Dawn Talley is the owner of Mainstream Boutique at Waverly, South Charlotte’s new retail destination space. Dawn chose Waverly as the location for her boutique because it was a new neighborhood with a traditional air.
Dawn made the decision to open her boutique after working for 28 years in the corporate business world.
“You get one trip around the sun, and it was time for a change. Our children were grown, and my husband was very supportive, so why not go for it?”
Dawn says she enjoys running the business because she loves fashion and building relationships with the women who come into the store.
To achieve this goal, Dawn and her accommodating staff of stylists strive to greet every customer who walks through the door. A priority is placed on learning more about each customer—relationships are first and foremost! Dawn’s philosophy is that the more they know about each client, the better equipped they are to assist that individual with their personalized needs. Her belief is, “you get what you give.”
Based on the firm bonds of trust and friendship among Mainstream Boutique’s clients and the six stylists who collaborate with each of them, the stylists are able to create a complete ensemble that embodies the spirit of the woman wearing it.
It is important that the clothes reflect the woman because as Dawn notes, “Our clothes won’t change the world, but the women who wear them will.”
Mainstream Boutique prides itself on offering multi-generational fashions, clothing styles that are trendy yet timeless and appeal to mothers and their daughters. Mainstream Boutique is also inclusive, carrying its fashion brands in a variety of sizes from extra small to extra large and sizes 0–16.
To maintain the rarity of the Mainstream Boutique experience and uphold the highest standards of quality Dawn and Mainstream Corporate enforce, the boutique represents a handful of top-shelf labels including Charlie B, Clara Sun Woo, Liverpool, Jag, Kut and Papillon. The Mac and Me line, a signature Mainstream Boutique brand, is featured with its emphasis on very detailed stitching, the use of soft fabrics and clothing that gives a lot of stretch without becoming baggy. Items are available in limited quantities.
Dawn and the stylists at Mainstream Boutique pride themselves on customer service, and special orders can be placed as the boutique has access to more than 85 Mainstream Boutiques around the country. Every effort will be made to find the item of your choice in your size if it is not currently in stock. It will be placed on the boutique’s special order list, and you will be notified when your piece arrives. Mainstream Boutique also ships orders across the U.S.
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Wallpaper and wallcoverings are making a comeback in home and office interiors. Despite wallpaper’s grandmotherly leanings, designers are using these old-fashioned accents in new ways to add drama, energy, texture, shine, nature or other sophisticated touches to any room.
Today’s modern wallpaper designs come in a rainbow of striking patterns, textures and looks, like fabric, wood, brick, natural stone, cement or metal. Thanks to digital printing, wallpaper designers are able to stretch their creative visions, incorporating images of ancient art, contemporary crafts, historical events, favorite places or other inspirations into their designs and your room décor in unique ways.
With these bold designs, wallcoverings aren’t just a backdrop, but an integral part of the design scheme itself. Every wall is a blank canvas, and wallpaper can turn that entire canvas into a work of art. Incorporating some unexpected textures and bold patterns into your room via wallpaper adds a creative spark and creates a more dynamic space, giving your room a layered look that draws the eye around.
There are so many new ways to try wallpaper in the 21st century home. A popular trick among designers is to create a single accent wall using wallpaper. A large-scale wallpaper design will be more like an exclamation than an accent. If you want even more bang for your buck, incorporate a vivid wallpaper into your powder room; in that small space wallpaper will have a big impact. When used on the ceiling with crown molding, it can add great architectural detail. Lining the back of bookshelves is another decorative use for wallpaper that makes a storage space seem special.
Many of us have chilling memories of hours spent meticulously tearing off old wallpaper, prompting us to worry about the hours of labor if we grow tired of our new look; but fear not—today’s wallpapers are so much easier to handle. There are even temporary wallpapers that you can pull off and wipe clean with a damp sponge. York Wallcoverings, for example, has an entire collection of pre-pasted Sure Strip Wallpaper that is completely removable, guaranteed. Called Inspired by Color, each sample book focuses on a single color, making for a wide variety of designs that will coordinate well with your choice color. These are environmentally friendly, non-vinyl wallpapers with new removability technology that are breathable to prevent moisture from being trapped, plus they’re washable. That’s even easier than painting!
