July 28, 2011

The Joy Division Tee





DUST & DRAG Launch Party



AUSTIN PSYCH FEST and Sailor Jerry present a night at the Mohawk featuring the official launch of our new in-house designer collection DUST & DRAG as well as our fall lookbook collaboration with Rima Hyena photographed by Briana Purser. Pop-up shops by DUST & DRAG, Rima Hyena Jewelry, Feathers Vintage Boutique, Dog & Pony, Alchemy Designs, and supporters Bleach Online.

Tickets cost $13 in advance or $15 at the door. Purchase here.




July 25, 2011

End Of Summer Sale



New merchandise added daily. Offer excludes artisan jewelry. No combined coupons, please.

July 20, 2011

The Cure Tee

"In Between Days" is the single from The Cure's sixth studio album, The Head On The Door. This tee, from the band's 1986 tour, is part of Markus's private collection. Markus is a buyer for Laced With Romance with a special obsession for vintage concert and graphic tees.




MARKUS, WHY DO YOU LOVE THIS TEE?
I love it for a few reasons: Bekah found it for me, I love The Cure, and they kinda look like washed-out zombies!



July 18, 2011

The Hatter *


JOEL GAMMAGE is the fourth generation hat maker at Texas Hatters, the family legacy that's topped everyone from Willie Nelson to Ronald Reagan and created the iconic looks of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Robert Duvall in Lonesome Dove. The Joel Gammage + Laced With Romance collaboration (available HERE) is a line of restored vintage hats reformed into new, modern shapes.

We recently visited Joel at the Texas Hatters studio in Lockhart, TX - where he works alongside his mother, his stephfather, and his grandmother - to talk about his craft and to experience at first hand the scrupulous hatmaking process from start to finish.

JOEL, DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A CRAFTSMAN OR A DESIGNER? IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?
As a designer, I interpret a person’s character and predetermine what would look good on them. I consider a person's height, shoulder width, shape of the head, the nose, the mouth, and the distance between the eyes. As a craftsman, I’m concerned with the maintenance of the hats and the tools.

THE TOOLS YOU USE ARE AS OLD AS THE TRADITION OF YOUR CRAFT. WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
All the equipment we use was passed down from hatter to hatter as their businesses closed or bought from museums by my grandfather. The crown iron is 150 years old and each block was hand-carved from poplar wood over 100 years ago. The laundromat machine [which is used to clean dirt and oil from vintage hats in the restoration process] is over 100 years old. I bought a couple of old flanges at an antique store once that were labeled as picture frames!

WHY ARE YOU KNOWN AS THE DANCING SALESMAN?
My mom used to go dancing, even when she was pregnant with me, so I guess I’ve always been in a state of motion. I started hanging around the Broken Spoke when I first started making hats about seven years ago. Soon, instead of sitting around and talking to the old cowboys, I was dancing. Not only was it a creative outlet for dancing, but when people realized I was making hats, people started buying my hats.

THE HATS YOU'VE MADE FOR LACED WITH ROMANCE, LIKE THE VINTAGE FEDORA YOU RESHAPED INTO A TOP HAT, ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF YOUR WORK. WHAT ABOUT YOUR COLLABORATION WITH LACED DO YOU ENJOY MOST?
There's been very few times I've felt challenged in making hats. Laced With Romance is a huge creative outlet for me where I find myself trying new things.













INTERVIEW Emily Bradford
PHOTOGRAPHY Bobby Scheidemann

* The Hatter is the first in a series featuring the big Texas talents who collaborate with Laced With Romance.

