BAG IT UP

We like the way these bags work into autumn’s wardrobe. From petite bucket bags to quilted purses, these totes are too hot to handle. Find these and more at local retailers.

Styled by TAYLOR BENNETT Photo by KELLY MOORE CLARK

Clockwise from left: black bucket bag from Hemline Monroe, fringe accented purse from Duck Duck Goose inside Simmons’ Sporting Goods, black woven bag from Palette House and Plume, small hobo bag from Herringstone’s, plum, quilted bag from Dusty & Company.

Perfect Pear

Whether you’re incorporating pears into an arrangement, using them for a seasonal dessert, or setting up a still life – this fantastic fruit is a fall favorite.

Styled by TAYLOR BENNETT Photo by KELLY MOORE CLARK

This still life incorporates three varieties: Crimson, Bosc and Bartlett - all available during winter months.

HARTFORSTYLE

A Passion for All Things Vintage

AT ONLY 18 YEARS OLD, HARTLEY WALDROP HAS already established herself as a local entrepreneur through a passion for all things vintage. A self-professed lover of fashion, Hartley tagged along with her parents to estate sales and flea markets growing up, repurposing old clothes to create her own style. She adores everything 80s, including movies, music, and the big hair. Her hobby-turned-business is environmentally conscious and allows Hartley to express herself and share her talent with others.

Hartley attended Northeast Baptist School and was active in band and volleyball. She served as the Social Media coordinator for the school, documenting games and events online. She instinctively knew how to market and create worthy content. On her personal pages, she documented her outfits each day, highlighting her unique style, a stark contrast to the uniforms required on campus. Hartley is attracted to the unordinary, the styles of the past that have been out of vogue so long they’re back in. Putting her own twist on those styles has made her online shop a smashing success. She dipped her toe into business by simply posting her thrift finds on Instagram. Surely someone out there shared her sense of style and perhaps seeing it online would prompt people to buy her stuff. The response was overwhelming, and she quickly realized she had the makings of a successful business.

Coming from a family of business owners, Hartley didn’t fear the unknown. She knew her idea had promise, and she believed the right customers would find her clothes. Her “Momager” Heather Green is one of her biggest supporters. Heather accompanies Hartley on thrifting trips, frequenting flea markets and taking pictures of finds for the page. Heather trusts her daughter’s eye for style. When the operation became too big for Instagram, Hartley launched her website, a solid source to promote her products in one place. The page features vintage clothes and decor items, each with its own unique flair. Alongside the fashion, she features vintage mugs, wall art, jewelry dishes, and polaroid cameras, just to name a few. Hartley announces “drops” once or twice a week on Instagram, promoting traffic to her page for new items. She often relies on themes - past hits include Fall, 80s, 70s. If it’s old enough, it sells. Sometimes Hartley will add her own flair to a vintage item, a denim patch here a fancy hem there, making each product new in its own way.

Hartley has gotten to know her customer base. Now when she goes thrifting, she has her customers in mind. It’s not all about just buying what she loves. For instance, vintage windbreakers are really hot right now. Hartley can’t keep them in stock. When she finds old T-shirts, she bleaches them, giving the shirts the appealing acid wash look. Mom jeans are all the rage, particularly the high-waisted Levi’s with the brown tab in the back. “Dad sneakers” are popular, featuring an all-white, chunky design. Hartley knows what’s in style and can often predict what is about to be. It’s a talent that has served her personally and professionally. Centralizing all her products in one place has streamlined what can quickly become a cumbersome process. Hartley designed the website herself, relying on her uncle’s business acumen along the way. The website is a place for everyone. Hartley is focused on expanding her customer base. Her business motto is: “Where one’s heart is found within one’s style.”

While Hartley believes in herself and her products, she has been pleasantly surprised at the reception. People love her style and support her business. Balancing school and a business is a lot of work, but Hartley believes in the business’s future potential. Currently on scholarship at Northwestern State College, Hartley is pursuing an online degree in business, no shocker, and is adapting to life in the classroom and the online marketplace. In the future, Hartley foresees her endeavor evolving, both in style and access. She would like her own storefront one day, putting her newfound business knowledge to in-person use. Her parents are incredibly supportive. As virtually an only child, Hartley’s parents expect the best from their daughter. She is driven, but enjoys having fun. She loves to travel and experience new places. Seeing new spaces and places up close influences her style choices. Though a young entrepreneur, Hartley is no less a major player in the online marketplace.

Website: hartforstyle.com Instagram: hartforstyle Facebook: hartforstyle