Nashville Lifestyles Presents Chic Week: September 12-18, 2011

I finally renewed my subscription to Nashville Lifestyles (and got a $25 gift certificate to Sperry's Restaurant in the process), and spent yesterday evening lounging on my front porch, reading the September issue Taylor Swift cover to cover. I love getting the Nashville scoop on shopping, style, art, restaurants, interior design, and upcoming events. Likkkkke..... Nashville Lifestyle Magazine's Chic Week- a seven-day excursion of 20% off or more retail sales September 12-18, 2011. Even better than that, you can win a shopping spree valued at over $1,000 when you make a purchase at participating retailers throughout the week. Um, yes please. Here's a list of participating retailers and keep updated on Chic Week at Nashville Lifestyles here:

CharacterEYES
407 Church Street
Franklin, TN 37064
CharacterEyesPc.com
20% off all purchases!

The Cosmetic Market
Hill Center at Green Hills
4015 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 107
Nashville, TN 37215

Hillsboro Village
1809 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212

Cool Springs
545 Cool Springs Blvd, Suite 158
Franklin, TN 37067
TheCosmeticMarket.com
20% off all Therapy Systems brand purchases!

The Cotton Mill
4009 Hillsboro Pike
Nashville, TN 37215
TheCottonMillNashville.com
20% off any one regular priced item!

Emmaline
400 Main Street, Suite 130
Franklin, TN 37064
EmmalineBoutique.com
20% off all denim!

The French Shoppe
Park Place Center
2817 West End Ave, Suite 120
Nashville, TN 37203

Westgate Center, Belle Meade
6049 Highway 100
Nashville, TN 37205

The Streets of Indian Lake
300 Indian Lake Blvd, Bdg T, Suite 120
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Frenchshoppe.com
20% off all purchases, excluding Brighton accessories!

Hemline
Hill Center at Green Hills
4025 Hillsboro Pike, #504
Nashville, TN 37215
HemlineTN.com
20% off any one regular priced item!

HeyDay
334 Main Street, Suite 101
Franklin, TN 37064
HeyDayFranklin.com
20% off all purchases!

Jamie
4317 Harding Road
Nashville, TN 37205
Jamie-Nashville.com
20% off any one regular priced item!

Judith Bright
The Mall at Green Hills
2126 Abbott Martin Road
Nashville, TN 37215
JudithBright.com
20% off any one regular priced item!

King Jewelers
4121 Hillsboro Road
Nashville, TN 37215
Kings1912.com
20% off all purchases, excluding all loose diamonds and Cartier timepieces!

Levy’s
3900 Hillsboro Pike, #36
Nashville, TN 37215
LevysClothes.com
20% off all regular priced women’s apparel and accessories, excluding Carmy Designs Jewelry, Sue Surdi Jewelry, Carol Lipworth Jewelry, gift certificates, alterations, no prior sales, no special orders, all men’s products and shoes!

La Chique Boutique
330 Franklin Road
Brentwood, TN 37067
Facebook.com/shoplachique
20% off all purchases!

Private Edition
4009 Hillsboro Pike, #101
Nashville, TN 37215
PrivateEdition.com
20% off all Therapy Systems brand purchases!
Special Event: Private Edition will be hosting an Absolution Jewelry Trunk show on Thursday, September 15th-Saturday, September 17th. It will feature the amazing jewelry of designer Shannon Koszyk. Shannon Koszyk's jewelry has been featured in many publications, most recently being worn by Steven Tyler on the cover of Rolling Stone. Her jewelry is all hand made using sterling silver, 14kt gold fill, bronze and antique brass. All of the stones are hand-cut, semi precious or precious stones, including fresh water pearls, labradorite, hematite, onyx, turquoise, bone, and more..Shannon loves all that is vintage and is religiouly inspired by the classics. She loves the contrast between luxery and grit that her jewelry represents. Rock star or real house wife, Shannon Koszyk's jewelry is pefect for everyday or a special occasion. The trunk show will be from 9:30-5:30, and a more extension collection will be availalbe at Absolution in the Mall at Green Hills, opening Saturday, October 15th.You can win one of Shannon's pieces of jewelry as part of the Chic Week Shopping Spree - enter at participating Chic Week retailers!

Therapy Systems
The Mall at Green Hills
2126 Abbott Martin Road
Nashville, TN 37215
TherapySystems.com
20% off all Therapy Systems brand purchases!

Chic Week promotions cannot be combined with any other promotions.
Email events@nashvillelifestyles.com to get your shopping pass!



Charity Denim Sale to Benefit Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee: September 10, 2011

The Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee is hosting a charity denim sale at Hampton Inn & Suites in Green Hills on September 10, 2011 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. At the event, guest can shop 500 pairs of $200+ designer jeans at deep discounts of $65 to $85. This is frrl. Featured brands include: J Brand, Joe’s Jeans, Hudson, William Rast, True Religion, People’s Liberation, and more. Also, you can score on handbags, menswear shirts, and darling dresses. 

