#its also a little exciting to get the opportunity to experience the world fir the first time

[rosestthorns]

Hoo boy, a lot just hit me all at once. Had plenty of time to think about my situation and honestly it's pretty shitty.

I am extremely fortunate to have a very close support met i feel safe with irl. And I've also had some support online.

Thank you, @transgender-catboy and @quick-ship-delivery

I genuinely appreciate the support you guys have given me 💙

[remmushound]

Curse of the Clan chapter 65 FINALE!!

Tags: @scentedcandlecryptid @selfindulgenz

“LEOOOO!” Michelangelo ran over to Leonardo out of breath, colliding with his brother before he could stop himself. “Leo Leo Leo Leo Leo Leo—“

“Woah woah woah!” Leonardo laughed and put both hands against Michelangelo’s shoulders to keep the excited turtle at bay, ���Where’s the fire?”

Michelangelo took a long, deep breath. “I traded face painting for a snail and traded the snail fir a painted rock and I traded the painted rock for a cane and I traded the cane for a ball and I traded the ball for a basket of muffins and I traded the basket of muffins for a kitten and I named him Klunk!”

Michelangelo shoved a tiny orange and white kitten in Leonardo’s face; Klunk gave a tiny mew and batted curiously at Leonardo’s nose before quickly being pulled back against Michelangelo.

“That’s great, Mikey—“

But Michelangelo was already running away again on the trail of a bright butterfly, which left Leonardo once more wandering in search of something to do. Everywhere he looked was something new— young yokai playing games or families swimming in the river or flying flips through the air either on wings or paragliders. Everywhere they all seemed to be having the time of their lives. None of the activities caught and kept his attention though until he happened to look over to an ice cream cart manned by a slime yokai. The current customers were a calico nekomata and an old rat.

“Dad?” Confusion came first, and then came a sneaky, mischievous grin. He rubbed his hands together not unlike a supervillain, “Ohhh this is good~”

Slowly, like he was walking across a cloud, Leonardo glided behind a tree. He pulled himself onto a higher branch to get a vantage point, watching as Splinter and the strange woman passed under; he caught a snippet of conversation.

“I can barely handle my four boys; I don’t know how you manage so many!”

“It’s not all fun and laughter that’s for sure, but most of them get adopted really quickly…”

Leonardo jumped the next tree over, silently cursing himself as a falling leaf made Splinter stop and look up. His nose twitched, eyes narrowing just the slightest bit as he stared directly at Leonardo, but perhaps not seeing him; Leonardo remained like a statue.

“Splinter, what’s the matter?” The woman came to up wrap her arms around Splinter’s arm, looking up and trying to see what he saw.

“Nothing.” Splinter said quickly, “Just thought I saw something.”

Slowly, with Splinter dragging his feet, they moved on. Leonardo saw no point in hiding anymore. Before they could get far, Leonardo dropped down in front of them.

“So do I get to be the flowergirl?”

“AH!” Both rat and cat screamed, but Splinter quickly fell to grabbing his sandal and repeatedly slapping Leonardo with it. “YOU! DUMB! DIRTY! YARO! Scared me half to death!”

Leonardo bunched himself at the assault, laughing harder with each slap as he did his best to protect his face. “I’m - sorry! It was too good to resist! Besides, flower girl is more for Mikey, I wanna be ring bearer!”

“You get to be NOTHING!”

“Now That’s just unfair!”

Splinter swung his arm around the cat to guide her quickly around Leonardo, trying his best to ignore his son's taunting presence.

“Was that your son?” The cat asked, trying to look back and steal another glimpse of Leonardo.

“Don’t look at him and maybe he’ll go away.”

***

“RENET!”

Renet stopped long enough to look around, giving a curious hum at the familiar voice. “Michael?”

“ME!”

Renet gave a startled yelp that was quick to turn into giggles when she recognized Michelangelo had come up from behind and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.

“HUG! Hi Renet!” Michelangelo skirted around to her front, smiling brightly, “I traded face painting for a snail and traded the snail for a painted rock and I traded the painted rock for a cane and I traded the cane for a ball and I traded the ball for a basket of muffins and I traded the basket of muffins for a kitten and I named him Klunk!” Klunk gave a soft meow. “Also! I caught a butterfly and traded it for a balloon and traded the ballon for an ice cream cone do you want it?”

