Roadtrip inspiration: Sundance Catalog
A week from yesterday (aah!) I'm leaving for a long road trip with my family from Portland, Oregon to Custer, South Dakota. It's 19-23 hours' drive, depending on our route, and of course we'll make stops. We've done this basic route before, summer of 09 and summer of 06, en route to weddings and family events in Wisconsin and Indiana, but this time we won't be going nearly as far!
I've found I actually enjoy road trips and don't mind being in the car for long periods of time, and I love seeing new scenery in the Great American West. But, I do get tired of the decor. How petty is this? I know, I know, but here I was last summer, a West Coast girl, in my bright yellow mod tanks and gladiator sandals, huge knockoff designer sunglasses, and fake Michael Kors quilted bag hopping out of my Oregon-plated Prius in front of souvenir antler and pelt "trading posts" and log cabin-themed rest stops. I felt like I clashed. ;). From Pendleton, Oregon east through pretty much Minnesota is all decorated this way, and this year I want to look like I match. It's not my favorite type of decor (I would prefer a posh Palm Springs pool deck or faded-shingle Puget Sound beach house), but I can work with it.
The cabins we're renting for the reunion (my mom is planning it, so we checked it out on our way east last summer) are decorated in what seems to me a very 90's dark green and burgundy, with lots of plaids and honey-stained pine wood paneling. Here are the cabins and here's me trying to act comfortable in them in a sweet and preppy Anthro-inspired chambray dress that I had made:
As I was thinking about style inspiration, my mom suggested I check out Sundance.
Have you heard of it? It's Robert Redford's clothing and jewelry company out of mountainous Western Utah; my mom used to get the catalog, and they always had beautiful stuff with equally amazing photography and layout! The jewelry pages were always so nice, all the artisan and handmade quality jewelry on beautiful backgrounds. The clothing prices are comparable to Anthro or a little cheaper, and always high quality stuff.
Check out some western-ey inspiration images from the catalog!
Lots of pretty things that aren't too rodeo-rider, but still totally get the look of the beautiful country out there. I'm not sure I can afford any of them right now, but I will be looking through my closet and maybe the fabric store to see if I can capture the look myself based on these great designs.
So basically I'm just thinking about how to dress and accessorize for the mountainy/western decor of the Black Hills of South Dakota, where the reunion is, without looking like a hunter. I'd love to hear your ideas!
Do any of your live in the Great West? Have you been through the Yellowstone/Mt. Rushmore area recently? What other catalogs or sources should I look to for inspiration?