fashion

Smarties, if you haven’t tuned in this week, you are WAY behind! Make sure you log on from Sunday to Saturday this week – we are unveiling our Smarty favorite fall fashion designers and YOU get to enter to win something each day! Don’t be afraid to enter every single day!

Today we present Gretchen Scott Designs!

Last summer I stumbled upon Gretchen Scott boutiques on my two vacations, first in the Hamptons and then in Florida. Come to find out, these are the only two locations in the country that have a Gretchen Scott boutique – and both were in my summer travels halfway across the country. It was serendipity and I was smitten.

I fell in love with Gretchen’s tunics at first sight and have grown my collection all year. The bright contrasting patterns are the perfect accompaniment to my favorite jeans ever, my white jeans. And I’m still wearing them way past Labor Day, read this post on how we have officially been set free of white jean jail.

Continuing on with our promise to ditch our mom clothes and reinvent with all things fabulous! Our Smarty Fall Fashion Giveaway continues with your pick from Elizabeth McKay’s Fall collection, your choice. Just because we {heart} Smarty Charlotte!

I discovered Elizabeth McKay this summer while shopping in one of my favorite boutiques, Cottage Chic on East Boulevard. As I’ve gotten to know Elizabeth’s style and story, I learned that she originally hails from NC, which is why we love her even more! Her designs are full of color, bold prints and sophistication. I am drawn to the classic Jackie-O look and the use of ruffles are absolutely stunning. Her fabrics are luxurious and her pieces are timeless. You will want to build this collection for years to come.

Smarties, we are super excited to introduce you to the biggest week of giveaways yet to hit Smarty Charlotte! Our mission was simple. Ditch the momiform of yoga pants and a ponytail. It’s time to reinvent ourselves from head to toe with the latest trends in fall fashion. The Smarties hand-picked our favorite new lines and have arranged a giveaway every single day. From fab dresses by Elizabeth McKay, Jude Connally and Gretchen Scott to yummy candles by Ella B and something even for our hubbies from Southern Tide, we have a treat for you all week. So no snoozing at the wheel here, you need to log onto CSP every day – or you’ll miss out on the fun. Over $2,000 worth of it! Just because, we {heart} Smarty Charlotte!

Today we present…

Recently, I was invited by the fabulous custom skirt company, Sevier Skirts, to experience the entire process of designing a skirt. And let me tell ya, Smarties, I was floored and am forever hooked on clothes made just for my size!

Started in 2004, Sevier Skirts is a custom skirt company based out of Nashville, TN. Each and every skirt is hand cut, sewn, trimmed to your bodytype, hemmed to your preferred length, and packaged just for YOU. They are the ONLY company that provides this type of fit customization in combination with hundreds and hundreds of fabric options. These skirts are an investment in your wardrobe as they are timeless pieces that you can enjoy for years.

Terese Sides and Jen Grenier’s new business has taken off. They are the owners of a Notch Above Design. Stay-at-home moms and friends found a niche business idea and are having a ball fulfilling orders. They design and create by hand high fashion belt buckles, and embellish them with Swarowski Crystals. Each buckle is unique and while they can recreate a design if requested, they love of a one of a kind look.

We are coming up on the official start of summer and that means fun in the sun and time to sport our casual and cute apparel. That being said, when you’re expecting, it can be challenging to take advantage of the trends. Our friends, Natalie and Casey, at Buttoned Up Style, a style consultation firm in New York City are here to help us navigate the ins and outs of summer fashion. They have highlighted some of the hottest summer trends and how to translate them to preggo-approved wear. There are so many super-chic stores (physical and online) to help you look your best while you boost your belly.

The first trend that is all the rage is color blocking. Using bold pops of colors is a great way to draw the eye in to certain areas. This trend is also helpful for post-partum fashion, as you can use darker colors to help make certain areas appear smaller. You can mix bright tops, like this Gap Pure Body Tank with a pair of colored jeans or a colored maxi skirt. With the summer heat and humidity fast approaching, maxi skirts and dresses are a must!