The IT List 2020: 1-5/26

If you keep up with me on the Instagram, I hope you’ve been enjoying so far seeing this year’s stylish set on The IT List, as seen in SouthPark Magazine. If you don’t do the Instagram thing, that’s quite alright; I’m excited to also introduce you to each of this year’s featured men and women here! You can also go grab a copy of your own at just about any Harris Teeter and Auto Bell in the Queen City, as well as the mall or Reid’s Fine Foods! Introducing the very stylish first five on this year’s list…

Natalie Frazier Allen

Growing up in New York City influenced Natalie Frazier Allen’s love of high-low styling. “I am accustomed to valuing everything from Bergdorf’s and Bloomingdale’s to styles you see on the street and subway,” says Frazier Allen, 54. The former attoreny and founder and CEO of The Arts Empowerment Project loves pairing everything from NYC and her travels with items she finds in pop-up shops around Charlotte.

Yele Aluko

“I consider myself a modern-day Renaissance man,” says Yele Aluko, chief medical officer at Ernst & Young. Aluko is inspired by nostalgia and things that tell a story, including a vintage pocket watch he is currently eyeing. “I enjoy being distinct from the mainstream,” Aluko says. “Style is not a fad or fast fashion; it’s about who you are and who you represent.”

Sonya Barnes

Sonya Barnes’ signature color is red, including her favorite pair of signed Sarah Jessica Parker heels that the actor encouraged her to wear often. The life and style strategist for women has her eye on a Gucci caftan to add to her closet. “I love modern elegance with a bit of visual interest. I love timeless pieces that have been reimagined“, says Barnes, 52. 

Troy M. Barnes, Jr.

As a style advisor for Neiman Marcus, Troy M. Barnes Jr. knows style when he sees it. He believes your mood works in tandem with what you wear. “My favorite pieces are my hats. They’re the bridge between generations and all people,” says Barnes, 34. “ A good hat will start a conversation between strangers and develop a friendship that lasts a lifetime.”

Lashawnda Becoats

Not putting style in a box is how life coach, model and Pride Magazine editor Lashawnda Becoats puts her fashion foot forward. “ I love remixing traditional womenswear with a touch of masculinity. It allows me to express my love for both men’s and women’s wear unapologetically, says Becoats, 49, Who calls her style tomboy chic. “ in fact, if you see me in a dress, look down — I’m usually rocking a pair a fly kicks on my feet.”

Written: Shameika Rhymes
Photography: Richard Israel
On location: Johnson C. Smith
On location hair and makeup touch ups: Josiah Reed
Production Assistant: Isabelle Pringle

What She Wore: Stephen Wilson Art Meets Fashion At Capitol

I first met my sweet friend Renee at the Neiman Marcus store in Charlotte.  I'll never forget our chance encounter.  She was walking out, I was on my way into the store picking up items for a photo shoot.  I feel sure it was one of those days I was running (literally), outfitted in mismatched sweaty running gear.  She recognized me from my Instagram account and approached me looking so so sheek. She always does.  My friend is a beautiful warm one, inside and out, but I must say how much I love that she always dresses so put together. She takes the time and makes an effort with her appearance.  I feel that when we do make the extra effort it is a way of saying "I respect you and I respect myself."  Wearing a simple but elegant LoveShackFancy white cotton sundress topped off with a Zara tweed jacket, paired with sandals from Ann Taylor, pearl earrings and her trusty Chanel quilted purse, Renee recently looked stunning at the Stephen Wilson talk and exhibit at Capitol.

Don't get me wrong, I know it is not always easy to do this every time we leave the house.  Sometimes we simply to do not have enough time to go the extra mile.  We are all so busy, moving at such high speeds from this thing to the next.  But then, as another super stylish friend pointed out to me... 

Something to think about.  Just sayin'.  Shop Renee's look for yourself or click HERE if you are unable to see the below images. 

Barbara Tfank at Capitol

This Wednesday, May 7th, American fashion designer Barbara Tfank will be visiting the Queen City at Capitol from 10am-6pm. Known for her elegant designs using exquisite textiles, Ms. Tfank holds a background of experience in costume design.  More recently, her designs have been worn by First Lady Michelle Obama, singer Adele and actress Nicole Kidman, to name a few.

I first learned of Barbara Fank's designs via Capitol.  I quickly found myself repeatedly gravitating toward her dresses and suits because of the amazing quality and unique patterns and designs of her fabrics.  To me, many of them seem to have a high quality vintage type character similar to my earliest influences; clothing that belonged to my Grandmother and Great Grandmother.  It was an exciting experience to style and see one of her designs from Capitol used for a cover of Carolina Bride last summer.  Not your traditional white, cream or ivory wedding dress, the editorial was a nod to encourage brides to wear whatever makes them feel prettiest...

If you love gorgeous fashion, I encourage you to pop into Capitol tomorrow to meet Barbara Tfank.  It is because of this one of a kind store right in our backyard that all of these amazing designers want to come to Charlotte!   Hope to see you there!