Michelangelo offered a strawberry ice cream to Renet, who accepted it with a confused but excited smile. “Uh… thanks. I’ve never had ice cream before!”

She looked over the frozen treat for a curious moment, then took a big bite out of it before Michelangelo could stop her. The cold immediately seized her body and she brought a hand up to cover her mouth against the drool that tried to escape from the shock.

“Mm… cold.” She shivered, wiping her mouth once more before she let herself giggle.

“You’re supposed to lick it, not bite it.” Michelangelo encouraged.

Renet did as asked, swiping her tongue across the length of the dripping ice cream, “Mm! It’s good.”

“It’s ice cream, of course it’s good!” Michelangelo beamed, “What are you doing out here? I didn't think you left your mansion all that often.”

“Yeah I uh… I don’t.” Renet said with a giddy laugh, “Today’s actually the first day. I’ve never seen the sun before.. It’s just as beautiful as I imagined. But hot…”

Renet swiped a few beads of sweat off of her forehead. Michelangelo gasped and, out of an innocent want to help, went to grab the back of her wheelchair to push her. Renet pulled away from the attempt, rolling back around to face him while Michelangelo looked confused, and then startled at Renet’s uncomfortable expression.

“Actually I can roll myself.” She said slowly.

“OH! I— I’m sorry!” Michelangelo squeaked, head shrinking, “I was just going to bring you into the shade…”

Michelangelo motioned to the shade of a nearby tree and Renet started to roll herself over to it while Michelangelo trailed behind.

“I’m sorry.” He repeated again, “Was the hug bad too?”

“O-oh, no, you’re fine just… don’t grab my chair unless I ask you, okay?”

Michelangelo nodded quickly. “Yes Ma’am! And thanks again for, you know, making sure we don’t burn a fiery death in TCRI.”

“Oh yeah, no biggie.” She nodded; the ice cream in her hand was quickly disappearing. “I really enjoy being out here with all the sun and the grass and the bugs! Maaaan I love the bugs!”

“I didn't get out much as a child either.” Michelangelo related, “It was so fun when I got to learn about all the critters and— and watching the stars and the sun rise! And it never gets old because it’s always so different!”

“Well I’m glad to finally experience it.” Renet finished off her cone and then rolled a little further so her front was in the sun; she closed her eyes against the warmth, the light bouncing off her scales in a flashy display, like sunbeams on water. Her skin seemed to glow radiant like light amber, the baby blue headscarf catching the breeze. “The wind is like the sweetest honeydew on my skin… and it’s like I can taste the colors of the world!”

“Well, if you wanna enjoy even more of the world…” Michelangelo started, rubbing his head, “Maybe you want to come eat with me and my family?”

Renet opened her eyes and looked to Michelangelo. “I’d love to!

***

While his brothers were exploring, Donatello was content to stay at the table near the girls. He had been away for so long that there was a seemingly endless amount of social media he needed to catch up with, so he took the opportunity to get a head start on it. Occasionally April or Sunita would throw a shrimp or a burger his way to use him as a taste tester, but he didn't mind. Scrolling was certainly working up an appetite.

Something hit him in the face. Donatello groaned and reached up, having to swipe a few times before he was able to pull it off, and when he did he was hit with a wave wave of confusion. It was a cherry blossom flower— not just a petal, but a full, blooming flower! Even as Donatello held the stemless thing in his hand, it seemed to open a little wider, the dew drops on its petals dripping down and dampening his palm.

Donatello looked around and saw no tree, nor anyone carrying such flowers that could have been lost. Carefully, his fingers traced along the pink curves, soft as melted butter. He stood up, and when he did, he looked down. In the grass just ahead of him was a trail of flowers, blooming before his very eyes and stretching toward the warmth of the sun. The trail was expanding closer to him until the flowers came to him, gentle stems tickling his ankles as he lifted his feet to see the spectacle better. The blooming flowers led to a golden rift at the end of the trail, similar to Draxum’s except with flowers instead of vines. A rift identical to the one that had rescued Donatello and his brothers from The Sea of Trees.

