Southern Protocol

This week I interviewed Katherine McDonald, owner of LulaKate, to find out about her successes as an entrepreneur here in Charleston. With a major in Psychology, it is amazing to see the line of work she has come into. Katherine is an amazingly talented designer with a fabulous boutique at 324 King Street. I was excited to chat with her about how she started and what her inspirations were over a little coffee at Caviar and Bananas.

Q: How did you get started and what inspired you?

A: Katherine had always wanted her own clothing line and was always making her own clothes. In 2003, she was layed off from a job and started some intensive sewing. Almost heading to New York, she found a great job here in Charleston at Blackbaud. Wearing her adorable a-line skirts to work got her friends talking. Before she knew it she was doing trunk shows for friends and friends of friends from Maryland to Florida. The skirts were adorable cotton poplins and fun prints. It was history from there and began selling wholesale to boutiques like Copper Penny and even one of my favorite boutiques in Lexington – AJ’s! “So many of my customers were starting to get married and wanted me to design their bridesmaid dresses,” but Katherine was a bit hesitant. With the economy in a sudden downturn Ready-to-Wear was deeply affected, but not the bridal industry. She made the transition into bridal and she is now one of the most well known bridal gown and bridesmaid designers in Charleston. You can find her amazing custom dresses at her boutique and also at Bella Bridesmaid locations across the country!

Q: How do you incorporate your Southern roots into your business?

A: “The name LulaKate is very Southern in itself. Lula was my great grandmother’s name.” Everything sold in the store is very classic and sophisticated. “Southern women know how to dress and just have class. They know that a simple silhouette will look good at any age.” There is no doubt that Southern women ooze classic elegance.

Q: What is your favorite Southern staple food? Favorite restaurant in Charleston?

A: Without a blink of an eye Katherine replied, “macaroni & cheese – and sweet potatoes with marshmallows!” She adores Al Di La in West Ashley.

Q: Is it difficult to be a female entrepreneur in Charleston?

A: “In Charleston, no. The city is so supportive of women.” There are still stereotypes of what women should be and then what women are doing these days. There is a definite sense of empowerment. “It is a small city and there aren’t many industries so that is why there are so many female entrepreneurs.”

Q: Any advice for other female entrepreneurs?

A: “A very smart and very successful person once told me:  ‘Pick one thing and do it well and if you are seriously passionate about something do not quit!’” Katherine also said that this is not a business for someone who is faint of heart and it has been 8 years in the making for her successes.

I loved chatting with Katherine and found her absolutely intriguing because of how successful she is and how she has never given up. It is definitely a huge encouragement for me personally. A little passion and hard work go a long way.

Posted by Quinn

The hit AMC series Mad Men continues to have an enviable stronghold on current popular fashion! January Jones and Christina Hendricks have easily replaced Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall, turning sexy on-screen fashions from the 1960s into highly coveted pieces for the modern wardrobe.

Now that Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant has already paired with QVC for a clothing line inspired by the hot movers and shakers of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, it only makes sense that she’d move on to another hot commodity: nail polish.

The line, which will be through sassy retailer Nailtini (flawless pairing choice for a show with everyone drinking all the time, huh?), will consist of four colors: Bourbon Satin (brown), French 75 (gold), Deauville (platinum), and Stinger (iridescent). Don’t those colors just scream Mad Men? The colors that dance across the screen during that entire show are rich browns, creams and jewel tones. What a perfect decision to keep the nail polishes in those families – I’m sure they’ll be a big hit come fall!

The polish will be available at CVS Beauty 360 and Duane Reade’s Look stores this fall for $14 a piece. Slather some on, slip into a corseted dress, grab a martini, and hit the town!

Now that Betty White has outlasted all of her Golden Girls co-stars, and has had quite possibly the most random comeback of all time, there’s only one obvious thing left to do: a clothing line with Jerry Leigh Apparel, of course!

