The Beaufort Bonnet Company
is everywhere lately! This adorable line of children's accessories is just perfect for the teensiest fashion mavens in your life. I'm just in love with the bonnets, bowties, and bloomers -- many of which can be monogrammed. I keep hoping a friend or relative will have a baby soon so that I can buy all the Beaufort Bonnets!
I recently caught up with Markey Hart Hutchinson, the Lexington lady behind The Beaufort Bonnet Company. She's smart and fun, with a great eye for fun design. Markey's great attitude certainly shines through in her company's designs! -- HCW
A few questions with Markey:
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m from Lexington. I graduated from Sewanee (The University of the South) in Tennessee. I’m 32. I have two funny, smart, and wonderful children, my son Wakefield, who's 3, and Betsey, who's 1 1/2. My husband is a patient man and a great father. I like laughing, nice people, and all things that make my eyes smile. Colors and ‘pretty’ influence my mood; style and design have always been a passion.
How did The Beaufort Bonnet Company come to be?
A Mother Daughter Team started Susu and John in Beaufort, South Carolina around 2007-2009ish. The Beaufort Bonnet, made from an old heirloom pattern, was their star item and the reason they went into business. When I was pregnant and seeing the world through pink-colored glasses, I spotted a picture of a friend’s baby wearing a pink gingham bonnet while perusing Facebook. I asked where she got the little gem; I just knew Betsey would want a bonnet! My friend ended up gifting us one and it was love at first sight. Betsey wore her bonnet everywhere and people went bananas over it. Strangers and friends were asking where to get one. After studying the Susu and John website I noticed they didn’t have any retail accounts in Kentucky. I thought, I’m already selling these bonnets- I might as well get paid for it. I contacted the owner and asked if I could have the exclusive rights to sell them in Kentucky- a few emails later I found myself negotiating a price to buy her business. I gave the company a new name and logo and hit the ground running.
I see a lot of traditional Southern style in your products, with some Lilly Pulitzer-style preppy mixed in. What are your inspirations for The Beaufort Bonnet Company's products?
Great observation! TBBC style is a reflection of my style. I like all things classic, timeless and refined- but I also like colorful, fun, and clever. My inspirations demonstrate that ‘refined’ doesn’t have to mean ‘boring’. Lilly Pulitzer, Dorothy Draper, and Carleton Varney mastered the art of pairing classic pieces with bold elements & bright colors to make things interesting. I want babies and children wearing TBBC items to provoke smiles (followed by compliments and conversation) - I love the idea of being partly responsible for someone’s smile.
Here at HerKentucky, we love to support Kentucky's women-owned businesses. What advice do you have for women who want to start their own business?
I regret I’m not qualified to hand out advice. The Beaufort Bonnet Company is 4 months old; I’m still craving advice, suggestions, and wisdom. Ask me again when I recover my investment and start sleeping ;-)
What do you wish someone had told you before you started The Beaufort Bonnet Company?
I wish
someone had told me I was going to make mistakes- and that some mistakes were going to be expensive. Mistakes involving trust and dependability sting the most. The good thing is, I’m a fast learner.
Now for a few fun questions:
Coffee or Tea?
I’m way too complicated to answer this question. I drink coffee every morning but it’s really not my cup of tea- ha- do you get it?
Bourbon or Beer?
Cold BEER. In a bottle. But a cup or can is fine too.
Jeans or a Skirt?
skirt
Cats or Cards?
C.A.T.S cats cats cats!!
What's your favorite spot in Lexington?
My favorite spot(s) in Lexington are… Greenbrier’s pool, 3rd Floor Main at Keeneland, the house where I grew up, Wheelers, Suggins, Merrick, Rupp Arena when the Cats are playing, Gate 11 for tailgating, Monkees, L.V. Harkness, and the Chinoe Pub. Hmm, I bet there aren’t many people who have used L.V. Harkness and Chinoe Pub in the same sentence… I guess that’s me in a nutshell.
