Bits of Lace, located at 302 King st, put on a lingerie fashion show at Southend Brewery and it was simply fantastic. Proceeds and donations went to Debi's Kids- an all volunteer organization providing thousands of families in the Tri-County area with gifts for Christmas.

Last Sunday six locally colorful designers-- Kenneth Beatrice by Chelsie Ravenel Rachel Gordon, Lula Kate, Beth Pilger, MEW Designs by Megan Waldrep and Mamie Ruth-- graced the runway for the fourth annual fashion show at Chai's Lounge: Local Color.  The show was put on by Charleston After Dark and all proceeds benefited Charleston Chefs Feed the Need.  It was a great turn out and a great time benefiting a positive cause.  The anticipation and heat that is Charleston Fashion Week is on...

Special thanks to Jason Benjamin of esylum for additional footage and creative input.

Interview: Logan Neitzel
New York Designer Logan Neitzel Returns To Hampden Clothing For A Mega Fashion Event!

Ok, Charleston fashion scene it's time to get excited! Let's think back to last March. During Charleston Fashion Week we got the opportunity to meet New York designer Logan Neitzel who not only contributed to the Emerging Designer Competition but also hosted a trunk show at Hampden Clothing followed by an appearance on the runway with owner, Stacy Smallwood. Good memories! Well, good news! On Friday, November 5th Logan Neitzel returns to Hampden presenting the Zeitgeist Fashion Event featuring a trunk show of his Fall 2010 line as well as his latest SS 2011 collection recently presented during New York Fashion Week with pieces designed exclusively for the store!

This is not going to be your typical trunk show by far. Hampden Clothing has visually transformed their space for this affair that will include artwork from the designer, live DJ, models presenting the collection, appetizers provided by FIG along with spirits by Firefly Distillery and wine provided by Republic National Distribution, and amazing swagbags from Blue Mercury. Of course every fashion event must have an after-party! Don't miss this celebration at O-Ku, voted one of 2010's Best Restaurants by Esquire Magazine!

When I first met Logan, I thought he had such a mysterious and powerful presence. Not to mention the obvious...striking good looks! However, this designer has been building a brand over the past year, giving fashion a forward innovative dose through signature staples and handcrafted pieces. Here I reach out to Neitzel to strip away a bit of the mystery and get a more personal look on what makes him tick!

CM: Your last trunk show in Charleston took place during Charleston Fashion Week this past March. What has your journey as a designer been like since then?
LN:  I’ve been establishing myself in the city and I also designed and showed my Spring 2011 collection at New York Fashion Week.

CM:  How have things changed since the launch of your online shop?
LN:  The online store allows more international access to my line. Previously, only the U.S. had access. Shipping pieces oversees makes me happy because I believe that’s where my strongest customer base will be.

CM:  I last saw you at New York Fashion Week following your own runway presentation. How was that experience? How has the after math been?
LN:  NYFW was stressful and we were down to the wire but overall the presentation was received very well. It was rewarding to show Elle, Vogue, WWD, T magazine and more what I do. Following fashion week are sales meetings, press days and stylist requests. Then comes production – it’s an unending process.

CM:  Charleston's design community is growing rapidly. What advice would you give emerging designers about the business?
LN:  The fashion industry is difficult. Don’t be a trend-jumper. If you have a vision, stay true to it. If you don’t have a vision, consider a different business.

CM: What is your overall design aesthetic with your latest collection? Who do you design for?
LN:  Spring 2011 was my most accessible collection to date. I design for any age, male or female – it’s for people who are strong, sexy, confident and independent. They understand my aesthetic and can incorporate it into a personal style. My ultimate intention is to create a cult following of loyal fans who’ll return season to season for a special piece.

CM:  If I was to take a peek into your closet what would I see?
LN:   Lots of black.

CM:   What type of things do you like to see a women wear? Any fashion don'ts?
LN:  Don’ts: Overdoing yourself – editing is important. And Uggs.

CM:  What can Charleston expect to see at your Hampden Clothing trunk show? What drew you back to have a second trunk show?
LN:  This trunk show will include custom made pieces. I’m returning to Charleston because Hampdens boutique has promoted my career for the last year and I appreciate Charleston’s support.