I am absolutely dying laughing that 88-year-old Betty White has an upcoming clothing line. The best part is, she has SUCH a strong following – from her actual Golden Girls days as well as her new, younger fans – that this line will no doubt be uber-successful. I actually bet it will be more successful than some of the younger actress-turned-designers (you know how I normally feel about that prototype!) that have churned out collections recently…

Set to launch in August, the collection consists mostly of hoodies and t-shirts featuring Betty herself, and range from $28-48. As if having a shirt with Betty’s deceivingly sweet-as-sugar face on the front isn’t enough, part of the proceeds will benefit the Morris Animal Foundation.

How could you possibly resist?!

Unfortunately summer is coming to an end and I’m sure everyone has had a fair share of the sun. I personally love basking in the sun whether it is at the beach or at the pool, but sometimes I get worried that my skin is really suffering. There are so many products out there to reverse the signs of skin damage from the sun these days! My mom swears by a simple product called Bio Oil that you can find at any drugstore. She had a very visible line on her arm from sun damage and the Bio Oil has almost completely made it disappear. There are products made by Oil of Olay, Clinique, and Garnier. Olay’s product is called Definity Color Recapture that you can also find in most stores. Clinique’s product is the Clinical Dark Spot Corrector that many people rave about because of its awesome results. And the last product available over the counter with great reviews is the Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage.

All of these products are the top picks by many experts to protect and correct. So keep your skin looking young and radiant with these awesome over-the-counter products even after the summer is over!

Posted by Quinn

Everyone seems to be getting back to basics these days and this Fall it is back to the 1950s. Designers from Louis Vuitton to Banana Republic are showing the 50s era with cinched waists and perfectly coiffed hair. The tailored glam look is an absolute classic and also gives you an excuse to pop into a great vintage store for an authentic piece to add to your closet. The skirts are full, waists are cinched, bags are structured, and the hair is pinned back perfectly. This tailored look comes in and out of style from season to season with separates and now it is the full-on look for this coming Fall season. The jacket is another must-have piece. A structured cropped jacket or classic silhouette is how you are going to bring flair to your all your looks. A classic white or cream button-up blouse is also going to be a must have for your 50s style along with animal print accessories seen in belts, bags, and shoes.

This Fendi runway look is easily mimicked with pieces you can afford! This full skirt from Anthropologie is $78, a navy ruffled blouse from Talbots is $40, a great leopard print skinny belt from J.Crew for $39.50, and an awesome structured brown leather bag from Urban Outfitters for $58. Pair this look with a great pair of peep toe heels and some pearls and you’re a flashback from the 1950s!

Posted by Quinn

I am pleased to announce that Hampden Clothing will be hosting the Twinkle by Wenlan Trunk Show tomorrow on King Street! I was lucky enough to see this show while I was in New York this past February for Fashion Week and it was amazing! The clothes are exquisite so definitely check it out!

The event is at their King Street location in Charleston this Thursday, July 8th from 12:00pm to 7:00pm. Guests will be able to shop the inspired collection, preview Fall 2010 samples, enjoy champagne and light hors d’oeuvres, mingle with other stylish Charleston fashionistas, and will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to win 2 tickets to the Spring 2011 Twinkle by Wenlan runway show at New York Fashion Week! Don’t miss out on this fabulous event! Check out the Runway show on Twinkle’s website to get a glimpse of the collection!

posted by Quinn

The craze for huge and detailed headbands may be slowly returning to normalcy (appropriate sized bows that lay flat on the head versus piles of ribbons and feathers), but thankfully hair accessories in general are sticking around for the long haul.

Everyone from Louis Vuitton to Marc Jacobs to J. Crew is selling bobby pins, hair ties and headbands with a little bit of oomph – decorating your hair is one of the easiest ways to look perfectly summer. But perhaps we don’t all have the necessary cash flow for Monsieur Vuitton’s $800 bobby pin set, or want something a bit more unique than J. Crew’s varieties…

Enter Love Child Designs, created by savvy and fashionable College of Charleston graduate Gillian Love. Her floral bobby pins have taken Charleston by storm, appearing in multiple shows during Charleston Fashion Week, and selling like hot cakes at V2V, Stella Nova on King Street, and Teal Boutique in Mt Pleasant. I personally love the simple and sweet matching pink set!