As a child, were you ever told not to touch the walls? New wallpapers encourage you to break the rules and touch to your heart’s content. Grasscloth was popular in the 70s, but today’s versions have a more refined look and may even have fine metallic threads woven into their thick fabric. Available in a variety of colors and textures, grasscloth can be incorporated into just about any design concept. There’s even the option of creating your own patterns and designs by simply cutting it into the shape and size you envision. Grasscloth is also eco-friendly since it’s produced from natural elements.
Other textured wallpapers include recycled wood, glass and sand, and embellishments with embroidery, crystals, metallics and even hammered metal discs. Also fun to the touch are the shimmering wallpapers made with specialty inks that create luminous shades of copper, bronze, silver, platinum, gold and brass. Tactile and visually rich, these accents add texture without distraction, glamour without glitz.
Today’s flocks are another wallpaper grandma won’t recognize. While it was a luxury product at the turn of the century, flock descended into a cliché by the late 1970s, when most were made of brittle viscose rayon. Now flock designs made of velvety-soft, fade-resistant nylon incorporate a wide variety of materials that are flocked—or stitched—onto the surface, making for walls that provide dimensional interest.
Whether you call them wallpapers or wallcoverings, you’ll find a fantastic range of materials, the opportunity to reflect your personality and interests, and numerous ways to make your space special and meaningful with today’s modern options.
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Beanie | $7.97 | Zumiez.com
Splendid Dress | $19.99 | 6pm.com
Socks | $23 | CeriseFashion.com
Flats | $12.99 | HM.com
Plaid Shirt | $27.99 | Zumiez.com
Sneakers | $495 | BergdorfGoodman.com
Moto Jacket | $98 | SaksFifthAvenue.com
Red Converse | $34.95-49.95 | Nordstrom.com
Baseball Cap | $12.99 | Academy.com
Zip Cardigan | $40 | LandsEnd.com
Cuffed Jeans | $280 | SaksFifthAvenue.com
Converse Low Top | $55 | Nike.com
Surf Shades | $12.99 | BuyBuyBaby.com
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The key to the perfect room lies not in the furniture or the walls, but in its very foundation: the floors. Check out how these four totally different looks are achieved through the proper, stylish base from Hughes Flooring. Hughes Flooring celebrates their 40th anniversary this month, so you know they’re experts! For decades they’ve been helping homeowners across the region find the perfect flooring to complete their look; now you can, too.
MODERN
Think wood can’t be chic and modern? Think again. High gloss styles like this 5″ engineered Brazilian Teak provide luxe sheen. Plus, it’s the perfect blank palate to let your modern style be loud—crimson chairs and a structural light fixture don’t overwhelm with this dark, clean-cut floor as a backdrop. Paired with a breathtaking view of a cityscape or even nature’s bounty, this floor sets the quiet foundation for the room and lets the view do the talking.
ECLECTIC
Tile is a surprising find for a liberally-minded interior. It’s crisp and clean, a blank slate (pun intended) for bold pops of color and captivating textures. A smooth, ceramic tile is a simple setting that doesn’t overpower, letting eclectic accessories like shapely vases, eye-catching floral arrangements or even adventurous artwork hold the attention. Here the creamy chairs blend seamlessly with the tiles floors, but we can also imagine them as a home base for classy leather. Want to up the cozy factor started by the fireplace? Throw a fluffy rug on the tiles to warm them up.
TRADITIONAL
The kitchen is the undisputed center of the home, and wood floors make it as welcoming as the scent of grandma’s cookies. These warm 5″ engineered Brazilian Teak floors pair perfectly with the provincial feel of the canteen to create that homey atmosphere we all love. Their rich, nutty color also keeps these white cabinets from feeling too sterile. Darker wood floors like these come with a bonus: in rooms like the kitchen where spills and crumbs are apt to happen, a dark floor hides those imperfections and accidents. It’s our little secret.
