Stop the presses!

Hello Darlings!

I received some unexpected good news that I wanted to share. Last Friday’s post on the Unclaimed Baggage Center was printed in the Sunday edition of The Birmingham News, The Mobile Press and The Huntsville Times!

After the initial shock of the news wore off and I went to pick up my copies today, I cried and did Beyonce’s Drunk in Love dance (NOT the one she performed last night on the Grammy Awards) and cried a little more…right on 20th Street North. It’s been a long road for me. I grew up taking the comic section from my Paw Paw’s Sunday Press-Register and have wanted to have a byline since I was in elementary school, so this is really a dream come true.

My senior quote was Thoreau’s “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” My castle is materializing, and I feel kind of like this:

And today is post number 550. It doesn’t get much better, especially when I didn’t know if I’d make it to number 50! THANK YOU, thank you, thank you for supporting the blog.

Xo,
Alexis

12 years ago Short URL 3 Comments

Birmingham Live!/C'est Si Bon/Haute off the Press

Alexis E. Barton/Same Chic Different Day

Jan

Road Tripping: Scottsboro’s Unclaimed Baggage Center

If you know me, you know I LIVE for fabulosity at a fraction of the price. I also love a road trip. So traveling to Scottsboro to spend a day treasure hunting at the Unclaimed Baggage Center (UBC) was right up my alley. I’d heard bits and pieces about this amazing place – where travelers’ unclaimed items wind up for sale – but there’s nothing like seeing it for yourself: it’s truly what Vogue has called a “fashion fool’s paradise.” Why?

For one thing, it’s HUGE: 40,000 square feet, to be exact. New and gently loved footwear (Christian Louboutin, anyone?), formalwear (one bargain-savvy bride outfitted herself and her bridesmaids at UBC) and casual clothing for the whole family, fine jewelry, sporting goods, electronics (I’m talking iPhones, iPads, and DSLR cameras, darlings) and more can be found within the space, at 30-80% off retail prices (you do the math). But you’re not scooping up dirty clothes or smartphones with someone else’s data. Items are thoroughly cleaned, tested and repaired (if necessary and possible) before they hit the shelves and racks. Offerings change frequently, and part of the fun in shopping is you never know exactly what you will find. What isn’t sold – or what doesn’t make it to the salesfloor at all – is repurposed or donated. The strangest item I saw (which is part of UBC’s permanent collection) was definitely the Hoggle, a huge muppet from the movie Labyrinth.

A few words of advice: if you snag something you love, buy it; leave it and it might not be there when you return! I am KICKING myself for not grabbing the Louis Vuitton clutch someone else snagged when I moved on to another rack. Also, wear comfortable shoes, and give yourself time to really dig into the racks. If you get tired, thirsty or need a snack, there’s comfortable seating where you can recharge, and the menu at the onsite Cups Cafe will give you a second wind.

The Unclaimed Baggage Center is located at 509 West Willow Street , Scottsboro, Alabama. It’s open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm; UCB is closed on Sundays. You can also connect with UBC on Twitter and Facebook.

Happy shopping!

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12 years ago Short URL 1 Comment

Birmingham Live!/Love That!/Random Acts of Fashion/Shopping is My Cardio

Alexis E. Barton/Same Chic Different Day/Unclaimed Baggage Center

Jan

A word to the wise…

This is funny.

Seriously, it’s fun to celebrate a milestone with a little special something or to splurge just because! Treat yourself to a pair of shoes that don’t match anything you own (yet), eat a delicious cupcake at bedtime to ensure sweet dreams or enjoy a mani/pedi for a bit of pampering after a challenging week – you deserve it.

xo, Alexis

12 years ago Short URL 1 Comment

C'est Si Bon

Alexis E. Barton/Elements of style/Same Chic Different Day

Jan

Who wore what, where: 2014 Golden Globes

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We’re baaa-aack! And we’ve missed you, darlings! We started our year on a decidedly unfabulous note (with the flu), but have recovered just in time for awards season and red carpet shenanigans!

Last night’s Golden Globes were rather dull (we really just tune in for the fashion, anyway), but our red carpet winner SHUT. IT. DOWN. Best Supporting Actress nominee Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave) is the hands down winner in this crimson caped gown by Ralph Lauren and Fred Leighton jewels. It’s no secret that Lupita is a fab fashionista: she’s recently been featured on the cover of W and will star in Miu Miu’s 2014 spring ad campaign.

But what on earth was Fashion Police’s George Kotsiopoulous thinking? This look (short pants + tight jacket + bare ankles + weird shoes) is so unflattering, and unappropriate for the occasion. Boo.

Lessons to be learned as we lean into Birmingham’s social season? Don’t be afraid of making a dramatic statement in a bold color, but keep makeup, coif and accessories simple so they don’t overpower your look. But by all means, be appropriate to your event. Dressing down or trying to hard to be “different” will only draw attention to you for all the wrong reasons.

Images via Steve Granitz/WireImage (Nyong’o), Jeff Vespa/WireImage (Kotsiopolous)

12 years ago Short URL 1 Comment

Haute or Not?/Random Acts of Fashion/Who Wore What Where

Alexis E. Barton/Golden Globes 2014/Same Chic Different Day

Dec

#Psalm 139:14

Love this shrunken graphic sweatshirt from *Madewell ($75)! This will be perfect with boyfriend shorts, leather bottoms and my go-to pencil skirts. The shape keeps it from being too slouchy, and the simple phrase is oh-so-chic. I love an item with a cheeky turn-of-phrase.

Have you checked out the new Madewell location at the Summit? They have AMAZING customer service and lovely city-chic pieces! And they are currently offering 30% off online and in stores through December 24 (with some exclusions).

I love this piece for sartorial reasons, but also it reflects where I am right now with ALEXIS. True beauty is about accepting your perceived flaws: your freckles, your stretch marks, your weird eyebrows, your jiggly thighs – whatever – and OWNING them.

*Bien fait means “Made well” in French.

Image via Madewell