Replace your (boring!) regular bobby pins with one or two of Love Child Designs’ pieces, and you’ll immediately update your summer in Charleston look to something new and different. Love it! Browse some of her most recent creations via Facebook, or hop into one of the above mentioned boutiques to snatch one up in person.

If you’re an avid shopper like I am your inbox is being flooded with summer sale promotions these days. Just this morning I was delighted to see a 20% off and free shipping email from J.Crew.com. Lizz had some great finds yesterday at the J.Crew on King Street as well – so make sure to check it out! You should be able to find great deals and great promotions in just about any store you walk into on King Street. This is the time to shop and stock up on pieces that will take you through the fall as well!

Not only can you stroll down King Street for some fab finds, but they are all over the Internet too! The infamous Nordstrom anniversary sale begins July 16^th so mark your calendars because it is quite possibly the best sale of the summer! You will find all of your fall necessities and tons of great indulgences for a fantastic price. The other websites I love to visit during summer sale season are Shopbop.com (where you can find up to 70% off!!) and Ruelala.com (anything from apparel to accessories). If you have not become a member of Rue la la or Gilt.com– register immediately! They have great sales EVERY day – yes, every day. All of these sites have great designer duds for super cheap, but check it out early because things go fast! – Refer a friend and receive a $10-$25 credit.

You have my permission to get out there and shop your little hearts out! This is the time to do it because you’re bound to find great deals everywhere and obviously you deserve it!

Posted by Quinn

Just as the local news of Forever 21 ambushing King Street has started to settle, the mega retailer opens an unbelievably MASSIVE store in Times Square, New York. This company is seriously on a hot streak.

The Times Square store is 91,000 square feet, has ONE HUNDRED FIFTY ONE dressing rooms, and over thousands of items in inventory. But the really crazy part: they’ll be open until 2:00 am every day. I’m assuming New York literally is the city that never sleeps, because I cannot for the life of me imagine shopping at 2:00 in the morning, unless it was in a fit of insomnia and I was on my computer in my pajamas…

Switching gears back to the future Charleston locale, I have found out that at least the Forever 21 replacing Saks is a “XXI Forever.” What is the difference, you may ask? A whole lot – XXI Forever is a newer flagship of the chain, that boasts nicer displays, cleaner stores, and a wider variety of inventory (all lines available on their website). It is a noticeably better shopping experience… so maybe that will help the sting of no more Saks…?

We are head over heels in love with Charleston’s go-to wedding website, The Wedding Row. Della and all the lovely ladies over there have such a great eye for all things wedding, and have given many brides great ideas for their own nuptials.

So we couldn’t be happier that one of our most recent brides, Laurel (Britton) Laird, is filling up the top of their blog today in all of her 1920s/vintage style beauty! These shots are from her bridal portrait at Boone Hall Plantation, and were captured by none other than the uber talented Jennifer Bearden. I was lucky enough to be on site for the shoot, and had such a great time getting to spend that special time with Laurel. Her blue peep toe shoes became my obsession, and I’m always a huge fan of a birdcage veil.

Laurel – you are SO stunning and we miss you dearly!

It’s been the trend for the past few years that once a guy or gal breaks into any aspect of show business, they somehow believe they are perfectly welcome in every other area of entertainment or mass production; most of the time this means that celebrity after celebrity – be it a singer, reality starlet, movie actress, etc – decides he or she is suddenly qualified to launch their own clothing line. Only occasionally does it happen to be a great success, and totally credible (enter Victoria Beckham, former snooty Spice Girl).

The newest celebrity to add clothing designer to their list falls into the “well ooobviously she would have a clothing line, and it is beyond acceptable” category: fashion legend Madonna.

