09/29/10

Let's keep this BRIEF

Cute boys. In their underwear. For a cause.

Count me in.

Brief! A Fete for Fashion is back for its second annual catwalk strut this Saturday at the Extravaganza Depot at 610 N. Tryon St. This beefcake event benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a cause near and dear to the heart of the event's creator, Dan Mauney—the shoe diva (divo?) of STEP by Sloan. Twenty-five eye-pleasing males will walk the runway in hardly anything at all by designers like Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, and Mundo Unico.

Tickets are $25 for standing room and $50 for a reserved seat. Want to get real up close and personal with the eye-candy? VIP tickets are $150.

To buy tickets online go to briefcharlotte.org.

To learn more... Read more »

Posted at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/29/10

Expanded hours at Atherton Market

As a longtime lover of the food halls and outdoor street markets of Europe, I was capital "T" Thrilled when Atherton Market made its debut this summer. Apparently, a few of you must have agreed with that sentiment because the summer market hours were such a success that they've added a third day to the market's hours.  Atherton Market will now be open year-round on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Don't feel confident enough to navigate the stalls of grass-fed beef, heirloom greens, and fresh seafood and veggies by yourself? Then don't miss the Chef Series events taking place every Tuesday in October when area chefs will guide you around the market and show... Read more »

Posted at 09:31 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/21/10

The Rise of the RETROsexual

Euro-slick, manscaped metrosexuals have had a good, long run. Now it's time for some thing new... and elite men's clothing store Taylor Richards & Conger has it.

This fall, they're setting aside the trends that have dominated menswear for the last few seasons and bringing back looks that are refreshingly all-American. Simplicity, practicality, comfort, and character are words you might hear to describe the designs that will dominate TRC's racks this season, and I am personally loving every last stitch of it.

To celebrate this new aesthetic, TRC is hosting Styled In America, this Thursday, September 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This one-of-a-kind event features trunk shows and meet-and-greets with some of the very designers who have... Read more »

Posted at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/16/10

Team Jessica!

I have a sincere and unending affection for Jessica Simpson. The Lohans and Gagas and Xtinas and Britneys of our time can rise and fall, go in and out of vogue and rehab, and I don't really blink and eye. But I truly want Jessica Simpson to succeed in life. (And Mandy Moore, who is kicking butt at life in general already, if you ask me). In fact, the only time I may have ever been a bit dubious about Jessica's overall existence was during her "Chicken of the Sea" days on "Newlyweds" with Nick Lachey, but even then she was somewhat endearing. And compared to the Snooki's and Housewives and Gosselins of today, Nick and Jessica's televised life seems downright adorable and down-to-earth.  Post Nick, there is no getting around the fact that Jess has had some... Read more »

Posted at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/15/10

The Great Fashion Challenge: Day 8

It's your last chance to judge my outfit! Tomorrow, I summarize for all of you what I have learned from letting strangers critique my style: what helped, what hurt, what they loved, and why I might be sort of addicted to GoTryItOn.com.

But as  for today... I hope you have a little more judgment left in you!

CLICK HERE TO JUDGE JENN'S DAY 8 OUTFIT

Posted at 08:45 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/14/10

3 Fabulous Fashion Events for Your Calendar

Now that you are finally through recovering from last week's Fashion's Night Out festivities, we've got a few more upcoming fashion events that need to be on your radar!

First up is Lights! Camera! Fashion! at Belk in SouthPark this Sunday September 19. The event, benefitting The Junior League of Charlotte starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for Lights! Camera! Fashion! start at $50. Here's just a little taste of what you can expect:

 - Runway fashion show featuring all of fall's best trends at 7:30 p.m.
 - 20% discount on just about anything you buy in the store during the event.  
 - A... Read more »

Posted at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/14/10

The Great Fashion Challenge: Day 7

It took me until day 6 to work up the nerve... but here you have it:  skinny jeans.

I finally broke down and bought a pair two years ago... they were cheap because I didn't feel confident paying full denim price for something I thought was a dumb fad. I soon fell in love with how they looked inside my riding boots and wore them until they fell apart, literally. This past year I discovered Gap's 1969 brand and promptly bought the same shade of dark denim in three styles, including these perfect skinny jeans. Just enough stretch, just enough structure, just the right shade of dark blue. Feast your eyes...

