Falling into fashion

Although my fashion is too often centered around my favorite sandals (read flip-flops), I do love a good heel, a good dress, and a good glass of bubbly.

I got all three of those this past Saturday lunch at Jasmine Porch's Fall Fashion with a Flair event. After writing about it in Charleston Scene, I was really looking forward to a great event, especially since my girlfriend Holly was riding shotgun.

What a way to spend a random Saturday afternoon. Models paraded around diners in between courses, and we all got to check out the beautiful styling, fit and details of some of the region's best designers. See how close we were to the "runway"?

Eden Boheme's show was (as always) a highlight, but the standout for me was Julie Wheat and Cavortress. As a vintage girl myself, I was in love with her pairing of new and old and her great eye for culling greatness out of something that can too often be an excuse for thrift store.

All in all, the looks, the women, and the mix of styles and accessories inspired me to go home and dig in my closet. Watch out, I may wear that vintage cowboy hat yet ...

A Night in Harlem

Looks like it is going to be a rainy week in Charleston, so why not decide to spend an evening inside the gorgeous Dock Street Theatre? You'll be transported to late 1920s Harlem with "Blues for an Alabama Sky." In my preview from last week, you'll get a little history about the period, a little background about the troupe who is performing, and a little conversation with the lead actress.

Limin'

http://www.charlestonscene.com/news/2010/sep/09/dos-santos-prepares-for-first-underground-lime/

Say it with me: "cuuuteee boooteee"

Cutey Booty is just fun to say. Admit it. Now that you've seen the term yourself, you are going to search for a way to work it into your daily life.

Fortunately, I don't have to work that hard. Lately, it seems like I've used any excuse (including, yes, Eric Bana, that handsome devil) to drop the term in conversation. And although I am silly and it is Friday, I have a real reason for talking about it.

In this month's Lowcountry Parent, I profiled Whitney Koval, co-founder of Cutey Booty, a children's clothing company from Mount Pleasant, S.C. that is creating bloomers for the fashion-forward toddler. Koval, along with her business partner Angie Medlock, are hoping to expand their company to include a larger variety and age range of clothing.

For now, these moms-on-the-go are doing business right, putting family first and making smart choices, from testing various snaps for high quality to choosing local design geniuses Stitch Design Co. to create their logo and web site.

And it's such a cute logo ...

Vacation August

This year, it seems like August was deemed vacation month. I haven't seen a lot of people, have had out of office auto replies from many more, and I understand. For those in the world of media, however big and small, August is the last breath of fresh air before the general fall push and the holiday editions everywhere.

For us, it's been vacation too, although a short one.  Our favorite is returning to the same touchstone of garden paradise and blue waters, and this year, we saw sea turtles swimming in the clear waters a mile or so off Molasses Coral Reef off the coast of Key Largo. Needless to say, that was a good day.

Especially with an ending like this ...

The Queen of Boheme

Model:  Anna Lassiter 

Image: Julia Elizabeth Jones Photography

I have never wanted to hug someone I just met more than I wanted to hug Anna Lassiter.

It was her created environment, Eden Boheme, that made me instantly happy and huggy. A few weeks ago, I interviewed the model and fashion designer in her store, Eden Boheme, on lower King Street, and she was genuine and enthusiastic and barefoot elegant. She was the unassuming princess of this great domain, filled with things that made we want to squeal like Shirley Temple: frothy tulle, great flocked wallpapers, a canopy and plush rug and a deliciously decadent couch, not to mention the clothes (!) and the shoes (!) ...

We talked about the intersection of fashion and interior designer and about her upcoming Anna Boheme fashion show that I was previewing for Charleston Scene (read the preview here). It was a great conversation and I could have stayed much longer, talking fabrics and browsing the wares.

She was an emerging designer at this year's Charleston Fashion Week, and I doubt she'll be "emerging" much longer. She's well on her way ...

Writing about art begets picking up a brush

This past Saturday started out like many other muggy mornings, the sliding glass door fogging up at the bottom and the coffee too hot but desperately needed. But it ended as no other Saturday had before it -- with my own oil painting drying on the table!

After many years of admiring the artist's process, I finally got the chance to put a brush in my own hand, and it was a wonderful experience. For me, the morning was much more about the experience of painting with a great teacher and great classmates Holly Thorpe and Mona Floyd, than it was about doing anything "wrong" or even "right."

Karen Hagan was a wonderful instructor with practical tips that broke down the creative process. And to see how she lays out a painting composition was reward enough, but when we got to the palette itself, I was able to put some of her tips into practice. The bonus was being able to smear, mix and fill my brush with the saturated colors on my palette. I was all about the palette.

And, of course, we all want to paint again. I am dreaming of Karen's fall workshop at Lake Garda. There are still at least four spots left ...