Feb. 11: Runway for the Ballet

Posted on by
Reply

A scene from the 2011 Runway For The Ballet event.

I spent the majority of my life operating under the misguided belief that I had rhythm and grace, especially on the dance floor. Then I took a Zumba class in front of a wall full of mirrors and I realized my dancing was more of the Elaine from Seinfeld variety rather than Bob Fosse or Martha Graham.

In my case, it’s best to leave the dancing to the professionals, right?

Thankfully, fashion and dance collide in the most incredibly graceful way at the fifth annual Runway for the Ballet, a stylish fundraiser for the North Carolina Dance Theatre on Feb. 11.

Heart & Soul is the theme for this year’s unique blend of fashion and dance, featuring on-trend clothing and accessories from Neiman Marcus modeled by dancers from NC Dance Theatre. Traditional runway presentations will be mixed with contemporary dance vignettes. I’ll be entranced and enamored by the fashion and the dance for certain.

The hosts for the afternoon and evening (there are two performances scheduled for 4p and 8p) are the fabulous Sonya Barnes, CEO of Harris & Barnes Inc. and Scott Provancher, President of the Arts & Science Council.

The event will take place at the Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance on North Tryon Street in uptown Charlotte. Both the 4p matinee and 8p performance include a pre or post-show reception (with complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres). General admission tickets start at $40, VIP tickets start at $55.

Will I see you there?

Share

Ballantyne Goodwill Sneak Peek

Posted on by
Reply

Designer shoes galore: Tony Lama boots (clockwise from top left); Bruno Magli; Jeffrey Campbell; Stuart Weitzman

Goodwill of the Southern Piedmont will open its 21st store at 9a Saturday, Jan. 28 in Ballantyne and I was one of a handful of bloggers to get a sneak peek at the new store on Friday.

My love of Goodwill is no secret (I am a regular contributor to their WOW Goodwill blog), but today’s visit allowed me to learn more about the incredible non-profit organization.

For example: Ninety percent of every dollar Goodwill makes in the retail store goes towards the mission to fund job training, employment and family support services that assist thousands of people each year in the Southern Piedmont region of North and South Carolina.

Of course, I couldn’t visit any Goodwill without scoping the offerings, which were locally sourced — or self-sustaining, as the Goodwill folks say — which means that the store is stocked with donations from the immediate area.

It was all looking, no buying for us on Friday, but that did little to contain my excitement. I was floored by the volume of “real” vintage, including an adorable Alex Coleman California  maxi skirt, an 80s-era Neiman Marcus silk outfit, complete with shoulder pads and pussy cat bow.

Neiman Marcus outfit (clockwise from upper left); Alex Coleman California; St. John sweater ; vintage coat

Among the ample childrens' offerings: Oillily clothing and Pottery Barn bedding.

This gorgeous vintage necklace was only $5.99! The vintage Dooney & Burke bag was marked at $19.99

Share

Guest Post: Beauty @ Sundance

Posted on by
Reply

Actress Nia Vardalos, pictured with Joe Pastorkovich of Lumene North America, stopped by to try Lumene products at the Sundance Film Festival gifting suite. (Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com)

Color me green with envy, but also living vicariously through my friend Leigh Dyer, who attends the Sundance Film Festival every year. Here’s her take on the beauty scene:

The annual Sundance Film Festival offers much more than the chance to check out new independent films and spot celebs in snowy Park City, Utah. Gifting suites abound, with brands trying to boost buzz and get celebrity endorsements during the 10-day event. (The festival opened Jan. 19 and wraps up this Sunday).

I’ve been traveling to the festival to write about films for 11 years now, and when I stumbled into invitations to two suites offering free samples of skin-care products this week, I figured it was a good opportunity to guest blog for Rachel’s readers – I’m among those who have been a fan of her test drives.

My first visit was courtesy of Lumene, a Finland-based line now available in CVS, Walgreens and Ulta Beauty stores. They were offering makeovers within a suite dubbed the Bertolli Meal Soup Chalet hosted by Gen Art. (Products including soup, Tic Tacs, cocktails and sunglasses were also available for the guests).