CM:  Do you have an inspiration wall or mood board? What kinds of things are on it?
LN:  Yes, I have an inspiration board. It’s full of mystics, muses, parcels, life and death and texture.

CM:  In your collection would you describe any one thing a signature item?
LN: Leather is a signature for me. I’ve carried the epaulettes and shoulders through Spring from Fall. Caging, cutouts, structure and some fur are also consistent themes but I can’t call any single item representative of my aesthetic.

CM:  What do trends mean to you?
LN:  To me, trends are fleeting.

CM:  What's next on the horizon for your brand?
LN:  Next, I’m focusing on the Fall 2011 collection and expanding the brand across retail outlets.

Don't miss your opportunity to meet the designer Friday, November 5th at Hampden Clothing on King Street from 7 - 10 p.m. with after-party at O-Ku! Trunk Show will continue on Saturday, November 6th from 7 - 10 p.m.

Julie Wheat of Cavortress headed out to Saint Louis- along with videographer Sarah Jones of All Over It, PR Consultant and writer Maggie Winterfeldt, and model/muse Amy Chadwell for the emerging designer competition Project: Design! at Saint Louis Fashion Week. Watch as the Charleston posse cavorts around town and dominates the runway meeting some of St Louis's finest along the way.

For more great videos of what's going on in and around Charleston check out www.alloverit.org

All Over it Covers:  Julie Wheat of Cavortress debuted her Summer 2010 Swimwear line Memorial Day weekend at Jimbo’s Rock Lounge.  Check out this behind the scenes footage of a day in the life of a Cavortress– hair and makeup, a photo shoot, fashion show, hype, and a rockin’ good time.

The way things are today there's no excuse for having wet cold feet, even when it rains. Rain boots have become more and more common over the years and are even considered stylish now. Rain boots are available in all sorts of colors and design ranging from one solid color to crazy animal designs.
Rain boots made today are called Wellington boots, which are made completely impermeable and waterproof. They are popular among many different kinds of people from secretaries to students. Because of their growth in popularity recently more and more manufacturers are starting to make them. Below are a few of the most popular boot brands.

Hunter Rain Boots
Hunter boots are well known by people who commonly wear rain boots. They are considered one of the strongest, most durable boots available being made of rubber. They originate from Scotland. The boot's nylon lining keeps out any kind of humidity or moisture from entering the boot, which keeps your feet nice and dry while wearing these boots. They were originally made and designed for use by equestrians, but are now worn by all kinds of people. The exterior of the boot is made of rubber to ensure you don't slip in wet conditions. They come in a wide variety of colors and designs so you're bound to find one that meets your personal style.

Sperry Top-Sider Boots
Sperry Top-Sider is a segment of Stride Rite which used to be the top brand of footwear many years ago for water enthusiasts. Sperry was the first company to create a boot with both great traction and that was non-marking. These boots were made to be abused and are considered to be high-performance boots. Not only are the boots constructed strong, but they're also very stylish boots. Their most popular style is their plaid collection. Not to mention Sperry Top-Siders are the official footwear of several organizations such as the U.S. Sailing team, the Navy, and the Navy SEALS.

Kamik Rubber Rain Boots
A company based in Montréal, Kamik delivers a boot with great comfort and strong construction. The often cold weather in Canada inspired them to make all their boots with materials to protect your feet from wind and keep them comfortably dry.
Kamik boots come in a huge assortment of styles and colors. You can choose stars, plaid, hearts, solid colors, and much more. Once you've worn out your Kamik boots you can even recycle them since their made to be environmentally friendly.



About the Author:Rain Boots for Women - Reviews of popular brands of Chooka boots and Kamik boots.

The easiest way to feel put together and stylish is to know how to create the perfect outfit. A perfect outfit results from 4 elements—a key item, a supporting item, a completer piece, and an element of pizzazz. Follow these steps when getting dressed to create the perfect outfit every time.

Step 1: Choose a Key Item

This item is the inspiration you build an outfit around. It can be as simple as a shoe, a bold necklace, a skirt, a top, or anything that inspires you while getting dressed on that day.