Styelist.com just released a few sketches of the upcoming juniors fall line, entitled “Material Girls,” that are due to hit Macy’s August 3. Judging by the fun and flirty sketches, Madonna definitely wants her 1990s original Material Girl style to make a comeback. While that may scare some of you away – and let’s be honest, the target market for this juniors collection probably isn’t all that familiar with Madonna’s iconic 90s style – she has somehow found a way to take the playful parts of her lace, zippers and big bows, and carry them seamlessly into modern trends.

Personally I don’t know if I’ll be able to talk myself into purchasing fingerless lace gloves or checked midriff-baring bustier, but I do love that floral print dress!

Many of us may not be able to break the bank for this sexy pair of Louboutins, BUT you can find nude heels almost anywhere these days. I had been on a quest to find the perfect pair because I realized they were an essential staple missing from my closet; so I went on a hunt.

Nude heels are extremely flattering, elongating the leg and creating a leaner silhouette – perfect for any frame! They are also easily carried from season to season, which is a major plus. A great pair of pumps that you can sport at any time of the year are always a great purchase and well worth the money. While I’m sure everyone loves a good bargain, I would highly suggest splurging a bit more on a staple item that will take you through many seasons. They will be much more durable and won’t give you those crazy, uncomfortable blisters (ouch!).

Pairing the nude heel with anything from a summer cocktail dress to even a skirt with tights this fall will not disappoint. Always classic, yet something a little different from your everyday black pump. They come in a wide variety to choose from: patent leather, leather, suede, open-toed, or closed-toed – I love them all!  I finally found a great, affordable pair at the Aldo on King Street. I went with a patent closed-toed version and I absolutely adore them. I am already envisioning all of the outfits I can pair them with (ie. dresses, skirts, trousers, shorts). I definitely encourage everyone to get out there during all the fabulous summer sales and add this staple to your closet.

And while you’re at it – it wouldn’t hurt to scour the sales for other wonderful basics to add! I am going to slip on my new pumps and maybe hit up a good happy hour!

-posted by Quinn

I stumbled across this list of “TV’s Best and Worst Dressed TV Dads” this morning and just had to share in honor of Sunday’s holiday. Oh, Mr. Huxtable… that is some serious bedazzling on your sweater.

A very happy father’s day to all the number one dads out there – where would any of us be without our childhood hero and number one protector! Whether you’re hanging (or snoozing) on the couch watching the US Open/World Cup or out and about doing your dad’s favorite things, be sure to spend some time with – or at least call! – your loving daddy.

Ever since my mom popped Breakfast at Tiffany’s into the VCR when I was in elementary school, I have had a slightly passionate love for Tiffany and Co. What started off as a love based in wanting to be exactly like Audrey Hepburn grew into a love for everything sparkly and gorgeous inside those steel doors!

While Tiffany’s is an upscale accessories company dedicated to elegance, class, and its storied history, it doesn’t mean they can’t keep up with the times… they just recently released an iPhone app that helps many a bride-to-be (or lets be honest, many single gals, too) find their perfect engagement ring. Love it! You can choose diamond shapes, sizes and settings with a simple flick of the finger. You can even find your exact ring size with an interactive measuring system.

And if you want to make sure all your friends and family see your dream ring – you know, just in case – the app lets you send it to your facebook, email and even twitter accounts. Want to get a concise little demo? Check out the YouTube How-To.

I almost crashed my cart into the 2-for-1 Special K Cereal display when I saw these “denim diapers” from Huggies at Harris Teeter the other week. I awkwardly stood there trying to grasp their purpose for a few moments before forcing myself to move on.

I subsequently (I don’t know how) forgot about the diapers for a week or two, until a glorious moment this morning when I saw a commercial for them. The concept of jean diapers is so hilarious to me, that I don’t even know what to say about it… other than that it appears the pantlessness trend of Hollywood twenty-somethings has sadly trickled down the ladder to innocent toddlers.

But I still can’t stop laughing about it! A line in the commercial literally says “I poo in blue.” Watch the commercial to join in my Monday fun…