If The Beaufort Bonnet Company products are on your Holiday Wish List, you can find them at these Kentucky stores:
.: 531 W. Short St., Lexington (They even do registries for expectant mamas!)
: 120 Clay Ave., Lexington
: 133 West Main St., Springfield
: 300 North Mayo Trail Suite 3, Pikeville
: 188 West Court St., Prestonsburg
The Gifts Every Kentucky Fan Needs
Because of all that, I wanted to make sure we've all got some options to give to the crazy Kentucky fan in our life - whether that be someone in your family or just a gift for yourself!
Some people like to bring you Kentucky news "in the most ridiculous manner possible." Let me continue the Transy tradition and give you some of the most ridiculous UK stocking stuffers possible.
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| UK "Duck" Tape |
Let's ignore the fact that this isn't properly named "duct" tape and just carry on with the idea that if duct tape can fix anything, try to imagine what UK duct tape can do!
Gotta have it.
$6.67 @ Amazon for 10 yards. You could use it as Christmas tree garland!
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| Tire valve stem covers |
Show that you're a true blue fan with tire valve stem colors - because it's the smallest place on your car where you can still show your loyalty. Better yet? Take your car for a rotation and alignment in Louisville and laugh at the Cards fan who grimaces when he's removing these.
$10.26 @ Amazon for 4 OR buy five sets and be a total boss and trick out your 18-wheeler and have two left for your bicycle!
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| Silver Toned Stretch Band Ring |
The ring, with that high-dollar stretch band that I'm sure wouldn't turn your finger green, is almost the perfect marriage of a quatrefoil and the UK logo.
I think the women of Rho Iota could all use one of these!
$10.95 @ Amazon
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| Wildcats Piggy Bank |
$13.37 @ Amazon
Nothing says a cozy winter night by the fire like UK blue hot chocolate - especially when the tin says, "Real Wildcats Drink Blue."
I actually really want this. I'm looking at you, family readers!
$18.44 for a pack of 3 - Okay, so it's really special hot chocolate!
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| UK Ceiling Fan |
Pimp out your Person Cave (in our house, we don't subscribe to the more popular, sexist name for the sports/TV/beer drinking room) with a UK ceiling fan.
$359.00 @ Amazon (Note to family: DO NOT buy this for me. Seriously.)
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| Rubbermaid 32-gallon Can |
$56.17 @ Amazon
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| Kentucky Fan Gnome Bench |
Ok. I've looked at too much ridiculousness if this is starting to look cute!
$24.95 @ Amazon
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| UK gift tags |
Of course, you can't give any of these gifts without wrapping them nicely and attaching these UK gift tags.$2.49 @ Amazon for a sheet of 10
Quick note: All the image links are affiliate links to Amazon.com
What's the most ridiculous sports-themed gift you've ever given or received?
5 Kentucky Boutiques for Christmas Shopping
- 867 E. High Street Suite 120
- Lexington, KY 40502
- AJ's Casuals is a charming boutique located in the heart of Lexington. They offer several contemporary brands of women's clothing, as well as other accessories.
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| Photo via AJ's Casuals Facebook |
- 112 Clay Avenue
- Lexington, Kentucky 40502
In 1990, inspired by the small town gift shops she visited as a child, Peggy, with the help of her mother, opened Peggy’s Gifts. From the beginning, the goal of the shop was to combine the warm and personal atmosphere of a small town boutique with a wide selection of handpicked quality gifts. What began as a quarter of the building, has grown over twenty years, to encompass all 3000 square feet of the home on Clay Avenue.
Peggy’s is packed with wonderful gifts to celebrate any occasion! We feature a fabulous selection of jewelry, totes and purses, and chic accessories for your home and entertaining needs. As an added free service, we wrap all your gifts in our signature dot paper!