Step 2: Support Your Key Item.

Consider what additional wardrobe pieces you can use to complement your key item. To figure this out you can ask yourself a few questions. Is my key item a neutral? A psedo-neutral? Or is it a color that needs to be paired with a neutral?
Does my key item stand out on its own or need additional personality? Support pieces could be a bag, belt, piece of jewelry, scarf, or jacket, etc.

Step 3: Complete the Look

In this step you are beginning to put the finishing touches on your outfit. This is the step where you make an outfit look like it was meant to be worn together instead of looking like pieces of clothing you decided to wear together. Completer pieces could be a belt, cardigan, or jacket, etc.

Step 4: Add a Dash of Pizzazz

This is the last step of creating a great outfit. This is where you make an outfit memorable. An element of pizzazz adds personality to an outfit and helps you make it your own, or unique to your personal style. You can add pizzazz in many ways. It can come from a detail in one of the items you are wearing, an unexpected pop of color, a bold pattern or color, or bold jewelry.

EXAMPLE:



Key Item: Green Pattern Shirt
Supporting Item: Jean Skirt (neutral)
Completer Piece: Belt
Element of Pizzazz: Pattern in the shoe and the shirt


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Do you sometimes not know what to wear even when you’ve just been shopping? In order to banish your wardrobe blues you have to shop smart for items that complement and improve your wardrobe and personal style.

The key to shopping smart is to know what you need. When you know what you need, you focus your time, money, and shopping effort on items that help you get dressed quickly and easily.

In order to know what you need, you must discover three things:

What you already have.
What style you desire.
What area of your lifestyle feels the most challenging to dress for.

Discover What You Already Have

To know what you have, you must spend a little quality time in your closet. Your closet is an honest picture, a snapshot, of what is happening with your style. If you pay attention to what is in your closet, you can learn exactly why you feel as if you have nothing to wear. Sometimes it is hard to see your wardrobe through all of your clothes. Go through your closet, and examine each piece. Remind yourself what you have, where it is, and whether or not you wear it. Knowing what is in your closet paints a clear picture of the actual clothing options you have, helping you to make smarter purchases in the future. 

Discover the Style You Desire

To truly have a wardrobe you love, you have to mix the style you desire with what makes sense for you and your lifestyle. Make your style choices based on what makes sense for your taste, body shape, budget, and lifestyle. Style is a reflection of who you are, portrayed on the outside. It is the way you instantaneously tell the world who you are and what you are about. When you put on an outfit, it should instantly make you feel confident, authentic, and happy. Remember that your wardrobe lives in the present tense. Make sure the pieces in it reflect who you are—the person you are today.

Discover What Area of Your Lifestyle Feels the Most Challenging to Dress For

One of the quickest ways to determine what you need is to think about where you are going when you feel as if you have nothing to wear. If you frequently decline invitations to impromptu parties due to the stress of what to wear, you know you need to shop smart for clothes that will help you arrive at a party in style. If you change your clothes multiple times before work, you know you need to address what you are missing in order to feel great at work. 

Knowing what you need will help you break the pattern of going to the same stores and unknowingly purchasing items very similar to something already hanging in your closet. When you break this pattern, you will find wardrobe options in your closet, no matter where life takes you.

Sunglasses are practical. They help you protect your eyes from the sun. But they’re so much more than eyewear. Sunglasses are stylish and an all around great fashion accessory. There are many colors and styles to choose from. The most important consideration though is shape. Sunglasses should be tailored to suit your face structure. Luckily it’s not difficult to figure out which shapes flatter your face.

First take a photo of yourself. With a pen, mark your most prominent facial features on the photo. Note each cheek bone, the outer edge of each eyebrow and each side of your jaw. Connect the dots and you’ve got a visual idea of your face shape.


Once you know your face shape, read the guide below to find out which sunglasses suit your face.

Oval—People with oval faces have lots of sunglass options since this face shape is a universal structure in that most styles of glasses are flattering. Oval faces tend to have high cheekbones and chins which are narrower than their forehead. Select sunglasses that complement your eyebrows shape.

