Southern Road Trip: Memphis, Tennessee

We stayed in Little Rock, Arkansas for a day and half. For some reason we got zero photos from there. I think we were to busy shooting video to notice! It was wonderful and we thrifted my favourite dress of the trip. I deperately want to go back there again so I can experience it properly. From there we drove to Memphis, TN.

This had to be one of my favourite stops through the whole trip. Back when I was 11 or 12 years old I had a paper route and a discman (they were the greatest). I remember turning on my T.V one day and one of this mans movies was showing and I instantly fell in love with him and his bevy of perfectly dressed ladies. I wanted to be just like them. I played this one mixed CD of Elvis songs on my discman non stop for a year at least and I credit him not only for creating my love of the 1950's, but for the beginnings of my love vintage clothing. I am of course referring to Elvis Presley (as if you didn't all guess when you saw the title)

I had never dreamed I would ever get the chance to step inside Graceland, I know it is seen as cheesy to some people, but it was just was incredible! I didn't expect Graceland to be in such a run down part of town, or so close to the street. It doesn't take away from it too much thankfully! It is a magnificent building, with its columns and winding driveway. The brick fence in front of the property is tagged with messages and names of people that have visited and right across the road are buildings filled with memorabilia.

We chose one of the cheaper options, with an audio tour on a little headset that you can control. It was a bit crowded as we stepped in so we took our time and dropped behind the group so I wasn't right up against a wall. It was like I had stepped back in time. Everything was decorated in a magnificent 1970's way with shag pile rugs and different tones of brown. Each room was perfectly left the way it was when he last lived there. Covered in retro art, furniture and random odds and ends that exist in my dreams.

I loved the TV room, boasting 3 full colour T.Vs and a lightening bolt on the wall. Apparently Elvis had wanted to be just like the president and have three going at the same time! The 'jungle room' as it was nicknamed is equally incredible. The fur and carved wooden furniture was a short lived 70's fad that Elvis had taken favour too and tropical plants were covering the room.

I don't usually like cars, but I'm so glad we didn't miss his car museum! The famous pink Cadillac was there and all of his purchases were my dream  cars, It would help if I could drive though, Just a little. We also saw all oh his famous costumes, like the extravagant jumpsuits and the more refined 50s and 60s suits, which is my favourite era of Elvis.

As we finished the tour of the house you end with visiting Elvis's grave site. It's an unexpected end to the tour and incredibly sad as he was so young when he passed and in such a tragic way. It was covered in letters and gifts from fans. It was touching to see that s many years after his death he was still so loved! As we left we took pictures outside of the house two of the security ladies told me how much they loved what I was wearing and then asked me if it was 'one of those Kim Kardashian outfits'.Darn.

 Top-Thrifted, Kiapoi, New Zealand

Bag-Thrifted, Rangiora, New Zealand

Culottes- Thrifted, Little Rock, AR

Sandals- Thrifted, Denton, TX

We filled up our entire day with Graceland, so we had to head off straight after for the next day of adventures! My next post includes my second of the two accidental blogger meet ups during my trip!