“I told you your brothers would come.” Said a familiar voice— the kirins voice!

And then the flowers were gone, and so was the rift, and so was the voice.

“Don, food’s done.” April called, then put a hand on her hip and gave a frustrated huff when it seemed Donatello wasn’t listening to her.

“Y-yeah, be there in a second.” The hand that once held the cherry blossom felt empty now in its absence, and it took Donatello several long heartbeats to turn back to his meal. “Thanks April… it looks great.”

“It better!” April laughed, “Then again I’d bet anything looks great to you given the past two weeks you spent alone.”

“Yeah…” And Donatello looked to the table and saw a basket of berries sitting there for him, shining with a heavenly glow, “Alone.”

[alotoftrips]

The most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe

Whether or not you made plans for winter holidays, we invite you to admire a selection of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe.

 You've probably heard a ton about European Christmas Markets lately. And if not, well, I'm here to tell you that they are pretty much the greatest wintry thing ever invented. In a nutshell (nutcracker?), they are outdoor festivals home to little wooden ...

Winter in Europe is a wonderful time to visit the most beautiful Christmas markets. If you are looking for Christmas gifts and fir dream of smell or sound wonderful Christmas carols, we invite you to brainstorm selection of europeanbestdestinations.com admire the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe, the perfect destination for winter holidays. Christmas Market in Strasbourg - Christkindelsmärik The first Christmas market was held in 1570 in Strasbourg, under the name "Christkindelsmärik" (market of the Child Jesus). Starting this year, Strasbourg has continued the tradition by organizing a traditional Christmas market, authentic and rich. One of the European Christmas Market veterans is Christkindelsmärik in Strasbourg, also known as Marché de l'Enfant Jésus - one of the oldest in Europe, the first edition being in 1570. 300 wood chalets, spread over 11 thematic areas of the city center (the main square coincides with the Place de la Cathédral), extend their craft products, decorations and seasonal varieties - boiled wine (wine chaud), biscuits wrapped in peanuts, orange, cinnamon or praline flavors. No, I did not convinced you? Then add some assorted assorted stew to cabbage and bon appétit!Christmas Vienna Christmas Markets in Vienna truly an ancient tradition. Forerunners current events dating from the Middle Ages, when in 1298 I gave Albrecht Vienna citizens the privilege of holding a market in December or "Krippenmarkt". Since then, nature and prevalence of these markets have changed considerably. Currently, more than 20 Christmas markets sell a wide range of seasonal gifts and delicacies.In the second plan there is an impressive church that looks right in the eye a medieval castle perched on top of a hill. The 95 stands, divided into 6 different sectors, sell about anything that would go through your head, from flowers, to textiles, handicraft products, toys and brilliant ornaments. In order to find the most delicious dishes, you only have to let yourself guided by the olfactory sense, which rarely fails, and you will see how you get directly into the food section, being immersed in the roasted almond stew, defining Christkindlmarkt. We can put our hands on the fire that you will not go without cooking the boiled wine, the baked apples (Bratpfel) and the sweet peppercorns. From mid-November to Christmas, Vienna’s prettiest squares transform into magical Christmas markets. The aroma of Christmas bakery items and hot punch creates a pre-Christmas atmosphere. One of the most well-known Christmas Markets is the traditional "Vienna Magic of Advent", which turns the City Hall Square into a shining fairytale land. Christmas gifts, tree decorations, sweets and warming drinks are awaiting you as well as a carousel and craft fun Christmas Workshops for kids. The trees of the surrounding City Hall park are festively decorated and radiate in a sea of lights - a Viennese experience, you'll definitely don't want to miss! Another hot spot before Christmas is the cultural and Christmas market in front of Schönbrunn Palace. It offers sheer romance in front of an imperial backdrop, and is converted into a New Year's market after Christmas. The atmospheric market offers traditional handicrafts, hand-made Christmas decorations, Christmas concerts and an extensive children's