Shopping in Dallas

(Pardon the weird light patterns on my legs.)

     While I was in Dallas, I definitely wanted to explore a few of the local shops instead of just sticking to the mall. While Northpark Mall is the largest, most luxurious retail emporium I've ever seen, I prefer going off the beaten path for a few special finds. Luckily, the Knox-Henderson area had some wonderfully cute shops including We Are 1976 (the shop where all the circus posters are pictured above) and Milk & Honey. While the stores offer a completely different inventory, I was happy that they were right next to each other so that I could shop for everything from stationary to accessories to cute clothing in one swoop. Below is a little peek at what I scored. The bow belt and the arrow necklace are both finds from the Anthropologie in Highland Park Village. 

Buy it direct from the designer here: Chibi Jewels

     I have to admit, finding all the cute boutiques and shops when I travel is one of my favorite part of the experience. I know that there's a lot more to do and trust me, we did a lot while in Dallas. But getting to interact with small business owners is so special for me. I've come back with a renewed appreciation for all things local and unique. 

The New Horizon

Faded denim jacket, Crew Cuts. Buffalo plaid dress, Forever 21. The Essex messenger in bittersweet, Madewell (sold out, but check out their other bags!). Plenty by Tracy Reese strappy flats (similar here). 

     The town slogan for Rockwall is "The New Horizon". That's only too appropriate considering that my parents decided to move there to start their lives anew. Of course, the decision wasn't as simple as just dropping everything and leaving. However, everyone is happier than I've seen them in a long time and although I'm still happy to call Tennessee my home, I loved staying in the Lone Star state as well.

     I'm back in Maryville after ten days of visiting, sightseeing, shopping, and relaxing. I have so many things that I'm excited for here in humble East Tennessee. That being said, while I'm a bit sad about leaving that part of my family, I am happy to be able to start being productive again. 

      Another thing to be happy about, as I'm sure many of you can relate with, is being back with my entire wardrobe as opposed to just a part of it. I made sure to bring a lot of coordinating items with me on my trip and even added several new pieces during my stay, but there's really nothing like traveling to make me appreciate just how many outfit opportunities the clothes I already own offer. 

     I'm happy to stop adding to my wardrobe for the time being. Often, the most sustainable and ethical way to shop is to stop doing it so often. Very rarely does an impulse buy or something that I bought because it was deeply discounted lead to a wardrobe staple. It's the things that I've owned the longest that still mean the most to me. I love sprucing up my wardrobe with a few things each season (and yes, I couldn't resist the $13 price tag on the plaid dress in these pictures), but usually, I find myself reaching for the same things time after time and still being happy with them. 

     I guess you could say that traveling to The New Horizon offered me a renewed outlook.

On (Needle) Point

THML Clothing embroidered blouse, Groovy's in Rockwall.  American Apparel Chambray Full Woven Skirt  Vintage yellow patterned scarf. Red belt, Forever 21 (similar here). Minimal lace-up heel, Jeffrey Campbell + Free People. Timex brown leather watch. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl.

    I found it. The perfect embroidered shirt. I see them floating around in various fast-fashion stores this time of year, but I never gave too much thought to the summery item.However, this was another find from the adorable Groovy's. I decided to go ahead and purchase what is sure to be a go-to for the rest of the summer months because it is a great fit and lightweight fabric. The main colors in my wardrobe are shades of blue and red, so naturally this piece will fit in great. THML Clothing is another wholesale only brand, but there are plenty of options if you are looking for a similar piece: 1, 2, 3 (a bit different, but my personal favorite). 

     In other news, I've been feeling so me with the outfits that I have been choosing lately. There has been a long period now where I was really struggling with what I wanted my style to look like. However, instating regulations on the kind of items that I buy has provided me with the need to be more specific with my style. I've definitely outgrown the "romantic" style that I tried to pin myself in for so long. It would seem that the days of overly saccharine dresses and lacy items are long gone, but old habits die hard (old habits might come in the form of the dresses from Bonne Chance Collections- so cute!). I think the most important thing during a wardrobe transition isn't to get rid of everything that doesn't suit you anymore, but rather to find new ways of working old favorites into a new style. 

     Also, shout out to Chelsea over at Organized Mess for giving me the idea for the title of this post with her sweet comment on my last outfit post. Sometimes I have to keep myself from saying "on point" too much, but it's still nice to hear from others!

Texas Triple Threat

FIANCÉE maxi dress, Groovy's in Rockwall. Strappy flat sandal, Target. Red square-framed glasses, c/o Firmoo. Scouth Leather Chevron necklace in black, c/o Danani. Vintage Akubra hat (you can buy one here). Vintage wallet.

     The number three pleases me. Things that come in triples are harmonious in a lot of aspects, including in the art world. I liked the concept of a "triple threat" so much that my blog is named after that very idea. And this dress meets three of my shopping criteria, making it a perfect fit in more ways than one. I was already shopping locally at a cute little store in the Rockwall square called Groovy's. On top of that, this dress is a made in the USA find. Unfortunately, the brand Fiancée is a wholesale only brand, but if you do happen to be buying for a boutique or online store definitely check them out! All of their clothes are made in America and also budget friendly. This dress was only $32. And at that price I can definitely say that it meets my criterion of being within my price range,the third reason why it's a great purchase. 

     Fortunately, these pictures were taken towards the later part of the day or my hat would have been unbearable. I'd have to be here a bit longer than my planned two week stay in order to really get used to this kind of heat. However, I will say that the golden hour and sunsets here are unlike anything I've ever experienced. All lighting that you see in the pictures in this post is completely natural. Nothing beats it. 

    Considering that I'm from somewhere that was built from nothing in the 1940s, this town is so much older than what I'm used to; however, I'm by no means complaining. Seeing the western style buildings in the town square and the farmhouse-turned-museum that was in front of this field that was from the 1830s absolutely fascinates me. America is such a young country in the grand scale of world history, but I still get a kick out of our own stories and tales of the past. 

And I Will Go to Texas

     If you've been following my Instagram or Twitter (both @trippplethread), you might have noticed a certain theme in my last few posts. I am in fact writing this blog post from Texas, but I didn't just decide to drive halfway across the country for the sake of a road trip. My mom, stepdad, and little sister all moved from where I grew up to one of the cutest towns I've ever seen: Rockwall, Texas. It'll be rough to adjust to having them so far away because I'm remaining in school at Maryville; however, the rest of my extended family as well as my dad's family are all still nearby. I've been having a blast exploring over here and no, I'm still not over how flat it is in comparison to East Tennessee. But my parents and my style fit right in here and I can't wait to call this place my western home.