I showed up blotchy and fatigued the day after spending nine hours traveling from Charlotte, but I found the products were up to the challenge. They were from the Vitamin  C+ line, which features extracts from the Arctic Cloudberry plant.

The Pure Radiance Day Cream ($19.99 for 1.7 ounces) has a refreshing, citrus-like smell and goes on smoothly and greaselessly (though I’m puzzled about why they weren’t emphasizing their nearly identical product containing an SPF of 15 – the sun protection is one of the main reasons to use a day cream). Used in combination with their other products, including a Bright Skin Radiance Nectar, my skin felt rejuvenated and “calmed down.” Given price points a little south of typical department-store lines, the products are worth a try.

Just around the corner was the Talent Resources Suite, which contained products from a line I hadn’t heard of before: Prasad Medical Skin Care. Prasad is a New York-based cosmetic surgeon, it turns out. The Moist Silk Defense SPF-30 product sounded like something my sensitive, dry winter skin could use.

I’d never seen anything like it – it comes out looking like a tinted moisturizer, though it leaves no tint on the skin. It’s fragrance-free, and absorbs instantly, leaving no trace. It contains microencapsulated melanin, vitamins C and E and other antioxidants.

With sun bouncing off freshly-fallen snow for much of my visit, I was grateful for the SPF and happy with how the moisturizing held up through the long days of running around to screenings and other events.

It would be perfect especially for anyone with oily or combination skin who hates feeling greasy after using a product with SPF. The only hesitation is the price point – $85 for 1.75 ounces.

Share

Belk Spring 2012 Season Preview

Posted on by
Reply

Twice a year, fashion writers and bloggers across the Southeast are invited to meet with Arlene Goldstein, Belk vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction.

And like clockwork, after leaving a recent session with the fabulous Arlene at the chain’s SouthPark mall flagship, I’m ready to dive head first into the looks of the upcoming season, regardless of local weather or temperature.

This Spring, it’s no different. I’m ready for color blocking, stripes and lady-like prints. And bo-ho luxe, floor-sweeping hemlines. Just not all at the same time.

Among the movements we should expect to see this Spring, include:

American Originals: It’s not preppy per se, it’s updated, classic chic. Sportswear elements with a modern vibe. A spectator heel (above left) with a splash of color.

Shape Shift: In one of my most favorite movements, flowy, asymmetry and strong angular sleeve treatments continue their march towards the fashion forefront for Spring. There’s no forsaking bodycon for baggy, instead a playful incorporation of more forgiving silhouettes.

Romance: Lacy, floral and blush hues take cues from the lingerie department and the garden this year. There’s no stopping ruffles, pleats and “corsage” embellishments.

70s Glam: Arlene mentioned Yves Saint Laurent and his influence on modern fashion, and that couldn’t be more true. It can be seen in continued importance of daring color, safari and boho luxe and a playfulness with hemlines that doesn’t lack a distinct sexiness. Keep an eye out for the re-emergence of pussy cat bows, keyhole blouses and exaggerated wide-legged pants, which also fall into this category.

Have you started thinking about your Spring wardrobe? What will you add? What’s catching your eye?

Share

Designer Shoe Destiny @ Goodwill

Posted on by
1

Here’s a recent post I wrote for the WOW Goodwill blog:

Spend enough time at Goodwill (or in my case, multiple Goodwills), you’re bound to notice patterns or see the same types of things.

But I have to say I was completely unprepared for the number of times I run across a specific brand of high-end footwear in my Goodwill travels: Stuart Weitzman.

For the uninitiated, Stuart Weitzman is a line of designer shoes that typically cost more than $200 per pair.

The price alone is enough to make my deal-loving heart skip a beat when I see them on the racks at Goodwill for considerably less than retail.

