#balee collection

BALEE COLLECTION S/S '15 (Click for full set)

The powerhouse duo of vintage curator Balee Greer and Photographer Dylan Reyes strike again. Words truly can't do this shoot justice, so just click above.

H I S T O R Y  L E S S O N.

Balee Collection A/W 2014-15 (Click above for more)

Local Honey Fall Fashion Show - So Alternative

Nashville fashion house, Local Honey, recently had their 3rd annual fall fashion show, with in-house menswear brand Tidwell and Perryman debuting their looks for this season - a combination of curated and altered vintage items all found in-house. The show was also the debut of the Balee Collection, curated womenswear courtesy of Balee Greer. I had the privilege of being in attendance for the show, which featured looks inspired by "90's grunge". It was a clever, nostalgic, tongue-in-cheek ode to America that didn't have to rely on ever-so-trendy aesthetic of "Americana" in order to get its point across. It's great to see a Southern fashion house not falling on that same crutch, but rather pushing completely in its own direction. Kudos to Local Honey and Tidwell and Perryman for putting together a brilliant, creative show.

90's fashion may have been the inspiration for this fall's show, but the collections had a decidedly streetwear ethos, particularly the menswear. Prints and graphics were in full effect - camo of every variety, plaid, floral patterns, and a multitude of other themes. Both collections were full of cultural allusions and other iconic imagery. Everything from sports teams to colleges to Sesame Street to The Simpsons to Garth Brooks, seemingly nothing American was untouched. The semi-ironic tinge permeated the entire show and kind of reminded me of a Japanese take on American iconography.

Granted one could name current Japanese fashion as an inspiration for the show (conscious or not). With the heavy influence Asian sensibilities are having on fashion, particularly streetwear, and with Asia's history of American-inspired aesthetics, much of fashion can now be seen as a reinterpretation of Asia's reinterpretation of Western aesthetics.

There was a certain thoughtful balance that both collections were able to maintain throughout. Streetwear meets menswear/womenswear. Progressive and en vogue, yet decidedly vintage. Creative, yet fully functional. Seeing dresses successfully paired with beanies was quite impressive, and it actually seemed like the women's looks featured just as much, if not more, headwear than the men's.

If you live around town or ever find yourself here, be sure to visit Local Honey. They're definitely a house that's on to something special. I can't wait to see what's next for the good folks at Tidwell and Perryman as well. Word on the street is that they're in the process of opening a new location. Be sure to keep your ears to the ground for more info on that.

To see more of my favorite looks and shots from the show, check me out at my other site, Public Garage Sale. Search the "Local Honey So Alternative" tag for all the visuals I post from the show. Keep up with it over the next couple of days. You won't be disappointed, trust me.