The Shop Tart does not waste a child and husband-free day on frivolity. Saturday morning in Charleston, she awoke bright and early, grabbed coffee and hit the ground running. The day started with breakfast. Actually, not. On her way to breakfast, she spotted something different on King Street, Hampden Clothing’s new location at 314 King Street, a few blocks south of the old location. The new space is bright, airy and big - all the better to see the lovely clothes, shoes, accessories and jewelry.

The Shop Tart was in a hurry - she still needed to make notes on models’ looks for that evening - but Hampden was one of the places providing clothing for the show, so technically, she was working. (She loves her job.) Like the consummate professional she is, she did a bit of browsing. Love the Fiona Paxton necklaces. She has one, but maybe she needs another…

Hampden is ready for spring. Love this long sundress by James Coviello. Also love the nautical top to the left.

Locally designed Troubador by Lindsey Carter was hanging near the front of the store, looking gorgeous.

The Shop Tart fell in love with Margarita Saplala, a Brooklyn-based designer. These lightweight silk pieces would be perfect for spring and summer. The patterns are interesting and pretty, all at once.

There was a great necklace by the same designer. (The one to the right ain’t half-bad either.)

These ombre shoes from French designer Vanessa Bruno are the bomb, n’est-ce pas?

Hampden also carries clothing from Vanessa Bruno, including this fab cropped jacquard jacket that you would wear for the rest of your life with everything from jeans to cocktail dresses. Just saying.

And, though the Shop Tart cannot recall who makes these wood and leather wedges with golf-shoe details, they are awesome.

Owner Stacy Smallwood was there fitting models for Charleston Fashion Week. The Shop Tart can’t wait to see what they show. (Last year, she ended up in the shop the day after their show, desperate to purchase a green wrap Rag & Bone skirt one of the models rocked on the runway.) Charleston Fashion Week starts just one week from today; if you decide to go, let the Shop Tart know and have a glass of bubbly with her while you’re there!

After Hampden, the Shop Tart rushed to Caviar and Bananas for a little breakfast, this delicious omelet, which she ordered with a side of vegetables.

After breakfast, lunch or whatever that was, she headed to the Francis Marion Hotel to meet the models while they had hair and makeup done by stylists from the Shop Talk Movement, a program that trains stylists to educate their clients and increase awareness of colon cancer and the need for screening. AnnaBelle rushed in with dresses, Marysia of Marysia Swim showed up with bathing suits and impossibly leggy young women to put in them, stylists worked on makeup and added a few electric blue clip-ins to willing models’ coiffures. A rehearsal never quite happened, but everyone was smiling.

She made a quick stop in Stella Nova to stock up on her beloved Klorane dry shampoo…

…then headed to Saks for her appointment to be made up by the brilliant Susie Griffin, who had accosted her and her puny eyes she had met the night before. She is positive she would have hated all the pictures of her tired self throughout the weekend had Susie not rescued her. Mwah!

After Saks, she went back to headquarters and got ready for the ball that night in ten minutes. (Ask Mr. Shop Tart. This is totally true, thanks to Susie, a recent Keratin straightening treatment at Austral and the aforementioned Klorane dry shampoo.) During that ten minutes - maybe it was twelve - she devoured a salad with poached salmon Mr. Shop Tart had brought from Ted’s Butcherblock. She has to eat before parties so she can be nice. And away she went to the ball…

The Shop Tart is back from Charleston (but she hasn’t finished telling you about it) and is looking forward to tonight’s mayoral forum at Trustus Theatre, hosted by the Congaree Vista Guild. It is sure to be one of the absolute best opportunities to see the candidates in action. Patti O’Furniture will be there to warm up the crowd and Nickelodeon Theatre’s Larry Hembree will be moderating. (Funny that a derivative of the adjective “moderate” would be appear the same sentence as Larry and Patti.) They have been working hard to ensure the questions will be interesting. Do you know Larry and Patti? This is going to be good, real good. Doors open at 5, as does the cash bar, and the forum starts at 6. See you there!

Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!

P.S. Don’t forget Pout’s Chantecaille event happening today and tomorrow. Call 254-5051 to make an appointment with visiting Chantecaille makeup artist Denise Berrell.

Email this • Share on Facebook

Filed Under Uncategorized |  

Comments

• The Shop Tart Loves...

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  

• Elsewhere on the Shop Tart

  Frequently Asked Questions
  
  South Carolina Designers
  
  Contact the Shop Tart
  
  Who is the Shop Tart?
  
  The Calendar
  
  Exclusive Deals
  
  

• Recent Posts

  • Fashion break!
  • Spreading sunshine.
  • Shop Tart Tuesday: Sweet Vans at Britton’s.
  • Four restaurants a day.
  • A yummy breakfast and two cheap treats.