Gladiola Girls is a friendly, downtown boutique located in Lynchburg and Lexington, VA. At our store you will find a thoughtful collection of wearable trends from well known boutique labels and up and coming designers. From designer jeans at our denim bar to quirky gifts! Unprententious boutique shopping in a delightful atmosphere! Follow us to see our inspirations and new items! ~Be Glad www.gladiolagirls.com
I normally dress up on trips, but we were touring farms and – frankly – visiting wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries. I would definitely say that their pour tour has the full gamut covered! I still wanted to look nice, be comfortable in the hot weather, and not wear heels because…well, did you see the types of places we were visiting? Ha! Take a peek at what I wore while on tour.
I love going on media trips because it opens up a whole new world both in locations and experiences. I grew up in Pennsylvania, and I had never, ever been to Gettysburg. What a shame! Of course, it’s notable for its battlefields and vast history, but I went to experience their new Adam’s County Pour Tour.
I normally dress up on trips, but we were touring farms and – frankly – visiting wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries. I would definitely say that their pour tour has the full gamut covered! I still wanted to look nice, be comfortable in the hot weather, and not wear heels because…well, did you see the types of places we were visiting? Ha! Take a peek at what I wore while on tour.
POUR TOUR FASHION
day 1 - day
Our tour day was full of farms, fun, and beauty. I couldn’t get over how lovely the area was! From perusing orchards and tasting cider to enjoying brick oven pizza, the itinerary was perfect. I heard stories of family history and how businesses were founded. I love that Adams County has both people willing to carry on family businesses along with recent entrepreneurs. What a fabulous day we had.
I purchased this sweater a few years ago, and it fast became a staple in my wardrobe. With its large weave and loose fit, it allows for air to flow through to keep you cool or to cover up a bit more to keep you warm. It’s ideal! Plus the high/low look is super appropriate for my favorite pair of gray skinny jeans. And these shoes? I always get compliments when I wear them – I have had ladies stop me on the street to ask where I got them! They’re so comfy, and they are the ONE pair of shoes I chose to take with me on the pour tour. I didn’t regret it!
day 1 - evening
We had a little bit of a break after our day of touring, and we met up again for dinner. An outfit change was in order to dress it up a bit for a nice dinner out. We headed to Atland House Restaurant (they also have a brewery on site!) for the evening and had a delicious meal and a nice time chatting the night away.
I actually purchased this dress last year for the Junior League of Lynchburg’s Little Black Dress Initiative (see info here on this great event that raises funds for local nonprofits!), and it’s truly a great year-round dress. The slightly longer sleeve makes it a wonderful transition piece for spring, fall, or cooler summer nights. The lace and tie look in the front is so interesting, too. It’s a little black(ish) dress that packs a punch with the detailing.
day 2
Our tour was two days, so I didn’t have to think too much about what to pack, but when in Gettysburg…be patriotic! I started out the day with a red, white, and blue scarf that I didn’t need for long, but again I dressed for both comfort and keeping cool.
I also have a bit of a funny story. Most of my fashion photos are photos that I have taken myself with a self-timer (besides a few here and there when I’m not too embarrassed to ask someone else to snap one!). Well, I thought the red door belonged to a business that wasn’t opened yet, BUT to my surprise halfway through my mini self-timed session, the door opened. I was mortified to find a couple standing inside. I think they were equally shocked. Ha! It was the door to an inn – oops – so I actually have discarded photos of the door opening and me laughing in surprise. You never know what will happen when flying solo!!
I had a fabulous time on the Adams County Pour Tour, and I have so much more to share with you in the future. If you would like to see more of my fashion inspirations while traveling, be sure to take a peek here.
also, let me talk about sales for a moment.
I want to encourage you to shop sales. Possibly when you hear certain brands you think they aren’t affordable, right? I think that Gladiola Girls knows that when I walk in, I am headed straight to the sale rack – and the bigger the sale, the better! ALL of my pieces from Gladiola were super affordable. I care about what I wear, I want quality pieces, and I want to look great. I also am pretty attached to my wallet, and there is something to be said about the thrill of the sale!
So, even if you think a place may not be in your budget, I would say to give it a try! Follow brands and boutiques on social media and get on their mailing lists so that you can know when they have specials or mark downs. You will be glad to save money, and the store will be happy to make room for new pieces. My last outfit – top, pants, and shoes – cost me about $70. The shoes were on sale for $37, the top was $15, and the jeans were $17 (I hit a Joe’s Jeans outlet store that was closing and basically giving stuff away!). And they are all pieces I’ll have in my wardrobe for a long time.
I LOVE A GOOD SALE!!
Ok, that’s all for now. Travel fashionably, friends!
Be Glad~ The rain is on the way out! Fabulous arrivals from Citizens of Humanity, FRNCH, Traffic People, Just Black Denim, Free People, and DL1961 Premium Denim
Our style is relaxed, comfortable, and trendy, and Gladiola Girls has the perfect clothing line for just that!! We love something that can easily transition from summer to fall and from day to night and these outfits were the perfect combination of the two. We are both wearing denim dresses from Velvet Heart and they are perfect for our liftstyle!!
Once we picked out our dresses we knew no outfit was complete without some adorable shoes, and we immediately went to these corduroy booties for Andrea from Band of Gypsies and these cute wedges from Diba True for Emily. Finally, we are both suckers for some pretty earrings, so we were instantly drawn to the leather earrings on Andrea and the gold drop earrings on Emily!!
We love how this store encompasses our unique styles and we know we can always go here for something trendy for any event (even if it's just for a photoshoot with your best friend)!! These outfits make us glad - what makes you glad?
Let's speculate. Let's use the fact that I'm currently wearing a 70's sheer psychedelic printed top with a pair of Nike running shorts as our base for contriving funky futuristic outfits composed of pieces we would think would never go together (but do, in fact). Coming up with far out, unanticipated combinations is what keeps fashion fresh. This is what FASHION FROM THE FUTURE is all about.
Two years ago, if you were to tell me that last winter I would've worn my soccer sweatpants from sixth grade with red Zara ankle booties, i would've laughed at you. (that outfit did in fact happen; if you don't believe me, click here.) And certainly if you were to tell me that I was going to wear my aquamarine running shorts out and about with a funky top, I'd've called you a liar....
Well, here we are....
In my opinion, fashion from the future cannot be complete without borrowing from the past. Using this epic retro 70s top as a base is great for any ensemble, and it becomes ~futuristic~ when you pair it with other clothing/accessories that no one else would think to pair it with.
Fashion shouldn't be about always running out to buy new stuff all of the time. Instead, it should be about using your creativity to use the clothing you already have in your closet to create fresh pairings and ensembles that make you feel confident and special.
And scoring yourself some classic vintage or statement pieces that you can style in a multitude of fresh, unexpected ways is what everyone's goal should be. And who knows? Maybe you'll still be wearing some of these pieces in 2084 with a space suit and sandals or something.........
For more ~futuristic~ ensembles featuring gym shorts paired with regular clothes, check out Harling Ross's article on the blog Man Repeller.
For a great place to find cool vintage and classic wardrobe staples, visit Gladiola Girls Boutique (in Lexington or Lynchburg) or check out their website (www.gladiolagirls.com)!
