Southern Protocol

Hello, bargain shopping! One of Southern Protocol’s favorite boutiques is so thankful for their shoppers this Thanksgiving season that they’re having a 20% off sale on all their new merchandise Saturday, November 21!

Be sure to take advantage of their customer appreciation – new shipments on sale will include fan-favorites Tibi and Hype, as well as lots of other festive frocks. You can’t find a better place to get that perfect dress for a few of your holiday parties this year!

iheart is located in the South Windermere Shopping Plaza in West Ashley.

Beautiful, beautiful clothes await you at k. morgan boutique on King Street. It’s definitely a place for those who truly love and appreciate gorgeous sportswear! The boutique’s modern simplicity and layout are extremely inviting; it feels like a big city retail shop.

k. morgan opened its doors in February 2008, wanting to bring stylish and quality-made garments to the Charleston area. With lines like Rory Beca, Yeana Baraschi, Pleasure Doing Business, and Twenty8Twelve (Sienna Miller’s line), it’s definitely not the cheapest place in town, but it’s definitely the place you go when looking for investment pieces. Remember: as much as we all love a good bargain at Forever 21, sometimes you need to spend a little money for classics. And k. morgan is overflowing with those classics.

I’m absolutely in LOVE with this first look (above). The Rory Beca top is simultaneously billowy and chic; I tied the neckline in a bow, but in the store they had it styled to look like a tie – masculine yet pretty! The skirt is one of k. morgan’s pride and joys at the moment: it’s the ever-popular Pleasure Doing Business bandage skirt. Pleasure Doing Business’s version of the bandage skirt was one of the first of its kind, and as a result has been seen on the likes of numerous celebrities over the past few months. While it looks shockingly teeny-tiny on the hanger, it stretches perfectly to fit every wearer like a glove. Pairing a skin tight skirt with a flowing top balances out the silhouette – never go tight all over! And the smokey lavender color on top really softens the harsh black on bottom. (Recessionista bonus: the top is a perfect example of a legitimate splurge. It can be dressed up or down, worn tucked in with a fitted skirt or loose with skinny jeans and boots. That’s four outfits right there!)

The second look (above) is definitely for the risk taker in Charleston’s fashion scene. You may be frightened by the Jocelyn vest – it does make quite the statement with its luscious fur in greys and purples – but the second you feel the softness of the rabbit ombre you will be totally willing to take the leap. When worn with a simple, loose top in a silk fabric, like this one from Pink Tartan, and well-fitting jeans, like this Twenty8Twelve bootcut pair, it’s an urban twist on casual-cool. Plus it’s cold outside and this thing will keep you warm while still rocking some style. The girls at k. morgan say Sienna Miller’s jeans do fit pretty well, but most go up a size or two. Don’t be afraid of this! No one will see the size except for you – but they WILL see your muffin top if you refuse to find the appropriate fit. 

So the next time you’re in the celebratory or retail-therapy mood and craving some stunning sportswear at a designer price, check out k. morgan. You won’t regret it, and you’ll wear the clothes ten times more (and longer!) than that tunic from H&M.

k. morgan is located at 255 King Street. 843.577.0924.

Wink’s adorable black, white and teal space with vintage chandeliers in the Avondale triangle of West Ashley is sweet as sugar – and it’s not only because the space used to be a bakery. The prices are INSANELY affordable, the lines are among some of my favorites (Kersh, LuluVia, Glam), and the owner is absolutely fabulous.

As we wrote about earlier, Wink is about to celebrate its one-year anniversary this Thursday (yay, Wink!). The past year has been good to the boutique, which has some of the cutest merchandise in West Ashley. On top of apparel (mostly casual, but a few great cocktail numbers), Wink gives its customers hats, purses, scarves, and the always-needed fashion tape. A one-shop-stop for your entire outfit! They also have some of the best jewelry in Charleston – big, chunky, elegant and all under $32 (!!!), I wanted to buy all of it. And perhaps I will on Thursday at their event…

The first look (above) I can’t actually take credit for – owner Errica had already put it on the mannequin, and I just fell in love with it! We all know one-sleeve dresses and tops are very now, but this Veronicam version is the first full-length one-sleeve I truly liked. The black jersey with a matching wrap belt (make it wider for the most flattering silhouette) is simultaneously sexy and demure; add the chunky jeweled necklace and you have a fashion-forward look appropriate for almost any occasion. (PS that necklace? $32.)

Our second look (above) is a great example of taking pattern and color into cooler weather. The pattern is a fun paisley in colors that are bright but in the fall family: maize yellows, ruby reds, hunter greens… The sheer sleeves also give it a touch of sophistication! And just because the dress isn’t form fitted doesn’t mean you have to wear it with a belt. I love the cinched-in look, but sometimes it’s better to let a fabric skim over your body. Much more flattering – we can tell you’re still rockin’ a bod under there!

The last look epitomizes casual-but-put-together – I won’t get off this kick until all of you listen! Wink is perfect for this kind of style…sweaters, tanks and cardigans galore. By choosing a cardigan with shape and interest, like this one by Be Cool, you add something fresh to your ensemble. Add a bright colored tank, fun earrings and some well-fitted jeans, and this is the perfect comfortable, errand-running outfit.

I know that now you obviously are dying to go shop at Wink, so be sure to come to their event on Thursday from 6:30-9! Again, all profits go to charity, and there will be food and bevs…a perfect Thursday night.

Wink is located at 829A Savannah Highway in West Ashley. 843.270.1408.