The Great Costume Designer Of All Time Is Coming To Charlotte

Last month, thanks to some special friends, I had the exciting opportunity to meet costume designer great William Ivey Long over drinks and dancing at The Mint Museum.  Mr. Long could not have been more delightful, charming and even a bit delightfully theatrical, might I add.  I would be remiss if I didn't say it is really neat to learn that he and my outstanding actress Aunt, Aunt Polly, are great childhood friends!  Mr. Long loved the Nilah leather vest with feathers that I wore loaned to me by local designer Indigo Tilt.  It is always wonderful to have the opportunity to support other women and local businesses!  Can I get an Amen?!  And these vests are original.  Capital One Of A Kind! 

The Tony Award-winning costume designer will return next month for a special morning talk hosted by the Mint Museum Auxiliary.  If you ever ever experienced The Lost Colony you've had an up close look at some of William Ivey Long's most masterful work. Of course his list of television, movie, opera and theatrical contributions are several miles long; Big Fish, Catch Me If You Can, Cabaret, Hair Spray and Chicago, to name a few!

The Fall Enrichment program is always a treat and SUCH a lovely morning.  You may purchase tickets HERE.  If you have not attended (or have), you must not miss this one!  One more thing I'd be remiss to not mention... Want to get a dose of fabulous fashion?  This is it party people.  A room full of I-can't-pick-who-gets-the-Best-Dressed-Award.  Amazing knock your socks off style at this event.  If you'd like to go and fear the fashion excitement may all be a little overwhelming you can totally stand in a corner with me and just try to take it all in.  Come join the fun!

Frances Schultz's Bee Cottage

Earlier this month I got to hear fellow St. Mary's Girl Frances Schultz speak about her book, Bee Cottage, as well share other mementos from her stylish, albeit often less than glamorous journey through life: her work, her personal relationships, successes, failures, struggles and all. Frances is delightful in all ways, highly entertaining and wickedly clever; her stories all told with the most magnificently rich Eastern North Carolina drawl.

Captivated immediately by her opening remarks, I took copious notes throughout her talk.  She said so many things that made me feel, well, normal.  The byline of the title of her book, "How I Made A Muddle Of Things And Decorated My Way Back To Happiness" said it all.  Literally. It's as if she was speaking through me to my soul.  I know that sounds maybe a little inappropriately romantic, perhaps hokey, but it was a relevant, still in motion parallel to my own story.  A few take-aways for you... 

Her story includes a broken engagement followed by an ill-fated romance, a not well suited career change and the purchase of a dilapidated old cottage.  She referred to buying Bee Cottage as her "Tale of Redemption" as a follow up to her ineffective life strategy.  Frances needed to get her life and house back together, and so she made a personal decision to honor her spirit and her own integrity.  In doing so, perhaps her most poignant statement of truth that left us all rolling; "The truth will set you free, but honey it will wring your ass out first!" 

When she made this decision, Frances was inspired and found herself in the midst of experiencing "divine synchronicity." She began transforming her new cottage and as the house came together, so did she.  She encouraged us all to do the same.  "Whatever it is that interests you, even those that may not lead to a cure for cancer, do what is YOUR truth.  Our natural gifts and talents are part of the blue print of our souls. Get rid of that old Ikea couch or the toxic friend or family member in your life, and embrace the joy that inspires you.  When you pursue life this way, it radiates to everyone around us.  It is for the good of the world."

Following yesterday's post on the summer trend yellow, I thought it appropriate to share this photo of my yellow House of Landor vintage dress taken with Frances' very lovely sister Duvall. It was such a splendid day!  You can purchase a copy of Frances' Book about Bee Cottage and her story HERE.

Lela Rose + The Mint Museum

Last week American fashion designer Lela Rose visited Charlotte as the featured speaker for the Mint Museum's Fall EnrichMINT program.  Lela Rose might most notably be known for always designing the 'perfect dress'.  I have found myself many a times going straight to the top of the escalator at Neiman Marcus in order to find that perfect ladylike dress for my client drawn to classic timeless style. I had the fun pleasure of sitting down with a great group of Charlotte's style and fashion media for a round table Q&A with the designer.  

The day before our meeting, as I was contemplating the one or two questions I might asked Lela, I heard a catchy new Bruno Mars song over the radio.  The DJ proceeded to play clips of a similar sounding song from the 1980's which lead to the discussion of artists suing other artists for "ripping off their sounds".  Vanilla Ice Ice Baby, Robin Thicke Hey Hey Hey, for example anyone?  I wanted to know where Lela gained her inspiration, and in particular, were there other designers in the fashion industry that inspired her, and how is the notion of looking to other designer's work looked upon by the industry as a whole?  In my own personal style, the last thing I want is to be caught dead even seeing someone else wearing something I own, so I tend to not ever buy straight from the rack. On the other hand, if I learn someone has been inspired by my work, I regard that as the highest form of flattery!  

I asked Lela to weigh in on the topic. Pointing out her own personal interest in gaining inspiration from vintage design she said, "as designers, we're always looking back at historical fashion... we're in vintage stores looking at vintage details, seeing the construction."  She went on to share her sentiments of flattery when someone else gains inspiration from her work, noting that that "designers are all inspired by one another, other creatives and influenced by the world around them".  So what did I wear to meet Lela?  I knew I wanted to wear one of her designs, preferably vintage, in hopes I would impress!  I borrowed a Lela Rose velvet car coat of vintage design from my very stylish friend Pam and layered it over a conglomerate of pieces from my own closet.  

The coat was a hit!  Lela pointed it out the second I caught her eye, exclaiming her mom would be over the moon to see the garment.  Shortly thereafter I took the opportunity to meet Lela's mother, an equally lovely woman, and you could see the admiration in her eyes for her daughter's success and hard work.  It was a lovely morning of great style, fashion and fun.  And speaking of style, it was all I could do to take in the visual sensation of great fashion all around me.  The style loving ladies of Charlotte always come out full force to this annual event, and this year was not unlike the star studded others!  I found these great images on the Scoop Charlotte website, taken by Jeff Palmer.  Be sure to visit Scoop Charlotte to see all the great fashion at the Lela Rose Fall EnrichMINT event, and visit the Mint Museum Auxiliary to learn about more upcoming educational style-setting community events!  

I don't know either of these cute gals, but I am LOVING the floral print blouse layered under the simple but fierce J.Crew dress above left, now on sale for just $70 + an additional 25% off. Just look at all this great style.  I swear Charlotte is home to the most attractive, fashionable women in the world!

Shop Lela Rose dresses here!