A portion of every sale will benefit Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee, an organization designed to "inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Grade specific programming is presented by community volunteers who teach students about economics, entrepreneurship, personal finance, workforce readiness, and other skills that students need to succeed in the real world. JA seeks to prepare our young people for the world of work, inspiring our future leaders and igniting a passion for excellence." 

Cheap threads and charity- what more could you ask for?!

Fringe & Lace Seeks Fall Intern

For all you students out there who are seeking Fall internships, Fringe and Lace has you covered! Here is the scoop:

Fringe and Lace is a traveling women's clothing and accessories boutique that specializes in home parties.  We are not your typical home party store, like Mary Kay or Tupperware!  We carry all of our merchandise with us and anything you purchase you go home with that evening.  There's no ordering and then waiting!  We are also launching an online store next week. Here is a link to our blog if you'd like to check it out www.fringeandlace.com.

If you are interested in interning, contact Natalie Sawyer at 615.499.6447 or by email at natalie@fringeandlace.com.

Girls Night Out @ Belk: September 21, 2011

This event looks like a blast! And after my weekend trip to Belk, I'm pretty sure I could use that $1,000 shoe wardrobe! Here are the details:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Belk Hosts “Girls’ Night Out” Event with

Special Discounts and a Chance to Win Fabulous Prizes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Aug. 24, 2011 – Belk will host its semi-annual “Girls’ Night Out” event on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, from 5-8:30 p.m. This party-style shopping experience invites ladies and their friends to enjoy fun, food and fall fashion.

During this stylish event, guests will enjoy catering while browsing fresh-from-the-runway fashions. Guests may also register to win incredible giveaways including a $1,000 spa gift certificate, a $1,000 shoe wardrobe and a getaway for two to NYC, including a day at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and a personalized make up consultation and application. During event hours, guests will receive 20% off purchases of sale and regular priced women’s contemporary apparel and accessories, including rarely discounted designer brands, with very limited exclusions.

The event is free and open to the public.

About Belk Inc.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. (www.belk.com) is the nation’s largest privately owned mainline department store company with 303 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states. The company was founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., and is in the third generation of Belk family leadership. Belk.com offers a wide assortment of fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home. To connect with Belk via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blog, mobile phone, text messages or by email, go to Belk Get Connected.

Modern. Southern. Style.

Belk seeks to satisfy the modern Southern lifestyle like no one else, so that our customers get the fashion they desire and the value they deserve. Our vision is for the modern Southern woman to count on Belk first – for her, for her family, for life.

Belk Girls’ Night Out Event- Calendar Entry

Where: Belk at Cool Springs Galleria, 1800 Galleria Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37067

(615)771-3200

When: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011

Time:   5-8:30 p.m.

Event Description: Grab your girlfriends and get ready for the fashion event of the season! During this stylish event, guests will enjoy catered food and beverage while browsing the latest fall fashions. Guests may also register to win incredible giveaways, including:

-          A $1,000 spa gift certificate

-          A $1,000 shoe wardrobe

-          A getaway for two to NYC, including a day at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and a personalized make up consultation and application

During event hours, guests will receive 20% off purchases of sale and regular priced women’s apparel and accessories, including rarely discounted designer brands, with very limited exclusions.

The event is free and open to the public.

 

###

Pink Ribbon Couture Fashion Show Casting Call: October 8, 2011

I'm curious to know more about the Pink Ribbon Couture Fashion Show, but a casting call will be held for the event on October 8, 2011 at 1:00 PM. Head over to 3761 Highway 109 N, Suite D in Lebanon, TN for the call. Event producers are scouting out for five male and fifteen female models with strong walks. Additionally, the crew is seeking additional talent in the form of designers and hair stylists. Find out more information about the casting call and RSVP to Facebook here.

Elie Tahari Trunk Show: September 15, 2011

Here's the press release and details for the upcoming Elie Tahari trunk show:

Elie Tahari pre-Fall 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn., (August 24, 2011) – Abe’s Garden, a  non-profit organization that seeks to establish a national model of residential living and daycare programs in Nashville, Tenn., for those suffering with Alzheimer’s disease, will benefit from an exclusive Elie Tahari trunk show on September 15, 2011. The trunk show will feature and sell clothing from fashion designer Elie Tahari’s latest line and will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at The Noah Liff Opera Center. Tahari’s team will also be available to consult with and educate shoppers about the latest fashion trends.

