Nevermore

Some words from Edgar Allan Poe:

But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore--
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."
 

For this Blackbird, it means we are closing the shop. While we are sad to say goodbye to something that has mean so much to us, we part with gratitude for a successful two years, love for our loyal customers, and excitement for the new adventures we will embark upon.  Thank you Austin! Thank you North Loop! And Thank You Blackbird for the great ride, blast of a time, and more wisdom than we could have imagined you could bring.

Just checking in here...

Wow. So I decided to visit the old blog, and quickly realized that it's been almost three months since any of us has posted anything! Wow! Huh. It's not that we've disappeared, it's simply that we've been a bit swamped! Lots happening over here at the shop. We've gotten in SO MUCH women's clothing in lately, and have just been working our little feathers to get it all out on the floor.

Also, a secret from behind the scenes: we're in a bit of a transitional place right now. There might be some cool things to share soon, we'll see.  But until then, just know that we're still here, doing our thing, and that I'm going to try to visit here more often :)


XO,
Eunice

North Loop Block Party this Saturday!

Join us this weekend for the North Loop Spring Sidewalk Sale! Special sales at every store! Visit us here at Blackbird and start your summer shopping with 25%-40% off everything in the store!

Jewelry Inspiration...

Sometimes I like to sift through Style.com for a little eye candy, and today when perusing the jewelry trends for spring, I of course found some very "Blackbird" pieces that I just had to share...

The first, an AMAZING necklace from Chanel:

photo courtesy of Style.com -  Chanel

The second, a perfectly skullicious ring by Alexander McQueen:

photo courtesy of Style.com - Alexander McQueen

The third, an sort of goth-tribal statement choker by Aurélie Bidermann:

photo courtesy of Style.com - Aurélie Bidermann

 

 

 

And the fourth, an intricately black-webbed star cuff by Eddie Borgo:

photo courtesy of Style.com - Eddie Borgo

Aren't all of these pieces just freaking great? I think so. It makes me want to learn how to craft with metal...and solder things...and use a blow-torch.  Ah, fun stuff.  Anyway, while we don't carry any of these wonderful designer's wares here at Blackbird, it's still nice to drool over them via the internets...and great inspiration for what kinds of trinkets to go in search of for the shop.  We certainly love jewelry over here, from vendors across the country to our own Juju-designed pieces and local artists, like Jamie Spinello.  They are each little works of art, which to me is total justification for all the admiring and aquiring, especially when you can find some treasures for under $30 bucks!  Affordable, wearable art! I will admit, though, that there will probably always be a part of me that pines for anything by Alexander McQueen, the Picasso of fashion in my book.

We got Lucky!

Cover of April 2012 issue

So excited over here because Lucky Magazine just placed Blackbird on their store directory for April's issue!  They visited a lot of the wonderful shops in Austin, and we were fortunate to make the list.  Check out our little write-up...

Pretty cool.  I must say that this little mention is quite exciting for me because years ago, when Lucky was born, I used to LOVE going through the pages with my stickers...and picking out a lot of "YES" things of course. So this:

photo courtesy of: http://theperfectratio.blogspot.com

ended up kinda looking like this:

photo courtesy of:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsgalpert/with/4852744309/

 

 

So fun to both the shopper in me AND the little girl in me who loves stickers. Ha! But also, I liked to read about the shopping guide in different places, you know, just in case I was ever in New York with tons of money to spend or something.  Well, the shopkeeper in me loved seeing all the pics of the unique shops around the country, dreaming about what it must feel like to shop there, work there, or run the place.  So when our little shop made it's little cameo, I can't help but feel like my own little dream came true.  Thanks Lucky Magazine for the years of inspiration, fun, and fashion guidance...from all the above mentioned parts of me.  Oh, and for making me feel truly lucky as well.

Dominic Jones'

On this rainy, dreary day I couldn't help but share some amazingly dark and graceful pictures by Alex Sainsbury for British designer Dominic Jones' new Fall 2012 campaign.  Jones is not only a talented jeweler, but acclaimed and awarded for his distinct designs. In this new ad run, actress Jessica Brown Findlay from the British series Downton Abbey, poses alongside model and DJ Mary Charteris.

Talk about a haunting mood setter! Love it!  Is the sun coming out now?  Seriously?

Happy Birthday Edward Gorey!

Belladonna Pocketwatch, $40, Pink Color Block Dress $46, Small Apothecary Jar $9

Edward Gorey
February 22nd, 1925-April 15th, 2000

I just love the way Edward Gorey's illustrations and books combine the innocence of childhood with dark Victorian settings and morbid and ominous tones. His numerous books and illustrations, which he happens to categorize as literary nonsense, have inspired the works of Tim Burton, Nine Inch Nails, the Tiger Lillies and of course, us here at Blackbird!

My Bloody Valentine SALE

Looking for the perfect way to say I love you to your delightfully warped sweetheart? Need the perfect dress for a night of mischief making? Indifferent to Valentine's Day but like to save a buck? If the answer to any or all of these questions is yes, or even maybe, get thee to Blackbird this weekend!

Friday the 13th Weekend Sale!

Yeah, we know that so many people fear Friday the 13th that there's actually a word for it (paraskevidekatriaphobic. we looked it up). But Blackbird loves Friday the 13th and lucky you can reap the benefits of that love at our Friday the 13th weekend sale.

Friday 1/13 through Sunday 1/15
Buy one, get one 50% off
(local artisan consignment not included)

NEW HOURS FOR JANUARY ONLY!

A holiday season of behaving badly requires a little recovery time. You know.
For the month of January, Blackbird will be open Wednesday-Sunday 12-6.

