a country song
Just make believe, but so in love
Two characters been listin' all night long
for voices from Nashville above