May is a month of shopping and sprucing up; celebrating weddings, mothers and graduates; spending time in our gardens and entertaining! Here are some local finds and gift ideas that represent all of these occasions and more for this exciting season.
HOME
Garden
An arrangement of succulents created by Millstone Market & Nursery. Owners Tricia S. Hunt and Skip Shropshire bring experience and artistry outdoors at this one-of-a-kind local showroom featuring furniture, décor and gifts. Find just the right planter or unique container for your home, garden or centerpiece. Millstone is also a nursery and great source for landscape design and installation services. millstonenursery.com
Arrangement of succulents at Millstone Market & Nursery.
Individual potted succulents, available at Millstone Market & Nursery. $28.
Local Textiles
Ragland Hill is a new, chic textile line developed right here in Memphis by designer Gwen Driscoll. This pattern would be a fun one for personalizing your lacrosse player’s room with a fresh cotton fabric! Email [email protected] for more information about ordering from this collection, or stop by the Driscoll Design & Decoration shop. driscolldesigngroup.com
Ragland Hill, a new local fabric line available at Driscoll Design & Decoration.
Surprise Plates
Commemorative plates from the Royal Collection. This pattern is from a dessert service that was used at the royal table for a London banquet in 1851. The surprise? They are made out of tin! Set your table with these clever, colorful, surprisingly casual plates! Many patterns available at the Spruce shop. spruceshop.com
Royal Collection tin plates, available at Spruce. $12 each.
French Bottles
Interior designer Suzanne Varner walked us through the showroom at Ray & Baudoin and pointed to these antique French glass bottles as a great find! Exquisite oversized accessory. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/varner-interiors
Antique French bottles, available at Ray & Baudoin. $190.
FASHION
Seasonal Dresses
Annie Griffin summer dress at Lavish. Wear from poolside to party and everywhere in between. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/lavish
Annie Griffin dress, available at Lavish. $390.
The wonderful summer colors of M Missoni’s 2014 collection at Kittie Kyle. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/kittie-kyle
M Missoni dresses, available at Kittie Kyle. $495 and up.
Summer Sweater
If someone is blasting the AC this summer, you will be ready with this lightweight circle cardigan sweater by Vince, available at Lavish. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/lavish
Vince summer sweater, available at Lavish. $345.
Comfort Wear
Extra-soft 100% cotton Ladies Lounge Shorts at Lansky 126 downtown come in many colors. lanskybros.com
Ladies Lounge Shorts, available at Lansky 126. $39.50.
Any mother would love this summer robe for her special day on May 11, in a crisp coral color and upbeat striped pattern that will look great on anyone! Available at Social. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/social
Summer robe, available at Social. $71.
Lingerie Care
Take care of your lingerie with gentle-care cleaning products sold at Trousseau II. This longstanding Memphis shop offers not only wonderful customer service, but also expert advice based on many years of dressing Memphians in PJs, lovely lingerie and all that we wear underneath our fashionable clothing! I use the Variance detergent, a good choice for sensitive skin. trousseau.com
Gentle lingerie cleaning products, available at Trousseau II. $8 and up. (Variance for sensitive skin is $12.)
ACCESSORIES
Handbags
The Spartina Port-to-Port Tote at Lansky Lucky Duck in the Peabody, one of many in their big selection of handbags for the season. lanskybros.com
Spartina tote, available at Lansky Lucky Duck. $152.
This neutral clutch backpack will help you be hands-free and stylish for summer fun, errands and travel. Available at Lansky 126. lanskybros.com
Clutch backpack, available at Lansky 126 in the Peabody. $110.
Evening Bags
Going home with one of these exquisite evening bags is like adding a piece of jewelry to your wardrobe. One of these formal clutches will finish your look for that elegant night out. Available at Kittie Kyle. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/kittie-kyle
Exquisite evening bags, available at Kittie Kyle. $495 and up. Photo credit: Mark Kalagias of MKX photography
Jewelry
Formal and casual come together in one striking necklace, one of many great jewelry finds tucked away in the Ryan Patrick Boutique next door to this popular salon. ryanpatricksalon.com
Necklace, available at the Ryan Patrick Boutique. $225.
Simultaneously sophisticated, original and whimsical. This stand-out piece from the Extasia designer jewelry collection is available at Social. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/social
Extasia necklace, available at Social. $117.
A pivotal piece for your jewelry box, this necklace is from the Groundwork Collection by Sara Hart, one of the newest jewelry lines at Lavish. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/lavish
Sara Hart Groundwork collection necklace, available at Lavish. $72.
Shoes
Sandals at Lavish in Collierville. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/lavish
Stylish sandals, available at Lavish. Left, $120. Right, $70.
Your can find your go-to espadrilles for a great price in versatile summer colors at More Therapy in Chickasaw Oaks Village. facebook.com/MoreTherapy
Espadrilles, available at More Therapy. $28.95.
Straw Hats
Look great coming and going! This summer’s straw hat at Kittie Kyle is just as cute from the back. Many shapes and colors. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/kittie-kyle
Summer straw hats, available at Kittie Kyle. $165 to $225.
BEAUTY
Lotions and Potions
A trade secret from Jennifer, the manicurist at Capelli: she uses Body Drench lotion for all manicures and pedicures. Her clients like the emollient, yet nongreasy feel of this lotion. Available for purchase at Capelli. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/capelli-salon
Body Drench lotions, available at Capelli. $17.
These beautifully packaged lotions and soaps at More Therapy are amazingly priced from $1 to $6 … a rare find, indeed! facebook.com/MoreTherapy
Greenwich Bay Trading Co. soaps and beauty products, available at More Therapy. $1 to $6.
Already wrapped for Mother’s Day! A wide range of bath products available at Social. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/social
Bath products, available at Social. $23 to $50.
FOOD
Las Tortugas
Fresh, light flavors for spring and summer! Have a fun conversation with Jose “Pepe” Magallanes when you place your order at Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana. He and his family opened this Mid-South gem in 2003 to preserve the integrity of true Mexican cooking by “refusing to Americanize the process or presentation.” From a simple order of salsa and chips to their specials of the day, Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana does it right! Enjoy their purist philosophy toward Mexican cuisine in every bite. Browse their menu online here: delimexicana.com.
Beef tacos, authentically Mexican at Las Tortugas!
Southward Fare & Libations
A fun appetizer we tried at Southward Fare & Libations: Dirty Pig Fries, a decadent start to your meal. This appetizer is a fun combination of fried potatoes, braised berkshire pork shank, mustard greens and flavorful spices. We loved sitting outside on the spacious porch at Southward, located in the middle of Regalia shopping center. (They share the porch with Salsa next door.) eatsouthward.com
Dirty Pig Fries, available at Southward Fare & Libations. $8.
BOOKS
Cookbook
Ina Garten decribes the recipes in her Barefoot Contessa, Back to Basics cookbook as “taking ordinary ingredients and cooking them – or pairing them – in a way that ‘unlocks’ their true flavors.” Found among many wonderful how-to and coffee-table books at Lisa Mallory’s Interior Design shop in Chickasaw Oaks Village. lisamallorydesign.com/lisamallorydesign.com
Available at the Lisa Mallory Interior Design Shop. $35.
TECH
Hip Rap
Be on the go and equipped with your phone, without needing pockets, totes or pouches of any kind! Go to Social and grab a Hip Rap, a fashionable accessory with a hidden pocket to carry your smart phone. Great for exercising, the beach and hands-free errands. styleblueprint.com/memphis/guide/social
The Hip Rap
Hip Rap, available at Social. $31.
Welcome, May!
