What I Wore: Neiman Marcus Cusp Fashion Show

Last week I had the fun pleasure of co-moderating, along with Scoop Charlotte's very own Susu Bear, the Neiman Marcus Cusp Fall Trend Fashion Show.  Susu and I had such a great time carrying on an upbeat dialogue with Neiman Marcus' Fine Apparel and CUSP sales manager, Kristen Leone, and Public Relations Manager, Kristin Jackson.  Neiman Marcus ALWAYS puts on a good show.  I was able to grab something from the CUSP department for the evening and after close consideration to a few items, I decided on a timeless DVF cheetah print wrap dress.

While this dress is classic and timeless, of course I had to make it my own.  After several iterations, including styling it as an open kimono over pants or a skirt or another dress (jeans would have been to casual for this event) and wearing it as a blouse under a long skirt, I ultimately decided to layer it under another dress.  One to always opt for maximalism over the alternative, I find layering to be a great way to achieve a high impact look that is all your own. If you recall in another recent post, Fairy Girl Lydia does too.  Here's where my look landed...

I layered a 1960's Lillie Rubin/Don Luis de Espana dress over the DVF wrap and tied it off with a striped fabric belt from the FOUND Collection.

This summer has certainly been a big one for the season's "IT" Bag by Cult Gaia.  Shop all of the current styles and colors HERE.  

My J.Crew electric blue pumps are always a fun choice.

I love this Don Luis de Espana dress currently for sale on Etsy.  Or this one and this one. 

Shop my picks below to recreate a similar look for yourself.  Click HERE if you are unable to see the below images. 

One other thing that didn't hurt was the fact that Andre made my face into a new one.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am, at best, very uncomfortable wearing makeup.  I think Andre did an absolutely amazing job.  I felt I looked different when I saw myself in the mirror, but I did not feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable.  I highly recommend you go see Andre at the Chanel counter at Neiman Marcus in Charlotte for your next event or makeup needs. 

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

Street Style: Ballantyne

Last week I shared outfit credits for the look that made the cover of SouthPark Magazine's Fall Fashion issue. The Dilworth outfit may have been my favorite, because it is very true to my own personal style. Today's neighborhood Street Style outfit comes to you from the south side, Ballantyne.  I was easily inspired by the neighborhood's many opulent surroundings for this outfit.  The golf course, the resort, shopping centers, the neighborhood built around a country club... for me, while I would now categorize Ballanytne as one of Charlotte's oldest new neighborhoods, everything in the area still has a very clean, new, rich and elegant feeling about it.  And so, Chelsea's outfit.  I think you could call Ballanytne Charlotte's 'New Beverly Hills'.

Model: Chelsea Lewis, Photographer: Zach Alston, Hair and Makeup: Chelsea Kimrey.
Etro Coloblock Twisted Weave and Fur Vest from Neiman Marcus, Parker Ribbed Bodycon Dress, Joie Taupe Suede Boots, Heather Benjamin Ocean Jasper Stone Necklace at Sloan Boutique. JJ Winters Bree Clutch at KK Bloom, Jan Michaels Brass and Orange Stone Ring at ChezElle, Prada Sunglasses.

SouthPark Mag: How It Went Down & Get It

Model: Chelsea Lewis, Photographer: Zach Alston, Hair and Makeup: Chelsea Kimrey.
Adrienne Landau Fur from Denim House, MinkPink Crop Top from KK Bloom, Alice + Olivia Loran floral jacquard skirt from Neiman Marcus, Eugenia Kim hat, Joie taupe suede boots and Nima jeweled clutch from Sloan, Twine & Twig Cowrie Collar, Chakoor silver bracelet from ChezElle.

I shared this photo last week at the bottom of a previous post.  This project is one of my favorites to date, if not my favorite.  A big thank you to SouthPark Magazine for putting their trust in me and giving me so much creative freedom for this shoot.  When I met with the Editor to discuss ideas for their Fall Fashion editorial, she asked me for my ideas.  My first question was "Do you have any parameters?"  Her answer?  "Fall Fashion".  Okay. Well, let's play ball!  I had not given it any forethought, because I was just so excited for a second opportunity to express my love of fashion on the pages of this great magazine.  But goodness, the proverbial flood gates were wide open.  No trends. No boring catalog sales pictures. Just straight up art, created with an amazing team and the intent to showcase the fall fashions available at some of Charlotte's hottest boutiques.  

The cover shot, taken in Dilworth, is one of my favorites. Just about every single items the model, Chelsea, is wearing, comes from a different store.  If you are interested in how the outfits came together, the crew came to my house; my basement transformed into a studio.  I mixed up some Buffalo Trace and Coke, along with fresh muddled cherries. We turned up the music, and suddenly I was that little girl at my Grandmother's house. Mixing and matching her clothes with my Great-Grandmother's.  This skirt, that hat, these shoes, that shirt, no this one, these earrings, this necklace, another necklace, oh wait one more.  Oh hell, just put 'em all on.  And so the outfits were born.  Not too much time, not a great deal of thought, but certainly a fair amount of discretion. If you live in the Queen City, be sure to visit these stores, or you may shop the post straight from this page, below the above image. 

Your Head Looks Weird

If you live in the Charlotte area, next time you are at SouthPark Mall or in the area, be sure to snag a copy of SouthPark Magazine.  I very worked hard on this one, along with an amazing team of individuals, businesses and boutiques, and I am flattered, humbled and excited to be a part the May issue.  The below picture is one in the series of images where I get to show off some really amazing clothes from a few of my favorite local boutiques.  My oldest son, Hank, now 7, saw the below image come up on my facebook page.  I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction to seeing me dressed up like this.  (Let's be honest, I am a working mom of two active boys, the only time I look like this is for a photo shoot.  The next closest I come is on Sunday for church, date night or when I am meeting clients, but it is a loooong way off from this.

Hank: Mommy, is that you?
Me: (Excitedly) Yes!  What do you think? 
Hank: I don't get it.  it's weird.  Your head looks weird.  You look like you are someone else.
Me: Okay, well, does the rest of my body look like me?
Hank: Yea.
Me: Well, then do you at least like my outfit?
Hank: Why would I like it?!  I'm not a girl! (Runs upstairs to yell at little brother Worth for singing Let It Go again).

Ahh.  The honesty of a child.

Photography: Zach Alston. Hair and Makeup: Deme Fourtounis. Jumpsuit: Yoana Baraschi (from ChezElle), here in black. Kimono: Tracy Reese (from ChezElle), and here. Wedges: Jimmy Choo (from Coplon's) or here. Earrings: Kenneth J Lane (from Coplon's), similar here. Ring: Available at ChezElle. Necklace: by boe.

American Town + Italian Style

If you're into fine Italian fashion, be sure to check out my latest styling project, featuring Brunello Cucinelli for Fort Mill Magazine.  The story accompanying the photo shoot shares conversations with the designer from a small town with big time dreams, also highlighting Rock Hill, SC native country recording artist, Zach Ludlam, serving as a clever analogy to Cucinelli. The publishers of Fort Mill Magazine are tireless in their efforts to put a heartbeat back into Main Street while maintaining a strong focus on local business. Read the entire story here.  I am proud to say my Grandfather operated the Easy Pay Store, Fort Mill's general store, for 43 years.  It was located behind me in the below picture, right on the corner of Main St. and Confederate St.