Bohemian Shakedown

Handley McCrory of Handley Breaux Designs, Randall Porter of Good Grit Magazine, Heather Wylie, Kim Hightower of the Gypset Beauty Co., Mary Catherine Folmar of Cotton & Quill, William Rankin McLure, Artist/Interior Designer. These creative local celebs modeled Bohemian Bop’s new tee designs for Rachel & Noah Ray of Iron City Photo for the Bohemian Shakedown online Campaign.

Sarah Levey wearing a caftan from the SS16 Del Mar collection

This past March my husband and I attended Southern designer Heather Wylie’s Bohemian Shakedown campaign + party at Birmingham’s local hotspot, The Nest. This event focused on the release of new tee designs from Bohemian Bop as well as the bohēm Del Mar fashion preview. The pop-up shop, in addition to the clothing presented, included Kate Morris Jewelry, Maudern Art by Mary Maude Crenshaw and henna from The Gypsy Leaf. The models’ hair and makeup was provided by The Gypset Beauty Co.  All photography/images in this post are from the ultimate power couple: Rachel and Noah Ray.

Heather, a talented, hard-working clothing designer and artist with strong business acumen, has become extremely successful in the years since she launched her line. The immense and growing demand for her clothing label designed in Birmingham, made in Florence, AL and then silkscreened in downtown Birmingham (on trendy First Avenue North) called for her to separate her line; creating bohēm and Bohemian Bop. Both were featured at this fashion fête and both are fabulous.

Bohemian Bop is the primary retail hub; this label retails solely on bohemianbop.com. BB specializes in limited edition and one of a kind Lace Crop Tops, sometimes made with hand-dyed and/or vintage lace.

“Bohemian Bop is for the locals, free spirits and ‘dippies;

for the working bohemian woman who is free spirited and fun-

yet maintains a sophisticated style & composure,

like every Southern Lady should’”

bohēm  provides the wholesale e-commerce aspect of Heather’s business. This made in the USA + designed in the South knitwear collection is described as

“Chic-easy, elegant simplicity for the minimal bohemian.

Inspired by old world opulence + sophisticatio,

bohēm is for the old soul who is young at heart.”

I was fortunate enough to wear a custom-designed kimono from the S/S16 Del Mar Collection to the event. I  felt both bohemian and beautiful – like a ‘goddess queen’ – and was definitely feeling the ‘dippy‘ vibe. A nickname was created by Heather’s mother to describe the budding future designer when she was just a little girl: ‘Dippy.’  The nickname stuck and stayed with Heather even into adulthood. This term is TM pending and literally means ‘designer hippie;’ reflecting perfectly in her high-design bohemian line.

My dippy garment was both soft and stylish—the perfect piece to dress up or dress down. I went glam and added a pair of  black Report Signature wedges to give me height and a golden belt by French design house Hotel Particulier to cinch my waist. I carried  my go-to Chloē grey Marcie Saddle Bag and topped it off with my favorite Seraphine Design choker to accent the custom-designed Jacquard trim on the neckline.

Perfect for every occasion, I have worn this dress several times since Bohemian Shakedown – to purchase a similar one click this link on bohemian bop. What I love about this dress is that I could have easily slipped the dress on the next day over a bikini on 30a, for example, or rocked it while strolling around the beautiful streets of Fairhope on a lazy weekend afternoon, looking fashion-forward but laid-back – a balance that is difficult to find.

Alex Denning and Carly Coyne wearing pieces from the Del Mar collection

The newly released Del Mar Collection was on display at the event – models strutted around looking enviably and effortlessly chic at The Nest.

The Del Mar SS16 Collection is “colorful and feminine – making the bohēm gal feel like a goddess queen!”

Besides the visual stimulation of the beautiful pieces on display, guests enjoyed bites from Maki Fresh and the most tantalizing tiered display featuring goodie, handmade fresh everyday, from The Heavenly Donut Company. We sipped on sponsor Cathead Vodka’s cocktails all night – Buffalo Rock CO also sponsored some of the drinks that were enjoyed. Surrounded by friends and fellow creatives, we danced the night away to one of my favorites:  DJ CoCo.

This was a Handley Breaux Designs event. The beautiful photography credits go to the talented Rachel + Noah Ray with Iron City Photography – you can see more of their photographic event-coverage at the end of this post. Talk about a power couple!

As you know, at The Southern Atelier Rachel and I love a party with a purpose, and 15% of ticket sales along with 50% of the Mitchell’s Place Key Tee sales went to benefit Mitchell’s Place, a local non-profit with a “mission to provide comprehensive, research-based, educational, social and therapeutic services for children, adolescents, and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities in a deeply caring environment.” Click here to purchase the Key Tee.

Love what you see in the photos above? Shop this way:

Wholesale: bohēm

Retail: Bohemian Bop (online); also found at Everly’s Boutique, Gus Mayer: Birmingham and Nashville, La De Da, Southern Style House, Audie Mescal, and Domaine South.

Local Celebs, Tastemakers and Style Icons seen Out-and-About at the Bohemian Shakedown:

Andy Hopper of KG Designs

Mary Catherine Folmar from Cotton & Quill

William Rankin McLure IV of William McLure Art

Artist + Interior Designer Randall Porter with Good Grit Magazine

Heather Brown from My Life Well Loved

Handley McCrory of Handley Breaux Designs

Kate Morris of Kate Morris Jewelry

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