I’ve seen them on the shelves at Goodwill in Cornelius, Mooresville and recently spotted a strappy espadrille pair on the rack at Goodwill in Savannah.

Sometimes they are well-loved — Weitzman fans swear by the hand-crafted-in-Spain comfort — but just as often I’ll see a pair that looks virtually unworn.

If I happen upon a pair in my size, I’m down right giddy.

If they don’t fit me, it takes everything within me to not approach random women in the store — shoes in hand — to find out their size while relaying why this pair of Weitzmans are such a good deal ($300+ versus $3.99).

What do you repeatedly find on the racks at Goodwill that blows your mind?

Share

What I Wore? Yep. I Know.

Posted on by
Reply

My personal fashion memory is as encyclopedic as my musical memory and just as powerful.

I can tell you exactly where I was the first time I heard Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Driving my Eagle Summit down Maumee near Harvard in Grosse Pointe Park).

My recollection of what I wore when is nearly as voluminous. The wave of memories are incredibly jarring and comforting at the same time.

I can tell you what I wore on the first day as an intern at the Detroit News in 1996 (wideleg, high-waisted belted pants, white T-shirt, a thrifted fitted Banana Republic blazer and a cheetah print scarf tied like a choker necklace ).

Given today’s heightened style awareness at increasingly younger ages, I am beyond thankful that when I was in high school, the epitome of style was leggings and oversized oxford shirts or sweatshirts worn with bucks or birks.

That being said, I hope you’ll join me as I host a post-show talk back after the performance of “Love Loss and What I Wore” on Jan. 25 at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

The touring production of Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron’s intimate collection of vignettes and monologues is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Ilene Beckerman,  uses clothing and accessories and the memories they trigger to tell stories to which all women can relate.

I could go on and on about what the clothes I wore when meant, given the framework of hindsight. I recall thinking my cotton-candy pink junior prom dress (with shoes dyed to match, natch) was the bees knees. Now I see pics and wonder a) what was I smoking and b) why did no one tell me that the pale dress plus my pale skin made me look essentially nude?

It’s not a surprise that for senior prom, I chose a black cocktail dress with a deep back V, an updo and (inexplicably) elbow-length white satin gloves. I was trying to be grown up. For real.

What clothing-related memories do you have? Any triggers? Join me for what we can expect to be a spirited performance and discussion on Jan. 25. Tickets start at $20.

Share

Jason Wu for Target

Posted on by
Reply

Target and I have a Godfather 3 kind of relationship. In the least successful installment of the epic trilogy, an aging Michael Corleone says everytime he tries to go straight and ditch mob life, it somehow pulls him back in.

That is how I feel about Target’s designer collections. I have been lukewarm on the last few, and after the Missoni debacle/market run/craziness of last September, I was ready to bid Target capsules adieu for good.

Until Jason Wu.

The latest capsule collection features one of my fave designers who excels at simplified, refined elegance with a dash of modern hipster thrown in for good measure. His Target collection features kicky nautical stripes, sassy defined waists and an adorable feline (not in a creepy cat-lady way) that shows up on totes and scarves too.  Prices range from $19.99-$59.99 for apparel and $19.99-$49.99 for handbags and scarves.

Target says Wu was inspired by the vision of an American girl in Paris. I’ll be inspired by the lack of relative madness when the collection launches in stores (and online — a handful of pieces will only be available at target.com) on Feb. 5.

Here’s to hoping for no shelf-clearing, web-site-crashing debauchery, and instead a civilized, polite shopping launch that matches the tone of the vaguely retro collection.

Will you be shopping Wu for Target? I say I won’t, but I probably will.

 

Share

No Resolutions For 2012

Posted on by
1

I am not one for making New Year’s resolutions.

History has shown that if I do attempt to make a list of things to do in the new year, I am no good at sticking to it. Which leads to me ending up feeling so guilty about my lack of follow-through, that I send myself into one heck of a shame spiral.

So, enough of that.

