Wednesday, November 30, 2011

King Street ranked among top 10 shopping streets in U.S.

Another reason to shop local

Posted by Erica Jackson Curran on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 12:00 PM

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  • Charleston Tourism Board

As if we needed another reason to love King Street, U.S. News and World Report ranked it as one of the top 10 shopping streets in the country. Listed along with well-known, big-city boulevards like Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive, New York's Fifth Avenue, and San Francisco's Fillmore Street, King Street is noted for its intimate charm. Joel Fineman reports:

"This historic avenue pulses with pedestrians in search of the perfect outfit or gift. Beautiful buildings house big-name brands like Apple and Banana Republic; however, it's the number of family-owned boutiques and male clothiers that really distinguishes King Street. Gentlemen should head to Bob Ellis for shoes and M. Dumas & Sons for apparel, as both are third-generation family-operated Charleston landmarks. Although King Street bustles with pastel-clad patrons particularly in the spring, you'll find Southern hospitality persists year-round."

The City of Charleston is providing free printable two-hour parking passes for downtown garages, which you can print here.

Topics: Retail

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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Where to buy local and save this Black Friday

The Deal Lowdown

Posted by Erica Jackson Curran on Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 4:00 AM

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Chain stores are for chumps on Black Friday. Why would you camp out in a mall parking lot when you could get up at a reasonable hour, support local businesses, and sometimes even sip champagne while you shop? That's the beauty of shopping local on Black Friday — and there are some solid deals to be had, to boot.

Let's start with downtown. Alice & Daisy and Gypsy Lady Antiques (54 1/2 Broad St.) are getting in on the action with sips and nibbles from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Gypsy Lady will have up to 15 percent off select items, while Alice & Daisy will go up to 75 percent on some things. There will also be select markdowns all day Saturday.

Menswear store Indigo & Cotton (79 Cannon St.) will have a lot of markdowns, from 10-40 percent off select items. Their sale will start Friday and run through Tuesday.

Stella Nova (various locations) is offering 25 percent off fragrances, skincare, and makeup, plus 75 percent off MBT Shoes on Friday.

House of Sage (51 George St.) will have 20 percent off the entire store, plus 30-75 percent off select items — and they'll validate your parking in the St. Philip St. garage.

Continuum Skate Shop (49 Spring St.) is doing a tier sale as well as a Cyber Monday sale.

JLinSnider's (539 King St.) sale includes 25 percent off jewelry and vintage clothing and purses, 30 percent off boots and fur coats, 40 percent off exotic skin purses and belts, 50 percent off JLinSnider pieces, and 75 percent off all summer sale clothing. Stop by to shop these steals and have a glass of wine between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Dwelling (474 King St.) is offering up to 70 percent off select items in the store on Black Friday. Then on Small Business Saturday (and Sunday), look for the pink tags for special discounts.

Lucinda Eden's (193 King St., upstairs) sale offers 30 percent off all items on Friday, including clothing, glassware, Trapp candles, furniture, vintage furs, jewelry, and more. Then on Saturday, all of the same items will be 20 percent off.

Salt & Seaweed (155 Market St.) is giving 30 percent off storewide and 70 percent off of all sale merchandise on Friday.

Off the peninsula, Guilty Pleasures (2992 Ashley Phosphate Road) will be open Thursday evening with special sales throughout the weekend. For even more sexy deals, head to Badd Kitty (2274 Savannah Hwy.) from 8 a.m.-midnight on Friday for 25 percent off Liberator and Lelo products, five for $10 DVDs (first 25 customers), and more. They'll be serving hot apps and champagne from 7-11 p.m.

Out on the islands, Kiawah Fine Jewelry (560 Freshfields Drive) is hosting a trunk show for Jane Pope Jewelry on Friday and Saturday, plus they'll be giving away a free topaz pendant with any purchase of $250 or more, while supplies last.

At Mancave of the Lowcountry (inside Whitney's, 917 Houston Northcutt Blvd.), you'll find 25 percent off the entire store Friday through Sunday.

In Mt. P., Coastal Cupboard (644-J Long Point Road) has some great kitchen deals, like when you buy a cherry Le Creuset dutch oven, you'll get a nine-inch cast iron skillet free, or buy a Vinturi red wine aerator, and get one white wine aerator free.

And on the interwebs, Proud Mary is offering 15 percent off their entire shop Fri.-Sun. Just use the discount code handmadeholiday.

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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

LLF promotes buying local with month of events

Stop by the Mom and Pop-Up

Posted by Erica Jackson Curran on Wed, Nov 16, 2011 at 4:00 PM

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We all know we should try to buy local as much as possible throughout the year, but we make an extra effort during Buy Local Month, which is going on now through Dec. 15. Conveniently scheduled during the time period when we all drop the most cash on food, gifts, and decor, the initiative helps showcase local businesses. Lowcountry Local First has put together a month-long calendar of events to get shoppers hyped up about keeping their dollars local.

The Buy Local home base is located at 359 King St.; the “Mom and Pop-up Shop” is where you can buy from local vendors and pick up your Buy Local Card, which will get you deals from many local businesses. It’s also the site of the Be Local, Buy Local Bash on Dec. 1.

Other events include a Welcome Home Happy Hour on Thurs. Nov. 17 at 10 Storehouse Row featuring local oysters, beer, chili, and more. It’s from 5-7 p.m. Then on Sat. Nov. 19, there’s a Local Artisans Market in the South Windermere shopping center from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. On Dec. 7, there’s a happy hour at the Icehouse in Summerville.

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Friday, November 11, 2011

Suite 33 hosts open house Sunday

Posted by Erica Jackson Curran on Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 12:00 PM

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Elliottborough design house Suite 33 is hosting an open house on Sun. Nov. 13 from 4-8 p.m. They'll be showing off their fall/winter collection, including party dresses perfect for the holiday season. The shop focuses on custom design, allowing customers to choose a silhouette and fabric for a one-of-a-kind piece. Many of the pieces will be discounted. Stop by 33-B Cannon St., behind the NotSo Hostel, to check it out.

 

Topics: Trunk Shows

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Thursday, November 10, 2011

Art Institute student finalist in Cool vs. Cruel design challenge

Flying Fur

Posted by Erica Jackson Curran on Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 11:00 AM

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Art Institute fashion student Monique Araujo is a finalist in the national Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design Competition. Sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States and the Art Institutes, the competition challenges young designers to reinterpret runway creations by fur-loving designers like Fendi, Alexander McQueen, and Gucci. 

Araujo's design is inspired by a baby blue Alexander McQueen piece with fur trimmings. “For my recreation of this garment, I decided to mix the texture of different eco-textiles such as raw cotton and bamboo jersey with an ombre blue hue,” Araujo explained in a recent release.

Araujo won third place in the competition in 2010.

Chosen from more than 200 entries, Araujo was awarded a cash prize for making it to the top 18. The judging panel includes Nigel Barker, Elizabeth Olsen, Leanne Hilgart, Marc Bouwer, and many other fashion insiders. The grand prize winner will get an expenses-paid week-long internship in New York with one of the judges. Find out more at coolvscruel.org.

 

 

Topics: Fashion

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