program, including Christmas workshop. Christmas Fair in Helsinki, Finland Ask any Finnish will get in your way and will proudly answer that Santa Claus comes from Finland and is found at the Helsinki Christmas Fair that takes place in the Senate Square. You'll probably find him busy up to his head to fill the wish lists of everyone. Once you have expressed your wishes for it, serve yourself with some gloggi (boiled, of course). If wine does not do its job, brass music groups, Christmas lights and a visit to the old Dutch carousel should complete the experience. Examine carefully the 133 stands and fill your despair with everything your heart likes, from handicrafts, to traditional ornaments or local goodies. Birmingham has the largest authentic German market in Europe outside of Germany and Austria, with 5.5 million visitors in 2014. Consisting of the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market and the Craft Market, the market has grown from just 24 stalls in 2001 to 180 this year, covering New Street, Victoria Square and Centenary Square. The Frankfurt Market offers a wide range of products, including Christmas decorations, handcrafted jewellery, carved wooden toys, sausages, beer and pretzels, while Christmas Craft Market will offer handmade crafts, soaps and candles by local artisans, as well as a wide range of unique and quirky items imported from around the world. Additionally, visitors can enjoy the popular ice rink and big wheel. Let’s go to Colmar, a city where the magic of Christmas can be experienced in its purest form for six entire weeks, since 17 years. Your way will be drawn by illuminations linking to the city’s five Christmas markets, in a labyrinth of small streets lined with century old half-timbered houses. Nestling in town squares with their own special architectural features, these islands of togetherness are like the city itself: intimate and authentic. Each market is a mini-village, highlighting passionate and enthusiastic craftsmen. Most of them are from Alsace and have been chosen for the quality and the uniqueness of their products. Next to that, you are invited to participate to a wide range of activities, making the Christmas in Colmar an uncommon experience: guided tours, wine-tastings, children animations, exhibition of traditional toys, as well as many shows and concerts. The, original, biggest and - arguably - the best Christmas market in the country, Manchester Christmas Markets is the ideal destination for a festive outing. Arriving in the city in 1999, the first Christmas market in the UK has grown every year since, now attracting more than nine millions visitors each year. Some 300 beautifully crafted stalls offer mouth-watering international food, drinks and finely crafted Yuletide gifts in the heart of the buzzing city centre. Spread across 10 individual sites – each with distinctive own distinctive character – Manchester Christmas Markets has something to offer every festive visitor. This year the market will also introduce a designated family site for the first time with fun rides and entertainment throughout the season, including: LED light performers, magicians and street theatre - with spectacular views of the Manchester Cathedral and National Football Museum. London’s spectacular Christmas destination - Hyde Park Winter Wonderland returns on 20th November for six exciting weeks of winter festivities with FREE admission and even more entertainment than before. With more than 100 rides and attractions on site, there's something for everyone.Open from November 22 to January 6, Angels Christmas Market takes the Christmas Market to a different level and turns into an irreversible magnet for anyone crossing the threshold. You are offered here the opportunity to climb up a rope ladder, follow the artisans, be blacksmiths or sculptors, in full inspiration, or take in all the delightful stalls (from Belgian goats, hot chocolate, boiled wine and until salmon on the grill). Careful! More than 200 wooden sailboats will try relentlessly to tempt you with all sorts of Christmas gifts and decorations and so will the carousels or the ice rink. Something hard to find elsewhere will be the Ice Kingdom - a huge sculpture, a forest, an ice castle, and a host of fantastic creations. For those Christmas shoppers, there’s the traditional German Christmas market with over 200 chalets. The Angels Christmas Market offers unusual and handmade gifts and crafts, including ceramics, candles, jewellery, wooden toys, nativity scenes and Christmas decorations.