CLICK HERE TO SEE JENN'S DAY 6 OUTFIT

It wasn't until a few months ago that I got the nerve to wear them... Read more »

Posted at 07:57 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/13/10

The Great Fashion Challenge: Days 4,5 and 6

Hello folks!

I hope you had a great weekend and are as thrilled to be back at work as I am (yeah, right.)

Why don't you start your Monday morning by critiquing my outfits from the last few days?

CLICK HERE TO SEE JENN'S DAY  5 OUTFIT

CLICK HERE TO SEE JENN'S DAY 4 and 6 OUTFIT

What's that you say? Day 4 AND 6? Yes. I wore the same outifit twice - once on Saturday for brunch and errands, and to work this morning. I am an outfit repeater. It happens. I am not going to deny it.  This outfit, which I wore twice, also includes a blouse I already wore this week, and a necklace I've... Read more »

Posted at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/10/10

The Great Fashion Challenge: Day 3

You might notice something different about today's photo... you can actually make out all the details! Yes, folks, I finally employed a professional photographer to take these shots instead of resorting to hitting "Take Picture" on my PhotoBooth application and then sprinting 5 feet away and trying to pose attractively before the shutter clicks.  Now, when I say "professional photographer" what I mean is "friend with an iPhone," but these days they seem to be one and the same, don't they?

CLICK HERE TO JUDGE JENN'S DAY THREE OUTFIT

Today's look is less structured and more trendy than I usually dress, but the secret behind this outfit is that it's insanely comfortable, and after a week... Read more »

Posted at 09:17 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/09/10

Fashion's Night Out starts TONIGHT!

Have you got your ticket to tonight's FNO activities at Butter and tomorrow night's festivities at Neiman Marcus? You better get on it, because this weekend is shaping up to be epic.

According to our sources on the inside, the runway portion tonight's FNO event at Butter involves 90 models some of whom are even being flown in for the event! Every one of the participating boutiques gets their own slew of leggy models to style for their march down the runway. We can't wait to see how different stores and salons style their guys and gals!

The fashion and fun kicks up again Friday night with the Fashion's Night Out festivities at Neiman Marcus. We're... Read more »

Posted at 09:50 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/09/10

The Great Fashion Challenge: Day 2

Okay ladies and gents it's time to judge my clothes again!

CLICK HERE TO SEE JENN'S DAY 2 OUTFIT

Today's outfit has to work double duty for my job and my life as a community theater "star".  I have to wear it to the theater, leave it flung on a chair for three hours and 4 costume changes, and then put it back on to attend a Preview Night party in the lobby. So, it's got to be unfussy enough to last all day without loosing its crisp appeal.

Yesterday I got some feedback about my neckline being perhaps too low cut for work - so today I added a tank top under the dress to relieve any concerns.

What do we think? Do you like the shirt-dress look? Should I have worn boots instead?  Register... Read more »

Posted at 08:13 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/08/10

The Great Fashion Challenge: Day 1

Do you have your judging hats on?  Good, now take a look at my outfit on Day 1 of The Great Fashion Challenge!

CLICK HERE FOR JENN'S DAY 1 OUTFIT ON GO TRY IT ON

I hope you all will forgive me for starting this a few days late. I realized after the fact that I had planned to start it on Labor Day Monday, and I didn't think that photos of me in my old sweat pants would really be the best foot to put forward on day one, but I assure you that I will remain honest and truthful this week and if those sweatpants make a reappearance, I will blog it faithfully.

To judge today's outfit, you can login in to Go Try It On (it allows you to use your login info from other services like Twitter) and make your Yay or Nay... Read more »

Posted at 07:57 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/03/10

A Relaxing Getaway for Those of Us Who Aren't Getting Away For the Weekend

It seems like everyone I know is headed out of town to lie on a beach this weekend—but not me. I'll be here in dear old Charlotte, packing my belongings for an impending move and tapping my toes at rehearsals for "Annie" at Theatre Charlotte (opening Sept. 10!).

Just because you aren't hitting the road doesn't mean you can't take a nice little breather from reality. That's why Urbana CitySpa is offering their one-hour services (valued up to $105) for just $70 all Labor Day Weekend long (yes, even on Monday!).  Book your treatment and you'll also get to soak in summery lounge music and complimentary drinks before and after your blissful massage.

Call fast and be sure to ask for the "Labor... Read more »

Posted at 02:16 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/02/10

MORE 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 04:16 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0