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Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Shop Talk Meet custom fashion designer Luis Machicao
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 7:31 AM
Maybe Charlotte doesn't get big names like Armani or Marc Jacobs to color our city personally with their fashion designs, but that certainly doesn't mean we're floating in a fashion black hole. Originally from Peru, Couture Designer Luis Machicao has been in the Charlotte area for eight years. He specializes in women's clothing but is now getting into men's swimwear, and his work has most recently been seen in runway shows for the Catawba Care Coalition and the Junior League.
Creative Loafing: Tell us a little about your background.
Luis Machicao: I have designed for theater, opera, a couple of movies and TV programs back in Peru. I was also the fashion designer for the former presidential family.
While I was studying sociology in school, I visited Paris where I discovered the fashion world was ruled by men. I just fell in love with the runway world. I moved there to work as a designer. About 11 years ago, I moved to the U.S. and opened a house of high fashion in Houston, Texas. There, I did some beauty pageants and bridal gowns. Eight years ago I moved to the Carolinas.
What brought you here?
Because of the weather. It’s phenomenal; you have four seasons here. I love the people here too. My customers are so nice, very warm. The people here made me feel welcome.
News Daily consumer dish: March 18
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 6:42 AM
• The aesthetics of March Madness: The Moment
• Nordstrom recalls six styles of girls shoes due to lead levels: TalkingShopping.com
• Starved for attention? Pay paparazzi for some: MSNBC.com
• iPhone 3.0 update cures headaches: LATimes.com
Sale of the Day Sale of the Day: Wednesday
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 6:00 AM
Cheap Joe's Art Stuff is having a great outdoor sale. Sale applies to easels, canvas boards, oil sets, drawing pads, aquamonolith pencils and more. Ends March 24.
4420 Monroe Road
704-333-2527
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Features Retailers, residents say: 'Shop local'
Posted By Web Editor on Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 11:55 AM
By Cheris Hodges
As the economy continues to slide into the crapper, some Charlotte residents, community leaders and entrepreneurs are working to keep the businesses in their communities afloat by initiating "shop local" campaigns.
The hope behind these initiatives is that neighbors will choose to spend cash close to home and buy what they can from shops in their own neighborhoods.
James Mathis, Historic South End director for Center City Partners, said it was about last fall when things started to get tight.
"Anyone who was paying attention knew that the economy was declining," said Mathis. "I started to hear from my retailers down in South End that things were a little tight and there was less traffic. They were really looking to Thanksgiving and Christmas as being really vital to their year. That's when we leaped into action."
Mathis leapt and helped to launch the Web site www.discover-southend.com, which was designed to direct more people to South End-based businesses. The site hit the Internet a week before Thanksgiving in an effort to help shops in the neighborhood during the holiday shopping season.
"We created it in two weeks and [South End business owners] put their information on there," he said. Take a visit to the Web destination now and you'll see South End shops -- including restaurants, clothing shops and art galleries -- listed, along with the businesses hours of operation and directions.
Once it was constructed, www.discover-southend.com was promoted via ads in local magazines, banners on buildings in South End and through Center City Partners' marketing department.
"In this economy, it was important. It's one of those deals where in tight times you sort of tighten your straps and do what you have to do to survive and make through this bad economy," said Mathis. "The feedback that I've received is that [residents and business owners] feel a camaraderie when they go and shop locally. They feel like if they are going to spend money that they would like to spend money with people who are going through the same things that they are."
Events Styling and profiling at Pop Life
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Those Fashion Friday folks are everywhere, aren't they? Check them out tomorrow night at Apostrophe Lounge:
Fashion Friday, the|ENTERTAINMENT, JSW Media Group in association with Pop Life (Creative Loafing & The Sol Kitchen) present: "The Elements of Style: Infusing Fashionable Chic into Your Pop Life."
Some things to look forward to:
• Charlotte Style Magazine’s "Style Lounge"
• Fashion Friday Preview featuring LA East Boutique & Flawless Make Up Art
• Fantastic giveaways
• Music by Dem Fresh Katz (Fraser & Justice)
Doors Open @ 6 p.m.; Fashion Preview @ 8:30 p.m.
Apostrophe Lounge
1440 S. Tryon St.
E-mail info@thesolkitchen.com for more info.
Cheap Cheap Cheap is chic but free is fun!
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 8:56 AM
When I was in high school, my dad bought me a cheap, used car to get around in, and my mom flipped out. She simply doesn't believe in used goods. I love her to death, but I firmly disagree with the notion that cheap is bad.
With today's economy — and idiot insurance companies who're using bailout money to pay employees bonuses, grrrr — cheap is chic. Cheap is smart.
But what's smarter? Free.
FreeNapkin.com is a great site to find FREE stuff, some of it vintage (like a Scooby Doo lunchbox), some of it warm and cuddly (like kittens), some of it kind of odd (like a hydroponic system). It's very similar to Craigslist, in that it's organized by states and people post up items they want to get rid of.
News Daily consumer dish: March 17
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 7:49 AM
Headlines from the world of retail, fashion and shopping.
• In times of trouble, pink is the shopper's comfort color: NYTimes.com
• J.C. Penney now shuns fur, says Humane Society: SeattlePI.com
• CFDA announces nominees for 2009 awards: WWD.com
• Best Buy confronts newer nemesis: WSJ.com
Sale of the Day Sale of the day: Tuesday
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 7:01 AM
Taylor, Richards & Conger, a men's and women's clothing store in Phillips Place, is having a last chance sale: All fall and winter clothing is 50-70 percent off. Select group of ladies' jackets is $99-$199, and select group of suits and sports coats is $299-$599.
6907 Phillips Place Court
704-366-9092
Monday, March 16, 2009
News Why men should wear skirts
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Man skirts were spotted at the martinMARTIN showcase at the BoxEight Fashion Week, Saturday at the Los Angeles Theatre.
Men in skirts. Not exactly something I'd like to see walking down the streets of Charlotte.
And yet the gentleman in this video is all about it. "Women don't have an appendage that has to dangle one way or the other," he says.
Events Spring fashion frenzy at Mack and Mack Charlotte
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 9:00 AM
With the way the weather fluctuates nowadays, I'm not sure if spring is in the air or not. Regardless, you should check out this event, "Spring is in the Air Fashion Extravaganza," hosted by Mack and Mack Charlotte. The fashion frenzy is on Thursday, March 19, starting at noon. Here's the press release:
Please join us at Mack and Mack Charlotte, located in the Specialty Shops on the Park, as we celebrate Spring with special trunk shows, exclusive offers and more!Come meet special guests, Robin Mack Davis, creator of the Mack and Mack clothing line, along with jewelry designer, Detra Kay, who will be showcasing new must-have items for Spring and sharing style advice on the latest trends. A representative from Essential Bodywear will also be available for bra fit consultations.
Trunk shows will begin at noon and continue throughout the day. Please feel free to drop by to enjoy our signature Mack-tini cocktail or a glass of wine while you shop. Register to win a hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind necklace designed by Detra Kay. Beginning at 5:00 p.m., we will feature food from Toscana Ristorante and live music.
6401 Morrison Blvd.
704-365-3002