World-renowned fashion designer Elie Tahari has created timeless fashions for women and men for years, and will be revealing his fall clothing line during the trunk show. Tahari was one of the first designers to open a boutique on Madison Avenue in New York in the 1970s and today has a global presence in more than 40 countries, including 600 U.S. stores and free-standing boutiques.

In addition to showcasing Tahari’s latest fashions, the trunk show event will feature food and beverages prepared by Park Manor Executive Chef Michael Snyder.

Come see the exclusive trunk show benefiting Abe’s Garden on September 15, 2011, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at The Noah Liff Opera Center located at 3622 Redmon Street in Nashville, Tenn.

About Abe’s Garden

Abe’s Garden will be a center of excellence for persons diagnosed and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of this facility is to transform the full continuum of care for those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias throughout the United States by providing an unprecedented level of care and comprehensive array of services. It will also be a site for research and teaching, setting a new standard for future programs and facilities caring for our nation’s rapidly expanding senior population. Abe’s Garden is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, currently accepting contributions online.

For more information please visit www.abesgarden.org.

Local Honey Back to School Bash: September 1, 2011

On Thursday, September 1, 2011, jack of all trades retailer, Local Honey, will be hosting the Back To School bash. Customers can get 20% off all men's and women's vintage apparel with their college IDs, munch on some eats from Pizza Buds truck, and lose all inhibitions to DJ Evan P. Donohue. If it's a party by Local Honey, you know you're going to have fun. RSVP to Facebook here.

Friday Five

Five things, Nashville and beyond, that I'm currently trending: 


1. This charming Christian Louboutin London window display:

2. Pleated leather shorts:

As seen on Cupcakes & Cashmere.

3. Prada stoles and the DIY instructions for faux versions here:

4. This leather Chloe midi pencil skirt featured on a New York mannequin:

5. Doing this as soon as possible:

photo credit: CL: WGSN

Casting Call: Scene & Heard: September 10, 2011

Here are the details for the Scene & Heard Casting Call. RSVP to Facebook here:   The Vanderbilt Public Relations Society is hosting a model casting call for the 2nd Annual Scene & Heard Fashion Show!!!!! THE CASTING WILL TAKE PLACE IN SARRATT 189 AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (2301 VANDERBILT PLACE) CASTING: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2011 ARRIVE ANYTIME BETWEEN 12:00 PM- 2:00 PM SHOW: SATURDAY OCTOBER 1,2011 -7:00 PM LADIES- MUST BRING 4" HEELS OR HIGHER MEN- MUST BRING HARD BOTTOM SHOES ALL MUST BRING A HEAD SHOT/PHOTO WITH THEM TO CASTING ________________________________________________________________ LAST YEAR, THE SCENE&HEARD FASHION SHOW HAD AN ESTIMATED 340 GUESTS AND WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FASHION EVENTS OF THE FALL!! *PROCEEDS FROM THE SHOW WILL GO TO SOLES4SOULS, A NASHVILLE PHILANTHROPY ALL ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE

Weekend(s) Update: Dinner Parties, Tomato Fest, Art Galleries, and (a little) Fashion

Weekend over. It’s been a feverishly busy past two weeks for me, consumed with the continual presence of work and school, with weekend interjections of hosting a Martha Stewart-worthy dinner party, the Tomato Fest, and attending a friends art opening. Other than some business communication via email, very little fashion (other than work, of course) has entered my life. I get my daily fashion doses browsing the pages of WGSN, searching for the latest visual merchandising strategies and newest Pantone colors, and hitting up my rotating blog list. Lack of fashion aside, I’ve had a marvelous few weeks.

After a tiring diet of fast food on my way to events, a six-pack of crackers and a breakfast bar while working through lunch, and a frozen pizza for dinner, I picked up the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook at a local store. After browsing recipes for three hours, taking note of my favorite ones like the absurdly meticulous person I am, I decided to host a dinner party for a few close friends. In conjunction with the event, and just because I wanted them, I also ordered an array of serving dishware and glassware for the party. I decided upon several pieces from my favorite online home goods retailer- CB2- all in crisp white, understanding their classic designs would create pops of color from strategically placed hors d’oeuvres. A full menu of homemade dishes like deviled eggs, bruschetta, caprese kabobs, crap dip, apricot-topped brie, meatballs, cranberry-walnut bread, spinach phyllo triangles, warm edamame, cherry sangria, chocolate-dipped pretzels, brownies, and mini-tarts including: chocolate raspberry, peach and almond, and fruit-topped cream was served. (And yes, it took me an entire two days to prepare this ambitious menu!)

Delicious cherry and fruit sangria with frozen cherry-infused orange juice ice cubes made the night before. 

Mini tarts (chocolate raspberry, peach and almod, cream and bluberry), bruschetta, ham and turkey stromboli, and spinach phyllo triangles with feta cheese.