RUSTIC
A rustic room is incomplete without dark, masculine floors to pull the look together. Paired with carpet or tile, this look would fall flat or veer into the cheesy; but with a strong, “exotic 5” engineered hardwood base, it’s a cool look worthy of any outdoorsman. The dark wood hearkens back to hunting cabins of yore, shined to this modern sheen that keeps the look from being too woodsy. The wood maintains its grain beauitfully, so the wood looks as real as the skulls on the wall. Luxe leather and rustic furniture find balance in the floors that unite the looks into one arcadian whole.
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Charlotte’s always been a stylish city, but recent years have gifted us with a proliferation of young, innovative clothing designers. We asked two of these fashionistas to share a few favorites from their upcoming collections. Ladies, here’s your sneak peek at style greatness.
Cut From The Same Cloth
Lauren Remesi
Cut From The Same Cloth was born in 2011 when founder Remesi rekindled her love affair with sewing. What started out as a custom private client line evolved into a collection of ready-to-wear womenswear. Part of what sets Cut From The Same Cloth apart is their dedication to responsibly sourced materials and ethical practices. Their collections are produced in their Concord, North Carolina studio from concept to final product. Remesi’s called Charlotte home since 1994; the city is part of her very fabric.
1. “My inspiration for this collection was based on the writings of Edgar Allen Poe and musical influences that meant something to me circa 1990’s. I incorporated Victorian elements, like in the Palmira Top, but gave them a more updated feel by using modern elements, like the faux fur trim used in the Birds Of A Feather Top.”
2. “Velvet was a huge player for AW16. I used it in both the Tell Tale Heart Dress and Annabell Overall. Both are great staples for special occasions or a night out.”
3. “The Birds of a Feather Coat was one of the main items that really pulled the collection together. I especially love how the faux fur is representative of feathers.”
Aubrey Busek
Aubrey Busek grew up in Winston-Salem and originally pursued a career as a professional ballet dancer, a history that still influences her designs today. After discovering her talent for creating clothing, Busek attended SCAD Atlanta and founded her namesake brand upon completion of her degree. The quintessential Aubrey Busek style is very feminine, but strong and rich in detail. Busek uses natural fibers, an array of different textiles, and couture-like sewing details. Many garments employ a variety of hand stitching detail, embroidery and beading, investing them with a custom feel and luxury quality.
1. “My custom print makes such a graphic statement, and it is very whimsical, so you could pair this blouse with a simple pencil skirt or pant and still have a statement outcome. ”
2. “I love the kimono sleeve silhouette because it is slouchy and comfortable, but immediately evokes boudoir elegance.”
3. “The bows on the sleeves are very much a signature of my style (I love feminine details), but because these are grosgrain ribbon, it gives a more structured look that I adore.”
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If you keep up with the latest trends, you may have noticed that the fitness industry is having a huge impact on fashion. Not only does fitness fashion bring comfort to your everyday routine, it also promotes healthy lifestyles. Whether or not you’re a fitness junkie, the trend of wearing active wear both inside and outside of the gym is here to stay for a while. Here are a few trends for winter that we’re excited about:
Beautiful, bold colors: In addition to neutral colors, I’m loving all sorts of deep greens, purples, and plums, as well as burgundy this winter. A lot of gym-goers wear all-black most of the time, but it’s time for you to step out of your comfort zone and go bold! If you think that vibrant orange, green or pink is too much for you, balance out the look with something in black such as a jacket or leggings.
Bold Prints: Designers are going all crazy with the prints as well by incorporating high-end fashion styles and inspirations from around the world into the leggings and tees so that one can look ridiculously fashionable while working out. Prints have always been popular in the fitness world, whether it’s geo prints, animal prints or stripes. You may think this is difficult to pull off but there are a variety of subtle prints you can add to your collection. You can either mix and match or even go for a set of matching top and bottoms.
Metallic: Some of the hottest active wear styles incorporate vivid and bright colors such as neon and pastel hues with a hint of metallic sheen. With metallic fabric, minimalism is key. Try and add metallic accessories to your active wear – caps, shoes and totes work well. Metallic print tees and tracks also look great.