Christmas Market in Dresden, Germany - Dresden Striezelmarkt

Like a sequoia tree, the Dresden Fair goes for 600 years, and the nearby craftsmen give a lift, raising 250 stands, ready to serve you with whatever you want (wooden ornaments, nut breakers and traditional pyramid candles ). And because we are sure you have already tried to name it to see if it comes out, it also tells you that it draws its origins from Strüzel or Stroczel, a fruit cake weighing 3 tons. Among the other jams and soups are already the usual Glühwein (boiled wine) and Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen - jam with chocolate covered chocolate, Rahmklecks - baked bread filled with cheese and German specialties Bratwurst (slices) hand-made with pretzels (pretzels) .If you like Christmas, you’ll love Dresden. A grand total of eleven completely different Christmas markets, from the by no means Dark Ages to the après ski charm of alpine huts, makes for wonderfully conflicting decisions.Holiday sounds fill the air throughout the city. From the many oratorios, Advent, organ and gospel concerts, Dresden’s churches brim with festive insider tips. Christmas tales also come to life in the city’s theatres whilst museums host special exhibitions and boats bejewelled with lights glide along the Elbe. If only Christmas could last more than just a few weeks… Aachen Every year before Christmas, markets and streets around the Cathedral and Aachen City Hall is transformed into a paradise of lights and colors, festive sounds and smells. Christmas Fair fascinate both the young and the old ones.

Christmas Market in Stockholm - Stortorget julmarknad

The Stortorget julmarknad, in its understandable name, is the Stockholm Christmas Fair and takes place in the heart of the Old City Center. Seeing the light of the day in 1837, Sweden's oldest Christmas fair, along with all 40 small red stands, is set as a glove in this historical context. Come here, warm yourself around a hot cup of red wine seasoned with aromatic spices (you will identify it, either by smell or by the name of "glögg"), and you are always looking for some traditional Swedish Christmas delicacies: Gingerbread (" pepparkakor "), saffransbullar (corn-shaped martini) and, why not, reindeer, reindeer and smoked sausages.

Whether you enjoy a traditional or contemporary Christmas, Stockholm has something to offer you. Experience aChristmas market, have some glögg and ginger bread and go shopping under the beautiful Christmas decorations that light up the city every year. For a genuine Stockholm Christmas, the Old Town’s Christmas market is a must. This market has been held in Stortorget since 1915, and the little red stalls sell warm “glögg”, gingerbread, cheese, candy and craft.

Come and see for yourself why is the Croatian capital visited by an increasing numbers of tourists during the time of Advent; get to know its idyllic side and partake in themed programmes which take place on the streets and squares around the city centre.

During the time of Advent, Zagreb offers a special atmosphere which simply must be experienced. An ever growing number of tourists choose the capital of Croatia as their destination at that time of year as good fun is had by all literally every step of the way. The city streets and squares invite you to let your hair down and partake in singing, dancing, and other kinds of entertainment with family and friends. You can also sample traditional delicacies alfresco or enjoy themed programmes which take you down memory lane. Welcome to Tallinn Christmas Market! The fairy-tale atmosphere of the Christmas market, which is held on the Town Hall Square in Tallinn, makes anything possible! At the heart of it all – apart from Santa and his reindeer, who are eternal favourites with the kids – is Estonia's most famous Christmas tree, surrounded by little huts selling their wares. Here you will find handicraft specialists with their work, and seasonal Estonian food and drink. Tallinn's Medieval Old Town takes on an especially magical quality during this time of the year as a fresh powdering of snow covers its gabled rooftops and outdoor candles fill its cobblestone lanes with a flickering glow. Tallinn is also the home of the world's first Christmas tree. This tree was erected on Tallinn's Town Hall Square and was the focal point of a ritual, that began in 1441, and involved unmarried merchants singing and dancing with local girls around a tree, which was then burnt. The tree was the first public Christmas tree ever put on display in Europe by the Brotherhood of Black Heads guild. The tradition has now been revived.

Christmas Market in Sibiu - Great Square

If you do not want to spend Christmas out of carpathian-danubiano-pontic space, nor do you get any wax, do yourself a favor and go to the Great Square in Sibiu. Take it among the 70 wooden houses that are rich in pottery, furs and wooden toys, and regardless of the problems you have with the slopes, do not overlook the skating rink or the children's park. Many mouths say that Sibiu would be the most place in Transylvania, and if for foreigners it is obligatory to visit it at least once in life, for us this obligation turns into "once a year". All the chances of stunning stories, and a show of carols and lights is something to turn your back on. And not that we're worried about hungry, but we're also reviewing traditional goodies: boiled wine, cake and roasted chestnuts, Hungarian couscous and curt.

