Boutique Spotlight: Southern Hippie

Posted on by Style By Kim xo

unnamed-14

I stumbled upon Southern Hippie when I was looking for a specific dress and Elizabeth was the only store left in he US that had one.  When I chatted with Elizabeth I loved her.  I think she has a great heart and a great eye for some amazing pieces.  She shares the same style philosophy that I do, edgy and comfortable. I had the chance to catch up with her and ask her a few questions…after all a women that started a store out of the back of a van with clothing in plastic bins is my kind of lady. An inspiration to everyone that has ever wanted to follow their dreams.

unnamed-17

 

Kim: You started by selling clothing from clothing out of your SUV and taking your favourite brands to friends’ houses that love to shop. What inspired you to do that?

 

Elizabeth: It’s a pretty crazy story actually. When I was growing up, I was a rodeo girl!  I always loved clothes. My whole life was  rodeo, riding horses, roping, barrel racing, etc. I grew up humbly with awesome parents in a small town out in the country. For that, I feel fortunate. It keeps me grounded.

I got my undergraduate degree from Texas Tech.  During that time, I changed my major several times, and one of those times I changed into the fashion-merchandising program. I also had a deep-rooted passion for helping others, so ultimately I ended up with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies, which I went on to graduate school for at the University of North Texas.

I know what you’re thinking, how did all of this translate into opening Southern Hippie? Well, here’s how.

During graduate school, I began working at a women’s domestic violence shelter, and I made next to nothing. Since I had such an affinity for clothing, a friend and I discussed the possibility of starting a little store out of the back of our SUVs. From there, things took off, slowly but surely. We grew from our SUV’s, to then renovating and repurposing a 1967 Airstream trailer, and now we have a brick and mortar store in Georgetown and an online store.

 

Kim: What inspired you to call your store ” Southern Hippie?”

 

Elizabeth: The inspiration comes from a couple of different places. I’m a true-blooded Texan, through and through, so that owns the Southern thing.

As for hippie, that got a little tricky but I ultimately settled on it because I feel like these days hippie is such a subjective term. To me, hippie is a means for thought. A hippie is educated and informed, but is also one of a creative mind and a free thinker, who shies away from constraints, rules, or expectations. So in turn, that’s how I try to dress myself, free of fashion rules or what is considered traditionally appropriate. I want for my customers to feel that way about they way they dress as well.

 

Kim: Lots of women have dreams of doing many different things.  How did you get your dream started and who supported you?

My dream was born out of mere passion and an eye for what is beautiful. I have always had a way of putting together an outfit that many wouldn’t consider throwing together, but somehow, it just works. I just always liked clothes and how they can change people’s perspective of someone. It is a uniquely human thing, and everyone has their own sense of fashion and what looks good, which ultimately translates in to what they want others to see.  I think my dream was always to be a successful independent businesswoman who helps other people and I really feel like I have been able to accomplish that with Southern Hippie.

My parents have been extremely supportive to me for the entirety of my life. They supported me when I was in professional rodeo, they supported me through my academic career, and now they continue to support me in whatever way they can via Southern Hippie. They have always been such an encouraging and driving force in my life and none of what I do would be possible without them. They are also two of the greatest people on the planet, true salt of the earth types. They keep me grounded and at the same time, they help me chase my dreams.

Kim: What is your advice for other women that have dreams and aspirations of starting their own businesses?

Elizabeth: My advice is to go for it! The only way of ever knowing if you can do something is if you try! However, I believe strongly in education and gaining knowledge on whatever field you are trying to become a part of. Sometimes I think others believe what I do in running a boutique is a cakewalk, and that it is all fun and games, but it is not! It is hard work. Every day is a new venture, and I continue to learn by a trial and error what works and what doesn’t. What makes it great is that I love it so much, and that’s the real key to starting a business. If you love what you do, and you love being at work, it will show!

Kim: What were your biggest challenges starting Southern Hippie and how did you overcome them?

Elizabeth: The biggest challenges I faced were just making things a reality. When we started Southern Hippie, I worked out of plastic bins out of the back of my SUV. It was difficult for me to wrap my head around eventually owning a brick and mortar store, or having an ecommerce website, but I just took things day by day and it all happened pretty organically. It was a group effort amongst my parents and I to help get me to where I am now, and we work so hard each and every day to continue to grow. As any new business, we have had growing pains and hardships, but it is all worth it at the end of the day as I get to watch my brand grow.

Kim: What is your mission and vision for Southern Hippie?  What makes you different?

Elizabeth: My mission and vision for Southern Hippie is to grow my website as much as possible and to continue to have a successful static location, hopefully with many different locations in the future! Right now we are located in a suburb of Austin, but I am hoping in the near future to be in the heart of Austin. I think that suits my brand so much better. Other than that, I am hoping to one day begin a private Southern Hippie label and produce my own product. That is a ways off in the distance, but it is definitely a goal of mine.

I think what sets me apart is the way we do business at Southern Hippie. We are customer-centric, meaning I try to make my customers feel like friends and that they have a personal shopping experience each time they buy from us. I try to bring the best merchandise and still at affordable prices. I try to bring the best brands, and we try to stay ahead of the curve. I also love supportive up and coming brands and making them cool amongst my customers. We try to be as loyal to our customers and brands as they are to us and I think that will maintain lasting impressions as we continue to grow.

Kim: What is your inspiration for the clothing styles that you choose?

Elizabeth: I wish I had an awesome answer for this but most of the time, I dress to be comfortable but still cute. I love wearing basics like Michael Lauren, a pair of skinny jeans, and my booties. That’s what I wear a lot of the time. In the summer, I live in my Show Me Your Mumu because it is so comfortable and cute without having to try too hard. My main thing is no muss, no fuss. I pick clothing to carry at Southern Hippie based on those principles too, keep it simple, cute, forward, and unique.

Kim: What’s the most out of place thing in your purse right now?

 

Elizabeth: Oh Lord, I think the better question is what is the only thing in my purse that isn’t out of place. I swear my purse is Narnia. Once you are able to sift through the year’s worth of receipts, you never know what you might find. But let me think…right now I have a pack of candy cigarettes in my purse. I have no earthly idea why I have them, I just do.

 

Kim: Latest book you read?

 

Elizabeth: The last book I read was “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls. It’s a memoir about the Walls children who came from a very dysfunctional family where her father is an alcoholic part of the time and her mother was too idealistic to deal with the responsibility of having a family.

The book paints a picture of what it was like for them growing up in New York City and taking care of themselves as they watch their parents self-destruct. It was an excellent book and I highly recommend it!

 

Kim: Favourite celebrity style muse?

 

Kate Hudson is pretty much perfect in my eyes. She always looks so effortlessly chic and I try to emulate the same thing.

 

Kim: What are your goals for SH and where do you see yourself in 10 years?

 

My goal is simple: growth. I want to continue to grow Southern Hippie, expanding my static locations and continue to make my presence known as an ecommerce store. I want people all over the United States ordering from us and I want to continue to be a mainstay in the Austin area for many years to come.

My personal goals are the same: growth. I am about to embark on my 30th birthday and I am one of those people to embrace it rather than to shy away from it. I feel like I am in a time of great personal growth and I would like for that to continue for myself and for Southern Hippie. In 10 years, hopefully Southern Hippie will be a household name and I’ll be sipping a cocktail on a beach somewhere. A girl can dream…

 

Check out Southern Hippie you will love the prices, inspiration and the service.

Happy Shopping!

 

Kim xo

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply