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.

Ballantyne Magazine: Fall Trends for Women And Men

If you live in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte, be sure to pick up a copy of this quarter's edition of Ballantyne Magazine.  I had fun including not only women's but men's fashion and fall trends in this issue, featuring some of my favorite designers available at some of my favorite Queen City retailers and on line shops. Velvet, puffy sleeves and metallic... the 80's are officially back! Check out the entire article HERE.

Treggings and Stirrups

Who What Wear was probably the first fashion blog I ever laid eyes on.  That or Blair Eadie's Atlantic-Pacific, which might actually have been brought to my attention via Who What Wear. 

Who What Wear is ALL about style. Street Style, Celebrity Style, Fashion, Trends, you name it, and with their email newsletter you get a daily dose of what's going down that very day.  They find a way to make every single post relevant and interesting. Let's take their recent post on treggings.  Not jeggings, not stirrups, TREGGINGS.  Das right.  Treggings.  

Are treggings the new jeggings? I mean, I can't even say that I care, but I am intrigued.  What are your thoughts? Do you own a pair?  Have you seen someone else in a pair?  Do even realize that you are going to walk straight into fall this year and see more 80's paraphernalia than you believe humanly possible since 1990? I will be really honest, a little tiny piece of me wants to put on a pair of metallic stirrups and colored high heels just for shock factor and fun. See what Who What Wear has to say on the matter. 

And of course, shop your stirrups, jeggings and treggings heart out below and HERE. 

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Little Boys

Having two little boys means having fewer options to dress the chirrens up all matchy matchy cute.  Truth be told, as much as I loved all the sweet check print coordinating sets and smocked bubble outfits, I struggled dressing my boys in them past a certain age.  I don't think I was able to dress Wild Nugget Worth in them past one year.  Those cute southern outfits just didn't seem to go with his All Boy personality (Reference below image A).  Bring in Boden, Belk, Crewcuts and even Target! There were plenty of adorable matching more boyish options for my babies, and there are tons of cute things including in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale too!  

I love dressing my boys in these chambray shirts paired with red and white seersucker shorts. Throw on this vest over top, and they are too cool for fall.

It is never too early for little boys to be little gentleman.  Enter this navy wool suit and a great pea coat.

Shop them all below and HERE, and of course I'll be sharing outfits for the little girls in an upcoming post.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Home Goods

Today's post is all about great finds for your home during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  You may have not even know they carry home goods since the Charlotte store is dedicated to clothes, shoes and accessories.  Well, I am here to tell you Nordy's carries awesome brands and products I love for your home as well, and the fact that they are available at prices reduced by 30-50% is truly an amazing steal!  See! 

In particular, I have always loved Dash & Albert rugs.  The attractive stripes and patterns in their rugs are an affordable way to inject pattern, color and personality into your home.  

The Votivo Red Currant scented candle has long been one of my favorites. These straw baskets are the perfect storage container for any room.. blankets for the den, rolled towel in the guest bathroom, corral the kids shoes by the door. I love the navy color wave, and the price! Shop all my picks HERE...

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Clothing For Work
Nordstrom Anniversary Fall Trends
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Boots, Booties and Stacked Heels for Fall.
Nordstrom Anniversary Sunglasses

Street Style: Myers Park

The Winter Style Issue of Southpark Magazine is fresh out on the news stands now, but that won't stop me from not sharing the last few looks created for the Fall Fashion Guide in September.  This fashion forward interpretation of Street Style in nine popular Charlotte neighborhoods was one of my all time favorites.  The image below was taken in my own neighborhood of the Myers Park area at my home away from home, Park Road Shopping Center (Blackhawk Hardware popcorn anyone?)

Model: Chelsea Lewis, Photographer: Zach Alston, Hair and Makeup: Chelsea Kimrey.
Sundry Madras Plaid Basic Shirt at Denim House, Keepsake Cream Midi Skirt at KK Bloom (similar),  My Grandmother's Vintage Purse, J.Crew Ankle-Strap Leather Heels (similar here and here), Kristin Hayes Jewelry Vintage Brooch, Target Oversized Black Sunglasses.