Mesh: We also think the mesh trend is here to stay for another season or two, so bring the mesh with insets on leggings, tops, and sports bras. Mesh is playing a major fashion role in fitness clothing and from tanks to leggings, you can find it everywhere! Mesh hoodies or tank tops worn with brightly colored sports bras is a go-to workout outfit for fitness fashionistas.
Layer warm clothes over lighter fabrics like light jackets and smooth leggings (with breathable mesh, of course) so you can peel off the layers as you start to work up a sweat indoors! Pair these layered looks with cool new kicks in bold colors and prints that are anything but your basic winter palette.
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Winter 2016 is all about texture and materials. Here’s a comprehensive list of what exactly to look for when setting up your winter ensembles. It’s often daunting to spend money on pieces that might not work for the seasons ahead, so this we’ve included an assortment of trends that might “stick around.”
VELVET
Velvet is a key material to invest in for winter 2016, from jackets, dresses and accessories, it’s all about texture and this luxurious fabric is a must-have. You can dress it up for the holidays, or pair velvet tops and accessories with a pair of skinny jeans.
SUEDE
Suede is another key material to include in you winter 2016 wardrobe. With the 70’s trend hanging around into 2017, suede is here to stay, too! Suede is very versatile and functional which allow for endless combinations and styles.
LEATHER/VEAGAN LEATHER
Leather is timeless and everywhere for winter 2016. Much loved for being so versatile, the leather jacket is an all purpose piece to wear to work or out with friends. If you’re going out, wear a biker jacket to tone down a formal look and pair it with a long skirt, a dress or a high-waisted pencil skirt.
STATEMENT FUR
For the fur lovers out there, colorful fur – real and faux – is a big hit this winter. A fur coat is one of the most glamourous pieces of outwear and is perfect way to layer in style.
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Anyone who has ordered something online can tell you it’s just about impossible to find the perfect item. Shopping for clothes in-store allows you to touch and feel the products. But what you have in mind–a certain color, style, or fabric–may not be available and searching for it can lead to a dead end.
Ordering items custom made has traditionally been an option only for the wealthy but SPS Designs is looking to change that. Best friends and owners of SPS Designs, Monica Randolph and Alyssa Hope, are both committed to making quality, custom clothing to fit women of all shapes and sizes, at a reasonable price.
Hope has been making clothes for as long as she can remember. “I’ve been sewing my whole life. My mother sewed all of my clothes when I was young so I learned from her,” says Hope. She has been sewing nonstop ever since.
Hope and Randolph’s business began with making custom clothes for their friends. “We have a hard time fitting clothes because we’re curvy girls so I started making clothes for us and people would always ask where we got them,” says Hope. That’s how SPS Designs started.
SPS Designs offers a full interactive experience. Not only are customers able to chat directly with Randolph and Hope but they also become the designer. SPS Designs makes all of their patterns so they can tweak them to fit the customer accordingly.
Customers are completely involved in the design experience from beginning to end. They chose their merchandise item, pick their fabric, customize it to fit their body, and SPS Designs hand-makes the creation to order. Customers can also make changes to the neckline and sleeves.
SPS Designs offers contemporary designs and unique fashion-forward items, mixed with trendy styles. Most of their design inspiration comes from places outside the U.S.
“We get a lot of inspiration from overseas because they are so fashion forward and it takes a while for those trends to come to America,” says Randolph.
However, SPS Designs has no plans to outsource. “Only three percent of clothing is American made. It’s all outsourced overseas. We want to keep everything handmade and hand sewn here in Charlotte,” says Hope.
Randolph and Hope’s favorite part of the business is making women feel confident and satisfied with their products. “I like when people are happy with their outfits and we receive good feedback,” says Hope.
If you are a Charlotte resident, interested in receiving a custom piece from SPS Designs, contact Monica Randolph and Alyssa Hope at [email protected]. If you are not local, you can still purchase a SPS Designs piece at www.spsdesigns.online. Men’s items are offered on their website as well.
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