Square—you’ve got a square face if your strong points are a strong jaw, wide forehead, wide chin and wide cheekbones. Since your face looks square, your aim is to lengthen the appearance of your face. Choose sunglasses that are heavy on the top; look for narrow styles and try oval or round frames which contrast your square features.

Triangle—this shape is easy to visualize. Just picture a triangle and you’ve got your facial features mapped out like a narrow top of the face and a strong wide chin and cheeks. Try glasses that minimize the width of your face and draw attention away from the lower half of your face. Stay away from bold colors like red or green sunglasses which can maximize the features you’re hoping to minimize.

Inverted Triangle—This face shape is synonymous with heart shaped faces. Facial features include a wide forehead and a long, narrow chin. Create balance with your sunglasses by selecting glasses that widen out the rest of the rest of the face. Frames that sit low on the temples are a great choice. Dabble with color to draw attention to the top of your face. Sunglasses in blue for example will create interest in the top half of the face.

Round—Faces that are full without much cheekbone or jaw definition are considered round. Your sunglasses goal is to find styles that appear to lengthen and slim your face. Avoid round frames which could emphasize your already round face. Instead choose styles that have straight lines like square or rectangular frames. And don’t be afraid to use color to enhance your look. Dark sunglass frames such as black and brown add dimension to round faces.

Diamond—This face shape is characterized by a small forehead, high cheekbones, narrow eyes and a narrow jaw. Look for glasses that aim to widen your forehead while downplaying your cheekbones and opt for rounded, straight or square frames.

Whatever your face’s shape, play up your best assets with shades that complement your facial features and your style. Experiment with a variety of colors and looks until you find just the right pair of sunglasses.

You love designer handbags. You collect them, lust after them and treat them better than your nearest and dearest. Your credit cards twitch and flinch when the latest fashion magazines arrive in the post, small whimpering sounds carrying to you gently from your purse.

You convince yourself that you can give them up anytime, no problem. "It's not a problem" you tell your friends "I can control it. Then you catch yourself signing your husband up for an evening job without his knowledge, visions of the latest Hyanuki creation shimmering in front of your eyes as you fill out his application form.

Are you an addict? Is your habit becoming dangerous? Will it all end in tears? Well, if any of the following symptoms are familiar to you -- maybe you should consider cutting down for a while to a lesser brand!

1) You hear the phrases "huffing", "shluffing" and "blopping" and know what they mean. Even worse, you can remember the last time you did any of them.

2) The UPS / FEDEX delivery men know you by your first name and say "Hi" to you in the street.

3) Your husband is convinced you're having an affair with the delivery guy as he's always at your house!

4) The "box" room has been renamed your "dressing room" and you're trying to work out which wall to knock down to make it bigger so that you can fit in the new closets you'll need for all your bags.

5) Your husband is telling you how badly damaged the cards are and how you'll both have to economise. All you hear is "Of course you can get another handbag darling. You go choose what you want and I'll arrange to sell a kidney!"

6) You have to find new places to hide your latest purchases so that you don't have to answer any difficult questions.

7) When you get asked about a new bag you lie through your teeth, claiming you've had it for years and have only just got it out of the cupboard.

8) You start arguments on purpose with your husband / boyfriend / whatever just so as to have an excuse to buy yourself a new handbag - to cheer yourself up as you felt so low!

9) You know exactly how much, as a percentage, your weekly grocery bill is as money you can't spend on a new handbag.

10) If anyone asks what you'd like as a birthday or xmas present , you are able to hand out a list of your desired bags that you'd like to be "surprised" with. The list is categorized by 17 different headings and is cross indexed.

11) The manager of your local boutique phones you to advise that they are holding a training session for new staff and can they please borrow some of your bags for the session.

12) They then phone back again and ask if you'd be prepared to give the training session instead.

13) Fashion magazines phone you to ask what you think the newest trend or design will be for the new season.

14) Your collection is so big - you have to use a card index to find the bag you need right now!

15) You walk past a field of cows and spend the next thirty minutes working out in your head how many bags and trim the herd would be good for.

If any of these strike you just a little too close for comfort -- maybe you should consider cutting down a bit? sJust don't try going cold turkey -- it hurts like hell!