RAGGED’s Roving Reporter Preps for Voodoo Festival
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October 27, 2011
Earlier this month, we scouted the country for one stylish and musically-savvy fan to become the official RAGGED Roving Reporter at the 2011 Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans. After we chose our favorite finalists, our Facebook fans voted, and Danielle was named the lucky winner! The time has finally come for the festival, so Danielle will be in New Orleans all weekend capturing the sights and sounds for us. She sent us a little pre-festival blog to let you in on the process of shopping and preparing for the trip. Be sure to stop and say hello if you’re at the festival this weekend!
Straight from Danielle:
Hola RAGGED fans,
After a crazy whirlwind couple of weeks, it’s finally starting to sink in that I actually won the Roving Reporter contest (not going to lie, the shopping spree definitely shot this experience up from dream status to reality). It’s not every day a girl from Portland, Maine gets an opportunity like this one. I’m going to do my best in this pre-Voodoo Festival blog at giving you a little insight into the fantastic-ness that was my shopping excursion.
Armed with Pumpkin coffee, my partner-in-crime, Danny, and the chorus of Nicki Minaj’s “Superbass” on repeat in my mind, I attacked the Maine Mall (creative I know) and the local Macy’s, with one goal in sight. My mission: find the perfect wardrobe for New Orleans. Obstacles: with Maine winter practically on my doorstep, all semblance of summer clothing has made the journey to clearance racks, and have been replaced with sweaters, jackets, and all other items that have no business in Southern temperatures.
The best part about finding items for this trip, is that American Rag literally has nothing that I wouldn’t wear. The worst part is that American Rag has literally nothing that I wouldn’t wear. Within minutes of arriving, my arms were full of hangers containing clothing that, even without trying on, I knew I would love and need to have in my life.
After raging through the racks of the most recent arrivals, I moved over to the Clearance section, and there I hit the jackpot. Summer dresses with (my personal favorite) flower prints, shorts that brought on summer nostalgia, and shirts that could be paired with any outfit. I loaded up and headed to the fitting rooms. Danny was ready with the camera, and I began my own personal fashion show. My first outfit was a pair of dark denim shorts and a lightweight, floral print tank. Success on the first try. This would be a perfect casual Festival look. They went into the “Yes” pile. Next was a sweet-heart cut, strapless dress. Instant love. This dress is the one I keep going back to, trying it on multiple times, knowing that it has just reached favorite status and has a hanger waiting for it in the front of my closet.
Following this dress, I wasn’t sure that any others could really compete. I tried on a couple others but didn’t get that instant feeling of happiness when looking at them in the terrible fluorescent lights. I was beginning to lose hope that I wouldn’t find anything that was on the level of my newfound love. Dramatic, I know, but what can I say? I’m an Aquarius. But then I tried on a half-animal print, half-another print I can’t really name, and felt that I was back on track. Though the face I’m making doesn’t really convey any good feelings regarding the dress, after taking a lap, and coming back to it, I realized that I needed to stop comparing, and start giving other clothes a chance. Following this realization, I found two more strapless dresses (notice a pattern?) and then moved on to other forms of clothing.
A pair of dark-wash, skinny jeans and a thick short-sleeved sweater were fantastic together, but, as Danny pointed out, we were heading to warmer climates, where sweaters weren’t really appropriate. Switched out the sweater with a gray leopard-print tank and topped with what is probably the best purchase I’ve ever made in my life: a chocolate leather jacket, with a hood.
Now I know I just made the remark about warmer temps, and how I was avoiding clothes that would keep out a blizzard, but please jump on my train of thought for a moment. The second I put on this jacket, it was like there was a moment of clarity and I HAD to have it. It was the most expensive thing I bought, but it was worth it times a million. And judging by Danny’s reaction (practically had to wipe the drool off his chin) I knew it was a keeper.
After going through my first round of clothes, it was time to head to the men’s section, because, as my guest, Danny couldn’t go American Rag-less on this trip. So we picked apart everything that American Rag had to offer to my male counter-part. We were just as successful over there. Each and every thing we picked up was a great compliment to Danny’s own personal style.
Feeling quite pleased with ourselves, we prepared to take on the shoe department. If there are two things in life that I know, it’s the Golden Girls, and shoes. It took me ten minutes, and I was the proud owner of dark tan, suede boat shoes and a pair of slightly heeled flats in what I am now calling my signature brown. A quick stop and little debate needed in the purse section, where I picked up a long-strapped Fossil bag—just the right size for all the essentials needed for the Festival.
Feeling accomplished, I headed to the register for the final checkout. I was oddly nervous as my new friend Vicky rang up all my purchases. But after all was said and done, I felt ready for this trip to New Orleans. I was completely satisfied with everything I found and I think that I can represent RAGGED appropriately.
The rest of the preparations are minimal compared to the shopping experience. I’ve been making my way through the artists who are performing at the Voodoo Festival. I know quite a few of them and though sometimes it’s hard pushing past the songs I already know and venturing into the bands I don’t know, I’m enjoying every single second of it. It’s such a joy to be able to tell work, “No, I won’t be in this weekend, I have more fabulous things to do.”
As girly as it sounds, I’m going to get my nails done, enjoy a relaxing night with friends, and plan how I’m going to break it to Danny that I’m absolutely petrified of flying and that it will be his job to entertain me on the way there, so I don’t think about the fact that this giant, flying contraption is thousand miles in the air, and all it will take is gravity to get irritated, and down we go.
The Voodoo Music Festival is about to get taken by storm, and I can’t wait to see what kinds of fashion New Orleans has to offer. Mix it in with some of the best musicians around, and nothing can go wrong this weekend. Fact.
That’s all for now,
DW over and out.
posted by Staff