North Loop Holiday Night Out II

Attention all black sheep...it is time to do up the holidays North Loop Style. Don't miss our neighborhood block party, Holiday Night Out this Thursday evening. Your favorite strip of local stores have extended their hours to 9pm, and we'll celebrate with special sales, live music, food and fun.

The party is on at Blackbird! We've got our Christmas lights up, hot cocoa and wine for our customers to sip while they shop, and 25% OFF all non-consignment items in the store. If you are on our mailing list look for special sales in your inbox.

Blackbird Loves.....

Mechanical Dolls, an editorial shot by Tim Walker for the October 2011 issue of Vogue Italia. Styling by Jacob K.

Thank You, Austin!

Blackbird is absolutely thrilled to announce that we have received the coveted "Austin Chronicle Best of" award for "Best New Local Business". We happily share this title with our North Loop neighbor, Green House. Other fellow North Loop businesses recognized are Forbidden Fruit (Best Naughty Business), Room Service (Best Vintage and TIE for Best Home Furnishings) and Foreign & Domestic (Best Neighborhood Gourmet Experience)...which confirms my suspicions: you guys knew all along that your beloved, quirky North Loop is secretly the best strip of local businesses in Austin!

A sincere thanks to our customers for bringing the love!

Rock the Casbah

Need some hair of the dog for your Austin Fashion Week hangover? Monday, August 29th, North Loop (the black sheep of Austin shopping districts) is hosting Rock the Casbah, an exotic sampling of food, fashion, and music at Phara’s Mediterranean Restaurant and Casbah.

Starting at 8pm, Rock the Casbah will include a fashion show that previews new looks from your favorite quirky North Loop boutiques: Blackbird Clothes and Curios, Blue Velvet, Ermine Vintage, Forbidden Fruit, Green House, and Splendor.

KUT darling Laurie Gallardo will be hosting while North Loop’s resident vinyl junkies, Breakaway Records, will be providing music that promises to literally rock the casbah.

Cinco Vodka will be offering samples of casbah cosmos and photographer Katie Cowden will be snapping photos in a hookah lounge photo booth. Phara’s (byob) will be serving up complimentary appetizers while belly-dancers shimmy through the gorgeous back patio.

...and all of this for FREE!

The Power of Accessories!

Want to make the most use out of your clothing? Using different accessories can make one staple piece look completely different and appropriate for almost any occasion! Check out some examples we pulled together here using our $24
"Smocked Paisley Print" dress as a base:

sample one:

 

You'll be ready for the theater, that summer wedding, or just some snazzy cocktails by decorating yourself with a sparkly necklace and adorable clutch.  We used our "Breastplate of Bling" ($44 w/matching earrings) and our "Lace Ruffle Clutch" ($32 with two detachable chains of different lengths).

sample two:

Heading out to the lake or running errands in the nice 101 degree weather? Throw on some shades ($14), a simple necklace like our "Black Heart choker" ($12), and a straw fedora (JuJu Hats $14).  All your missing is an ice cold Lonestar, which we unfortunately don't sell here...

sample three:

 

If its an after work happy hour or catching your favorite band somewhere downtown, adding a bit of edge to your look can be great for a fun night. This black slitted belt is just the thing ($12).  Add a Gothic touch using a necklace like our "Double Medallion" one ($25). And what better way to carry around all of your necessities than a big black leather bag? This "D-Ring" purse ($51), for example, is big enough to hold your own personal bottle of wine (if that's how you roll), goes with almost anything, and has just the right amount of metal adornment to make it unique.

Hopefully this has inspired you to mix it up with your favorite dress and accessories...and of course if you need some things to play with, come in to the shop and we'll be glad to help you find some pretty for your closet!

Blackbird Celebrates its 1st Birthday!

We'd like to thank you Austin, for a wonderful first year by celebrating with a big sale, this Saturday and Sunday!

Everything in the store is 40% Off *!!

*not including consignment artworks/photographs

Come check out our brand new shipment of men's and women's sunglasses, over 50 new styles and colors to choose from! We've also just received a new shipment of women's summer sundresses, shorts, and casual tops, all with our trademark darkly romantic, rock n roll chic styling and as always, amazingly affordable prices!

To mark the occasion, Blackbird has collaborated with local artist/ KUT goldenboy, Michael Lee (Arts Eclectic host and O'Dark 30 producer, cartoonist) for "Strange Comfort" a limited edition series of framed portraits of vintage creepy baby dolls. The collection will be on display in our store for the summer or until all the prints have sold, including the poster-size print in our window!

And if that weren't enough, we'll be serving snacks and sodas, too! Hope to see all of our wonderful customers this weekend!

Store Hours:

Tues-Sat 11-7pm
Sun 12-6pm
closed mondays

Blackbird Named Boutique of the Week

We are so pleased to announce that Blackbird has been named Boutique of the Week by Austin Chronicle's Chronique Fashion Blog! Big thanks to contributor Chad Barnes for the wonderful write up--it was a pleasure meeting and spending time with you!

North Loop Holiday Night Out--TONIGHT!

Join us for North Loop Holiday night out! Live music, food, drinks! Special Sales all up and down the strip! 25% off EVERYTHING in Blackbird.

Blackbird Featured in Eat. Shop. Austin.

We are proud to say that we have been featured in the eat.shop guide for Austin! Eat.Shop guides are curated city guide series about locally owned, one-of-a-kind, worth-going-way-out-of-the-way-to-visit businesses! Thanks eat.shop!

KaRu Salon's Grand Opening Party!

We had a wonderful time with the lovely people at the Grand Opening of KaRu Salon and the clothing was provided by yours truly!