Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Treat Yo Self, Pittsburgh Edition

Today’s Blogger, May I prompt is Treat Yo Self.  If you have no idea what we’re talking about….shame on you!  Tom and Donna would surely shun you.

Seriously, it’s a day to treat yo self to anything you want.  You want a new pair of shoes?  Treat Yo Self.  You want to eat a big fancy dinner?  Treat Yo Self.

I decided to put together a list of my favorite places to treat myself in Pittsburgh.  These makers and shakers have some of the best quality goods and I love them oh so much.

List of great places to treat yo self in Pittsburgh

My absolutely hands-down favorite place ever to buy from in Pittsburgh is Moop.  And don’t be afraid to order online.  She has diagrams and charts to help you find the right sized bag for your needs.  Their bags are fantastic quality and what I call industrial chic.  They can be used as a work/travel bag or a night-out clutch (and can hold everything from a laptop + books or just a wallet and some keys).

The best part about Moop is Wendy.  She is such a wonderful person.  She’s always friendly and welcoming when I contact her and her Instagram feed is beautiful.  The rest of her team are rock stars, too.

I also love me some Studebaker Metals for a more edgy touch with some girly charm.  Their hand-forged pieces are durable but so beautiful.  They add a great touch of urban funk to your outfit.  They also have items for men – tie clips, mustache combs, and other accessories (if your man is into those sorts of things).

I can’t get enough of their cuffs, though.  I wear them every day and the one that’s older has a beautiful polish just from normal wear and the newer one is starting to wear off its patina, but it’s still a fantastic grungy element to it.

I was first introduced to Studebaker Metals by Mid-Atlantic Mercantile in Lawrenceville.  That shop is beautiful in a minimalistic way.  Focusing on small-batch goods, everything is selected by Emily, sometimes with specific customers in mind (pro tip, y’all: become friends with the owner).

One of my favorite places for gifts and cards is Wildcard, also in Lawrenceville.  They carry adorable paper goods, gifts, and craft supplies.  I’ve found prints, cards, jewelry, t-shirts, art supplies, notebooks..you name it.  I’d also suggest visiting Jack + Jules, The Shop in East Liberty, and Spoiled Chics for unique gifts.

Honorable mentioned to Steel City Cotton Works, Shop 412, and Fresh Factory for the softest.tees.ever.

What would you treat yo self to?



<This is adapted from my post on The Fashionable Eye for the Pittsburgh Great Blog Exchange.

A love note to Moop (and how to style a crossbody bag)

Part of my job with Yelp Pittsburgh includes organizing events.  We recently wrapped up a month-long celebration of style called Yelp’s Fashionably Local.  While we were hosted by some great boutiques in the ‘Burgh, I was the most excited for Moop, a (pretty awesomely big deal) creator of bags designed and manufactured in Pittsburgh.

Moop Paperback MiniI have a pretty serious accessory collection.  I think it stems back to childhood when I would love to squirrel away little trinkets in purses and play with my grandma’s jewelry collection.  She always let me “organize” it, which was my way of saying, “I’m going to play with your necklaces and rings now.”

Thanks in part to my boyfriend who helps to fuel my addiction, I have three of Wendy’s well-crafted Moop bags.  I love Moop so much.  The style is tops, naturally, but the quality of the bags are stellar.  I throw everything and then sometimes the kitchen sink in my bag almost daily and these babies are sturdy.

I went in to the event on Saturday knowing I’d purchase one of their bags but it was a toss up between the Paperback and the Paperback Mini.  I already have the Letter Clutch, which is similar to the Paperback in terms of what I’d use it for, so I went for the Mini.  The deciding factor was how Wendy styled it.

Wear a crossbody bag at your waist

As a “fanny pack!”  Only so much cooler.  And a total Game. Changer.  I was prepared to just slide the long strap through the D-ring and clip it like a belt, but Wendy is so awesome, she cut the strap so it fits around my waist perfectly.  Bonus, you don’t get that boob-split like you do with crossbody bags (though I do have a long strap to wear it that way, too).

There is nothing better than being totally hands-free and able to have easy access to essentials: phone, keys, money, lip balm.  It’s currently living inside my Letter Bag as an essential-corral that will move from purse to purse and join me in Baltimore next weekend.

How to style a crossbody bag

How do you wear your crossbody bag?

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