For 2012 I’m going to continue to focus on a philosophical lifestyle change that has been a few years in the making: Buy better, buy less. Or intentional purchasing. Or quality vs. quantity.

When it comes to the particular topic, I’m like a broken record perched on the top of a tall, tall soapbox. But, I won’t step down any time soon, and I’m pretty happy so far with my progress. It’s taken me a while to get here, but I’ve still got aways to go.

I will talk of this philosophy  to everyone even remotely interested in listening. I will keep applying the principle to all aspects of my life, including wardrobe (no matter how tempting discounted shoes and handbags are), skincare, housewares, even the food we eat.

2011 was a record year for my family in terms of donations to Goodwill — closets were purged repeatedly, our house scrubbed of non-essential furniture, accessories and decor. And you know what? It’s been incredibly liberating. We’re free of so much stuff that we really didn’t need or use in the first place.

I have become a more self-aware, careful and intentional consumer. When it comes to my wardrobe, I probably spend more per item now than I ever have, but it’s actually saving me money. I am buying far less.

  • Before I make a purchase I ask myself hard questions (“Does this fit? No, does it really fit RIGHT NOW?” “Do I like this because of the label, or because it compliments me?”) and consider how, when and where I will wear an item. I love finding items that are multi-seasonal, like cute dresses that can be worn with tissue-weight Ts in the winner, with bare arms in the spring, etc…
  • I focus on materials. My handbags (of which I now only have four everyday options, down from a plethora that filled four large storage bins) are leather, and are rotated out regularly and taken for conditioning/care to extend their lives. Same goes for shoes — my riding boots have been resoled and look as good today as when I bought them two years ago.
  • I cut corners where I can. Target is a favorite for staple layering pieces like T-shirts and trendy accessories. There’s no need to spend boatloads of cash on something that will look dated next summer, or that will need to be replaced next season (like T-shirts).

What will you do differently in 2012?

 

Share

Family Room Re-Do Revealed

Posted on by
Reply

Here’s a recent post I wrote for the WOW Goodwill blog:

Remember a while back when I was agonizing over the state of my family room? The one that has sat virtually untouched since we moved in seven years ago?

Well, after all your kind words of encouragement and some marathon inspiration sessions on Pinterest, I’m happy to reveal my “new” family room, with a few thrifty twists, of course.


In October, after months of staring at paint samples, I cleared a weekend and got busy with painting the fireplace.
  • First, I had to paint the inside of the fireplace with high-heat paint to accommodate our new gas logs.
  • Once the logs were in, I was free to paint the rest of the brick. And let me just tell you, bricks drink up that thick, gloopy masonry paint like it is water. I underestimated how paint I would need and how long it would take me to cover that surface area.

I had a vision for the space, though my husband Patrick was a hard sell. I asked him to rip out the shelves to the right of the fireplace and he gave me the side eye. Again with the questioning looks when I told him we wouldn’t be needing the entertainment center, and that I’d like him to drill a hole in the on the wide part of mantle.

You can see where I was going — we turned the wood storage bin into a built-in entertainment center. Patrick cut, painted and mounted shelves for the Wii, DVD player and DirecTV console and our fancy new flat screen fit nicely on the wide part of the mantle.

So where does the thriftiness come in? Let’s start at the fireplace screen. $14.99 at the Concord Goodwill! And it fits like a glove! How is that for some shopping karma?

The large mirror (the frame of which I am now debating painting black) is second hand, though I don’t recall what I paid for it.

I was looking for an accent color and settled on green. I painted two Goodwill brass lamps ($4.99 each) a high-gloss green. I also turned some of my favorite tchotchkes into object d’art.

My Underwood typewriter (second hand purchase) and small collection of old cameras (garage sale and Goodwill purchases) got green too.

As you can tell from the shelves on the left side of the mantle, we’ve still got a bit of work to do, but it’s more organizational than anything else.

Now my new commitment problem involves holiday decor. Decorating on a white background is a game-changer, especially when you factor in all my new green accessories. Decisions, decisions!

Share