SXSW street style

Hi all! So most of your are on spring break, and most of you are not looking at your phones, or computers, or iPads, let alone reading this blog. But I am not. I am writing this unread blog instead! I'm also sitting in a coffee shop in Austin taking in a long day of SXSW.

For those of you who perhaps don't live in Austin (or checked out for spring break weeks ago and haven't turned on a computer since) SXSW stands for South By South West. And that translates to street style!

But let me back up for just a moment to explain what else it stands for. INVASION!! Yes, this town has exploded with people. Maneuvering the streets is like driving a broken down car. You literally don't move. It took me 20 minutes to inch my way two blocks over. If this is what New York is like I might consider a new future dream...

But being stuck in these mounds of traffic, and while dodging those pedi-cabs one thing caught my eye. Well, really it was a lot of things. There is so much style lurking on these streets. Just think about it. People from all over the world (literally I heard languages I never imagined today) are cultivating in one area and bringing all their personal style with them!

I have been seeing the best of all on the streets of down town Austin. The headbands and ripped shorts. The combat boots and band shirts. A mix between what I can only imagine was the style of Woodstock and the best boho shop in the world! 

girls are in floppy hats and flowy dresses. They look like they don't care but have the best style ever thought of:

Even the men are getting in on the action. Skinny jeans and colors galore, all wrapped up with a ragged twist:

If one thing can stick around from this crazy week of overcrowded streets and over populated town I hope it is this style! If you have the chance to explore Austin right now please do! But don't move here. I've seen many sings saying they like the visitors but not to make yourself a permanent resident. It is a great time to witness this crazy style fusion. Just don't forget your personal preference... oh and your sunnies! 

Always with love, 

                     TCE

Back to the basics

Gap got it right with their invention of the basic tee. I'm sure they were not the first ones to ever throw together a simple cotton blend with basic colors and cut. But when The Gap first opened the only things you could find behind their window displays and opened doors were perfectly pressed jeans and the most basic of all items… the white tee. 

Most people don't remember this phase, but as I was being so graciously helped one day in the check out line, the boisterous sales rep told me all about it. "You know," he shimmied at the well thought out news he was about to display on top of my stuffed to the brim bag. "This fabulous store almost didn't make it. The same thing that put them on the charts almost caused them to go under."

I was shocked to think… Gap, only sold tees and jeans?? Clearly this was before my time! But the more the thought lingered in my mind, the more it began to seem like a madly brilliant idea. 

We search high and low for this basic item. We don't want to pay too much simply because it is worth so little. Do you want a pocket to put virtually nothing in? It does look cute! And V-neck or swoop? These are choice that can make or break an outfit, along with your life!

Yet it comes down to something as simple as the fabric it is made out of. At the end of a long and exhausting day what item do we grab for? And when the weekend rolls around what goes better with that vibrant scarf we just had to buy that is incredibly over priced? If there was no basic tee what would go under a blazer that also pairs perfectly with jeans? And yes, I mean those jeans. The ones you refuse to get rid of even though the dawn a huge crotch hole or tattered hem.

It you can find something else that matches all those scenarios I'd praise you, and give you your very own fashion line… if I actually have the power and means to do so. But a girl can applaud right? 

So obviously, after listening to this rather long rant about the most amazing tee a girl can have, when T.C. Ellis got in our new line of basic tees we were ecstatic! I can see the fashion bloggers now "TCE to be the next Gap!"

...A girl can dream right? 

Maybe we won't be the next big name to set trends that last decades long. But we can celebrate the thing that makes the world go round: The basics! So here is to the beautiful blues and whites which we can recognize from a mile away. And here is to this awesomely comfortable shirt all our own! Umm.. did I mention they are only $15.50? 

Yeah, you are going to want to snag yours fast! www.shoptcellis.com

Always with love, 

                          TCE