I have big news. News so exciting, I still can’t believe it’s real! I’m so so happy to share that I’ve recently been named one of Southern Living Magazine’s 2019 South’s Best Tastemakers! This title is shared with 13 additional stylish, sweet and all-around amazing women that I had the privilege to connect with while in Birmingham last month. From writers to clothing designers to artists and jewelry makers, the group of gals is diverse while all having Southern style in common. You can read the feature on each & every Tastemaker here.
I definitely do not take this honor lightly and am just so thrilled by this recognition. I have poured my heart and soul into collecting colorful content to share with you all on Lone Star Looking Glass. Nothing gives me greater joy than sharing all my favorite finds. Whether it’s a stylish sundress, a delicious spot for lunch or insight on traveling to new destinations – especially Southern ones!
Today, I’m sharing why I’m thankful that growing up Southern has made me who I am today. I’m also spilling why I’ve recently embraced this heritage, if you will, even more and the effect that will have on Lone Star Looking Glass and its content going forward. More below!
Growing Up Southern
I was blessed to be born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. I grew up playing in the dirt in pastel smocked dresses with bows in my hair that were just about as big as my head. In 6th grade, I was promptly registered for cotillion, where I wore white gloves and learned how to properly set a table and dine dignified. We also learned the different steps to the waltz and foxtrot with our handsome young partners. I don’t remember a thing about waltzing but I can still proudly fox trot today! Have I done so publicly since 6th grade? Nope! But I sure can if I’m called to!
“Y’all” is probably my most used word and I didn’t realize how strong my accent was until I studied abroad in college. Speaking of college, I spent four years at The University of Tennessee. An SEC school with college game days where tailgating was an all-day ritual. You better believe I found the most gorgeous orange and white gingham dresses I could find for those tailgates. I was a Southern sorority girl after all. Delta Delta Delta, can I help ya, help ya, help ya!? My like-minded Southern sorority-sisters had a big impact on me during those four years and helped shape me into the woman I became. (One of them even introduced me to my husband!)
Southerners are a proud group of people who value family, traditions, manners, and hospitality above all. Growing up Southern was a privilege I didn’t realize I had until much later in life. It’s interesting how it takes moving away or experiencing someplace new to make you realize what made you you & where you belong the most.
Why Living 4,208 Miles Away Made Me Appreciate My Roots
In high school and college, I was obsessed with the idea of moving to Europe. I knew that if I ever graduated and was single / couldn’t find a job, I’d sign up to be an au pair and hop across the pond just to see what would happen. Harry Potter is probably honestly the one to blame. At an impressionable age, I was introduced to the British culture and fell in love with its differences from my own. I studied abroad in Wales, spending several months visiting castles and drinking pints at pubs. I was secretly hoping that at the end of it all Patrick would fly up, stay for a while and the two of us would start a life-long adventure in the U.K.
What I was most surprised to find while studying abroad was being prouder than ever of my Southern roots. I’d tell everyone I was from Tennessee and most Brits would reply with, “Jack Daniels!?” because I guess that’s what they associated Tennesse with, funnily enough.
I also studied and spent time with several Americans, most from the New England area, while in Wales. This is where I first realized the stark difference between Northerners and Southerners. Not in a negative way, by any means, just all-around different. It was then that I was told my Southern accent was strong & I was asked why I was always so “peppy & positive.” Okay, that’s probably just my personality but at the same time, Southerners always seem to go out of their way to please. Not only with our manners but with our famous “Southern hospitality.” Being thousands of miles away had me recognizing how my culture has shaped who I was and made me long for home even more. At the end of my semester-stint, I was more than ready to return home to family, fried chicken, pimento cheese, and magnolia trees.
How Texas Shaped My Southern Style
I may not have settled down in the United Kingdom, but I did spread my wings when we moved from Tennessee to Texas. Texas is still considered The South, we say “y’all”, eat fried chicken and BBQ and cowboy boots are worn just as much (if not more) than they are in Tennessee. Texas instantly felt like home to me and I think that is why I was so quick to adopt the lone star state as my own.
Texas also gave me an opportunity to branch out from the person I was in Tennessee. Sure, I’m still 100% the same exact person, but my style and tastes have evolved tremendously since living here. I went from having one pair of cowboy boots to two shelves full. (My weakness!) Turquoise and silver jewelry now fill my nightstand trinket dishes. I also fell in love with the West Texas desert on a trip to Big Bend and Marfa and embracing Texas’ Southwestern lifestyle added a new dimension to who I was in the place I now called home.
Soon after moving to Houston, I joined the Junior League, made many new friends and quickly saw numerous similarities to the people, traditions and the lifestyle that I knew back home. Over time, I explored more of my new town, the state itself and discovered that Texas really is its OWN culture. Living in Texas is like 50% living in the version of The South that I knew growing up and 50% living in a whole new country. So in the end, it became a perfect fit for the combination of the wanderer & homebody in me.
How My Southern Identity Shaped Lone Star Looking Glass
It’s been easy for me to find a cute outfit, shoot it, post it, share why I’m wearing it. So easy in fact that for a while that was the majority of my content on here. (Balancing a full-time job + motherhood made blogging this way much easier to actually do.) But I came to a point last year where I felt that I was moving beyond those simple style posts in some way. I wanted to provide something deeper – something more valuable, meaningful and all-together interesting than simple outfits when publishing posts to Lone Star Looking Glass. You may have noticed fewer blog posts going live with more content on Instagram lately. This is because when I take the time to write and share content on here, I want it to be more worthwhile to both y’all and myself.
I realized I wanted to focus on more of a niche than just the broad range of fashion, travel & lifestyle I am used to sharing. With that, I’m honing in on how my Southern roots affect my fashion choices, the way I travel and the lifestyle I lead. I absolutely love living in The South and everything that comes along with it. It really is one of the most romanticized parts of the country with oodles of places to explore and discover. The South also boasts an endless number of unique makers and creators – many of which make handcrafted pieces I can’t get enough of. I’ll be highlighting a few of my favorite Southern makers on here very soon and I’m so excited to share why they stand out to me most.
my dress + shoes are linked below & my handbag is a retro find from Cheeky Vintage
& Last But Not Least, What Being a Southern Mama Means to Me
Sidenote, I love this picture of Annie and me SO much. I actually adore that she’s just about to sprint right away from me. She’s two-years-old. Two-year-olds absolutely do NOT sit still. Even for a beautiful photo shoot in front of springtime azaleas. Nope, definitely not.
Now that I am a Southern Mama of my own, with a little girl to raise, I am looking forward to instilling all of those strong Southern values and traditions I grew up with into her upbringing. (Just like my own mom did!) I won’t force anything upon her and if she absolutely hates Cotillion and doesn’t want to join a sorority one day, by all means, do your own thing girl! But I’m so glad that she was born a Southerner and will grow up in a culture that prides itself on manners, hospitality, delicious food, and classic Southern style.
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It really doesn’t matter what part of the country you live in – but I found that recognizing where you came from and embracing it wholeheartedly can make you all the happier to be where you are. Home is where the heart is and I’ve never felt that so strongly than I have this year. I’m looking forward to all that is to come in 2019 as one of Southern Living’s South’s Best Tastemakers. No pressure right?! lol! Here’s to continuing to bring you all beautiful Southern-filled content to inspire your everyday life. And as always, thank you all for stopping by the blog and supporting Lone Star Looking Glass. I am so thrilled to see how far this platform has taken me and I couldn’t thank you, my readers, enough!
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xo, alice
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photos by Ban Avenue