Street Style: SouthPark II

Model: Chelsea Lewis, Photographer: Zach Alston, Hair and Makeup: Chelsea Kimrey.
Alice + Olivia Luisa A-Line Midi Skirt at Neiman Marcus, Enza Costa Printed Cashmere Sweater from Denim House, Joie Paxton Laser-Cut Bootie, Ceri Hoover Pony Hair (also here) and Heather Benjamin Antique Tusk Ring from Sloan, Vintage Chanel Chain Necklace at Monkee's of Charlotte (also these earrings), Kristin Hayes Jewelry Vintage Brooch, Chain and Stone Necklace, Earrings from ChezElle, Blydesign Brass and Floral Cuff, Alexis Bittar Assorted Lucite Braclets from Denim House (also here and here), eb jewelry Studio Green Quartz Cleo Cuff

Back To School With Goodwill Industries

Today I was joined by three beautiful young students (can you guess who that handsome blonde boy is?) for a look at back to school fashion presented by Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont.  Goodwill has got it all!  Discounted clothes for children of all ages, name brand fashions your teen or tween will love and even furniture and electronics for the back to college student!  I had a great time, as ever with the fine folks of Goodwill and Charlotte Today.  It is such a privileged to be able to use my work as a platform for spreading the good word and mission of this organization.  Check out our presentation below by clicking here or  the image.  

The Nordstrom Sale Is Almost Over!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is coming to a close at the end of this weekend.  This is your last chance to shop and save big.  Below are my favorite featured designer pics from Kate Spade to Vince to Tory Burch, Free People and more!  Get your Christmas shopping done early for him, her, your littles, in-laws, neighbors and friends...

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale starts next week, but if you are a Nordstrom cardholder, you can get shopping now.  This is the sale of the year people.  Shop some of the Fall's best trends as well as your favorite timeless classics.  Everything you need from dresses to blouses, dainties to boots, bags to hats.  It's all here at a price that can't be beat.

Shop some of my favorites below, including this grey suede fringe bag.  If you are viewing this post in your reader and can't see the images below, click on the blog post title to shop till your heart's content.

Olivia Palermo + Charlotte Style Icons

This girl kills it. Every. Single. Time.  Olivia Palermo and your style, be still my beating heart.  Since my Grandmother, she may be the only one I have so admired. Honestly, at times, and I say this with total poise and confidence and without fear or hesitation (because I realize the bold nature of this statement), I truly feel she is one of the few I feel who gets it like I do.  Except for maybe Blair Eadie.  And, if you are here in Charlotte, Chezelle Boutique owner, Lauren. Girl is a trend setter.  The incomparable Alex Holleman and Interior Design one of a kind, Barrie Benson. None of this copy cat head to toe preppy prissy stuff.  Straight up original, craft, strength, talent.  

One thing I do want to point out is that money CAN buy you amazing garments that not only ARE but aldo look and feel rich.  We cannot all dress this way, but that does not mean it cannot be achieved.  I would like to think I am an example of this.  More on that later... Below are a few of Olivia's recent shots for Cosmopolitan Magazine. And, yes, I have already reached out to Zach to shoot me as close to this as possible.  I have an email into said person to borrow house for location, and I hope the stores will see it their worthwhile to lend me their most magnifique clothes and accouterments!