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| Photo and description via Peggy's Gifts |
Lexington, KY
859-268-1012
The Vogue
Louisville, KY
502-896-9190
- 3725 Lexington Road
- Louisville, KY 40207
Clodhoppers first opened its doors in 1993 as an unassuming storefront on an eclectic Bardstown Road strand of shops. At that time, the store windows were full of the used Levi’s and the clunky Doc Martens indicative of the minimalist, street chic era of early 90s fashion. But as the styles of their clients evolved with the years, so did the store. Co-owners Kathy Reiss-Miller and Kelly McDonald combined a strength in building business relationships with a penchant for style to swiftly move their boutique into shopping mainstream. They have since moved their business into the newly-remodeled, 4500 square foot Vogue Theatre building on Lexington Road, where they today sell several designer lines of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories. Over the years, Clodhoppers has matured into Louisville’s premier purveyor of luxury fashion and the shopping experience.
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| Photos via Clodhoppers |
- 3706 Lexington Road
- Louisville, KY 40207
Blink Boutique is known for the beautiful selection of dresses, ensembles, shoes, handbags, denim and jewelry. We want to have something to offer every woman that comes into our door which is why we offer a variety of lines including: Bell by Alicia Bell, Halston Heritage, Hudson Jeans, Jay Godfrey, Joie, Karina Grimaldi, Linea Pelle, Paige, Shoshanna, 12th Street, Tom Ford, Vince, and Velvet Located in the heart of St. Matthews on Lexington Road, the boutique has a laid back yet sophisticated style where customer service has always been the focus. If you haven't been by, we encourage you to come see what Blink is all about. As much as we love fashion, what we love even more is our clients.
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| Photo and Description via Blink's Facebook page |
The Bourbon Lover's Wish List
Every Kentuckian has at least one bourbon lover on her holiday shopping list.  |
| I want that julep cup! |
The guys at The Bourbon Review have graciously offered a one-year subscription to The Bourbon Review and a t-shirt from their Bourbon Outfitter merchandise line to one lucky HerKentucky reader. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. The contest runs through midnight on Friday the 14th, and a winner will be announced on Saturday.
Cheers and Good Luck!
Edited: Congratulations to Townsley M., the winner of this giveaway!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A Very MEllen Christmas to You!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A Vineyard Vines Wish List
This year, I was thrilled when our friends at Vineyard Vines sent over some suggestions for HerKentucky readers. I want all of them!
The Fisherman Scarf: Oh my word, I love this! The color is amazing (they call it "Pink Tulip"!) and would match pretty much everything I own. When I took up knitting a few years ago, I had visions of whipping up fancy cable-knit scarves like this to give as presents. It hasn't quite happened yet.
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What's on your holiday wish list?
Fur Coats and Cabbage Patch Kids
My grandparents taught me that Christmas presents should sparkle. It's a nice tradition to uphold.
My grandparents always gave the greatest Christmas presents.
Now, looking back, most of those gifts were exactly what most kids our age were unwrapping. Toys that matched our interests. I seem to recall a couple of monogrammed sweaters. But, it always seemed like they'd hit the nail on the head. They got us exactly what we wanted, and sometimes things that we didn't even know we wanted. We were always so excited to open them!
There was the year we got Cabbage Patch Kids. That was exciting stuff in the year when EVERYBODY had to have Cabbage Patch Kids. There was the year they had "surprise" presents for us after everything else was unwrapped -- a collector's Scarlett O'Hara doll for me, and a 10 speed bike for my cousin. And then, there was the year of the fur coat.
Yeah, I'd wear the same outfit today.
Oh, y'all. A rabbit fur coat. From Dawahare's. Now, as every good Kentuckian can recall, Dawahare's was just about the best store ever. When you unwrapped a package to find their iconic bugler logo, you just knew that box was going to contain something really good!
As an adult, I try to think about those special Christmases at my grandparents' house as I buy gifts for the people on my own list. I want a present to reflect the recipient's interests and style. I don't want to give generic gloves or socks. I want to see an actual smile of appreciation when the present is opened. Like Mia, the comically saucy secretary in Love, Actually, I try to remember that Christmas isn't for things you need, it's for things you want -- pretty things.
Every year, my goal is to capture the joy of fur coats and Cabbage Patch Kids. That makes for gifts that are amazing to give and (hopefully) to receive.