Tale of Copenhagen - Tivoli Gardens

The Danes have a word - "hygge" - and we would like to give you a synonym, but we can not find anything shorter than "an inner, profound and absolutely good state." Well, the Copenhagen Christmas Market, organized in the world's second oldest amusement park, has everything it takes to blow up a whole planet with "hygge". Aligned with rows of fir trees in which hundreds of lights glow, Tivoli Gardens embrace an air that smells of the smell of roasted almonds, and if you put in the landscape and frozen lake and turned into a skating rink, you only have to start writing stories with fairies. Do not let go of one of the stalls crafted with handmade art, nor the lips of the jam with jam and sugar. Do not get drunk until you refuse without leaving the sandwich with roast pork and red cabbage. But do it before and after you get into The Star Flyer, a 80-meter tower (the highest in northern Europe) where you can overlook the entire Danish capital.

Christmas Market in Moscow - Red Square Against the backdrop of the majestic St. Basil's Basilica and the imposing walls of the Kremlin, the winter of Winter, Red Square and one of the most beautiful Christmas fairs are to be seen. However, unlike the enormities we have talked about so far, this market sums up 20 stands selling Christmas decorations and local souvenirs (matryoshka dolls and Khokhloma toys are pampered). The market somehow surrounds the largest ice rink in Moscow, and here you can also happily take the younger family, taking them in small bands. Among the traditional Russians are baked potatoes with mushrooms and pickles or caviar pancakes. And for the taste of Christmas that melts in your mouth and slips on your throat, you find boiled wine and sweet Russian cake. The Russians celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January and, in order to be in line with the Christian tradition through this part of the world, the fair remains open until its end.

 Christmas Market in Prague - Old Town Square

When it comes to Christmas fairs, Prague has a hard word to say because the city is full of markets and holiday mood. But the cake on the cake is undoubtedly in the Old Center. Here, rows of sympathetic wooden huts scattered around the giant Christmas tree, sell souvenirs: jewels, candles, crystals, all the wonders of glass-made objects and wooden toys. The culinary offer begins with the traditional pork grid and sausages served in the blood, and for the Czechs. Turn off your thirst with a mouthful of mead - a refreshing wine with honey added.

[connorrenwick]

Bring Your ‘Outdoor Voices’ Inside This Nolita Shop And Community Hub

You don’t have to be a SoulCycle instructor or even go to the gym 5x a week to appreciate athleisure wear, a fashion trend that has taken root in America. There’s been a shift in the fashion mindset that comfort should prevail all but it doesn’t have to be substituted out for style. So why not combine the comfort of athletic wear and update it for casual wear? One of the first brands to take the lead in this new market is New York-based Outdoor Voices, founded by Tyler Haney. Since launching in 2014, Tyler has created four stores (two in Texas, two in NYC). Today, we’re visiting the brand’s first NYC location in Nolita designed in collaboration with Will Fox, an Architectural Designer from McGuire Hospitality.

Read on to find out where Tyler got the name Outdoor Voices, the 3-word mantra she goes by (that I’m now adopting), and how Will defines modern design in the realm of fashion…

Why did you pick this neighborhood?

TH: Community is so important to us. We opened our New York pop-up about a year ago in Nolita and have always considered the surrounding area home. When we were finally ready to open our first permanent store in NYC, we knew that we wanted to stay local, so we opened up a store around the corner (with our NYC headquarters right above it)!

How did the name Outdoor Voices come about?

TH: It plays off the memory we all have of our moms telling us to use our indoor voices. It’s a nod to recreational activity and our mission to get people out there Doing Things together. Being active doesn’t mean you have to be competitive — it’s about moving your body and having fun.

Has the store changed much since it opened? How?

TH: The store has always been a “recreational center” for our team and community. We use it as a meeting spot for activities, like OV Joggers Club, pickup basketball games and dog jogs. We’re constantly updating the product in there, but our intention is for it to continue to be community hub for activity.

WF: The store has taken on a life of its own i.e. social dog walks, yoga classes and jogs.  The store is meant to be a social hub, so we hope it keeps evolving as people use it.

What’s one of the challenges you have with the business?