Piles + Pipes

This is another outfit on my recent fabulously fantastic day shooting with Cousin Ellie (Instagram).  I've tried to hide skin in my car more times than I can count, nursing a couple of babies and now doing this outfit changing thing for the last three years... you could say I got it down pat.  No science.  More like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon slouched between two car seats, or  "hey what are you looking at creep!"  BUT, this particular day, at a construction site, was a first. Mama, I know I make you proud in so many (other) ways.  But, it's all for the ART! T-u-hee Hee.  Thanks Cousin Ellie.  You rock. And thanks cooler than cool friend since the 6th grade for the chloe + isabel earrings (and not only saying that because her Aunt dated a Rolling Stone) and thanks awesome newer Charlotte friend for the W by Worth dress up party at your enviously SICK mid-century modern pad on crack.  Last, but not least, I can't tell you how much I LOVE the creators of Julie Lopez Shoes... My booties here.. comfy for days, as are all of their Italian made shoes (recently endorsed by OPRAH).  Piles + Pipes. Nothing but love.

Ahead From The North

Photos: Ellie Lacey and on Instagram

Skirt: Mossimo Supply Co., Vest: Ralph Lauren, Shoes: thanks to Julie Lopez Shoes, Sunglasses: Blinde (similar), Earrings: thanks to Geoflora, Black Ring: Melinda Maria, Bracelets: Calf Hair, Geometric Cross Cuff thanks to Blydesign, Necklace: Jan Michaels

As you know, it's been a long, long time since I've hit the streets of Charlotte in search of the next coolest place for pictures here on the blog.  I ran into my precious cousin Ellie a couple of weeks ago while having coffee at 7th Street Public Market.  Can I just say I love family?  On my father's side my Grandmother was the youngest of 11, so as I'm sure you can image, there are a whole ton of them.  I was so excited when Ellie asked if we could take some photos.  I'm always up for an adventure, so when she suggested a spot North of the city that boasted amazing views of the skyline, I said let's do it! This expansive piece of pavement soon to be light rail served as a fun location for several photos to come.  It's a good thing we captured it when we did, because like most every other remaining piece of undeveloped land in the QC, as we look ahead, it is only a matter of time before it will be no more.

You Can Leave Your Vest On

I have been shopping for fur vests for the last week for two clients, and as a result of my determination to uncover every last viable option, considering quality and price, I can with an insurmountable level of confidence, unequivocally, I am the authority on the current vest market, at least as it pertains to my own personal taste!  But truly, if you love a good vest as much as I do, I hope you enjoy my round up of all things vest from everyday casual to wanna be duck hunter to fancy night out on the town!

Some more outfit inspiration for you!

Carolina Panthers Style Lounge

This is pretty much how my night went down, in pictures.  I hopped on over to my friend Katie's house, where I parked my car and we then hopped in her car (sippy cup in hand) to pick up our friend Chelsea. I am not at the game today (the below pic my husband just sent me from the stadium).  Upon entering last night, we were greeted with hospitality, crudites and pinktinis. We made our way through the stadium to the team store that had been transformed into a Style Lounge.  Fellow stylist Erica Hanks and her team did a great job putting together some hot football fashion looks.  If you went to the game today, did you see? Records were spinning, manicures were curin' and there is some REALLY cute new game day merchandise.  My favorite finds; a black sequin baseball style tee, and the piece de resistance, Panthers running tights!  (See Katie below).

We all left the Style Lounge for Fahrenheit for one last Hoor-ah to celebrate one of my running besties, Jenn, (tall blonde bombshell) who is moving to DC for an opportunity that cannot be refused.  This can only mean one thing... ROAD TRIP!  The hottest, most awesome, most fun group of Boston Marathoners I ever did see!  I sure am grateful for my running friends.  Happy Panthers Sunday ya'll!

Outfit Details: Mom On The Go

Here's my Mom On The Go outfit from yesterday's segment on Charlotte Today.  In case you missed it, you can watch it here. I combined items from J.Crew Factory and Banana Republic Factory for my exciting collaboration with Concord Mills.  I already own the blazer and pumps from J. Crew. The buttons on the blazer are the EXACT same, and the pumps feel just the same on my feet as those from J.Crew.  I seriously cannot tell a difference in quality, yet the price is so much lower at J.Crew Factory. Same goes with the Banana Republic items.  Head on over to Concord Mills, or shop any of the items straight from this page!