Gift Guide: For The Fashion Fanatic

Now that it's Black Friday week, shopping season is officially in full swing!  By the way, yes I said Black Friday Week.  Week? Huh?  I was in J.Crew with a client on Monday night, and the manager was telling me that the store was total mayhem the entire weekend.  That's right. Black Friday actually started an one week before Black Friday.  Crazy.  Kinda like Christmas decorations up before Halloween.  Us Americans... we gotta have it, and we gotta have it YESTERDAY!  It seems a little rushed to me, but I do think this is a really good time to shop. Not just for others, but for yourself.  I rarely, if ever, purchase at full price.  If I see something that I love at 30-40% off, however, and I can pay for it in cash, that is when I make my move. On that note, if you're a J.Crew fan like I am, this actually is pretty significant...

My client is a young, beautiful dentist who wants to set a tone in her practice of looking and being approachable.  We all know appearance can set the initial tone.  Because she is still in her 20's (and paying student loans), brands like J.Crew, Anthropologie and Madewell are brands that will allow her to shop responsibly while dressing her age and looking put together. 

We both LOVED this festive plaid bow top from J.Crew for her.

We also got this bullet proof classic camel coat at 40% off... Insane savings!

So here we go... My first 2016 Holiday Gift Guide!  Shop all my picks to give to the Fashion Fanatic in your life.  Can't see the below images?  Click HERE.

A Closer Look At The Fall Trend Edit + Town & Country Inspiration

Earlier this week I shared my Style Points contribution for the Fall/Winter Issue of Ballantyne Magazine.  I really enjoy this quarterly project, because it puts me in a seat where I sorta feel like the style editor of a magazine.  I can honestly say I see my work for these local and regional projects to be just as strong as the likes of InStyle Magzine, Allure, Town & Country.  I know I can do it.  I get to work with designers and their publicists to collect the proper images for my story and as a result I establish and work to build relationships with the fashion source direct.  This is a big part of being about to do my job.  I decide what the editorial piece is going to be about, I collect the images and information I need from the designers, I put it all together and then send it off to the magazine editor.  

Next, the talented art directors work their magic to put out a spread that I think looks quite impressive.  The first time I sent my work over to them I shared a similar piece from Town & Country Magazine.  Aside of my Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, filing through the fashion pages of T&C is where the style obsession all began for me.  In the early 1980's, they used to dedicated pages and pages to showcasing runway looks each fashion season.  I would cut out my favorite looks, organize and paste them into my own fashion book.  

The Ballantyne Magazine Style Points edit has been such a fun project.  Below are links to some of the hottest trends you can expect for Fall.  

Tassel Mania!  I've included a swanky belt from the uber chic and talented twin sister designers, Lizzie Fortunato, and the accessible to everyone tassel earrings sold by one of my favorite design stores on the planet, Furbish Studio.

Velvet is going to EVERYWHERE.  I included an interesting dress from my first favorite designer, Cynthia Rowley.  Not sure when it will be available to the public, but here and here are lots of great Ready To Wear designs for Fall/Winter 2016. 

Metallics.  One thing I love LOVE, including this draped front mini dress, and this Caterina Lucchi sequin pailettes calfskin backpack you can find at Our Place Boutique in Charlotte. 

Local designer Regine Bechtler rocks the puff sleeves trend just like Jean Paul Gaultier would with her eclectic handmade Peace Jackets.

I LOOOOOOVVVEEE the guitar straps this season, especially Valentino's.

The Herno lightweight puffers are simply the best.  You can find the fur lined one pictured above over at TRC W.

Novis rocks the school girl jumper so chic layered over a turtleneck.  You can find Novis in Charlotte at Capitol.

NOVIS

Last Thursday I attended, along with my friend Emily, Poole Shop's annual Back To School event.  If you follow me here or on Facebook or Instagram, regularly, you know Poole Shop and it's mother store, Capitol, are two of my favorite.  Both stores bear a curated collection of the most out of this world clothing and accessories you truly can't find anywhere else in Charlotte, or the Southeast for the matter.  Thursday night's event was a star studded one among the design goddesses.  The sisters of NOVIS (the two gals second from the left) the twins of Lizzie Fortunato Jewels, the sisters of our very own Twine + Twig, and the lovely Dasha from Veda all represented.

I'll tell you a little about each of these designer's work, but today, just look at Novis' out of this world gorgeous, stunning beautiful collections.  A few pieces on Sale here. These girls are just babies, and so much talent!

The SoGood Feature

Thank you to The SoGood for the very kind and most generous article.  If you are not already linked in to The SoGood, it is an amazing one of a kind, trend setting network of artists, makers and entrepreneurs, in some of America's coolest cities, all working to serve the same purpose: to make life SoGood.  In the article I share some quick and dirty fashion advice for the new mom, the first date and more, as well as my Top Recommendations in Charlotte.  See it here.