Get Laced: Jordan


Leopard Bandage Dress $36
Dust & Drag Hand Dyed Silk Robe $160
1970s Navy Platforms $98
Via Christa Chain $140
Bangles $16 each
Rustic "Matt" Handmade Leather Belt Bag $175


Aspirin "Pill" Tank $18
Stripe Thrashed Cut-Off Shorts $32.00
Black Lace-Up Harness Boots $89
Black Leather Backpack $68
Rima Hyena "Crab Claw & Bone Anchor" Charm & Chain $160
"Texas" Sunglasses $18


Earthy Ethnic Crop Top $28
Bandage Skirt (ayered under crochet skirt) $20
Extra-Long Crochet Maxi Skirt $38
Black Lace-Up Harness Boots $89
Afghan Tribal Charm $32
Western Hat $52

JORDAN, WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR FASHION INSPIRATION FROM?
My fashion inspiration is ever-changing, but as of late I have been drawing ideas and open mouthed squeals from 60s - 80s biker culture. The "old ladies" of the Hells Angels and their effortless ready-to-go get-ups are both perfect and practical for my schedule and the Texas heat. It's easy to fall into the same routine of cut-offs and casual shirts, but I try to keep things interesting with accessorizing and different or unexpected hair and makeup. Overall I like things to be lax yet detailed! Leather and denim with silks and lavish open-knit add-ons.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUED POSSESSION?
I suppose, if you could combine it all into one solid composition, my writing. For years I have kept multiple bound journals, blogs, and scraps of poetry that really portray the state I was in while composing. Originally I wanted to teach literature at a college level, so you can understand my attraction to the written word.
WHAT VINYL IS ON YOUR RECORD PLAYER RIGHT NOW?
Loudness, a Japanese metal band! Compliments of my boyfriend's father.

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR DOUGH?
Currently, and for the last four years, I have been in the service industry. I work at a local sushi restaurant in the evenings, balancing school when I can. Eventually I want to do something theatre related.

FAVORITE QUOTE?
"A good deal of mud and river-slime had accumulated on my soul; but those bright waters washed it all away." Hawthorne

July 14, 2011

Get Laced: Tara

We asked our friend Tara to swing by the shop and style a couple of outfits with her favorite Laced With Romance pieces. These are her creations.

Hand Dyed Silk Crop Top $34
Stripe Wide Leg Pants SOLD
African Clay Bead Tribal Necklaces $36, $42
Leather Wood Platform Sandals $58
Gray Fedora Hat $198


Sheer Drop Waist Beaded, Silk Mini $200
Dust & Drag Gauze-Lurex Robe SOLD
Catherine Abston Necklace $160
Leather Wood Platform Sandals $58

TARA, WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR FASHION INSPIRATION FROM?
All my fashion inspiration comes from rebellion. Always has, ever since I can recall.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUED POSSESSION?
I really like to watch things come and go. I will get a thrill finding a treasure and setting it free again. But, I do love my American flag Keds.

WHAT VINYL IS ON YOUR RECORD PLAYER RIGHT NOW?
BoDiddley's "Black Gladiator"

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR DOUGH?
I make my dough by scheming up ideas, but mostly by selling off my thrifted items. (Shop Tara's Etsy store HERE .)

FAVORITE QUOTE?
"All good things are wild and free." - Henry David Thoreau

Killer Queen Tee

This Queen concert tee is part of Bekah's private collection. Bekah is a buyer and stylist for Laced With Romance. She is also the co-designer of Dust & Drag.




BEKAH, WHY DO YOU LOVE THIS TEE?
I am so in love with this shirt because it's something I never thought I would have in my collection, especially a Queen shirt from the '70s. I remember the day I got it. I may have teared up a little! It's a Pakistan shirt, meaning it was a concert bootleg, and probably sold outside of the concert by a street vendor. Most bootleg shirts from the '70s and '80s were made in Pakistan and were known for having a more hand-painted graphic with really saturated orange, yellow and red tones. Freddy Mercury looks super sassy and Brian May looks like he is wearing a glittery cape, and I love the Night At The Opera/Coat Of Arms image on the back.

Thin Lizzy also opened for Queen during a US tour during the time this shirt was circulating concerts. Thin Lizzy is also one of my favorite bands, and my most desired of all shirts!