TH: We want OV to become the next great activewear brand, and that’s a lofty goal for a young company. I know we’re doing something different from the traditional players in the space, and that’s what drives us forward. Our amazing team impresses me everyday with the hard work it takes to get us there.

What other stores have you worked in before opening this one?

TH: We opened our first store in Austin in 2014, and since opening up in Nolita have opened another New York City store on the Upper East Side, as well as a shop in Dallas.

WF: ByGeorge in Austin

What’s your favorite item in the store right now?

TH: Our current collection is inspired by desert plants, and I’m obsessed with the new Cactus color we introduced. I’ve been wearing our Tri-Tone Leggings in Forest/Sage/Cactus pretty much nonstop since they launched a couple weeks ago.

What is this season’s theme/inspiration/story?

TH: Nature plays a big role in our spring collections; it’s all about cacti, pebbles, and crystals. Our teams are surrounded by so much nature in Austin, and I’m sure that influenced our color palette!

Are you carrying any new products and/or undiscovered gems you’re particularly excited about?

TH: We launched a fabric called Tech Sweat this past year, and like the name implies, it’s made for high impact or particularly sweaty activities. It’s cool to the touch, wicking, and dries quickly. Summer’s around the corner, and I’ll definitely be playing beach volleyball in our Biker Shorts.

What’s been a consistent best seller?

TH: The Athena Crop and 3/4 Warmup Leggings are OV classics. They’re two of our signature styles and are super versatile – you can wear to yoga, or on a jog, or running errands around town… I’ve always got that duo close at hand.

What does modern design in the realm of fashion mean to Outdoor Voices?

TH: We’re lucky to have a design team that hails from both the active world and the fashion world, since we’re designing activewear that bridges the gap between gym-life and life-life. Our clothes are functional, without sacrificing style or comfort.

WF: We definitely try to use the design of the stores to showcase OV’s approach to clothing design which is keeping it casual and fun, like the brand. Not too sterile or “design-y.”  OV celebrates individuality and the way people wear the clothes uniquely, and we wanted to express that with spatial layout and composition of the store (ex.the three formal and experientially distinct fitting rooms).  We look at art, architecture and design, for inspiration but don’t want it to feel pretentious or imposing. We wanted the SoHo store to be warm, but also clean and modern. Therefore, we chose some raw and earthy materials such as blush-colored plaster, wool carpets, vintage knoll fabrics, and combined them with more contemporary elements like Douglas fir plywood, sheets of raw aluminum and vein cut travertine.  There are some Donald Judd, Frank Gehry, Georgia O’Keefe, and Gio Ponti Influences.  We also looked at store designs from fashion brands we respect like ACNE and APC.

Any special events/exhibits/pop ups/collaborations coming up?

TH: We always have tons of community events in our stores, and we’ve got a bunch of projects in the works for this year. I’m excited to share more when the time comes.

Do you have anything from the store in your own home?

TH: Aside from tons of OV product, the painting behind our cash wrap (by Les Rogers) is technically on loan from my home. It’s one of my favorite pieces, but it adds such a perfect brightness to the shop that I’m happy with it taking a little vacation.

What’s next for you and your store?

TH: We’re planning to open four more stores this year. Can’t wait to meet our new neighbors!

What’s one lesson you’ve learned since opening the store?

TH: One of our goals with retail is to integrate ourselves into each store’s local community, and we’ve learned that it’s important to really get to know the area before making a move. We’ve had success with our Centre St. in part thanks to our previous experience with a pop-up around the corner and the intimate knowledge of the neighborhood that comes from spending time there. We always want to get to know our surroundings before putting down roots.

WF: Keep the palette simple. Design a few elements to have big impact, and let the materials do most of the work.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to follow a similar path to yours, what would it be?

TH: It would be what my mom used to tell me when I was little: TYB, baby. It means “try your best.” Building a business requires tenacity! You have to be passionate and have unbound energy for what you’re creating.

WF: Go with intuition, build physical models, let restraints become design opportunities (i.e. cylindrical fitting room was derived from the need for ADA accessibility. The required turning radius helped dictate the form, which we thought was interesting to express). ​

To visit Outdoor Voice’s Nolita location, stop by 251 Centre St, New York, NY 10013.

via http://design-milk.com/

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