No one who reads this blog will argue that fashion isn't art the colors, the cuts, the designs, the way a fabric accentuates a person's figure? All art. But local fashion designer Beth Pilger recognizes that dressing up is an art as well.
Pilger has been interested in design since high school. She attended Parsons The New School for Design for three years before deciding to pursue business. "While I was there, I did everything from assisting and costuming and learned very quickly that fashion is predominantly business driven," she says.
After some years in the private industry, Pilger moved to Charlotte and in 2009, started her own clothing line, which she unveiled at Charlotte NC Fashion Week. Her clothing line targets women in their twenties to sixties.
"One thing that I am trying to focus on is actually getting back to more sustainable products where you can buy a dress or a shirt or a pair of pants and it actually becomes a staple in your wardrobe that you could wear through several seasons," she says. "For the spring and summer collection I focused a lot on having contemporary pieces that were made with classic fabrics and tailoring."
Pilger calls her staple items simplistic, but when you look at some of her custom pieces, they are anything but. From glancing through her portfolio online, some of the dresses stand out as dramatic, eye-catching, bold, and maybe even a little forbidden. For example, the Cupcake dress:
I'd hardly call that simplistic or sustainable.
"With Charlotte being a new market and with me being a new designer in this area, it was important for me to continue to show my versatility," Pilger says. "So while the staples of the collection are really what makes the company money, you always like having items like accessories or custom dresses that people can also identify with, and thats one area of my business that I really enjoy doing. I like working with my private clients and being able to create something for them thats one of a kind."
Name:
Nathalia Garcia-Rios
Occupation:
Sales associate
Spotted:
American Apparel South End
Rockin':
Dress: American Apparel
Tights: American Apparel
Nail Polish: American Apparel
Shoes: Value Village
What inspired your look today?:
"I love these tights because they look like they were printed on, and I don't like this dress that much so I needed something to spice it up."
From Black Sheep's site:
Mountain Dew skateboarder Paul Rodgriguez and legendary skate artist Don Pendleton worked together to create their own signature can for Mountain Dew. Then inspired 35 skate shops across the country to design their own Dew can in a contest that just launched called the Mountain Dew Green Label Art Shop Series. Black Sheep was 1 of the 35 shops nationally selected to participate in this contest.
How amazing would it be to have one of our local shops featured on a can of soda?
Here's the artwork up close:
And here's the description:
"This design was inspired by the North Carolina state motto, 'Esse Quam Videri,' the Latin phrase meaning, 'To Be, Rather Than To Seem.' This statement is the core value of the shop and important for remaining relevantly connected to the history of skateboarding and our home state."
Go vote!!
By Alexis Greene
Name:
Nuchi Lor
Occupation:
Student
Spotted:
Rolling wit the homies in Northlake Mall
Rockin:
Shades: Hot Topic
Shirt: Hot Topic
Chains: Hot Topic
Shorts: Aeropostale
Shoes: Converse
What inspired your look today?:
"Hot Topic."
The Charlotte Observer reports that at least 1,000 people were in line at 7 a.m. this morning at the Apple store at SouthPark.
Now, I'm pretty excited about the new iPhone because, like I've said before, mine is pretty jacked up right now. But after watching this video about the reception, I'm a little hesitant. Check it out for yourself.
By Cheris Hodges
Next Wednesday marks the end of an era as Eastland Mall closes its doors for the last time.
Built in 1975, it was once one of Charlotte's premier shopping destinations. But over the last two decades, Eastland has been in decline, losing all of its anchor stores -- such as Sears and Dillards -- and its iconic ice skating rink.
By 2007, there was talk of getting rid of the mall. The city commissioned a study by the Urban Land Institute, which suggested that Eastland should be turned into a mixed-used development with retail and housing. So far, nothing has come from it. Longtime Charlotteans, however, remember when Eastland was a place to see and be seen; this week, four notable residents share their mall memories with Creative Loafing.
Read the rest of this story in the News section.
This Thursday, Charlotte STYLE Magazine is bringing the fellas an event they'll not want to miss. Complimentary desserts, manicures and massages, a fashion show and giveaways all night? I'm jealous! Nonetheless, you might still find me there eyeballing the eye candy ... er, I mean checking out the fashion show. Woo!
Admission is free to the event, which runs from 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
Crave Dessert Bar is located at 500 W. 5th St.
By Alexis Greene
Name:
Rachel Chapman
Occupation:
Sales associate
Spotted:
Delia*s
Rockin':
Cardigan: Gap
T-Shirt: Delia*s
Skirt: Delia*s
Leggings: Charlotte Russe
Shoes: Delias online
What inspired your look today?:
My everyday life and fashionable love for fashion!
Aw. Plaza Midwood must be so sad to be losing one of its anchor retail stores. Pura Vida has been in this eclectic neighborhood since 2004, and in October will be moving to another eclectic neighborhood. Yep, NoDa.
So what does this mean?
From a newsletter:
...It means we are still having as many events as possible in our Gypsy Lounge as long as we are here. We will continue to support and be engaged in the neighborhood....It means we will be having lots of sales so we won't have to lug as much stuff to our new home.
...It means some of our fixtures will be for sale, too (we will not do coffee at the new place)
...It means this place is available for lease soon! email John Jones at jjones@gsrc.net. The landlord, Albert, is terrific and very supportive!
...It means we could really use everyone's support while we make this transition- painting parties at the new place!!!
...It means we will miss being in Plaza Midwood-- running to Nova's in the morning for dessert, getting Pizza delivered from Fuel's Pizza for lunch, walking over to Common Market, Zada Janes, Soul's or Snug Harbor after work, and watching Chilly Willy across the street scream at people all day long.
...It means we are excited about our move in October and look forward to forging strong, supportive relationships with our new business neighbors which include Cabo Fish Taco, Crepe Cellars, The Evening Muse, Fu's Custom Tattoo, The Neighborhood Theatre, Smelly Cat, Wine-Up, Real Eyes Bookstore, Amelie's and many others.