Style, Shopping and Fashion in the Queen City
Charlotte Shop Talk |
09/02/10MORE Fashion's Night Out Fun
Astute readers of this blog should already have their calendar marked for Friday, September 10 when Neiman Marcus at SouthPark transforms into a haven of fashion frivolity for the second annual Fashion's Night Out (including a runway styling competition sponsored by this very magazine, fabulous drinks, tasty bites, original artwork, and more - all to benefit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries). But, did you know that the sartorial celebration actually gets started on Thursday, September 9? That's right - Charlotte is so stylish, it takes two days to fully fete all of our fabulous local shopping! Thursday night, 14 boutiques, 14 salons and 14 makeup... Read more » Posted at 05:16 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
 |
08/24/10Neiman Marcus' Fashion's Night Out: Trends Sneak Peek!
Fashion's Night Out at Neiman Marcus is just a few weeks away (Sept. 10), but I couldn't resist taking a sneak peek at the fall trends that will be in the spotlight during the event: There is not a single trend on this page that doesn't make me feel all giddy for fall to get here faster, but I am especially in love with all the lady-like elements that are coming into play this year like lace, pearls, and structured handbags. In fact, if I could combine Posted at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
08/23/10Recession Shopping Behaviors To Stay Put?
This morning I read this article by the New York Times, which examines how the recession may be altering our consumer behaviors permanently, and how we might be happier as a result. As someone who spends much of her days blogging and tweeting to support local retailers, I don't especially like the idea that our local wallets might stay cemented shut, thus forcing great boutiques to close their doors. But, as the article points out, inventive new strategies to bring customers into stores (like Twitter-announced deals, Facebook-invited VIP shopping parties, and great Groupon promotions) are positive by products of these... Read more » Posted at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
|
 |
08/18/10Be a Neiman Marcus Stylist - Win Cash for Shopping!
So, in case you haven't marked your calendar, FASHION'S NIGHT OUT at Neiman Marcus is only a few weeks away (Sept. 10!), but if you are like me and you just can't wait that long to start playing around with fall's newest trends, you're in luck! Right now, on Neiman Marcus' website, you can style your very own look for fall using their interactive program as part of their Passion for Fashion contest! Submit your look to be evaluated by Fashion Director Ken Downing, and you could be the lucky winner of $1000, $2500 or $5000 to spend splurging on fall clothes - as... Read more » Posted at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
 |
08/17/10The Great Fashion Challenge: Let the Internet Be the Judge
Beginning the week of September 6, I will post everything I wear for an entire week (including weekends) on Go Try It On, a website that invites the judging scrutiny of internet users to evaluate your outfits. Each day's outfits and links to my internet feedback will be right here at Charlotte Shop Talk. I'll also be giving on-going updates via Twitter, along with link so you can play along and judge my outfits as well. By the end of the week, I hope to know which styles work on me, and which ones don't. I'll take risks with some trends, and play it safe (too safe? We'll see!) with some classics I wear all the time. Is there anything you'd like to see me try on during the Great... Read more » Posted at 01:46 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
 |
08/13/10Love It: Vintage Pendant Necklaces
Ever since we shot our Fall Fashion Feature for the September Issue of Charlotte Magazine, all of us here in the office on Morehead Street have become quite impatient waiting for fall weather. It seems everywhere I turn there is a cute trench, pair of boots, varsity-style sweater or adorable velvet blazer that is just SCREAMING for me to buy it and wear it. And I would... except that it is still 1 billion degrees outside. Finally though, I have found a covetable autumnal item that can be worn IMMEDIATELY. These to-die-for vintage pendant necklaces from Laura James Jewelry. Each one would have fit in perfectly with our Fall Fashion Feature outfits, and I think they are going to fit in very nicely with my end-of-summer wardrobe... Read more » Posted at 03:21 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
08/12/10Blakeney Welcomes New Stores
I grew up on the south side of Charlotte and even chose to live there again upon moving back here 4 years ago. It's not even remotely the same place it was when I was growing up - and that's not a bad thing. For starters, there's Blakeney - a retail paradise I would have killed for in my teen years (The Arboretum, for all its excellent movie, ice cream and art supplies offerings didn't offer much in the way of fashion beyond Old Navy in those days). And now, it's adding even more stores to its lineup including bevello, a charming women's clothing boutique which opened just a few weeks ago selling cute dresses by lines like Dolce Vita, denim by Citizens of Humanity and William Rast and trendy (and socially conscious) Toms... Read more » Posted at 01:05 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
|
08/02/10Fall Fashion Issue Contest
The Fall Fashion issue of Charlotte Magazine heads to the printer in just a few days! This year's feature (styled by Tori Robinette and edited by Sarah Crosland) highlights our love for shades of grey, rich corduroy, and interesting embellishments - among lots of other gorgeous trends. What is your favorite trend for fall? Are you gaga for plumy purples? Falling for feathers? Psyched about the return of the pointy toe stiletto? Tell us about your favorite fall trend in the comments section of the blog, or tweet your trend comments at me over on Twitter. All comments will be entered into a drawing for a fabulous prize from our Shop Talk Closet O' Goodies! Read more » Posted at 01:51 PM | Permalink | Comments: 3 |
|
07/30/10Shop Zara Online? It's a Dream Come True!
Bless you, Twitter, for delivering me little nuggets of joy on a Friday afternoon!
I was surfing to stay awake in the overly-air conditioned cave that is the editorial office at Charlotte Magazine, when a tweet from local style-lover @HangerEnvy (Samantha Carpenter) caught my eye. Her 140 characters teased some exciting news from Zara, which happens to be one of my favorite trendy retailers of all time—perhaps even topping H&M and Topshop. I clicked over to her blog, and what did I find? Only the best news ever for a Zara-loving girl who doesn't live anywhere near an actual Zara store - the brand will soon be adding e-commerce to... Read more » Posted at 03:48 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
|
07/29/10William Rast (a.k.a. Justin Timberlake) for Target
This December, the world's most successful former boy-band member (unless we are counting the Jackson 5 as a boy-band. Are we?) will team up with Target for a designer collection. Well, technically his fashion line William Rast, which is mostly known for its denim, will be doing the teaming, but we imagine that they'd be fools not to utilize the pretty face of J. Timberlake to increase sales. Our question is this— will this designer/discount collaboration finally yield something for the men in our lives? These designer collections are almost exclusively targeted at female shoppers. While I don't dispute that is probably a sound marketing strategy, I can't help but feel for the guys who would also be interested in a designer label... Read more » Posted at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
|
Jenn Grabenstetter was born and raised in the Queen City. She spent a year on the West Coast covering celebrities in L.A., and one in chilly Chicago as a fashion writer. Now she's back in the South where she writes for Charlotte magazine and is the editor of Where Charlotte. She loves shoes, bags, bargains, organized closets, her two-year-old Tory Burch wedges, office supplies, finding alternate uses for mason jars, and good hair days.