Making these double-chocolate pretzel rods was deliciously fun, and they added an artful essence to the menu.

Deviled eggs, caprese kabobs (HUGE hit), white-chocolate infused brownies, edamame with sea salt, and cheese platters.

Now, this may not have to do with fashion per say, but I am a firm believer that design, aesthetic, and presentation can be applicable to all aspects of life- from the way we dress, to how we design our homes, to yes, even how we host a dinner party. I am infatuated with simple, clean lines, and modern shapes. My home, outfit of the evening (simple black shift dress with minimal silver jewelry and black leather wedges), and plating all reflect my personal aesthetic and are an extension of my personality. And really, why shouldn’t all of your endeavors, whatever they may be, be a reflection of your own design aesthetic?

In the end, the dinner party was successful, and several guests commented to me, “This is the most adult party I’ve ever been to!” (It’s an odd transition in your life when you realize you’ve traded in weekends of keggers and dance parties with a few hundred of your closest sweaty friends for a sensible night of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with a select group of interesting friends and conversations.) I anticipate I will be hosting more of these events in the future. If nothing else, these types of events allow you to have an excuse to get together with close friends, impress them with your new-found culinary skills, and wear a cute dress you’d never dream of donning to your local watering hole.

Saturday, with about ¼ of Nashville, I attended East Nashville’s Tomato Fest. I feel like the Tomato Fest is a lot like my dinner party- an excuse to get people together for a fun, social purpose. This year’s Tomato Fest did not disappoint;  vendors from fashion to food lined the streets of trendy East Nashville, and mobs of people flocked for the yearly occasion. I was too busy fanning myself with a cardboard flyer for a new animal hospital to take adequate photos, but I have no doubt event pictures, from a multitude of photographers and event-goers, area already circulating Facebook and beyond. Nevertheless, I did snap a few photos from the fest.

Loved this deer skull merchandised with a variety of vintage finds from one booth.

Merchandise from Old Made Good.

 It was so hot outside, I had to stop into my favorite East Nashville bar, 3 Crow, for a bushwacker. If you've never had one of these delicious treats, it's like a McDonald's milkshake... for adults. I was introduced to this cool, creamy, and chocolatey drink one of my first nights in Nashville. (Funny side story: I had been in Nashville two weeks, and without a single friend in the city, I decided to venture out. Obviously having no idea where to go, I googled "Nashville, bars" and went to the bar with the most and best reviews. I ended up at Lipstick Lounge. The name should have given it away, or the fact that there wasn't a single male at the bar, but this was not the destination I had in mind. I made friends with a pair of super sweet gals who invited me to join them at 3 Crow (this was what I had in mind), who bought me a bushwacker and welcomed me to Nashville.) 

I meandered the streets with a friend for about two hours, sporting a cream BCBG dress and J. Crew sun hat, before succumbed to extreme heat and demanding (whining, actually) that we leave for cooler destinations. Prior to our departure, I did score a fabulous silk-screen print of Nashville (simple and understated- in par with my design aesthetic) that looks striking against my blood red kitchen walls.

Loving this painting I scored for $50. Perfect representation of Nashville. 

Later Saturday evening, I attend a friend’s art opening at Wired Coffee in Hendersonville, TN. This was my first trip to Hendersonville since living in Nashville (coincidently I dated a guy from Hendersonville in college), and I didn’t realize the city was so close. After a short drive, a friend and I arrived at Wired Coffee where we chatted with mutual friends, discussed art, sipped on surprisingly delicious boxed red wine, and I had the greatest hazelnut coffee and sip of milkshake in my life. (Seriously, if you’re ever in Hendersonville, make a pit stop to this place.) I also was introduced to husband-and-wife duo (and Wired Coffee owners/workers/partners? I think) of The Woodmans Wives- a newly ventured fashion line heavily saturated by tulle and a kick-ass rock-and-roll vibe. While the duo has not had a runway collection shown thus far, they informed me their designs would be parading the stage at the October RAW Nashville show. Upon viewing photos of their collection, I feel this line is part costume, part ready-to-wear; a mix of avante garde and fashion play. I like it. I’m extremely interested to see what The Woodmans Wives will present in the future.

Sunday was spent catching up on 'adult' things- paying bills, washing my car, laundry, etc. I did, however, manage to find the time to maximize the fantastic weather by doing something I rarely have the time to do- sit outside and read a book. It's old news by now, but I finally got around to reading Kelly Cutrone's If you have to cry go outside at the insistence of one of my students, who let me borrow her copy. I expected the book to be all about fashion, but was happily surprised at the sage life advice Cutrone gives. I hope you have, but if you haven't had the opportunity to read this book, I insist you devote a few nights to this wonderful piece.

And now, Monday rolls along. Another summation of the weekend update, only with the promise of more to come…